If there is one thing that a lot of parents notice about their children is that they can get attached to something. This could be a blanket, a favorite stuffed animal, or even just the idea of something. Toddlers can form connections from a very young age, and they can use them as a security item, and while most parents may not understand why they have chosen the item or token they have, they think it is adorable but don’t put too much thought into it.
However, as a toddler gets older, their interests change, and they can start to get obsessed with things. This could be a movie or a TV show, but it also may be dinosaurs. Dinosaurs are one of those concepts that children have been obsessed with for decades. It is not a new phenomenon, and children from years ago were just the same, but has anyone stopped to wonder why? To wonder if there was a psychological explanation as to why children seem to be pulled into a dinosaur obsession.
A Psychologists Input
According to CNN, dinosaurs have been these larger-than-life creatures that have captivated the hearts of children for a long time, and it is about time that we find out why. What is even more interesting is how this love seems to disappear as quickly as it comes, and we know this because not every child goes on to become a paleontologist one day. Dr. Arthur Lavin is the chair of the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on the Psychosocial Aspects of Child and Family Health, and he had some input to share.
He stated that by the time a child hits the age of 4, they are going through a period of “hyper fixation” and this goes back to imagination-based play, where they pick a topic to fixate on, and it just happens that dinosaurs are a common one. Children are also creating their sense of self at that age, and one of the ways they do that is they make up stuff that they want in the world that they have created for themselves. Dinosaurs fit perfectly because they are not alive anymore. They are just as magical as unicorns and mermaids to little kids.
Scientific Backing
According to Jurassic Park Terror, there is a science to back up these claims, and this is a topic that has been studied by professionals. There was a study published in Cognitive Development that showed that children will adopt “intense interests” by the time they are 4, and they often do it without their parents noticing. This study can be read in full here.
However, while this is normal, experts are also stating that this is an interest that parents should invest in and encourage. Children will often start memorizing the names, and facts about the dinosaurs, and their brain is working to learn more about these creatures. The researchers are stating that an obsession with dinosaurs feeds off a child’s need for curiosity and discovery, and this should always be encouraged. This is a form of science that a child’s mind can understand and process.
They also have discovered that boys are more drawn to dinosaurs than girls. This can be blamed on the fact that the brains of boys tend to be naturally more systematic than girls, and dinosaurs draw on the ability to think systematically. So, mom and dad, buy those books and watch those movies, this is a great and developmentally healthy obsession to have.
Sources: CNN, Jurassic Park Terror, Child Development