Plus, the importance of play, being nice online, getting outdoors, and Lulu the Little Sea Otter
|  | Sunday, September 20, 2020 | | | | |
 | | ART BY DAVIDE BONADONNA | | By Rachel Buchholz, KIDS AND FAMILY Editor in Chief
A question I like to ask people I’m trying to get to know better is, “What did you want to be when you were 10 years old?” Me, I wanted to be a paleontologist. My parents bought me books that included Brontosaurus—a gentle giant nicknamed “thunder lizard”—and indulged me as I dug up the backyard looking for fossils of Stegosaurus brains, one of which, I was told, was in its butt.
But new science kept getting in the way. First, I was told that the Brontosaurus never actually existed; then later work showed it did. Then, I found out that, like all dinosaurs, Steggie had just one brain—and it wasn’t in its butt.
The point is, what we know about these ancient reptiles continues to evolve. In fact, according to this National Geographic article by Michael Greshko, scientists have learned more about these critters in the last 25 years than they have in the previous 250. Fierce tyrannosaurs were likely fluffy when they hatched. We now know some dinosaurs sported colorful feathers that ranged from gray and red-brown all the way to rainbow sparkles. Others defied the “I am here just to eat you” stereotype and were actually protective parents.
It’s a good lesson for parents—and for children—that what we think we know isn’t always true. That’s why it’s important to teach kids to question everything and keep their minds open to new evidence. The process can help them make mind-blowing discoveries or even find life-changing solutions. Now especially, asking questions can help them decipher real facts from manipulated information. (For totally true dinosaur facts for both kids and adults, check out our dino hub or the book Weird But True! Dinosaurs.)
And they’ll forgive you for occasionally getting stuff wrong. I even forgave my parents for telling me that Stegosaurus had two brains—though I’m still hoping that scientists will one day discover new evidence showing that one is indeed in its butt.
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 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY MOM PRODUCTIONS, GETTY IMAGES | | All quarantine and no play: With recess canceled and playdates limited, finding ways for kids to play might be about as easy as finding that elusive bottle of hand sanitizer. But according to experts, play should still be a priority as children deal with the effects of the pandemic. Play activities “often involve acting out scenarios from adult life or the world in a safe space that makes it easier to cope with them,” Roberta Golinkoff, professor of education at the University of Delaware, tells Rebecca Renner in this Nat Geo article about the importance of play. It can also help develop fine motor skills and boost brainpower, and might even give busy parents a break. Here are some ideas for playing outside, screen-time alternatives, and long-term brain projects.
One-stop learning: The amount of “at-home learning” resources spat into your in-box every day is likely getting overwhelming. But our Family Guide to National Geographic Education Resources makes figuring out at-home learning easy. (We promise!) From our Resource Library of articles, maps, and ideas to live Explorer Classroom events with scientists, the guide shows at-home educators how to engage their children with these resources so they can keep exploring the world.
Learning from the Scandinavians: In these stressful times, maybe we should take a page from the Nordics. That is, grab winter gear and embrace nature even as the thermostat dips. The concept, known in Norway as friluftsliv, or “open-air living,” is timely for those looking for respite from the enclosed spaces where the COVID-19 virus transmits more easily. Read more about a young girl who already has spent 300 nights in a tent, including a 57-day winter trek with her dad when she was two.
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 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY IMAGEBROKER, ALAMY | |
Here’s to your kid’s (tech) health: By now you’ve probably heard not to sweat the increased time your child is likely spending on screens. “It’s not about how many hours you’re on a screen that matters,” Michael Rich, founder and director of the Center on Media and Child Health, tells Nat Geo’s Gulnaz Khan. “What matters is what you’re on the screen for.” Still, too much screen time can take its toll on a child’s physical and mental health, from strained eyes to Zoom fatigue. This article gives simple tips and tricks to help alleviate those and other concerns. (Plus, here are some Nat Geo virtual backgrounds just for kids).
Being ‘tech’ nice: Kids new to at-home learning are likely being introduced to the ins and outs of email, chats, and texts—and might not understand “netiquette,” or how to be digitally polite. This animated short from BrainPop can help. Though the cartoon often deals with social media—something younger kids likely aren’t engaging with—it still has advice kids can use in a school setting ... like how maybe you shouldn’t use a poop emoji when emailing with your teacher.
Family discussion: It’s hard to find much positive in the massive wildfires that have charred millions of acres in the West. One way to help stressed kids is to mention the kinds of wildlife that need fire to prosper, from morel mushrooms to mule deer to woodpeckers. The red-cockaded woodpecker needs burned areas to both eat and nest. The woodpecker is on the endangered species list but is recovering strongly because of controlled burns and nest boxes. Read more about the woodpecker’s comeback here.
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| TRY THIS: BOREDOM BUSTERS FOR KIDS | |
 | | PHOTOGRAPH BY SHEDD AQUARIUM, BRENNA HERNANDEZ | | | |
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