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15 Best Dinosaur Toys of 2020

From Barney to Jurassic Park and more, boys and girls of all ages love dinosaurs. Modern technology allows dinosaur toys to make cool noises, walk and just generally behave like a virtual prehistoric pet. But low-tech classics like dinosaur stuffed animals and plastic dino toys also never go out of style.

Dinosaur toys are great for kids who are interested in nature, science, animals and more. But finding the right toy for your child can be complicated. After all, there are many options available, and you want to make sure you find the dinosaur toy for your child’s age, interests and more.

Here are the 15 best dinosaur toys available, as well as a complete buyer’s guide updated for 2020:

Prextex 12 Pack of Large Plastic Dinosaurs and Dinosaur Book

Looking for dino-sized fun? These 12 bright, durable plastic dinos include a varied mix of recognizable favorites. Made from solid plastic, the dinos average about five-inches tall with the tallest reaching seven inches.

Plus, the set includes a fun and educational book filled with colorful illustrations and fun dinosaur facts. Each dino in the set has its own page in the book. Plus, kids can see an easy size comparison using objects they understand like cars, houses, etc.

WoWWee Blaze Untamed Raptor

Meet Blaze, a pint-sized dino buddy. He gently but securely grips your finger for easy traveling. Plus, he makes over 40 different motions and sounds. He roars, chomps his jaws and even lets out “dino gas” which is sure to make kids of all ages laugh.

Blaze has two modes: tame and untamed. In tame mode, the little raptor purrs, nuzzles and cuddles up against your hand. But in untamed mode he’s hot-tempered and feisty. Kids have to touch his “tame” switch to calm him down and befriend him.

ToyVelt Transport Carrier Dinosaur Kids Toy

Does your child love dinosaurs and vehicles? This 16-inch long toy transport truck has seven compartments with snap close lids on both sides. Additional space on the toy holds even more.

Set includes six different plastic dinosaur toys which neatly fit into the truck’s containers. Designed for kids ages three and up. Overall, the kit is durable, easy to organize and simple to transport thanks to a built-in carrying handle.

Best Choice Products Walking T-Rex Toy Figure

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Bring the mighty Tyrannosaurs rex home with this animated toy. He roams and patrols around any flat, open area. Plus, he growls, roars and even flashes cool lights in his eyes! Made from non-toxic and durable ABS plastic.

About 14 inches long by four inches wide and six inches high, this big guy has a detailed design with bold green colors and plenty of texture. He’s fun and just a tiny bit frightening with his big mouth, long tongue and rows of teeth. With the push of a button, he lets out a mighty roar! (Although be warned: The roar is repetitive and can drive parents bonkers pretty quickly.)

Jet Creations Inflatable Tyrannosaurs

Why wouldn’t you want an inflatable dinosaur? This inflatable T-Rex from Jet Creations is 43 inches long, 17 inches wide and 37 inches high when completely inflated. A full-color printing process allows for plenty of detail.

This is one durable dinosaur, too. He’s made from heavy-duty NON-7 Phthalate Vinyl with 100% RF welding. Strong enough to withstand rough play from kids. Plus, a repair kit is included to quickly fix any holes, tears or other punctures.

Memtes Take-a-Part 17 Piece Dinosaur Toy

This robotic-looking dinosaur toy can be taken apart and reassembled using the included toy electric drill and muzzle screwdriver. The 17-piece set can create three different dinosaurs and two toy guns. Also includes eight realistic lights and sounds.

Perfect for boys and girls who like building. Regular use helps improve hand-eye coordination, safe tool use and more for kids between the ages of three and six.

Boley 12-Pack Educational Dinosaur Toy

One dozen durable and flexible dinosaur toys. Each dinosaur is made from BPA-free plastic able to withstand rough play. At the same time, the dinos are colorful and detailed enough for use in a diorama or science project.

Large and non-toxic, these toys are safe for toddlers but still fun for older kids. They can be used inside, outside and even underwater. Sizes of the dinos vary with the tallest at nine inches. They work great as stocking stuffers, party favors or “just because.”

Joyin Toy 18 Pieces 6″ to 9″ Educational Realistic Dinosaur Figures with Movable Jaws

With every single dinosaur in this 18-piece set, your child will get a high-quality and play-ready dinosaur figurine. Each dinosaur figurine is between six and nine inches tall, so they’re roughly the same size as most other dinosaur toys.

The only issue with these figurines is that they don’t have any action-figure style articulated joints. The plastic materials are pliable, but not fully movable in the way that some dinosaur lovers may want to play.

Prextex Realistic Looking 7″ Dinosaurs Pack of 12 Large Plastic Assorted Dinosaur Figures with Dinosaur Book

These dinosaurs are aggressively colored and ready for outdoor play. Each figurine is expressive, lightweight, and perfect for dinosaur lovers everywhere.

The main drawback of these dinos is that their tails — especially the thinner areas — are prone to snapping or becoming irrevocably bent at an awkward angle. So, it may make sense to play carefully with these dinos.

Windy City Novelties LED Light Up and Walking Realistic Dinosaur with Sound

When your child activates their dinosaur companion and sets it loose, they’ll have an entire afternoon of entertainment ready to go. The dinosaur lumbers around, roaring at its own preference. All the while, its spines light up, providing a warning to all who dare to go near.

Of course, you’ll need to supply batteries to the dino to make it work. Because of all its moving parts, you may find that the more your child enjoys playing with their dinosaur, the more you’ll be dipping into your battery reservoir.

Aokesi 50 Piece Educational Dinosaur Playset

This dinosaur toy set boasts a whopping 50 pieces for endless hours of fun and imaginative play for your little dinosaur lover. This set is suitable for children ages three and up. It features 20 realistic looking dinosaur figurines, 29 trees, and rock for your child to create their own Jurassic world and one activity mat.

The dinosaurs are durable, non-toxic plastic, are hand-painted, and uniquely textured. The tallest dinosaurs stand about two inches in height. This collection features a variety of dinosaur species that existed in the prehistoric world.

What’s even better? All of it fits into a handy clear plastic storage case with easy to carry handle so your little one can take their dinosaurs with them on the go and easy cleanup.

Warm Fuzzy Toys 3D Viewer (Dinosaur)

This toy works like a Viewmaster and comes with three realistic dinosaur photo disks for a total of 21 different full colored 3D dinosaur pictures. It has a press lever that is easy for little hands to push down without needing assistance so that they can switch the pictures.

This toy is great for car rides, just before nap, or a few minutes of quiet play. Children will have fun switching from picture to picture and the visual appeal of the realistic 3D images. The set includes both the disks and the 3D viewer, so you don’t need to make any additional purchases.

Dig Up Dinosaur Fossil Eggs

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This kit is a lot of fun for a variety of different ages. It’s a great STEM activity for children and cultivates a love of science. The kit features 12 dinosaur eggs, each with a different dinosaur inside of it all, which are real species that existed.

If you have younger children, soak the eggs in water for 15 minutes before play to make it easier for them to chisel the dinosaurs out of the eggs and reduce frustration.

The kit also includes 12 learning cards, one for each dinosaur, so when your child chisels their dinosaur from the egg, they can match it with the corresponding card and learn more about their dinosaur. It also includes 12 combination chisels and brushes so your child can chisel out and then brush off and clean their dinosaur so that they can play with it.

Jurassic World Extreme Chompin’ T. Rex

If your kiddo is a fan of Jurassic World, this would be an excellent gift for them. The T-rex stands 7.75 inches high and 17.25 inches long. The sculpting and coloring are realistic, and a push-button opens the jaw revealing huge teeth and tongue. This T-rex also features adjustable feet and arms. The age range is children three to six years old, but older children may enjoy it too.

Kids will have fun using the push button jaw action to let the T-rex take a chomp out of smaller dinosaurs. This toy also gets very high marks in durability and sturdiness and can stand up well to rough play.

The only thing that would make this product better is if it made sounds, but otherwise, it’s a great toy for fans of the Jurassic World franchise. It’s perfect for recreating favorite scenes or igniting your child’s imaginative play.

21 Pieces Dinosaur Figures Set with Movable Jaws

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This dinosaur action figures toy set features 14 realistic hand-painted dinosaur figures, including the Tyrannosaurus Rex. The dinosaurs are between five and ten inches tall, depending on the type of dinosaur it is. These dinosaurs are quality BPA-free durable vinyl. Unlike many other dinosaur figures, these dinosaurs feature movable jaws, necks, joints, and tails for more fun and realism.

In addition to the dinosaurs, the toy set also features four rock and plant pieces, two trees, fossil and egg props, and a play map that is 29.5 by 24.4 inches. Your child can design their own Jurassic scene and change it; however, they want to extend the imaginative play. The large size of the dinosaurs makes them easier and more fun to play with than smaller dinosaurs. Their size also allows for more detailed designs than can be added to smaller sized dinosaur figures.

It comes in a sturdy full-colored box that you can keep for storing the playset between uses. Each dinosaur comes wrapped in individual plastic bags.

Frequently Asked Questions about Dinosaur Toys

While some kids like just about anything related to dinosaurs, most will have more specific interests. In order to find the best dinosaur toy, you’ll want to narrow the search a bit by asking a few questions about your intended purchase. Here are a few answers to common questions about dinosaur toys.

What are the Benefits of Dinosaur Toys?

Dinosaur toys are rather unique because dinosaurs were actually real. So dinosaur toys are often a great entry point to teaching children about a whole variety of subjects. There is scientific and historical information which can be taught (unlike, for example, with superheroes.)

There are two major subjects related to dinosaurs: how they lived and how we learned about their existence.

Kids might be interested in dinosaurs as animals. What did dinosaurs eat? How did they live their daily lives? Learning about dinosaurs helps kids understand animals in general. Dinosaur toys for kids interested in animals should be on the more realistic side. Choose detailed dino models over motorized animatronic cyber-dino toys.

On the other hand, some kids are much more interested in the modern-day discovery aspect of dinosaurs. These kids likely relate to the Dr. Grant character from Jurassic Park. How are the fossils discovered? What scientific methods are used to learn about these ancient creatures? Learning about paleontology introduces kids to concepts like the scientific method and other STEM skills.

For children who like the paleontology aspect of dinosaurs, consider toy fossil hunting kids. You might also be able to visit a dig site in area, or check out some fossils at your local museum. Toys, where the child assembles toy dinosaur bones to create a complete skeleton, are also popular.

But dinosaurs don’t have to always be about real-world subjects. Many teachers and other education professionals have noticed that dinosaurs are often very effective at boosting creativity and imagination in kids. Many kids love writing about dinosaurs, drawing dinosaurs and otherwise just enjoying creative dinosaur-related play.

What are the Different Types of Dinosaur Toys?

Many dinosaur toys are low-tech classics. You probably played with similar toys yourself as a child! Durable plastic dinosaurs will probably always be fun for kids of all ages.

When shopping for a young child, you’ll want to make sure the dino toys are made from durable, non-toxic plastic. Babies and toddlers are drawn to bright colors (which are really the only types of colors they can see). So they respond to sets where each dino is a different bright color.

Older kids often like more complex and challenging dino toys. Model kits where toy bones are used to build a skeleton are often popular. Additionally, once kids can read, they often like toys which include fun factual information about dinosaurs.

High-tech, electronic dinosaur toys are also widely available and very popular. Dinosaurs which walk or patrol around a room and otherwise engage with kids in real-time are often a great way to slowly introduce the concept of pet ownership. Plus, electronic toys with a high degree of interactivity can become a dino buddy kids will bond with.

Are Dinosaur Toys Dangerous?

Not particularly. As with any toy, the main safety issue is age appropriateness. Above all, make sure the toy won’t be a choking hazard for the child. For babies and young children, dinosaur toys should have no small pieces, even if they seem securely attached to a larger part of the toy.

Also make sure the toy isn’t too hard. Some of the larger plastic dinosaurs can pack quite a wallop. Young kids often wave their toys around wildly, which can accidentally cause injury. The younger the child, the softer the toy should be. Look for soft, hollow plastic toys and stuffed animals.

Make sure any motorized toys can be operated by the child. While some electronic toys only have a simple on/off switch, others have more programmable play modes which younger kids might be confused by.

How Realistic Should Dinosaur Toys Be?

Dinosaur toys vary from scientifically accurate to cartoony and everything in-between. Does the degree of accuracy matter? Generally, not really. If the child is interested in learning about dinosaur facts, then detailed models might be more appealing to him or her.

But a fun, cartoony dinosaur can also be a comforting pal. Plenty of dinosaur toys aren’t designed to be realistic at all. Barney is a good example of a cartoon-type toy which kids love to play with.

Final Thoughts

Even though they went extinct millions of years ago, dinosaurs still have plenty to teach us about science, history and more. Plus, unlike dragons, superheroes and other popular toys, dinosaurs actually existed! Kids are often fascinated with the idea they live on the same planet as these ancient beasts.

This fascination means dinosaurs are a great vehicle for teaching kids about all kinds of subjects. They help kids learn about animals, fossils, history and more. Dinosaur toys help boost both STEM and creative skills. Plus, dinosaur toys are dino-sized fun!