Hello!

Should I be encouraging my 2 year olds obsession with dinosaurs? My son is 2 and a half and has been obsessed with dinosaurs for as long as I can remember. He especially loves to watch real life-like documentaries. As you can imagine it’s very hard to find any that don’t involve violent attacks/hunts and often scenes where a dinosaur is literally eating another. As he’s getting older and understanding more I feel more and more uncomfortable with him seeing it- he talks about which dinosaurs are scary and occasionally about a dinosaur biting another when playing with his toy dinosaurs. Should I allow him to still watch them as they are educational and part of nature (past and present – he occasionally likes to watch docos on croc’s and things too). He knows so much about dinosaurs because of it and doesn’t seem fazed by the aggressive scenes at the time. He occasionally has nightmares but I don’t know what about and I’m sure most kids his age do. I just find myself cringing at some scenes but would hate to put a stop to his passion. Thanks so much in advance.

Leah posted, 03/09/13

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  • There are some good dino kids shows like Dino Dana and Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures that might be a little more age appropriate if you’re worried about scaring him. Dinosaur Train is also another good one. My son has always loved dinosaurs, too


  • In my experience, kids outgrow their obsessions eventually. There’s nothing unhealthy with it anyway, go with the flow and see where it takes him.


  • I can understand where you’re coming from as I would probably be a bit scared that something my child watches might scare or upset them.

    However, it sounds like at this stage that he’s doing well and taking everything he’s seen in his stride. I’d let him continue with it and just be ready to answer any questions that might pop up.


  • I am sure all kids go thru a stage where they are obsessed with something…


  • Dinosaurs are great, is he still interested in them.


  • It’s great that he’s so interested in something, like dinosaurs.

    I wouldn’t worry. A boy in our mother’s group many years ago was obsessed with wanting to blow things up and set fire to other people’s houses, his Christmas wish list to Santa consisted of things like a hand grenade and blow torch.


  • Encourage it you may have the next world famous paleontologist in your midst


  • just sounds like vevery other boy i wouldn’t worry


  • Completely harmless. My neighbours child has an obsession with rubbish bins.


  • I don’t think it is a problem but always good to try to incorporate other things too


  • i can’t see the harm


  • Hope you managed to find some ideas that have helped.


  • Its awesome to see a child be so amused by something!


  • Let him like dinosaurs, its better than like real guns


  • Of course you should encourage him – if it is what he likes that is great.


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