Somewhere in the preschool years, children will ask where babies come from, but just in case they don’t, hatching some dinosaur eggs gives you a chance to talk about it. You can also check what a child already knows and if it’s more or less accurate.
Dinosaurs are exciting for kids. If you are adventurous and can handle DIY, you might want to make your own dinosaur eggs. There are tons of recipes on line, some with only 2 ingredients. Plus, it’s a reason to make yourself some coffee and then recycle the grounds. The simple way is to buy some and they can often be found very inexpensively at a dollar store. A friend’s little boy got some for his 4th birthday and loved this special treat, even if it took hours and hours.
While waiting for the dinosaurs to hatch, it’s easy to ask your child if any other babies come out of eggs. Chickens and turtles and alligators are babies that come from eggs. Because the process takes 2-3 days, you can ask now or later if your child knows where people babies come from. Do they hatch out of an egg? Kids do not need to be overwhelmed with information but they do need it to be accurate. It can be as brief as a mommy and a daddy join together in a certain way and a baby grows inside the mommy. The baby can be born at the hospital or at home. Your child may or may not be ready for more than that.
Why is accurate information necessary? Explaining to kids about where babies come from is very important for their own safety and protection. It’s also vital that the information comes from a parent, establishing the parent as the go-to source of information instead of someone else. Kids also need to know the correct names for all body parts, even the private ones. We can explain that some parts are private so we talk about them in private spaces, but kids don’t always know which is which.
Children also need information about different kinds of touching: safe touching, unsafe, and secret. Safe touch includes washing, holding hands, and hugs. Getting a sliver taken out or a needle doesn’t feel good but it’s a safe touch. Kicking, biting, scratching, hitting, and pinching are unsafe touches. Usually, kids are usually pretty good at figuring this out because it hurts them and others. Secret or private touch is for grownups. This helps children establish boundaries and talk to us about problems.
Have you hatched any dinosaur eggs at your house?