My Little Paleontologist

Warning: completely biased mommy report about to commence!

It's no secret to anyone who knows us that Griffin is into dinosaurs. It's been almost a year now, and the obsession isn't close to waning. Like every interest he's had so far, Chad and I have run full out with this one. We get new dino books every week at the library, have 1,236 dinosaur toys (not really sure this is an exaggeration!), and dig for dinosaurs on a regular basis, either at home with kits or at the Children's Museum. Christmas day, surrounded by dozens of new toys, he spent 5 happy hours digging in a mound of rock for T-Rex bones!

But what I was unprepared for is the depth of Griffin's dinosaur passion. He doesn't just like the toys, or think dinosaurs are cool because they roar. Oh no, my boy loves his particular favorites (right now Compsagnathus and Velociraptor) for intelligent, well thought-out reasons. He refuses to work on identifying letters, but can name upwards of 75 dinosaurs.

And now my new favorite development: he has a favorite paleontologist! He watched a documentary on Jack Horner, who discovered Maiasaura bones, and then we read a book. Now he talks all about him, tells us random people in restaurants looks like him... It's a riot! A few days ago we wrote a letter telling Jack Horner that he's our favorite and asking him some questions. We're very hopeful we get a response. What 4 year old has a favorite paleontologist? He thinks he's cooler than Superman right now!!

I know that every kid develops interests and then they pass. We've seen that a few times already. But I don't think it's a bad bet at all to predict a future as a paleontologist for my baby. Lucky for me, he said I can come on his digs with him...as long as I stay by the flagged areas!