From painting kits to realistic figures, we've got picks for every dino lover.
We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Dinosaur Dig Kits
Some kids just can’t get enough of dinosaurs. These reptiles fascinate children (and adults) who love adventure, science, and fearsome creatures. The best dinosaur toys can open up a whole new world of knowledge and fun for your dino-obsessed little ones. Dinosaur toys can even help kids learn how to navigate big emotions and scary situations. They can also be a great way to connect with your kids and inspire a love of science.
“Grab the bag of dinosaur toys, and open up a conversation: ‘Tell me about this one—was it a meat-eater or a plant-eater? How do you know? What's this one's name?’” says paleontologist Ashley Hall, outreach program manager at The Museum of the Rockies. “Soon enough, they will be teaching you about dinosaurs and correcting your pronunciations and facts.”
When shopping for the perfect dinosaur toy, it’s important to ensure it’s age-appropriate. To round up the best options on the market for every age, stage, and interest, we spoke with a paleontologist about the benefits of dinosaur toys and play. We made our picks by considering quality, durability, value, toy type, features, and interactivity. Lastly, a pediatric psychologist on our Expert Board reviewed this article for medical accuracy and integrity surrounding what to look for in a dinosaur toy, including age recommendations, types of toys, and more.
Build your own Dinosaur World with this amazing set. It includes 185 pieces: dinosaurs, cars, trees, bridges, track pieces, and more. What we really love is that not only are the dinosaur toys realistic looking, but the track system allows kids to use their imaginations to create all kinds of fun courses. The track pieces can turn left or right, allowing for twists and turns throughout the course. The dino cars light up (batteries not included) and the gate looks just like the one in the Jurassic Park movies. It's sure to keep any dino-obsessed kiddo busy for hours.
This large, multi-piece set doesn’t include a storage case, so you'll need to get a large tub for it.
Younger tots will love to get in on the dino play with the VTech Count and Chomp Dino, designed for kids between 1 and 3 years old. It teaches counting, colors, food, shapes, and more. There are three modes of play. In meal mode, kids feed it discs with different foods drawn on them and the dinosaur will say the food’s name. In counting mode, the dinosaur will count as it’s fed the discs. It also plays more than 130 songs and features five buttons with different colors and shapes. When grown-ups have had enough of the noise, kids can play with it as a pull toy with the power off.
Not all parents appreciate noisy electronic toys, so that's something to consider before you purchase this one. It does have an off switch, in case you need a little peace and quiet.
If there are two things little kids love, it's dinosaurs and press-and-play books—and the Li’l-Gen set has both. It comes with one book and 12 realistic-looking toy dinosaurs. Throughout the interactive book, kids learn about each dinosaur in the set and get to press a button to hear how they might have sounded. It’s the perfect combo of fun and education.
The book and toys can also be purchased as a set with a dinosaur-themed playmat, but that's an additional cost.
For kids who would prefer a pack of several small dinosaurs rather than one big one, we really like the Fisher-Price Imaginext “Jurassic World” Hatchling Gift Set. It comes with six colorful baby dinosaurs that “hatch” out of the toy’s packaging and have movable arms and legs. The toys are fashioned to look like the dinosaurs featured in the “Jurassic World” movies. These toys can spark kids’ imaginations and take them on all kinds of prehistoric adventures.
While the toys aren’t exactly realistic-looking, they are good quality and sized just right for small hands.
While there are plenty of amazing dinosaur toy options for 5-year-olds, we love that the Laradola DIY Dinosaurs offer a fun introduction to multiple STEM skills. The set comes with three buildable dinosaurs (a T. rex, a Triceratops, and a Velociraptor), a toy electric drill with two drill bits, three toy screwdrivers, and several plastic screws. Kids use the tools to put the dinos together. It comes with step-by-step assembly instructions that are easy for kids to follow. Once the toys are put together, the dinosaurs’ limbs and tails can move around, and there’s always the option to take the toys apart again and start all over.
This set includes lots of small pieces, so it's not appropriate for kids younger than age 3 or who are still putting objects in their mouths regularly.
If you have a Magna-Tiles fan in your home, this dinosaur set is sure to be a roaring good time. The Magna-Tiles Dinos construction set includes five dinosaurs of various colors with moveable parts, like legs or tails. The dinosaur figurines measure 3 to 7.5 inches and pair perfectly with the company’s other sets, like Dino World and Dino World XL. Caregivers will love how durable and high-quality these toys are, while kids will love that the dinosaurs can stand up on their own.
Magna-Tiles are on the pricier side, and some kids may be frustrated by the fact that not all of the legs are moveable.
Kids who love dinosaurs and robots will have so much fun with this RC dinosaur. We love that the dinosaur can move forward, roar, shake its head, light up, and even dance and play music. The hand controller has a sleek design that’s easy for kids to use, thanks to clearly marked buttons. The set comes with one T. rex, a remote control, and a small screwdriver to open the battery compartment.
The dino is not rechargeable and requires five AA batteries to run.
For your artsy kid who also loves dinos, this dinosaur painting kit is the perfect pick. It includes 10 white dinosaur dino figurines, two sets of paints, two mixing color palettes, and six paintbrushes for kids to make their favorite reptiles come to life. With two of everything, it makes a great project for siblings or best friends. The handy color mixing chart shows kids how to create unique colors. Once the dinosaurs finish drying, kids can play with their new friends, who stand approximately 5 to 7 inches tall.
The paint is not very high quality and may need multiple coats.
Any dinosaur toy is fun, but realistic ones offer a little extra educational value. We really like Schleich dinosaurs for this reason, especially the T. rex model. The brand is known for its high-quality, durable, and realistic hand-painted figures. This pick also has a movable jaw to add to the pretend-play fun. Kids can play rough with it without worrying about it breaking or the paint wearing off.
Due to their high quality, Schleich figures are on the pricier side for a single figure, but this pick is a collectible, so we think it's worth it.
“Manufacturers that specialize in designing dinosaur toys update their models from year to year to reflect the newest science. I would highly recommend purchasing updated dinosaur models if you can.” - Ashley Hall, paleontologist at The Museum of the Rockies
Spark your future paleontologist or archeologist's imagination by allowing them to excavate their own dinosaurs out of eggs. The Toyk Dinosaur Egg Dig Kit comes with 12 eggs with hidden dinosaurs inside that kids have to dig out using a chisel and brushes. In addition to the eggs (and the dinos inside them), the kit also includes knowledge cards, so kids can learn about the dinosaurs they uncover. Don’t worry, caregivers: The chisel that comes with this kit is not sharp or dangerous. It's a great set for encouraging exploration and sensory play.
This can be a messy activity, so be sure to let your little explorer dig out their dinosaurs outdoors or over a big trash bag for easy cleanup.
This plush friend is adorable and huggable, a must-have cuddle friend for bedtime or naptime. Rex is designed to be squished and loved thanks to his super soft polyester fabric. He's machine washable, durable, and safe for small children. At 11.5 x 7.5 x 9 inches, Rex is also a great size for little kids, big enough to hug but still lightweight enough to bring along everywhere. He makes a great traveling companion, and can even be used as a cushion. His muted blue tones ensure he fits in seamlessly with any bedroom decor.
While this plush toy is safe for little ones to play with, infants should never be put to bed with stuffed animals.
Available in three sizes, the KC Cubs Dinosaur Safari Rug features a fun playscape of dinosaurs, cars, a volcano, a waterfall, and an entire highway. Kids can use their own dinosaurs and vehicles with the rug for endless pretend play. While the rug isn’t cushiony, the mat has a non-slip latex rubber backing to ensure it stays in place. It's a high-quality, durable piece that we expect to last through tons of dino attacks, volcano eruptions, and more.
There's no cushioning in this rug, so you may want to invest in a rug cushion for underneath it if your floors are particularly hard or your child will be using the rug for extended periods.
Why play with a dinosaur toy when you can be a dinosaur yourself? We can’t get enough of this adorable dinosaur costume, which features a full-body suit, shoe covers, and a separate headpiece. The suit has an attached tail with spikes and the toothy headpiece attaches under the chin. As if that’s not cute enough, our favorite part is that this costume also includes a little sound chip that roars, so kids can really get into the part. We also love that it's easy for young kids to put on by themselves, encouraging independent dress-up play. Made by the go-to costume company, Rubies, it comes in a choice of three colors and three sizes.
Costumes typically run small, but be sure to check the sizing chart image on the listing and be prepared to utilize the free return shipping in case you need to swap sizes.
This brightly colored puzzle offers a great value of six puzzles in one. It comes with nine large cubes, and each side is a piece of a different dinosaur puzzle picture, requiring kids to go beyond the standard problem-solving when doing a puzzle. It also allows them to mix and match to create their own silly picture. Each cube piece is sized for little hands to grab, turn, and place. The whole set is made from high-quality wood, including the wooden puzzle base/tray.
While it’s sized for all ages, it may be a bit of a challenge for younger kids.
Crunch, chew, burp—get ready for funny sounds from this T. rex toy that comes with a Pterodactyl friend! The Play-Doh Dino Crew includes three eggs that hold 2.5 ounces of the modeling compound inside. Feed T. rex some Play-Doh to hear him chomp away and watch it fall into his belly and out the south end (toot sounds included). This perfect combination of dinos, arts and crafts, and silly sound effects is sure to be a favorite.
The Play-Doh can be hard to remove from the dino's belly.
This "Jurassic World" 10-inch dinosaur figure is textured and authentic-looking with movable body parts and realistic sounds via a "strike" feature. Caregivers can download the educational “Jurassic World” Facts app, where kids can scan their dinosaurs and see them come to life on screen, learn fun facts, hear different roars, zoom up close on dinosaurs, and more. The Ceratosaurus is one of six dinosaurs in the Camp Cretaceous collection, which includes a T. rex, a Baryonyx, Ankylosaurus, and others.
Each figurine in the collection is sold separately, and they are on the pricier side for a single figure.
This colorful Skip Hop Dino Zoo Phone is great for cultivating an early love of dinos. It has a handle that’s perfect for little hands to hang onto and it features six interactive buttons. The phone lights up, plays songs, roars, rings, says “hello,” and makes chewing sounds. While it does require three AAA batteries, the good news is that they’re included with the purchase. This little phone is the perfect way to introduce your baby to dinos.
Lights and sounds may upset babies with sensory sensitivities. The toy does have two volume settings, which might be helpful.
Inspired by "Jurassic World," this 140-piece set comes with everything kids need to recreate scenes from the movie, including a truck, three minifigures, a dinosaur egg, a helicopter and helipad, and, of course, a large T. rex figure, which is poseable once built. As with any Lego kit, this comes with a guide to walk kids through every step of the building process. This is a starter set: appropriate for kids aging out of LEGO Duplo toys but who aren't old enough for more complex Legos yet.
As with all Lego sets, this pick includes many small parts, so it's not appropriate for kids younger than age 3 or those who are still putting objects in their mouths.
When creating this list, we consulted paleontologist Ashley Hall, outreach program manager at The Museum of the Rockies. We then researched dozens of different dinosaur toys, looking at each toy’s features, value, durability, intended age range, educational value, and versatility. Utilizing market research, trends, and consumer feedback, we assessed dozens of the most popular dinosaur toys available on the market to bring you this round-up of the best dinosaur toys.
While every child has their own favorite dinosaur, according to the American Museum of Natural History, the Tyrannosaurus rex ranks as the most popular. One reason for this is that it’s often featured in movies and TV shows—the T. rex has starred in everything from “Jurassic Park” and “The Flintstones” to “Ice Age 3” and “Night at the Museum”—which leads to character action figures and clothing. Fun facts about the T. rex make it even more intriguing, like that it was more than 19 feet tall, had 50–60 teeth (each the size of a banana!), and could run at 12 miles per hour.
For kids, dinosaurs are sort of where real life and magic meet. Dinosaurs are fascinating and almost fantastical since no human will ever see one, which is the perfect combination for curious little kids. “Children have incredible imaginations and are sponges for learning, so gigantic, toothy, extinct animals that once ruled the Earth millions of years before us satisfies their imagination and curiosity,” says Hall, adding dinosaurs and dinosaur toys act like a gateway to science for many children. The wide variety of dinosaur species means it's a vast area of exploration; once kids know all there is to know about one dinosaur, there’s always another one with its own facts to learn about.
Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 3-year-old and a 5-year-old. She has personal experience in researching and purchasing a variety of children’s products, including dinosaur toys, as her youngest daughter absolutely loves them.
Dinosaurs and other dangers: Navigational play in a world of trouble, International Journal for Research on Extended Education, 2017.
Types of Dinosaurs. American Museum of Natural History.
Gem Dig Toys 10 Terrifying T-Rex Facts! National Geographic Kids.