The Best Dinosaur Toys

People have been fascinated by dinosaurs since the first massive fossils were discovered. The toy industry has been keeping up with this fascination and has consistently created some great toys that help children learn about the prehistoric creatures.

Buying Guide for Dinosaur Toys

Why buy dinosaur toys?

Playing with dinosaur toys provides specific benefits for your child that not all toys offer. For example, they can learn about the history of our planet and find out that things haven’t always been the way they are now. Also, when kids play with dinosaur toys, they often get to learn the names and characteristics of these creatures that once roamed the Earth. In turn, this may serve as a benefit to their cognitive development in an engaging way. Finally, dinosaur toys are a fun way to stimulate children’s imagination and creativity by allowing them to create stories about the different kinds of dinosaurs they have in front of them.

What should you look for in dinosaur toys?

• Learning Moments: If you’re a parent or guardian, it’s important that you find a toy that not only provides ample fun but that can teach your child a thing or two about the history in their hands. Some of the coolest dinosaur toys and bundles feature educational properties, like reading material, to gauge your child’s interest in learning from an early age and strengthen their interest in a newfound dino collecting hobby.
• Safety: It’s also imperative that the toy you buy is safe and accommodating for your child’s health. If you’re buying for a toddler, refrain from toys that are too small and could be mistakenly swallowed if you aren’t in the room to supervise. The same is to be said for bundles that feature small or loose accessories. Overall, make sure your toy is crafted from non-toxic materials that are up to the task of daily play. Additionally, if you’re buying a battery-operated toy, make sure the overall construction aims to keep any wires or batteries firmly concealed inside the product.
• Single vs. Batch: There’s a fair amount to consider when buying a single toy or a bundle of toys. For starters, take a look at the surface quality of the two products. Manufacturers tend to put more focus on the overall design of a single, larger dinosaur figurine. Those qualities are amplified on a larger toy because the errors would be a lot more noticeable. Of course, just because a bundle typically features smaller toys does not mean that there will be a glaring dip in quality.

How can you introduce dinosaurs to toddlers and preschoolers?

Along with using dinosaur toys and activities, you may also want to stock your child’s bookshelf with age-appropriate dinosaur-themed books. Choose books that name and describe various dinosaurs, the periods in which they lived, and how paleontologists study their fossils. Your child may also enjoy outings to dinosaur exhibits and films that may be available at your local museum. 

Our Picks for the Best Dinosaur Toys

Pros: This activity set from Toyk combines your child’s love for dinosaurs with the excitement of a race car track. The kit includes 144 track pieces, two dinosaurs, two LED dinosaur vehicles, eight traffic signs, a bridge, and other elements that will encourage your child’s creativity. The cars travel through the curves and bends of the course with flashes of red and blue lights. The set also includes trees, signs, and park gates that all work to bring this prehistoric racing trip to life.

Cons: The necessary AA batteries are not included. You may go through quite a few batteries too. 

Bottom Line: Your young dinosaur fans will be thrilled with this race-themed park set. The track is easy to assemble and reassemble, so you can mix up the configuration of the path to increase the excitement. Stock up on batteries and get playing! 

 

Pros: This bundle from TEMI Store offers kids nine different dinosaur toys to play with. Included in the batch are small-scale but lovingly crafted versions of everything from the Tyrannosaurus rex to the velociraptor and so on. In addition to an exciting lineup of dinosaurs, this bundle also features a Dino Activity Mat for kids to explore and stage their battles. All of this is packaged in a sturdy carrying case that makes cleanup and transportation effortless.

Cons: At 31.5 inches x 27.6 inches, the activity mat is smaller than it seems in the images.

Bottom Line: This activity set is a great choice if you want your child to learn about dinosaurs by name and appearance. The hand-painted figures look realistic, and the set works well for indoor or outdoor use.

 

Pros: This six-pack of brightly colored, beautifully-crafted dino cars is a great gift for kids who love dinosaurs. The set includes six of your dino fan’s favorites: T-Rex, triceratops, stegosaurus, ankylosaur, pterosaur, and velociraptor. They’re made from sturdy plastic and designed to withstand all the playtime fun your dinosaur lover wants to enjoy. The simple pull-back-and-go dinosaur cars are easy to operate and are approximately 5 inches long, perfect for ages 3 to 5.

Cons: Some users may feel that the actual toys are smaller than they seem in the close-up images.

Bottom Line: This set makes a perfect gift for kids who would love to combine the excitement of race cars with their love of dinosaurs. With these dino-themed cars, children can learn about the different dinosaurs while enjoying the exhilaration of a high-speed race! And as a bonus, grownups can enjoy getting a fascinating gift for their kids that’s also easy on their wallets.

 

Pros: This set of large, easy-to-grasp figurines have realistic features to provide your dino-lover hours of creative fun. It includes six exciting dinosaur types: T-Rex, pterodactyl, triceratops, brachiosaurus, giganotosaurus, and velociraptor. The toys are made of sturdy yet soft rubber and have no sharp corners or edges that can injure your child. However, they can also survive children’s repeated rough play and are difficult to break.

Cons: So, we have another case of dinosaur toys being smaller than they seem in the photos! Some of the close-up pics may look like the toys are taller than the kids playing with them when they are actually between 13 and 17 inches tall.

Bottom Line: These dinosaur figurines are great for imaginative play and early learning. If you are looking for an exciting gift that’s sure to bring smiles to the faces of dinosaur enthusiasts (or teachers!), consider these toys. However, keep in mind that they are each just over a foot tall and not as large as the zoomed-in pictures may seem.

 

Pros: Meet Spino the Dino, the light-up walking dinosaur! This savage predator uses three supplied AA batteries and can be turned on and off with a simple toggle switch. Spino’s realistic jaws open as he roars, his tongue and eyes glow, and his spiky plates flash red, green, and blue. Spino the Dino is 12 inches long and 6 inches tall.

Cons: Once Spino is turned on, he roars constantly! Your young dinosaur fanatic may love it, but the sound can get tiring for adults.

Bottom Line: This action dinosaur toy blends light, motion, and sound to fascinate children of all ages, with a recommended start of age 3. Spino’s loud roaring may be music to your child’s ears, but if you become exasperated by it, there’s always the off switch!

 

Pros: With this three-in-one set from LEGO, kids can create their own pterodactyl, triceratops, or T-rex for a truly hands-on dinosaur experience. The beasts come to life with movable joints and heads, big claws, an opening mouth with pointy teeth, and other accessories that are included in the set. When fully assembled, the triceratops is over 3 inches tall, the T-rex is over 4 inches tall, and the pterodactyl is over 1 inch high, 7 inches long, and 9 inches wide.

Cons: This Lego set can be complicated for young kids, who may need quite a bit of adult help. The recommended age is 7 to 12 years old.

Bottom Line: Put your dino enthusiast at the center of the excitement by giving them the opportunity to construct their own dinosaur. In addition to using the green and beige pieces to build a T-rex, triceratops, or pterodactyl, the set also includes an accompanying dinosaur prey in the form of a buildable rib cage.

Final Thoughts

When it comes to dinosaur toys, there is such a wide variety to choose from, all with the potential to entertain, educate, and stimulate the imagination. Whether you’re looking for dino-themed action figures, books, playsets, or a mixture of various types, our picks offer exciting activity options for any young dinosaur lover.