Almost a third of children, at a certain age, adore dinosaurs.
There are children who love dinosaurs and have a great command of the subject that can amaze their parents. How is it possible that they know so many names and know how to recognize each one!
Scientists call such obsessions “intense interests.” Almost a third of children have an interest in these large animals, usually between the ages of two and six, and the interest lasts for a few more years. And according to Kelli Chen, a pediatric psychiatrist and occupational therapist at Johns Hopkins University, intense interests go a long way in increasing children’s confidence and are also beneficial for cognitive development.
A 2008 study found that sustained intense interests, particularly in a conceptual domain such as dinosaurs, can help children develop their knowledge and persistence, have better attention span, and deepen their information processing skills. . In short, they help children to learn better and be smarter. Three different studies concluded that older children with intense interests often have above-average intelligence.
Experts say it is no coincidence that the age range in which intense interests develop overlaps with the ages in which you play the most using your imagination.