Why do children love dinosaurs?

JÄTTELIK is for all small dinosaur lovers. Those who can easily best us adults when it comes to facts about the eating habits of Tyrranosaurus Rex, and who will tell you that a Velociraptor could run 50 kilometres per hour. But what is it about dinosaurs that fascinates some children so much? What makes them memorise an incredible amount of facts – and very long names? We had the help of an expert to understand better.

Lina Bodestad is a licensed psychologist specialising in children’s development. She believes it is the combination of reality and fantasy that makes these prehistoric beings so intriguing. “Dinosaurs have animal-like qualities that the child can relate to, but they also stimulate the imagination with their fairytale qualities. Like being able to fly like a dragon or having sharp monster teeth. When the lines between reality and fantasy become blurred, a child can feel a tingling sensation of curiosity and excitement.”

Making the world more understandable

But it's not all about diving into an exciting and magical world. For children aged three to six, there is often a need to systematise their surroundings, like when they sort their toys by colour. “There is something thrilling for children of these ages about collecting facts and understanding how things are connected and can be compared and categorised. The world becomes a little more understandable", Lina explains.

Boosting confidence

Since details and facts are important for children, all the dinosaurs in JÄTTELIK are inspired by the real ones. Having this special knowledge gives them a first sense of truly mastering something – and it boosts their confidence. “While you as a parent maybe don't know much, the child can take pride in knowing more than you about the differences between carnivores and herbivores some 65 million years ago.”