A few years in the past I noticed a put up about two dad and mom, Refe & Susan Tuma, who wrote an lovable guide about how they satisfied their kids that dinosaurs take over their residence each November and get into all kinds of hassle. They inspired folks to make their very own Dinovember and put up footage, and I believed, I can completely do that!
And you’ll, too!
This shall be our third Dinovember, and I’ve realized a number of issues through the years:
Plan Forward
The primary yr, my record was a scrap of paper with some random concepts. Now, it’s a spreadsheet that features the theme for every day, what I want to purchase prematurely, and what I could have to do prematurely. For instance, one yr our dinosaurs determined to backyard. So I hit up my native interest retailer’s clearance rack and located teeny tiny rakes and shovels for them. I additionally purchased a few little herb vegetation. My birthday is in November, so the dinosaurs all the time rejoice with us. This implies I’ve to cease at HEB and get a cupcake or two for them to destroy. All year long, I maintain a watch out for dinosaurs on sale and may normally discover a good handful for a greenback or so.
You don’t should do one thing on daily basis. It took me a yr of struggling to get artistic each single day in November earlier than somebody identified that (a) my kids might not learn a calendar; and (b) they didn’t care if there was one thing happening day by day. So now, we normally intention for 3 or so dino-disasters per week and the insanity usually ends with Thanksgiving weekend.
Use What You’ve Acquired
November 1 all the time kicks off with the dinosaurs moving into the Halloween sweet. (Bonus: When your children’ sweet disappears earlier than they’ll eat it, you’ll be able to blame the dinosaurs.) There’s a cookie baking day in there someplace as I take a look at out Christmas cookie concepts. In fact, Thanksgiving Day the dinosaurs get throughout issues. I normally discover a tiny tree for them to embellish a few days after Thanksgiving. Final yr, our dinosaurs even voted. (Spoiler alert: T-Rex gained.) This yr, our eclipse sun shades will get a second use because the dinosaurs search for the subsequent world occasion.
The concept of Dinovember is that the dinosaurs get into hassle with on a regular basis issues whereas the household is sleeping. Our dinosaurs are virtually all the time assured to make a large number of books, attempt to brush their tooth, take a bubble tub, settle in for film evening, and doubtless take the children’ toys for a number of nights of enjoyable. We’ve got cats and canine who additionally wish to get in hassle and/or eat inappropriate issues. So I spent one frantic November rigorously getting up earlier than the children to put the scene so I didn’t have to fret about pet disasters in a single day. Lastly, somebody (most likely my husband) identified that the dinosaurs didn’t should get in hassle in a single day. Ever since, our dinosaurs get in hassle throughout the day whereas the children are in school. It seems, dinosaurs can get in hassle any time of day. 
Search Inspiration
On Instagram, search #dinovember or take a look at footage within the official Dinovember Feed. On Fb, take a look at the official Dinovember Web page. There are folks all around the world who let their dinosaurs run wild for a month and put up footage. Don’t be afraid to use different folks’s concepts. You’re welcome to see what I’ve completed over the previous two years, and comply with this yr’s exploits on my Instagram.
Suppose Exterior the Field
We’re fairly free with our definition of “dinosaur,” and the children’ favourite dragon continuously will get in on the enjoyable. I’ve additionally began utilizing the month to introduce new toys/crafts/books. Final yr I made dino tails, which have been surprisingly straightforward to create, and my kids nonetheless tie them on and run round roaring periodically. I discovered a miniature dinosaur portray package at a interest retailer on clearance final July and acquired it to hold onto for a craft challenge. Final yr, I purchased The Good Dinosaur, and after the dinosaurs had their film day, we had a household film evening to observe it. This yr, my children are studying to learn, so I think a dinosaur-themed guide or two will make an look. We all the time adorn the dinosaur-shaped cookies that our dinosaurs bake for us. And when our dinosaurs get the itch to wash up, I remind the children that if dinosaurs can do it, so can they.
Have Enjoyable!
This isn’t supposed so as to add to the stress of an already loopy vacation season. It must be enjoyable. Don’t like dinosaurs? Let your tigers free! Let these Transformers or Energy Rangers run amok. Barbies will be dangerous women, too! It doesn’t should be an on daily basis factor, both. Possibly your dinosaurs are lazy and solely get in hassle on the weekends. Possibly your dinosaurs are literally actually useful and so they do issues like clear up and brush their tooth and make good treats as an alternative of being troublemakers.
For me, this month is an opportunity to start out conversations with my kids about all kinds of sudden issues. It offers me a chance to spend time with them being artistic. At this age, it appears most of my interactions with my kids contain “no” and “don’t.” In November, the no’s and don’ts are reserved for dinosaur troublemakers.
