My son has an unwavering love for dinosaurs. While many kids have a brief dinosaur phase, my son’s obsession has lasted nearly two years, and it shows no signs of fading. With the countless hours he spends on this topic each day, I’m amazed he hasn’t exhausted his reservoir of dinosaur knowledge. According to him, he’s merely scratched the surface, and his curiosity only grows.
Dinosaurs are his primary passion, and he ensures we’re all aware of it.
From the moment he wakes up until he goes to sleep, he is a constant chatterbox. If no one is there to listen, he simply talks to himself. The silence in his room signifies he’s finally asleep. He has a wealth of ideas swirling in that imaginative mind, and he’s more than eager to share them.
I truly love this about him. His ability to absorb and articulate a vast array of information for a not-yet-eight-year-old is impressive. He’s brilliant.
However, combine his endless chatter with his dinosaur obsession, and what do you get? Exhaustion. Pure exhaustion.
While I adore my little guy, dinosaurs are not exactly my passion. Before his fascination took hold, I could only name about ten dinosaurs and was perfectly fine with that. I could identify a T-rex, perhaps a triceratops or a brontosaurus, and maybe recognize a pterodactyl. Ankylosaurus? That one was a stretch.
Now, thanks to his relentless dinosaur lectures at home, I can distinguish between a dimorphodon and a dilophosaurus, which share little more than letters in their names. I can spot a Parasaurolophus from a distance and would never mistakenly refer to any other quadruped sauropod as a brontosaurus. My son has schooled me on apatosaurus, brachiosaurus, and diplodocus. I know my long-necked friends.
Since we’ve all been at home together since March, my son has seized the chance to host a never-ending dinosaur masterclass. It’s relentless. I can barely scramble an egg in the morning before he bursts into the kitchen to share the wonders of rhamphorynchus.
Most of the time, I try to match his enthusiasm. I never want to dampen his passion or thirst for knowledge. His love for dinosaurs is unparalleled, and I want him to preserve that interest, even if I don’t share it.
Yet, I also recognize that talking about dinosaurs non-stop isn’t feasible for me or most people he interacts with. Part of my role as a parent is to help him navigate social interactions. He needs to learn to read the room and recognize when he’s dominated the conversation.
It’s equally important for him to grasp the concept of reciprocal dialogue. A good conversation allows everyone to contribute. I want him to understand that sometimes, he needs to set aside his favorite topics to show interest in others. If he’s always waiting for his chance to speak, he’s not listening.
I refuse to allow my desire to validate his interests to turn him into that person who only talks about themselves. Nobody appreciates that, and it wouldn’t be fair to him if I didn’t help him develop effective, friendly communication skills.
A few weeks back, while I was listening to a podcast in the car and my son was working on school assignments in the backseat, he finished his work and immediately started telling me about the carnotaurus. He insisted I turn off the podcast so we could discuss it.
I obliged. After he finished, I took the chance to gently discuss setting some boundaries around our dinosaur discussions.
I told him how impressed I am with his knowledge, how proud I am of his passion, and that I’m genuinely interested in what he has to say. Then, I expressed my desire to finish my podcast. He was welcome to draw a dinosaur or watch a dinosaur video on his iPad, but I’d be taking a break from our dinosaur discussions. I explained that sometimes I need to focus on things that excite me just as much as dinosaurs excite him.
Although it pained me to introduce even a hint of doubt in his dinosaur-obsessed mind, I knew it was essential for him to learn about conversation and respect. He asked if I was upset, to which I reassured him, and he responded wonderfully. I was so proud. After a moment of silence, he suggested, “How about when I want to talk about dinosaurs, I can ask, ‘Would you like to hear something about the acrocanthosaurus?’ or maybe, ‘Is this a good time to talk about dinosaurs?’”
I agreed that asking first was an excellent way to manage our dinosaur discussions. Now, when I need a break, he says, “I’ll check in with you later to see if it’s a better time.” I always make sure the next time is a better time—even if it’s not.
My son has shown me he can be reasonable and respectful. Without setting that boundary, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to rise to the occasion. I’m relieved I followed my instincts on this one; I believe I did the right thing.
My son’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks. He’ll be eight years old, but in many ways, he’s already an adorable little old man in a second-grader’s body. He’s wonderfully unique. Of course, he has requested a dinosaur-themed birthday, and I’m happy to oblige. My closet is already stocked with Jurassic-themed gifts from family. He’ll have a volcano cake and tear open his presents.
On his birthday, we’ll discuss dinosaurs as much as he desires. We won’t say now is not a great time. But I know he’ll ask first, and that fills me with pride.
For more insights on parenting and engaging with your child’s interests, check out this other blog post. Additionally, for more authoritative information on the topic of boundaries in communication, visit Intracervical Insemination and American Pregnancy.
Search Queries:
- How to teach kids about conversation skills
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- Encouraging kids’ interests while teaching social skills
- How to manage a child’s conversation topics
In summary, I utilized my child’s fascination with dinosaurs to impart valuable lessons about boundaries and conversational respect. By fostering an environment where he can express his interests while also learning to consider others, I am helping him grow into a more well-rounded individual. His upcoming birthday will be a celebration of his passion, but I’m proud that he now understands the importance of asking before diving into discussions about his favorite topic.