By Banksia Bushcare artist Kieran Tapsell

Parents have known for a long time that many children between the ages of four and six develop an obsession with dinosaurs. For the last 30 years, child development scientists have been writing learned papers about it. They have concluded that unlike some other childhood addictions, this one is entirely healthy, encouraging increased knowledge, heightened attention and deeper levels of processing with the result that young dinosaur addicts are smarter.

When I started making some plain white porcelain eggs to put into the giant nests of slain lantana, ochna and senna weeds in the Stanwell Avenue Reserve, I did it as a joke, not realising that I was unwittingly becoming a dealer for dinosaur addicts. Several mothers told me that their children loved coming to the Reserve because they were convinced that the nests were made by dinosaurs, and they were wondering when the eggs would hatch. They needed answers.

Given the scientific evidence that dinosaur addiction produces smart kids, I made dinosaur hatchlings from 15 different species emerging from cracked eggs in the Baby Dinosaur Exhibition in the Reserve. Many new dinosaur species are discovered each year, and addicts need to keep up with developments. I have therefore added to the exhibition another five of the most bizarre species, Kritosaurus, Ankylosaurus, Shamosaurus, Argentinosaurus and Sinornithosaurus.

Parents need not be concerned. Dinosaur addiction is known to pass once the psychological advantages of the obsession have been won. Not only will addicts visiting the exhibition become smarter, but they will also be exercising in fresh air, with added opportunities to learn about modern art, bush regeneration and native Illawarra trees. And there is not a screen in sight.