Sep 11
19
Though dinosaurs have been extinct for millions of years, both children and adults have a fascination for these prehistoric creatures. When we consider that all our knowledge of these animals comes from the fossil record, it is amazing that we understand so much about how they lived. Dinosaur movies for kids are a great way to keep your children entertained, there are movies available that would be suitable for infants and young children, as well as older boys and girls.
At the top of the list has to be Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs. Released in 2009, this animated movie is great fun. The basic story revolves around the gang from the previous Ice Age movie, who find a strange and mysterious underground world that is inhabited by prehistoric creatures. There are very few scenes that could be described as scary, but, that bring said, it is best to not show it to children under the age of five.
Another great movie you could rent or download is Wonder Pets: Save the Dinosaur. Though not so long in duration, it deserves a mention as the Wonder Pets travel back in time to rescue a hapless dinosaur. The production is aimed at preschoolers, and is both entertaining and informative.
Go Diego Go: Great Dinosaur Race, is an offering from the same production company as Wonder Pets. As with Wonder Pets, it is an educational movie which can help your kids learn about problem solving as well as other concepts. It is a DVD that is geared towards children below the age of five, though it can be enjoyed by older boys and girls too.
Movies featuring dinosaurs have been popular for many years, a case in point being The Land Before Time, which was released in 1988. This classic animation won many fans when it was first released. It tells the tale of a group of cute dinosaurs who embark on a perilous journey and have many crazy adventures. It is still available on DVD today, and can be enjoyed by kids from three years old and up.
Back in 2000, Disney released an animated movie known simply as Dinosaur. Using the latest animation techniques of the time, the story is centered around an Iguanodon, known as Aladar, who was brought up by a family of lemurs. A shower of meteors destroys their island home, and Aladar sets off to find a new abode. This production is not recommended for children under the age of seven, as some of the animals depicted have a slightly scary appearance.
For kids that are ten and older, Journey to the Center of the Earth, released in 2008, can be a great option. The story revolves around a scientist who travels with his nephew, and a beautiful mountain guide, to a land in the middle of the earth. This land is inhabited by strange creatures including prehistoric animals.
If you are after dinosaur movies for kids that are aimed at infants, you should check out Bob the Builder:Big Dino Movie. Released in mid 2011, this is great option for young children who are Bob fans.
All children, from a very young age, like to draw, even if it is simply making a few colored squiggles on a page. As they get older, they are able to control the pencil or crayon better, and will start to draw definite shapes and items, even if it does not look like the real thing. Learning will give your little artist the thrill of a lifetime, when he or she finishes the drawing, and can achow to draw a dinosaurtually color in the picture they have created, and display their masterpiece, for everyone to admire.
For smaller children, the fewer shapes they need to make to illustrate the dinosaur, the better, because little children do not have the patience or the ability to create a detailed picture that older children have the ability to produce. This article is aimed at the smaller child in the family, who will be able to draw a picture of their dinosaur in just a few minutes, and then have a whole lot of fun putting color in their illustration, to complete their work of art.
First of all, get your little one to draw a circle for the head of the animal, a larger, oval shape for the body below the circle, and then a connecting line between the circle and the oval, which would be the start of the neck.
Using these guidelines, the shape of the head can be finished off, and the line depicting where the neck should be, thickened, to form a proper dinosaur neck. A crown, similar to a cocks comb, but without the ridges, can be drawn at the top of the head, oval shaped eyes added to the face, as well as dots where the nostrils should be.

Now the back of the animal can be done, as well as the tail, by means of a curved line from the base of the neck, towards the ground, where the back legs will be. The front legs can then be drawn, thickly shaped, similar to those of an elephant, with a dash line between the two, which would form the chest.
Another short line can be made from the front let towards the back of the animal, showing where its belly should be. Draw another thick leg at the back of the belly line, which would be the back leg of the animal. At this stage, the guidelines that were made in the beginning can be erased to tidy up the illustration, taking care to not eliminate the lines that are meant to be there.
The cute little dinosaur can now be finished off by drawing three toenails on each foot, again, similar to those on an elephant. Your little son or daughter will be amazed, and so proud that he or she has made a picture that really does look like a little dinosaur, that did not take too long to create.
The real fun starts now though, when your little one can use his or her imagination even further, by coloring in the picture using his or her favorite colors. This original work of art created by your child can now be framed, and hung in a special place, where all can admire it.
Sep 11
19
Dinosaurs have always held a fascination for kids. Though it is millions of years since these creatures last walked the Earth, the fossils that have been discovered give us an idea of what kind of animals these were. If you want to find a way to keep your kids entertained on a rainy afternoon, and in a way that is a lot more constructive than just sitting them in front of a TV or a games console, there is always the option of getting them to make various dinosaur crafts.
Dinosaur crafts are a great way for kids to develop their creative side, whilst also having fun and learning. There is almost no end to the type of creatures that can be made, nor the materials that can be used.
There are a number of different ways in which you can find ideas about various designs that are themed around dinosaurs. For example, you can buy or take out on loan a book on craft making. Most book stores and libraries have sections on hobbies, wherein you can find lots of great ideas on what type of crafts you can make.
Perhaps, the easiest option is to use the internet to download various suggestions as to what type of creations you can attempt to build with your kids. There is a huge amount of information online in relation to dinosaur crafts, this includes creating lifelike models from old clothes, to baking treats that have the appearance of dinosaurs.
If you have never attempted to make any type of craft before, you may be amazed at just how easy it is. As long as you have a clear set of instructions to follow, and understand what the finished products should look like, there is no reason to think that the task will be too hard.
In fact, making mistakes is part of the fun. You and your kids should have a good laugh at the strange looking dinosaurs that you make. It may even be the case that your son or daughter turns out to be more accomplished in creating miniature dinosaurs than you are yourself.
Before you start to put together a scale model of a dinosaur, it is important to find out exactly what material and other items you will need. For this reason, it makes sense to check out a number of different designs before you begin. Certain projects can be completed with items you may already have lying around your home, whereas others will need a trip to you local craft store for supplies.
It is hard to imagine that our planet was once the residence of animals that were more than a hundred meters long.
Thankfully, the world is no longer the home to creatures such as T-Rex and Pterosaurs, but your kids bedroom can soon become a miniature version of the Jurassic period by having fun with dinosaur crafts. You never know, this type of hobby may end up encouraging your child to develop a life long interest in animals or paleontology.