Secretly a Dinosaur: What Kids Teach Us About Resilience in Education
- Catherine Addor
- Apr 27
- 2 min read
Updated: May 4
I came across a meme today that stuck with me. It said:
A child told his sad friend, “It’s okay to be sad. Sad stands for Secretly A Dinosaur.” Then he let out a big roar.
And I couldn’t stop thinking about it, because there’s something powerful beneath the humor.
What if we looked at education through that lens?
What if, instead of rushing to fix every challenging moment, we gave space for feelings, while gently re-framing them? What if we taught kids not just facts and figures but how to take ownership of their emotions and see sadness, frustration, or fear as part of the process, and sometimes even a little bit magical?
Here's what that moment reminds us:
Emotional intelligence begins early. Children are incredibly perceptive. They don’t need to be told how to feel better; they often need the room to feel and a little creative spark to remind them they’re not alone.
Imagination is a tool, not a distraction. That child didn’t dismiss his friend’s sadness. He transformed it. In education, we can do the same. Let’s not silence imagination in favor of rigor; invite it in. It’s where problem-solving starts.
Connection matters more than correction. The roar wasn’t about fixing sadness; it was about sharing a moment. Teachers, parents, and leaders: sometimes the best thing we can do is sit beside someone, acknowledge the hard stuff, and be with them.
As educators, we often focus on standards, assessments, and outcomes. But let's not forget: our students are humans first. They will remember the adults who saw them, listened, and encouraged their wildest, most creative coping methods.
So the next time a student seems off, instead of asking what’s wrong, maybe we ask: “What kind of dinosaur are you today?”
At Addor-ation Innovation, we believe education should be about nurturing the whole child; the thinker, the feeler, the dreamer. Because sometimes, being 'Secretly A Dinosaur' is what a child needs to roar through a tough day.
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