| It can be difficult for Mums and Dads to keep up | | | | Rather than simply giving a little prehistoric animal |
| with the busy social lives of their young charges once | | | | away in your party goody bag, why not help the |
| they get to school age. For most there is the almost | | | | young palaeontologists to burn up some energy and |
| weekly ordeal of having to take their children to a | | | | have the fun of finding their own dinosaur model to |
| classmate's birthday party. With class sizes in many | | | | take home? Hide the models so that every child at |
| cases exceeding 30 pupils, there can be a party to | | | | the party can have a go at hunting their own |
| attend every weekend and then of course you are | | | | dinosaur. |
| faced with the challenge of reciprocating when it is | | | | This game can be adapted to be played either |
| your child's birthday. However, help is at hand as with | | | | outdoors in indoors; we do appreciate that |
| the assistance of my colleagues, some of whom | | | | sometimes the weather can dash the best-laid plans |
| actually study fossils and dig up dinosaurs, we can | | | | of the home party planner. |
| hopefully, pass on some tips to help ensure a | | | | When we play this game, we make a note of where |
| dinosaur themed party is a roaring success. We know | | | | we have hidden the particular model and then write |
| how much of a challenge organising a children's party | | | | the name of the prehistoric animal on a piece of |
| can be. However, we can help when it comes to a | | | | paper with a clue as to where the dinosaur might be |
| dinosaur themed birthday party, hopefully taking out | | | | lurking. All the papers are folded up and put into a |
| some of the strain and worry. | | | | box, a hat or some other handy container. Often the |
| Dinosaurs and prehistoric animals are universally | | | | dinosaur party host is a very willing helper, assisting |
| popular with young children. Indeed, the Order | | | | with the writing out of the names, identifying the |
| Dinosauria seems to have captured the imagination of | | | | animals using one of the many ubiquitous dinosaur |
| the public almost from its inception in the early 1840's | | | | books in most young people's collections and even |
| by the anatomist Sir Richard Owen. As a teacher, I | | | | helping to theme up the box using stickers and |
| have been able to blend in dinosaurs into all sorts of | | | | dinosaur drawings. The young dinosaur fan will no |
| teaching activities and with a little imagination the | | | | doubt provide a lot of expert opinion on dinosaur |
| sorts of exercises carried out in the classroom can | | | | "dos and don'ts". It is amazing how much knowledge |
| be adapted to help spark young children's | | | | children can absorb, especially if they like the subject |
| imaginations at a dinosaur themed birthday party. | | | | matter. |
| Choosing inexpensive Dinosaur Models as Party Gifts | | | | Each child then takes it in turn to pick a piece of |
| An inexpensive assortment of plastic dinosaur models | | | | paper out of the hat, they study the name of the |
| can be used to fill out the party gift bag, but why | | | | dinosaur and the clue and off they go to try and find |
| not take a little time to consider the model selection | | | | their prehistoric animal. The adult supervising the |
| and then involve the young party goers in a fun to | | | | activity can provide some assistance and advice but |
| play party game to help them "earn" the right to | | | | this activity is great to help the young dinosaur fans |
| take a plastic dinosaur home. There are so many | | | | burn up some energy as they run around trying to |
| different model series to select from these days, | | | | be the first to round up their dinosaur. Once they |
| most stores have packs of reasonably priced models | | | | have retrieved their model, they return to the adult |
| in varying shades and colours. However, rather than | | | | with the box or hat that had been filled with the |
| purchase a pack, try to see if you can find any | | | | names and try to pronounce the name of the |
| presented in a box, so that you can handle them. | | | | prehistoric animal in question. Pronunciation guides can |
| This gives you the opportunity to test them out, to | | | | be found in the glossary section of most children's |
| see if they actually stand up. Beware the bipedal | | | | dinosaur books and the pictures provided can help |
| (two-footed) dinosaur models, many of the cheaper | | | | you to identify the prehistoric animals represented by |
| sets have bipedal dinosaur models that don't actually | | | | the models. |
| stand up on their own two feet (as it were). Bipedal | | | | Once the young budding palaeontologist has located |
| dinosaurs include popular prehistoric animals such a | | | | their prehistoric animal they can have a go at |
| Tyrannosaurus rex and Velociraptor and it would be a | | | | pronouncing the name. Then it is simply a case of |
| shame to have to give a party goer a dinosaur model | | | | putting the prehistoric model into the party gift bag |
| that actually doesn't stand up. We refer to these as | | | | or gift box so that once the party is over they can |
| tipsy dinosaurs, but if unsure as to what would work | | | | take it home. Be sure to check that each child has a |
| best for your young charges, select four-footed | | | | labelled goody bag, it wouldn't do to mix up the |
| animals (quadrupeds), these tend to be much more | | | | dinosaur models at this stage. Most quality gift bags |
| stable and are very unlikely to fall over. | | | | have a name tag section, where each recipients |
| In reality, palaeontologists still marvel at how large | | | | name can be written clearly. You can always print off |
| Theropods (bipedal, meat-eaters such as | | | | some dinosaur pictures form the numerous web site |
| Tyrannosaurus rex), were able to run around and | | | | resources and use these as innovative name tags for |
| generally support their great bulk whilst walking on | | | | your party goody bags. |
| their toes (digitigrade stance), this is one of the | | | | The game is easy to set up, works really well if you |
| mysteries of the Order Dinosauria. The structure of | | | | can go outside into the yard or garden and helps |
| the ankle bones in a dinosaur is one of the main | | | | children use up some of their energy before tucking |
| distinguishing characteristics, between dinosaurs and | | | | into the birthday tea. It fits into the dinosaur theme |
| other ancient reptiles. A strong joint between the | | | | and is a lot of fun to play. We especially like the idea |
| foot bones and the bones of the hind leg is a key | | | | of being able to mix in a little bit of learning regarding |
| feature of dinosaurs and this foot/limb configuration | | | | dinosaur models the child has "discovered" - slipping in |
| gave these creatures a distinct advantage when | | | | a little bit of science and educational material without |
| compared to the locomotive abilities of other | | | | the children realising it. If young children can have fun |
| primeval reptile groups. | | | | with science as they play then this has got to be a |
| No matter what your reason for selecting a particular | | | | good idea. |
| range of prehistoric animal models, these inexpensive | | | | Best of all, in the competitive world of birthday |
| items can be used as the basis for a simple to | | | | parties for classmates, Mums and Dads can score |
| organise and fun to create dinosaur game. Why not | | | | one or two brownie points amongst their peers by |
| send your young party goers on their very own | | | | providing an innovative and fun educational exercise |
| dinosaur hunt? | | | | for their young party guests. |
| Organising a Dinosaur Party Game - A Dinosaur Hunt | | | | |