Bringing dinosaurs to life for kids

The image of large and powerful dinosaurs like the fierce Tyrannosaurus Rex and the graceful Apatosaurus in movies can captivate children and adults alike. But how can parents and teachers capture a child’s spark of interest and help them find answers to questions about what these great creatures were like, how they lived and what caused them to all disappear millions of years ago?

As any parent or teacher knows, one of the biggest keys to get kids excited to learn is to make it fun. Interactive Web sites on dinosaurs combine education and entertainment, allowing kids to have fun and learn in the process. A Website like Yahooligans! (www.yahooligans.com), a guide for kids ages 7-13 and their teachers, can be just one starting place. The dinosaur section of the Yahooligans! science channel features leading content from Jurassic Park Institute and can answer kids’ questions with the Dinopedia, an A-Z Dinosaur Glossary and more than 300 Digital Dino Cards.

"The Internet is a terrific way to provide kids and educators with an up-to-the-minute resource on dinosaurs that can be used in the classroom and at home," said one education expert. "By going online teachers and students can catch a glimpse of fantastic worlds that haven’t been seen in 65 million years."

Many established offline resources, such as National Geographic, Encyclopedia Brittanica and the Smithsonian also have Websites that offer kids high quality information and educational tools. Kids can communicate with other dinosaur fans, read magazine articles and play games.

What we know about dinosaurs changes rapidly as scientists constantly make new discoveries, making traditional resources such as library books and textbooks quickly out of date. But the interactive nature of the Internet means it is always current, up-to-date and ready to bring kids closer to the world of the dinosaurs.

This story was provided by the North American Precis Syndicate.