Do you know your Brontosaurus from your Brachiosaurus? Your Troodon from your Pterodactyl? No? Well, you’re not alone – nearly 90 per cent (88%) of parents admit to have been outsmarted by their children’s knowledge on their favourite topics. A study of 1,000 British parents and carers by DK Books found that half (51%) feel as though they can’t keep up with children on the topics that they’re most passionate about.
Dinosaurs and natural history are a key passion point for children, with eight in ten (82%) kids interested in the topic. The T-Rex reigns supreme amongst UK children – with more than a third (35%) calling it their favourite dinosaur – yet 1 in 10 parents couldn’t identify it, and 46% of couldn’t identify their second favourite dinosaur, the triceratops. But it’s not for lack of trying – parents are trying to keep up with their children’s passions, and almost three-quarters (73%) of parents admit to brushing up on their knowledge before helping or speaking to a child about the topics they love.
DK, the world’s largest publisher of dinosaur books, launches its first annual Dinosaur Day, which will call on the nation to channel their inner kids and reconnect with our love of dinosaurs and natural history. Sarah Larter, DK Children’s Publishing Director said: “Dinosaurs are one of the world’s most remarkable curiosities, so it’s no wonder that kids today are obsessed with them.
