Dinosaur Toys

Barney the Dinosaur Toys

Barney, the PBS Kids mainstay is an industry of his own. He sang, danced, and imagined his way from the television screen into our preschooler's hearts, and now videos, toys, clothing, and bedding all feature the friendly purple T-Rex. Some popular Barney and friends items include:

• Singing Barney (ages 6 months and up)
• Barney Best Manners Phone (ages 18 months - 3 years)
• Learning Fun Laptop
• Spanish Barney
• Barney's Plush Bug Jug (ages 2 to 5)
• Barney Musical Parade Game (ages 3 to 5)

Plush Dinosaur Toys

Stuffed animals are an enduring favorite of kids of all ages, and plush dinosaurs are widely available. Whether kids intend to collect them, sleep with them, or play with them, the following cuddly dino toys are always a hit:

• Cuddlekin Triceratops
• Apatosaurus
• Fisher Price Spike the Stegosaurus
• The Land Before Time
• Giant Triceratops (ages 3 and up)
• Stegosaurus

Dinosaur Kits

Kits offer the opportunity for hands-on learning, with activities such as dinosaur casting, excavating, painting, and modeling. Fun and educational dino kits include:

• Dinosaur Stamp Kit (ages 4 and up)
• I Dig Dinosaurs Excavation Adventures
• Mould & Paint Dinosaur (ages 5 to 10)
• Paint the Wild Dinosaur (ages 6 to 11)
• Cast & Paint T-Rex (ages 8 to 12)
• Dinoworks T-Rex Casting Kit

Dinosaur Games

Dinosaur games are often educational. Many teach science and history through dinosaur trivia, exploration, or stories. Others use dinosaurs to introduce mathematical concepts.

When buying games, pay close attention to the recommended ages. Board games often feature small parts that can be hazardous to infants, toddlers, and young children. Many of the following games are award-winners, and all come highly recommended:

• Dino Floor Puzzle (ages 3 to 6)
• Create-a-Scene Magnetic Playset (ages 3 and up)
• Dinosaurs & Things Board Game (ages 5 to 10)
• The Dinosaur Game -- Survival or Extinction (ages 5 to 12)
• Dino Math Tracks Game (ages 6 to 9)
• Professor Noggin's Card Game (ages 7 to 11)

Robotic Toys

Some kids like their dinosaur toys to be more interactive. Robotic dinosaurs range from simple battery-operated walkers to complex remote controlled creatures. When purchasing robotic toys, play special attention to the recommended age ranges. Even if a toy does not feature small parts, it could still be inappropriate for young kids. Many robotic dinosaurs, for example, require dexterity and small motor skills that preschoolers have not yet developed. Popular interactive dinosaurs include:

• Discovery Remote Control T-Rex (ages 4 and up)
• Discovery Remote Control Pterodactyl (ages 4 and up)
• Mini Roboraptor (ages 4 and up)
• Animal Planet Infrared T-Rex (ages 4 and up)
• Hammacher Schlemmer Robotic Dinosaur (ages 8 and up)
• Discovery Remote Control Roboraptor (ages 8 and up)

Action Figures & Models

Some of the following action figures are meant to be played with, while others are meant to be looked at, admired, and displayed:

• Little People Dinosaur (ages 2 and up)
• Fisher Price Ripper the Spinosaurus
• Thunder the Brontosaurus (ages 4 to 10)
• Big Bucket of Dinosaurs (ages 5 to 10)
• T-Rex Birch Puzzle (ages 6 and up)
• Realistic Replicas

Web Sites Offering Dinosaur Products

In addition to department stores, toy stores, and general websites, the following specialty sites sell dino toys and merchandise:

• Dino Farm offers a wide selection of unique dinosaur items for kids, including toys, puppets, bedding, books, games, and party supplies.
• Dinosaur Corporation sells dinosaure party supplies, bedding, puzzles, replicas, and clothing.