My son is absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs. While many kids may go through a dinosaur phase, his fascination has lasted for nearly two years and shows no signs of fading. Each day, he immerses himself deeper into the world of these prehistoric creatures, claiming he has only scratched the surface of what there is to learn. His passion for dinosaurs is unwavering, and he makes sure we’re aware of it.
From the moment he wakes up until he drifts off to sleep, he’s a chatterbox. If no one is around to listen, he talks to himself. The only indication that he’s finally asleep is when the chatter stops. His vibrant imagination is filled with thoughts he eagerly shares, and while I love this about him, it can be quite exhausting, especially since I’m not particularly invested in dinosaurs myself.
Before his obsession, my dinosaur knowledge was limited to a handful of names like the T-rex, triceratops, and brontosaurus. Now, thanks to his relentless enthusiasm, I can identify a Parasaurolophus and tell the difference between a dimorphodon and a dilophosaurus. My son has turned me into a walking dinosaur encyclopedia, which is impressive but also overwhelming.
Throughout the pandemic, he has taken it upon himself to host a continuous dinosaur masterclass at home. I try my best to keep up with his excitement, but I also recognize that I can’t talk about dinosaurs all the time. It’s crucial for him to learn how to engage in a two-sided conversation and recognize when he might be dominating the discussion.
A few weeks ago, while I was listening to a podcast in the car, he finished his schoolwork and wanted to dive into a monologue about the carnotaurus. He asked me to turn off the podcast so we could chat. I obliged but took that moment to gently introduce the concept of boundaries around our conversations.
I told him how impressed I am with his knowledge and how proud I am of his passion. However, I explained that I needed some time to finish my podcast and that he could draw or watch a dinosaur video in the meantime. I emphasized the importance of sharing the conversational space and being considerate of others’ interests.
He responded beautifully and even came up with a fantastic idea: whenever he wanted to talk about dinosaurs, he could first ask, “Would you like to hear something about the acrocanthosaurus?” or simply check if it was a good time for such a discussion. I was thrilled with his response, and now he often checks in with me, ensuring that the timing is right for our dino chats.
As my son’s birthday approaches, he’s excitedly planning an all-dinosaur celebration, and I’m more than happy to indulge his passion on that special day. We’ll celebrate with a volcano cake and plenty of dinosaur-themed gifts. And I know that he will remember to ask first before diving into his favorite topic, which fills me with pride.
Summary:
This article discusses how a mother used her child’s obsession with dinosaurs as a teaching moment about setting conversational boundaries. By encouraging her son to ask for permission before sharing his interests, she helped him develop the skills necessary for respectful communication.
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Using My Child’s Dinosaur Fascination to Teach Boundaries, Emily James, Parenting, Communication Skills, Teaching Boundaries, Dinosaur Obsession