For many kids, especially boys, dinosaurs were the most fascinating beings. They either got their fascination from cartoons like Denver the Last Dinosaur or by watching movies like Jurassic Park.
Dinosaurs are ancient creatures, a huge mystery with many questions about how they looked, behaved, and the world they lived in. Here’s what you can share with your little ones about dinosaurs.
For over 150 million years, dinosaurs roamed the Earth. These large, lizard-like reptiles earned their name from Greek words meaning “terrible lizard.” Dinosaurs became extinct around 65.5 million years ago and their fossils were first found in the early 1800s. Once paleontologists studied these fossils, they got to know that dinosaurs were related to today’s crocodiles, snakes, and lizards family. In fact, scientists believe that birds are the modern-day descendants of dinosaurs.
When Did Dinosaurs Live?
Dinosaurs lived a very long time ago, and we measure this in geologic time, which divides Earth’s history into periods that last millions of years. Dinosaurs were common during three main time periods: the Triassic, Jurassic, Mesozoic, and Cretaceous, which spanned from 252 to 66 million years ago. Not all dinosaurs lived at the same time, and they didn’t all go extinct at once; their extinction happened gradually over time.
Where Did Dinosaurs Live?
Dinosaurs were found all over the world, and their fossils have been discovered on every continent. They lived in many different environments such as lush forests and dry deserts.
Most dinosaurs laid eggs. Some even built large nests to keep their eggs safe. Young dinosaurs grew quickly and many reached full size in just seven or eight years. Large dinosaurs could live for nearly 100 years.
Why Did Dinosaurs Become Extinct?
Dinosaurs disappeared about 65.5 million years ago, and scientists are still debating why. Some think it was due to changes in temperature that made Earth too hot or too cold for them. Others believe a massive asteroid hit Earth, sending dust into the sky that blocked the Sun’s heat and light. This would have stopped plants from growing, killing off plant-eating dinosaurs and, in turn, the meat-eating dinosaurs that fed on them.
If your kids are eager to learn more about dinosaurs, consider getting them Dinosaurs and Dinosaur Babies: An Educational Coloring – Activity Book by Todd S. Schoedel. This book features imaginative illustrations based on current knowledge about dinosaurs and their world. It explores various themes such as behavior, family life, and competition. The book also includes coloring pages and activities that show not just dinosaurs but other creatures that lived in the air and sea with them.
I hope this book helps satisfy their curiosity about these amazing creatures from the Mesozoic era!
