A month-long imagination invasion.
Every year, we devote the month of November to convincing our children that, while they sleep, their plastic dinosaur figures come to life
"CAN WE STILL HAVE THAT CEREAL FOR BREAKFAST, MOM AND DAD?"
It began modestly enough. The kids woke up to discover that the dinosaurs had gotten into a box of cereal and made a mess on the kitchen table.
The next morning, the dinos had climbed onto the kitchen counter to raid the fruit bowl.
The morning after that, they had managed to breach the refrigerator and help themselves to a carton of eggs. “Uh-oh,” we heard our girls whisper. “Mom and Dad are not going to like this.”
Things quickly escalated from there. More often than not, the dinos’ antics were less than tidy. They are dinosaurs, after all.
“Don’t let Mom and Dad see this—the dinosAURS drew on the wall!”
"MOM'S FAVORITE VASE...!"
DINOSAURS ARE NOT HOUSEBROKEN.
"YOU GUYS SHOULD REALLY LOCK THE KITCHEN AT NIGHT."
To be fair, they did clean up after themselves from time to time.
Usually, though, the dinosaurs are just like anybody else—looking to have a good time.
"THEY MADE HIM LOOK LIKE BARNEY."
"THE DINOSAURS ARE REALLY GOOD AT TIN FOIL."
NO TOY IS SAFE.
Why do we do this? Because in the age of iPads and Netflix, we don’t want our kids to lose their sense of wonder and imagination. In a time when the answers to all the world’s questions are a web-search away, we want our kids to experience a little mystery. All it takes is some time and energy, creativity, and a few plastic dinosaurs.
Childhood is fleeting, so let’s make sure it’s fun while it lasts.
