Prehistoric playtime is always going to be a firm favourite of children both big and small, but what are the best toy dinosaurs out there?
The long-lasting appeal of the extinct scaly reptiles is still going strong - unsurprisingly, there is a dino-themed toy on the list of this year's top toys - and most little dino fans (and their parents) already know their triceratops from their stegosaurus. And that'll be good news for many, as it's been shown that those with 'intense interest' in dinosaurs have higher intelligence.
Whether you have a little dinosaur enthusiast in your life, or are looking to introduce your little one to the prehistoric world, these are the best dinosaur toys around right now. We made our choices by consulting some very serious dinosaur enthusiasts (our kids, nephews, and Godchildren), taking into account parent reviews, and making sure we had a balance of fun, educational and imaginative options on the list.
The best toy dinosaurs you can buy right now
Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.
Age suitability: 12m+
This set of four chunky wooden puzzles are a great introduction to the world of dinosaurs for little ones. Bright and colourful, they'll help to teach your child patience, logic, distinction and grow their fine motor skills. Each piece has smooth edges and is coated in non-toxic paint.
Age suitability: 3+
With different buttons for eating, stomping, and roaring sounds, and a talkback feature where you can record your own voice, this toy is not just fun, but also encourages auditory skills. It also has light-up eyes and movable arms, which help to develop hand-eye coordination.
Age Suitability: 4+
This Jurassic World themed set is perfect for little dino fans (even if they're not quite old enough for the movie). With 140 pieces and three minifigures, this LEGO set not only encourages problem solving and imaginative play, but can also help to boost fine motor skills.
Age Suitability: 5+
If you're little one has energy to burn, they'll love having to smash open this dinosaur egg, and squelch through the slime to find the dino inside, which also lights up and roars. There's three to collect, including a T-rex, Spinosaurus and Stegosaurus.
Age suitability: 3+
Does it have a crest? Does it have feathers? Does it have a beak? The classic guessing board game has been reimagined for the Natural History Museum, helping kids to identify dinosaurs. A brilliant gift idea for a little dinosaur enthusiast.
Age suitability: 18m+
What could be cuter than a pet dinosaur? Suitable for toddlers, it wags its tail, shakes its head, lights up and plays a tune. The remote control is easy to use and has big buttons - perfect for little hands. There's also a choice of volume levels for grown-ups, as well as optional silent mode.
Age suitability: 3+
This Melissa & Doug dinosaur-themed reusable drawing and magnet activity kit will provide hours of fun for any dino fan. With 41 magnets and five dry-erase markers, the set contains a built-in magnetic board and a 13-page activity book.
Age Suitability: 3+
There's a reason this T-rex truck toy is an Amazon bestseller. Not only is it a truck with a T-rex head, it also comes with eight dinosaur figures of different sizes and a large playmat to help kids imagine their own dinosaur world.
Age suitability: 3+
This Paleontologist Play Set is sure to be a big hit with little explorers. The sturdy wooden kit comes with everything an aspiring paleontologist needs, from a pickaxe to a kaleidoscope magnifying glass to examine their finds.
Age suitability: 3+
Using the chunky screwdriver, it's easy for kiddies to assemble the dinosaur body parts to create a tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, and stegosaurus. This helps to develop fine motor skills, hand-to-eye coordination and encourages imaginative play.
Age Suitability: 3+
It's all well and good having loads of dinosaur toys, but you'll need somewhere to store them. This set includes 16 dinosaur figures, two pull-back cars, and a playmat - all of which fit into the durable storage case. A great first dino gift idea.
Age Suitability: 3-5 years
A dinosaur themed take on the classic dominoes game, this mini game is perfect for days out or holidays as its travel size means it will easily fit into a handbag or backpack. It'll help to improve your child's matching and observational skills and teach them about taking turns and fair play.
Age suitability: 3+
This kit is a perfect choice for children who enjoy being creative and watching things grow. The dinosaur garden comes with wooden dinosaur shapes, plus eggs, a tree, and a signpost. They can each be decorated with jumbo watercolour pencils and a paintbrush.
Age suitability: 3-7 years
Helping your child to experience competitive play, this dinosaur lotto game will boost their matching and memory skills, while also teaching them how to take turns and how to be a gracious winner (or good loser).
Age suitability: 3-5 years or 6-8 years
What's better than playing with dinosaurs? Becoming a dinosaur of course! Dino-mad kids will adore being able to play dinosaur in this ride-in costume. It's machine washable on a cool gentle cycle, but don't pop it in the tumble dryer or iron it.
We also spoke to Peter Jenkinson, from Toyology, which provides news and reviews on the latest toys available, about what makes toy dinosaurs so popular, "Second only to vehicles, dinosaurs are the favourite toys by a country mile and they're most certainly more gender-neutral than ever. The combination of children reading dinosaur books and kid-friendly films and TV shows leads them to this intense interest - which they then discover that many other kids share."
And if you want Peter's advice about the best toy dinosaurs to go for, he says: "The best toy dinosaur should really be BIG and if you can find one that roars, all the better!"
Why do kids love dinosaurs so much?
Finding the answer to why kids love dinosaurs so much is not easy as there are so many variables, and ultimately, it depends on who you ask. Speak to a palaeontologist, and they'll argue that it's as simple as dinosaurs being awesome, fantastical creatures. Speaking to the Financial Times on the topic, Steve Brusatte, a professor at the University of Edinburgh said: "These were fantastic creatures, many of immense size, with horns and spikes and dagger teeth. I think they are more fantastic than any dragons or unicorns or sea monsters invented by humans in myths and legends, but dinosaurs were real! You can see their fossils at museums."
Beyond that, there's also the fact that kids can see dinosaurs everywhere; in the toy shop, on TV, on clothes, in books, even in food form. Seeing this at a time in their development when imaginative play is so important, it's no wonder many kids become obsessed with these seemingly other-worldly creatures.
One thing that is generally agreed upon though is the benefit an 'intense interest' can have on development. In a report called The development of conceptual interests in young children, researchers found that these interests lead to a number of benefits including 'increased knowledge and persistence', 'heightened attention', and 'deeper levels of processing'.
Continue reading
15 things your kids are obsessed with (that secretly drive you INSANE)
How to make a paper dinosaur - how will you make yours look?
How to make a dinosaur cake decoration your kid will adore
-
'All I wanted was a baby - so I did it on my own' Mum shares her very unique journey to parenthoodSarah Myers had always wanted to be a mum but time was running out
-
The top 20 parenting wins that 'keep parents going', says new studyBeing a parent is difficult, but caregivers are sharing the little wins that keep them going - and it really is these small things that help everyone through the hard days.
-
18 top Christmas toys 2024 - including LEGO, Tonies, Stitch and moreThese are our expert-picked top Christmas toys for 2024, based on our in-house tests
-
Pixie Supremes Magic Mirror review: a thoughtful and engaging toy that is really something specialPunteha and her daughter Amelia tested out the new Pixie Supremes Magic Mirror from Magic Mixies and were majorly impressed - here's why
-
Minions Ultimate Fart Blaster review: kids will find it hilarious, but is it worth the money?Mum Stephanie tested the new Minions Ultimate Fart Blaster toy with her son, Ted and explains whether it's worth the £30 price tag
-
Smart Ball Kick Tracker is 'perfect for kids who are just getting into football' according to our testersFind out how mum-of-three Heidi, and her ten-year-old daughter Alba got on when reviewing the Smart Ball Kick Tracker
-
StoryPhones review: can these storytelling headphones stand out against Tonies and Yoto? We put them to the testI reviewed the StoryPhones storytelling headphones with a four-year-old and was pleasantly surprised by their versatility
-
I loved this Connetix Road set - but is it really worth the price tag?With an RRP of £135, is the new Road Creative Pack from Connetix worth your money, or should you opt for a cheaper alternative?
-
Freezy Cakez Fridge review: kids will adore this engaging playset, but does it offer value for money?Find out what our tester Punteha and her daughter, Amelia, thought of the Freezy Cakez Fridge playset from Cookeez Makery, and whether it's worth the £40 price tag
-
Yoto launches Harry Potter cards in response to huge demand - and they're available nowKids can finally listen to their favourite Harry Potter stories, read by Stephen Fry, on their Yoto audio players
