Dinosaurs, they are cool! And if you know a boy or girl who is into dinosaurs, they likely don’t just know one or two, they can name every dinosaur in the book. And what they looked like. And what they ate. And where they lived. All of this is pretty outstanding, considering most adults can barely name beyond the tyrannosaurs rex. If you know a child who has an obsession for dinosaurs, science calls this deep knowledge “sustained intense interests.” According to this article in The Cut, sustained intense interests “help children develop increased knowledge and persistence, a better attention span, and deeper information-processing skills. In short, they make better learners and smarter kids.” To keep the love of learning going, here are our 7 super fun dinosaur gifts for kids ages 3 to 6. And, at under $25, they won’t break the bank.
Dinosaur Fingerlings
Why mom approves: we love a good trend
Move over, monkeys! (Who, yes, we had every relative scavenging their local retail stores to ensure those moveable, slightly creepy creatures showed up on Christmas day). Fierce or friendly? Only the child can decide. The WowWee Untamed Raptor Fingerlings (around $14) comes in two modes: tamed and untamed. Tamed, the velociraptor dinosaur nuzzles and purrs. Untamed, the dinosaur will roar, hiss and chomp. The interactive dinosaurs react to touch, motion and sound and have over 40 different sounds and animations. Kids can collect all four: Blaze, Stealth, Fury and Razor.
Jurassic Taco Tuesday
Why mom approves: anytime you can make mealtime more fun? winning!
Know a child and family who loves taco Tuesday? The KidsFunwares TriceraTACO Holder (around $12) is such a fun gift! It can hold up to 2 hardshell tacos. But, oh, there are endless other food possibilities. PB&J, grilled cheese, panini, waffle, puff pastry… And, let’s be honest, probably anything the child puts in here will taste better (and be devoured).
We Dig It – Dinosaur Eggs
Why mom approves: anything a child has to find in an egg is a winner
The Dig it Up! Dinosaur Eggs ($24.95) are a great gift for a dinosaur fanatic who has busy hands. There are 12 eggs and chisels, and each egg contains a different dinosaur that the child has to “excavate” by chiseling. We know that any surprises in eggs are winners (other people’s children obsessed with those YouTube egg videos?). What is also great about this gift is that it will take the child a little bit to go through 12 eggs, keeping the mini archaeologist exploring and chiseling away. Because it comes with 12 eggs and chisels, it’s perfect to do at play dates, or give this as a stocking stuffer. This gift is not for a child who gets frustrated easily, as it will take a little bit to unearth the dinosaur.
Hatch and Grow Dinosaur Eggs
Why mom approves: see above!
If the child does not have the patience to excavate a dinosaur, then check out the Animal Planet Super Grow Eggs ($11.99). Each of the three eggs grows a different, very colorful dinosaur. And, each dinosaur comes with its own fact card (although, the child likely knows the information already). Put the egg in water, and within 24 hours it will start to crack (pro tip: have some of this waiting time be overnight when the child is sleeping – will reduce repetitive questioning when is the dinosaur going to hatch). Once hatched, the child can play with it, or keep tossing it back into the (starting to look cloudy) water and have it grow. You can grow the dinosaur for up to several weeks, but we bet the child may be done growing their dino pet well before then.
3-in-1 Dinosaur LEGO Set
Why mom approves: if the child is into dinosaurs and legos, this is a must gift
If you know a 5 to 7 year old child who is very into dinosaurs and who could also sit with a lego bucket all day, then the LEGO Creator Mighty Dinosaurs Set ($11.99) is for them. This 3-in-1 LEGO set allows the child to build and rebuild three popular dinosaurs: tyrannosaurs rex, triceratops and pterodactyl. We love the sharp claws, teeth and horn pieces (seriously LEGO, so cool!). What’s more, the T.Rex mouth can open and close so the child can pretend to ferociously attack the helpless people of LEGO city.
Kick Start the Dinosaur Collection
Why mom approves: this realistic dinosaur collection is a great starter kit
For little ones who may have just started expressing an interest in dinosaurs, this Boley 12 pack of Education Dinosaurs (on sale for $15.99) is a great starter kit. You get 12 unique, realistic-looking, 9-inch dinosaurs made out of bpa-free plastic. They feel solid and are durable enough to be toted from the backseat of the car, to the sandbox and end the day in the bathtub (for years to come). Because of their realistic-looking features and natural colors, they are a perfect introduction to helping kids explore the Jurassic period. Get ready for hours of imaginative play. And, even though there are 12, don’t be surprised if your child loses one and is asking you to find the something-something-saurus (No, playing with that other something-named saurus won’t work).
Wooden Dinosaur A to Z Puzzle
Why mom approves: adorable puzzle that also helps kids learn the alphabet
We love this adorable BeginAgain Wooden Dinosaur A to Z Puzzle ($22.49). We love that the brightly wooden pieces feel solid, and that building upright instead of flat gets little minds spatial reasoning and exploring. And as a bonus, the pieces come together by following the alphabet from A to Z. The puzzle is handcrafted from plantation-grown, sustainable rubberwood, and stained with child-safe, non-toxic dyes.
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