How do you play dinosaur?

Building Social Skills One Roar at a Time

Dinosaur fever has taken hold at Helix!  Every day at recess, someone wants to play dinosaur.  But how, exactly, do you play dinosaur?  Does that mean helping a baby dinosaur build a nest of flowers?  Or chasing and eating your classmates?  Does it involve time-travel?  Or a magic dinosaur crystal?  Imaginary play requires constant compromise and negotiation.  Read on to learn how we support students in navigating these negotiations.

Inspired by Improv

Great imaginative play is all about creating a story.  Comedians do this all the time - it’s called improv comedy.  So, ideas from improv can help us to play better.

The cardinal rule of improv is “Yes, And.”  First, you listen to what your partner is saying.  Are they a t-rex, or a police officer?  Are they hunting for food, or fighting crime?  To join in, start by saying “yes.”  Accept what your partner has started.  They ARE a crime-fighting T-Rex.  Saying no ends the story, and starts arguments.

Finally, add a new idea.  Share who you want to be, or what you want to do.  The best play happens when each player gets the chance to add their own ideas and feel listened to.

How to Speak Dino

How can we help make sure everyone is communicating clearly (even if we’re roaring)?  Narrating play can be a powerful tool to prevent communication breakdowns.  As we watch play, adults can talk about what we see.  “I notice that some dinosaurs don’t seem to like being roared at.”  Or “Little Dino, I see your friends trying to play with you, but I’m not sure they understand what you want right now.”  Providing a little bit of narration can go a long way to promote positive communication, and keep the play flowing.