Dinosaurs are popular with kids of all ages, and you might be surprised to find out how many different kinds of dinosaur toys are out there. There truly is something for any age: from snuggly stuffed animals and figurines for toddlers to models and educational science kits for older children.
Since choosing the right toy can be time-consuming, you’ll find the process to be much quicker if you refer to our guide.
No matter how old your dinosaur lovers are, we can help you find the best dinosaur toys for them.
Top 14 Dinosaur Toys Comparison Chart
There’s a Dinosaur Toy for Everyone!
Children often latch onto dinosaurs at a young age. Sometimes this might be a phase, but other times, it is an interest that will stick with them as they grow.
Interest grows and changes, as does skill. So, how can you feed your child’s love of dinosaurs throughout their entire childhood? Look for age appropriate toys that stimulate their brains in new ways.
Keep the following tips in mind, and you’ll be able to find the right toy for your future paleontologist.
- Appropriateness – As with any toy, you need to be sure that the one you’re considering is age appropriate. Some toys come with small parts that can be a choking hazard for a young child. It’s also important to keep siblings in mind because toddlers can quite easily get their hands on older siblings’ things.
Age appropriateness goes the other way, too. If you have older children, make sure that the toy is challenging enough to hold their interest. Also, you have a child that is developmentally delayed or advanced, factor that into your decision as well.
- Make Sure They’ll Actually Use It – Ideally, you want to find a toy that will get a lot of use. Any parent knows that depends on how durable the toy is as well as how much your child is interested in it. You definitely don’t want to buy a toy that your child will find boring. With so many options for dinosaur toys out there, you won’t have to.
- Design – If you want to buy a toy that’s going to stand the test of time, you need to make sure it’s built with quality materials. Getting toys from a well-known brand is a good idea, too, as they will usually have easier return policies and customer support should something go wrong.
Most toys are legally required to have certain safety standards, but it doesn’t hurt to double check. Is the toy non-toxic, even for young kids who might still be putting it into their mouths? BPA and lead-free?
If the toy has multiple pieces, does it come with a carrying case? Is there an easy way to store it?
A lot of these things aren’t necessarily deal breakers, but it’s nice to know if you need to find your own way to store a toy with multiple parts before you buy it.
Special Skills or Interests
Younger children tend to have pretty simple interests. For toddlers, look for a toy they can snuggle or something with wheels that they can push around. As they get a little older, toys that encourage hand-eye coordination and problem-solving are ideal.
Older children may have begun to take a shining to different hobbies. These can easily be tied into their love of dinosaurs, so look for toys that will help your artist learn about how dinosaurs lived, your scientist to learn about how fossils were uncovered, or your engineer to figure out how to put together a dinosaur skeleton.
If your child has a love of dinosaurs and is showing interests in these hobbies, finding the best dinosaur toys will only serve to make them more and more interested and help them hone in on their talents.
Other Things to Keep in Mind
It’s a good idea to make sure your child has a variety of toys so that different parts of their development are stimulated. That’s not to say that you have to find a toy that has everything, but if your child already has a lot of stuffed animals or toy cars, maybe try to find a puzzle or figurine so that they can use their brain in a slightly different way during play.
For dinosaur toys specifically, some are realistic while some are more cartoonish. Which is better is purely depends on the age and personality of the child. Some children might prefer a more realistic looking model while others might want something that’s more colorful and friendly.
Top 14 Best Dinosaur Toys Reviewed
1. Aurora World Dreamy Eyes Stan Dinosaur
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
If your little one is showing an interest in dinosaurs at a really young age or is looking for something to snuggle up with, this stuffed dinosaur is the perfect toy.
This high quality stuffed animal is a bright blue stegosaurus with big, sleepy eyes. He’s about ten inches long from the end of his nose to the tip of his tail, which is the perfect size for a toddler to carry around and cuddle.
Stan is recommended for ages three and up, though younger children will probably enjoy him, too. Be warned that kids younger than three will have a tendency to chew on everything, most notable Stan’s eye. The company has used a special lock washer to make sure the eyes stay in place, but it’s something to keep in mind if you buy this for someone younger than three.
2. 3 Bees & Me Dinosaur Toys Set
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
This gift set includes four brightly colored plastic dinosaurs that are perfect for any preschooler who’s interested in science or dinosaurs. You get a blue brontosaurus, dark green stegosaurus, lime green triceratops, and a red tyrannosaurus rex. The each have wheels instead of legs so that your little paleontologist can push them around like they would a toy car or use them in any other kind of imaginary play.
They are a perfect size for small hands and are easy to grip onto. Plus, they’re durable and will last for years of heavy play. Kids will also work on their motor skills and are encouraged to use their imaginations with these little dinosaurs. Another way you can use these to help you child learn and grow is to focus on the colors. Ask questions like, “Which one is the red dinosaur?” Using toys in this way helps children learn while having fun.
Because they’re BPA, lead, and phthalate free, they’re completely safe for kids and the environment. Boys and girls ages two and up will love this gift set.
3. LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs Building Kit
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – Yes
For older kids looking for some dinosaur fun, this is a great Lego set that allows you to build three different dinosaurs. All dinosaurs are built using a green and beige color scheme and everything you need is included in this set.
First, you can make a Tyrannosaurus rex, complete with poseable joints and head, plus pointy claws and a mouth full of sharp, pointy teeth. Next, make a Triceratops with long, pointed horns and then a pterodactyl with a nine-inch wingspan. All of the dinosaurs have articulated joints so you can pretend to make them stomp around or fly through the air.
There’s also a fourth bonus brontosaurus build available from Lego available online. This is a very versatile kit that will provide hours of fun for any kid who loves dinosaurs and building with Legos.
Be aware that you can only make one dinosaur at a time and each must be taken apart to build the next.
4. Papo The Dinosaur Figure
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
“Pachyrhinosaurus” means “thick-nosed lizard” and this is a great figurine that represents the giant lizard well. With four squat legs and a short tail, the highlight of this figurine and the dinosaur itself is the large spiky, bony neck frill and large bony bump on its nose. While the real version was about five meters long, this one is only about six inches.
Papo makes a variety of figurines and has been in the business for about twenty years, so they know how to make a solid, durable, realistic looking Pachyrhinosaurus. Kids will love creating a dinosaur world by using their imagination and stomping around with this guy.
It’s composed of high-quality plastic that is durable and can stand up to years of play. While this figurine is not poseable, it is designed with a realistic stance that makes it look lifelike.
It is heavy enough to hurt someone if thrown, so if you give it to younger children, make sure you keep an eye on them.
5. Fisher Price Dino Fortress
- Batteries required – Yes
- Small pieces – No
With the Dino Fortress, kids are transported to a world where man and dinosaur lived together as they defend their Dino Castle from danger. There are interactive power pad buttons located throughout the castle that allows the child to fight off the enemy.
To prepare for battle, one power pad rises and lights up the featured dinosaur head to reveal the lava launcher volcano. A second power pad erupts the volcano and sends a boulder to the launcher. Finally, a third power pad fires boulders directly at any intruders.
One dinosaur figurine is included with this kit. It is a great toy for a child who has a lot of figurines and is looking for another way to use them. It will add a whole new level to their play.
Please be aware that this toy does have flying parts that could cause injury if used by unsupervised young children.
6. MindWare Dig It Up! Dinosaur Eggs
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
For a child that is really interested in not only dinosaurs, but fossils, science, and even paleontology, Dig it Up! Dinosaur Eggs are a really cool way to teach them about different species of dinosaur and somewhat recreate how dinosaur fossils are actually found and uncovered.
There are twelve clay eggs in this kit. Each comes with a chisel and an instruction sheet. You also get a guidebook that teaches you more about each dinosaur, how they’re classified, and what traits to look for with each one. One kit can last your child a good amount of time if she’s the only one using it. It makes a great group activity as well in schools or even at a birthday party.
The clay eggs are 3 inches in diameter. You start by soaking them in water then use the chisels to chip away the clay to find the dinosaur. This toy is recommended for ages 4 and up, but be sure to supervise younger children appropriately.
7. Schleich Tyrannosaurus Rex
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
This Tyrannosaurus rex figurine is the perfect size for small hands to play with to imagine a time when dinosaurs ruled the earth. It’s hand painted with close attention to detail that’s true to the look, color, and feel of a real Tyrannosaurus.
The plastic is hard and a little rubbery. He’s able to stand up and balance on his hind legs. His lower jaw is hinged so you can open and close it, making him roar, preparing him to attack, or getting him ready to take a bite.
This figure is about five inches tall and eleven inches long from his nose to tip of his tail – a pretty good size! Schleich makes durable, detailed, quality figurines and this T-Rex will withstand rough play and last a long time. While it is realistic looking, it’s not particularly scary. A nice choice for young children.
8. Melissa & Doug Giant T-Rex Dinosaur
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
This is a stuffed animal that’s not exactly cute and cuddly. The colors are bright blues, greens, and browns. This T. rex is posed mid-roar, showing off a mouthful of large felt teeth. The Giant T-Rex Dinosaur stuffed animal from Melissa & Doug is about 32 inches tall and stands on his hind legs.
It is not a fluffy, soft stuffed animal. It’s designed to have more of a realistic look. That certainly doesn’t mean kids can’t treat this as they would any other stuffed animal! You’ll find this dinosaur gets just as much love as his fluffy counterparts.
Toddlers will love this giant dinosaur because it’s almost as big as them! It’s made of a soft polyester fabric that’s durable enough to handle the rough love that young kids tend to use with their favorite toys. Please note, this toy is not built to hold the weight of your child as they will probably try to ride it.
9. National Geographic Ultimate Dinosaur Play Sand
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
Loving dinosaurs is one thing; being into the science of dinosaurs is another story altogether. If you have a child who wants to do more than just play with dinosaur toys, this STEM science kit is a great way to for them to learn and have a lot of fun.
This kit contains special sand that won’t dry out and a tray to play with it in. You also get six dinosaur molds, six dinosaur action figures, a learning guide, and a piece of genuine fossilized dinosaur poop that’s millions of years old.
The learning guide is in full color and teaches your kids tons of facts about dinosaurs while feeding their love of science. It has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. They are so sure you’ll love this kit, If you don’t, they’ll give you your money back.
10. Melissa & Doug Land of Dinosaurs Floor Puzzle
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
This isn’t your average puzzle. With beautiful artwork of a wide range of dinosaurs, this puzzle will keep your preschool aged children occupied for hours. It’s made of 48 large pieces that are composed of thick cardboard that’s treated with an easy to clean surface to keep it looking new and to help them last for a long time. When completely assembled, it’s an impressive four feet long.
This puzzle is a challenge to put together and, once assembled, can be used to teach your kids more about the different species of dinosaurs depicted. Some of those include a Tyrannosaurus Rex, Triceratops, Pterodactyl, and Stegosaurus.
Puzzles are great for young kids because they help with problem-solving skills and hand-eye coordination. A puzzle this big adds an extra element of fun in addition to being educational.
11. Learning Resources Jumbo Dinosaurs
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
These dinosaur figurines aren’t as realistic looking as some of the others that we’ve reviewed, but they look real enough without appearing scary or mean. They’re made out of a hard hollow plastic, but don’t collapse easily when squeezed. They’re solid enough to stand up on their own and the bright colors make them nice for shelving displays.
These dinosaurs each have a different texture, coloring, and shading. They’re a good size for small hands and are durable and made of dishwasher safe plastic.
In this set, you get a T. rex, Brachiosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, and a Raptor. Once thing about these dinosaurs is that they give off quite a strong smell at first. Once they air out a bit, it’s not as noticeable.
12. VTech Switch and Go Dinos Turbo Bronco
- Batteries required – Yes
- Small pieces – No
If you’re looking for a toy that mixes dinosaurs, remote control cars, and shape-shifting robots, you won’t find anything better than this. In its dinosaur form, it resembles a red robotic Triceratops, complete with horns and teeth. An LCD screen displays your child’s choice of dinosaur eyes. There are eight different ones to choose from.
Push the right button on the remote control and the toy transforms from Triceratops to race car. The remote is designed for small hands and works up to 30 feet away from the toy. It also has a turbo boost button for an extra boost of speed. The remote can drive the toy around whether it’s in car or dinosaur form.
You’ll also hear more than 70 sounds and phrases, including some educational dinosaur facts. This toy has a lot of different aspects to it and will keep your child interested for a long time.
13. Melissa & Doug Wooden Stamp Set
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
If you have a child who likes dinosaurs and has an artistic side, this Melissa & Doug Wooden Stamp Dinosaur Set is a perfect choice. They can create full prehistoric scenes with stamps featuring a volcano to create the right environment and seven dinosaurs: Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Pteranodon, Ankylosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Velociraptor.
In addition to the high-quality wooden stamps and convenient storage case, you also get two large ink pads and five colored pencils so your child can really bring their creativity to light.
The kid-friendly, non-toxic ink is supposed to be washable but can sometimes stain clothes. The stamps are the perfect size for little hands and built with the same quality that all Melissa & Doug products are known for.
14. Elenco Edu-Toys Science Tech T-Rex Skeleton
- Batteries required – No
- Small pieces – No
For older kids who enjoy a challenge, the Edu-Toys Science Tech T-Rex Skeleton consists of 51 bone pieces that your child assembles into a true-to-scale replica of the T. rex.
The pieces snap together and do not require glue so it can be taken apart and reused, though you can certainly use hot glue or superglue if you’d rather leave it together. It also comes with a stand so you can display it if you want to. When it’s assembled, it’s a generous 36 inches long.
It’s made of a soft plastic that isn’t brittle and won’t break during assembly. It’s not designed to be played with once it’s put together, but it makes a great display piece for bedrooms, classrooms, or labs.
Final Thoughts
We’ve given you some great tips on how to make sure you’re choosing the best dinosaur toys for your children along with fourteen of the best options out there. It’s really important to consider what your child can do in addition to what the toy can do.
Remember that dinosaurs come in many shapes and forms, whether a fuzzy stuffed animal, a figurine or even a science experiment to help the future paleontologist in your family learn more about these prehistoric creatures.
Our guide makes it easier to find the most age-appropriate toy. All that’s left to do is choose one!
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