How can I explain the existence of dinosaurs without getting into evolution to my children?

Question

I would prefer for nice people to reply only.

Answer 1

16. Does the Bible mention dinosaurs?
There is no question that there were dinosaurs. They have found many skeletons, but they don't know why they disappeared. The Bible clearly describes these creatures in Job 40:15-24 and tells us why they left us. God Himself speaks and says that they were the largest creature He made. He tells us that this massive animal was herbivorous (plant-eating), had its strength in its hips, a tail like a large tree, very strong bones, a habitat among trees, was able to consume large amounts of water, and was a great height. Then the Bible says, ". . . "He who made him can make his sword approach unto him." In other words God caused this huge animal to become extinct.
source: http://www.livingwaters.com/helps/faq.shtml#16

Bible Timeline
http://agards-bible-timeline.com/q3_bible_dinosaurs.html

The Great Dinosaur Mystery
http://www.christiananswers.net/dinosaurs/home.html

What happen to the dinos blue letter bible
http://www.blueletterbible.org/faq/nbi/672.html

Dino games
http://www.christiananswers.net/dinosaurs/games.html

Answer 2

I assume that they are very little, or you are devout Creationism believers.

If it's their age that makes it difficult, explain that they lived a very long time ago. The dinosaurs are all gone now, except for a select few. Point out that sharks, crocodiles, and a few other animals were alive when dinosaurs were. It helps to have pictures to show them of what dinosaurs looked like, the different kinds, sharks, crocodiles, and even birds. If they ask a ton of questions, like most kids do, tell them that there wasn't enough room for dinosaurs and people. So the dinosaurs are all gone so that we could live. It's dumb, and not true, but it worked for my son. :-)

If it's religious beliefs are the conflict, talk to them about how God made the world over a long period of time. Maybe the Bible's "one day" for Him is like a million years to a human. On the day where He makes all the animals, maybe you could say He made the dinosaurs. Explain that the big ones are all gone now to help make room for people, His creation in His own image. Then explain that there are some of the little ones sill around that He left for us to see, sharks, crocodiles, birds. Same general idea as above, but add God into the mix for religious reasons.

If you have a natural history meseum near you, take them there one day to see all the bones. Don't go on a tour where they lecture about evolution, just wander around on your own. It's a lot of fun, and the information at each exibit is a big help.

Answer 3

Easy- a long time ago, dinosaurs roamed the earth. They lived for a long time, doing all kinds of dinosaur things ( insert what you like here). But the weather changed, and dinosaurs were very sensitive to the weather, and it got to hard for them to survive, so many of them died. We can see some of their bones at museums, and sometimes they find dinosaur bones looking in various places around the world.

Something like that. I tried to focus on the cool things about dinosaurs with my kids, and not the specifics of how they existed, evolution, etc. Usually kids love dinosaurs, and are satisfied with general answers.

Answer 4

No I am sorry but you can't. The christian religion gives the bible as 6000 year sold and the dinosaurs died out 65million yrs ago.
Maybe you should give them both the bible story , and evolution theory. as they are going to be taught evolution in school.
Evolution is not something you can hide from them, and they will realize you kept it from them. The Catholic Church has already come out as supporting the theory of evolution as how humans got here, yet have god given the credit for evolution. So it's inevitable that they will come to understand and know evolution. whether they believe it is up to them. not telling them about evolution is like trying to convince them Santa clause is still real when they get 20.
I think kids are well able to understand and make a decision about religion and evolution.

Answer 5

since no one really knows what the truth is, tell them that they have been found on earth extinct from god creating a new earth for better. science is not exact and evolution and design are going to be fought over from the time man is on earth. if we evolved from the apes, then why are apes still around? carbon dating has been recntly showed to be proved wrong and if you look at people all around you. some will have features that look like the cavemen and other man found. every culture has differant features and they man show up somewhere in a find and thought to be the first man or something. according to the bible, the earth would only be 6,000 years old. just tell them god made all kinds of creatures from man to animals to bugs to trees.

Answer 6

More importantly, as your children grow up, stress the fact that evolution is a theory--not fact. There is no evidence in the fossil record that supports the theory of evolution.

Answer 7

These were special and very large animals that lived a long time ago. we think that something went wrong and they all died. Now we sometimes find their bone buried in the ground. We can see the bones in books and museums. Good artists have looked at the old bones and drawn pictures of how they must have looked.

Answer 8

Just tell them there were dinosaurs along time ago. { Mommy where did I come from, well honey, cuse Betty came from L.A. and I want to know where I came from} Just answer the questions, they can get a history lesson later, or a book!

Answer 9

Just like you would explain a cow or dog. It is simple. They are no longer living. It has nothing to do with evolution in my opinion. They exist and all died off, period. There was an ice age where they all froze to death.

Answer 10

no evolution involved inthis one-Dinosaurs existed one day, the next they were gone. pretty much proven i think-meteorite, ice caps melted.
I think the one to worry about which puzzles me is evolution from apes, now explain that one to a child.