Why Dinosaur Park works

Dinosaur Park is designed to practice role, sequence, and believable pretend cause-and-effect through a sequence that begins when the child is asked to sort the dinosaurs into the habitat zones. Manage a dinosaur park by placing toy dinosaurs in habitats, guiding visitors and responding to one pretend park problem. The opening action leads directly into the moment when the child is asked to open the park and guide a visitor to one dinosaur.

Set up — Sort the dinosaurs into the habitat zones

Prepare household items before the child is asked to sort the dinosaurs into the habitat zones. Keep the space simple enough that the child can move from sort the dinosaurs into the habitat zones to open the park and guide a visitor to one dinosaur without rearranging everything. Keep props ordinary and safe, and do not copy real hazardous, medical, or emergency procedures while the child works through the first instruction to sort the dinosaurs into the habitat zones.

Step 2 — Open the park and guide a visitor to one dinosaur

One careful attempt to open the park and guide a visitor to one dinosaur is enough at this stage. Before the child tries to share one pretend fact or behavior about that dinosaur, ask them to show or describe what differed from when they had to sort the dinosaurs into the habitat zones.

Step 3 — Share one pretend fact or behavior about that dinosaur

Use the result of asking the child to share one pretend fact or behavior about that dinosaur as a clue for the next decision. Do not move on to introduce one park problem such as a gate sign moved or a dinosaur in the wrong zone until this step has a clear purpose.

Step 4 — Introduce one park problem such as a gate sign moved or a…

Ask the child to introduce one park problem such as a gate sign moved or a dinosaur in the wrong zone. Compare what happens with the earlier step to share one pretend fact or behavior about that dinosaur, then continue by asking them to fix the problem and finish the visitor tour once the difference is clear.

Step 5 — Fix the problem and finish the visitor tour

Let the child fix the problem and finish the visitor tour and treat the result as information rather than simple repetition. If it is unclear, repeat that action before asking them to fix the problem and finish the visitor tour.

What to notice before Fix the problem and finish the visitor tour

Use the attempt to share one pretend fact or behavior about that dinosaur as the observation point. If the child understands why they are next asked to introduce one park problem such as a gate sign moved or a dinosaur in the wrong zone, the final request to fix the problem and finish the visitor tour should feel connected.

Make Share one pretend fact or behavior about… easier or harder

A shorter version can finish after the child has tried to share one pretend fact or behavior about that dinosaur, using this support: use one role, one place, and one short problem. An advanced version can continue to fix the problem and finish the visitor tour after you add a second responsibility, clue, customer, or consequence that must be handled in order.

Finish after Fix the problem and finish the visitor tour

Fix the problem and finish the visitor tour. That final check is enough to close Dinosaur Park without adding another task. Browse the activity search for a different mechanic, or use the activity generator.