Buying guide for Best dinosaur toys

Every child — boy or girl — goes through the dinosaur phase. Some kids don’t outgrow it at all and end up pursuing careers in paleontology or zoology later in life. While being a Velociraptor trainer isn’t a career yet, you can invest in dinosaur toys now to keep your kid’s interest piqued.

Dinosaur toys are exciting, educational, ferocious, and sometimes cute. There’s quite a bit of diversity out there in terms of toy type, not to mention the variety in dinosaurs. Enjoy a toothy T-Rex figurine or snuggle up with a plush Stegosaurus. Even if you end up with a nondescript dinosaur toy, at the very least you’re indulging your child with a toy that encourages open-ended and imaginative play.

Some dinosaur toys made for infants through three years old are made of BPA-free, nontoxic, food-grade plastic. Check the packaging or manufacturer’s website for more details.

Considerations

Age range

Dinosaur toys are made for infants through adolescents. Because some dinosaur toys have teeth, claws, and hard physical features, it’s important to pay attention to the toy’s intended age range for play. Generally speaking, the younger the intended age, the more likely you’ll find dinosaurs with soft features and rounded edges.

Appeal

If you’re thinking about getting a dinosaur toy, it’s probably because your kid has already expressed interest in the creatures. To select the most appealing toy, try to find their favorite dinosaur. T-Rex, Brontosaurus, and Triceratops, for example, are some of the most popular dinosaurs. If a movie sparked their interest in dinosaurs, opt for a popular character from the film.

Accuracy

There are some dinosaur toys available with accurate or realistic details. These are sometimes classified as educational tools are used in science classes. These dinosaur toys are often textured and finely painted; they’re created to be as true to life as possible, or at least what scientists believe they looked like.

Types of dinosaur toys

Figurines

Dinosaur figurines can be as diminutive as a couple of inches or as tall as a couple of feet. Figurines often come in sets, either with multiple dinosaurs or with a variety of accessories. They’re usually made from hard plastic or rubber, and of all the dinosaur toys these have the most detailed and realistic features.

Interactive

Luckily for you, these prehistoric critters don’t bite — but if you choose an interactive dinosaur toy, they might snarl back. Simpler versions of these toys produce sound effects when squeezed, whereas more complex dinosaur toys can respond to voice commands.

Plushies

If you’re looking for a ferocious beast on the softer side, choose a dinosaur plushie. These toys are soft enough for kids to fall asleep with, and some even double as pillows. Sets of dinosaur plushies are also common, which can also come with a dedicated case.

Building toys

Bring a dinosaur to life with building sets from Playmobil or LEGO Creator. In some sets, you can build a dinosaur from the ground up. In others, you can build the setting or enclosure for dinosaur figurines. These sets are generally intended for kids ages eight and up because they have smaller pieces and require skill to assemble.

Expect to pay more for licensed dinosaur toys inspired by blockbuster movies like Jurassic Park.

FAQ about dinosaur toys

Q. Won’t my kids be afraid of how ferocious some dinosaur toys appear?

A. It depends on how comfortable your kid is with scary creatures. If big teeth and claws are intimidating, stick to dinosaur toys with friendly faces with smiles and softer features. Softer dinosaur toys, such as plushies, also tone down the ferocity with felt teeth or claws.

Q. Are dinosaur toys scientifically accurate?

A. Some dinosaur toys are more focused on educational benefits, such as those packaged with information cards or trivia games. Other dinosaur toys, such as simple figurines, are geared more toward enjoyable, open-ended play and may not have accurate or well-defined features.

Q. Are dinosaur toys collectible?

A. It’s hard to predict which toys will be valuable and collectible one day. While some original Land Before Time and Jurassic Park memorabilia is worth money today, it’s not the greatest predictor as to which dinosaur toys will be valuable tomorrow. With that said, there’s a market and a collector for everything, so do your research online if you want the insider scoop.