Dinosaurs for 4 year olds

The Best Dinosaur Toys for Toddler Boys (ages 2-4 years old)

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Little kids — and especially toddler boys — love dinosaurs.

And it’s not hard to see why.

Dinosaurs seem like something from a long tale or a mythical land … but they’re real.

They’re scary, powerful, and huge … but they’re also safe, because everybody knows that they all died out a long, long time ago.

Here a bunch of great dinosaur toys created just for toddlers.

Table of Contents

• 1 More Toys Your Kids Will Love:
• 2 The Hottest Toddler Dinosaur Toy Right Now!
• 3 ✅ Educational Dinosaur Toys for Toddlers
• 4 ✅ Dinosaur Puzzles for Toddlers
• 5 ✅ Dinosaur Stuffed Animal Toys
• 6 Dinosaur Books for Toddlers
• 7 More Dinosaur Gift Ideas for Toddlers
• 8 What do toddlers learn from playing with dinosaurs?
• 9 Why do toddlers like dinosaurs?
• 10 When did dinosaur toys become popular?

• Wooden Parking Garages for Toddlers
• Dinosaur Skeleton Toys for Kids

Toddler Backpack with Plush Dinosaurs

This adorable dinosaur backpack is going crazy on Amazon right now, with over 4,390 5-star ratings.

Reviewers loved how this backpack is so well-made and that a tablet can fit into it perfectly. Plus, you can remove the dinosaur and replace him with another stuffed friend for the day whenever you want.

Several customers said their children or grandchildren had been wearing this backpack non-stop for days and don’t want to take it off. Enough said!

✅

Looking for a toy that will help teach and reinforce some early childhood concepts in addition to being fun?

Here are a few great toys that fit the bill.

VTech Chomp and Count Dino

What toddler wouldn’t want to feed their own little pet dinosaur?

Well, that’s exactly what they’ll do with the VTech Chomp and Count Dino, while they also learn about colors, shapes, and numbers.

This toy comes with 8 brightly-colored discs with different pictures of food on them.

When you feed the dinosaur the banana chip, he’ll say “Banana,” plus tell you the color and nutritional value.

You can also set it to mode where he says, “Can you feed me a banana?”

In addition, there is a question button, where kids can answer the dino’s questions to show what they’ve learned, and a disc on the dino’s back that kids can spin to play sing-along songs.

The toy comes with both a volume control and auto shut-off, so you won’t ever to tempted to pick it up and hurl it against the wall.

2 AA batteries are included for demo purchases. If you’re giving it as a gift, I would recommend also including new batteries.

Amazon reviewer A. John says this is one of their toddler’s favorite toys:

This is by far one of my toddlers favorite toy. This not only teaches colors, numbers and foods but it delights her with a fun song that she’s trying to sing along to now as well.

One of the things I love about this is that it actually stores all the pieces in his “tummy” so that they’re not lost and we can find them easy again for the next time we play.

The pieces are small enough for her little hands and are easy to insert into his mouth without problems. She is now counting along as well whenever we use the 123 mode and I’ve noticed that her counting has gotten a lot better.

It does come with a pull along string that she pulls whenever she wants to take him for a walk and it’s adorable to look at.

See a photo of a child “feeding” their dinosaur.

LeapFrog Dino’s Delightful Day Alphabet Book

We got a lot of use out of various LeapFrop toys when my kids were little, and this one looks like a winner too.

This “book” has 16 interactive pages to hear a story read aloud. Letters are words are woven into the story to introduce children to the alphabet. Along the way, children can press the light-up button to hear specific letter names, letter sounds, or words from the story.

In addition, there are number button along the dinosaur’s back to introduce counting and number recognition — so it help toddlers and preschoolers with early math concepts as well as reading concepts.

Reviewers were impressed by how big and sturdy the toy was, with nice thick pages that won’t be torn apart by toddler hands or bend after lots of wear and tear.

Amazon reviewer Momof2Angels said this toy was wonderful for her special needs child:

My youngest son has autism, and one of his favorite things to do is flip books over and over on the ground. We lost countless hardback and board books within a few days of purchase due to that.

Not this toy. It’s been a few months since we purchased it. The lights and sounds still work and everything is intact. The sensory input he gets from turning the pages and the sounds and lights delight him to no end! I realize this isn’t the typical buyer’s intent for this product, but if my son can enjoy it yours definitely will.

Like the VTech Chomp and Count Dino above, 2 AA batteries are included for demo purposes.

LeapFrog Lettersaurus Alphabet Pull Toy

Another winner from Leapfrog, this toy has 26 colorful letter buttons on the dinosaur’s back. Pressing the button makes it say the letter, the sound it makes, and a word that begins with that letter. (For example, “H, huh, H is for happy.”)

Toddlers can also spin the wheel on the dinosaur’s tail, which introduces numbers and plays a cute song.

In addition, you can take your dino for a walk with the pull string. His head move from side to side while his feet play a jungle beat while he walks.

Requires 2 AA batteries. Batteries included for demo purposes only, new batteries recommended for regular use

Reviews appreciated the on/off and high/low volume switches (although one reviewer complained, “There are only two levels for volume: loud and really loud“).

They also liked how it was a sturdy toy that could stand up to toddler abuse.

One minor complaint was that the pull-string was too short (one reviewer said the dino kept toppling over when it was pulled) and that the string needed a ring on the end so it could be gripped more easily.

Still, even the people who said that gave the toy 4 stars overall.

This toy requires 2 AA batteries, which are included for demo purposes only.

Jumbo Sorting & Counting Dinosaurs Matching Game

If you’re looking for an educational dinosaur toy that doesn’t make noise, this is a this Montessori style Sorting & Counting Dinosaurs Matching Game is for you.

It includes:

• 48 Jumbo Dinosaurs (1.25” x 3”)
• 6 Matching Dinosaur Egg Cups for sorting
• Dino Grabber for practicing fine motor skills
• Dice for color games
• Dice for number games
• Travel Backpack for storing it all (and with room for extra stuff)
• Learning Activities eBook Download

I love that this toy has so many different activities and that your toddler won’t outgrow it quickly, but will continue to enjoy it for 3-4 years.

TIP: One clever reviewer said that her kids played with the dinosaur and egg shells so often that she was finding pieces all over the house. So she added a new game — a dinosaur and egg scavenger hunt!

Click to see a photo of a 2 year old playing with these dinosaurs.

Snap-n-Learn Matching Dinos — Counting & Sorting Toy

This toy uses a total of 18 pieces to build two different dinosaurs.

It helps toddlers and preschoolers work on:

• Fine Motor skills
• Shape recognition
• Matching
• Problem solving
• Color identification
• Motor planning
• Parts to whole relationships
• Eye-hand coordination

Amazon reviewer K.D. shares a game they play with dinos:

These cute dinosaurs (or “dina-roars” as my 2-year-old calls them) are great for matching games as well as just to play with as little critters–they often go for a ride in my son’s train.

I wish the two halves fitted up to each other more snugly so the tail wouldn’t flip upside down when they’re being played with as just dinosaurs, but they are easy enough for a toddler to pry apart and put together, which is really more important for this toy.

They seem plenty sturdy, and are really great for use in core strengthening games. Put heads on one side, tails on the other side, sit toddler in the middle on a little box or upended bucket, and have him pick up a tail on one side, then come up and pick up a head on the other side, come up to put them together, then down in the middle to drop it back in the bucket. Works great!

✅

I spent a LOT of time doing puzzles with my kids when they were little … partly because they wanted me to, and partly because I enjoy doing puzzles (and those 1,000-piece puzzles for adults are way too hard for me! 😀)

My First Match It – Dinosaurs – 15 Self-Correcting Matching Puzzles

This is a simple way to include jigsaw puzzles to your toddler that helps them learn about colors and matching.

One nice thing about this toy is that you can adjust it to your child’s age and ability. For a young toddler, you can give them one or two pairs at a time. For a slightly older child, they can do the entire set independently.

Once your child hits preschool and kindergarten age, they’ll enjoy this dinosaur puzzle made by the same company.

Melissa & Doug 24pc Dinosaur Floor Puzzle

This puzzle is made of 24 extra-thick cardboard pieces and measures 2 foot by 3 foot when finished. The picture includes several dinosaurs in a variety of bright colors, along a volcano erupting in the background. It is a great first puzzle set that is easy to use for little ones and it teaches them how to start recognizing how puzzle pieces go together.

Reviewers loved how the puzzle pieces were sturdy and just the right size for toddler hands. Many people said their child would assemble and disassemble the puzzle multiple times in one sitting.

And once your child has mastered this puzzle? They can try flipping all the pieces over and solving it upside-down!

Melissa & Doug Wooden Dinosaur Jigsaw Puzzles in a Box

We had a few variations of these Melissa & Doug Puzzles in a Box when the kids were little. The great thing about them is that they’re so portable and pack a lot of punch into one small box.

When my oldest daughter was 4 years old and took a gymnastics class, her 2 year old sister would sit in the bleachers with me and do these puzzles week after week.

Another really clever thing is that the puzzle pieces are sorted by shapes on the back. In other words, all the pieces for the triceratops puzzle have a small triangle on the back of the piece, all the stegosaurus pieces have a circle on the back, etc. (You can see what I mean in this photo.)

Not only does this keep the box neat and organized, but it means that putting away the puzzle is an additional sorting activity.

Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Chunky Puzzle

Another winner from Melissa & Doug, this makes a great first puzzle because the pieces don’t attach to each other, but each piece fits into a space on the board.

Since each puzzle piece is a chunky wooden dinosaur, they can double as little block figures for creative pretend play.

Amazon reviewer Heather C. says:

We LOVE these Melissa and Doug puzzles. We already had one like this with sea creatures which has been a hit with my oldest and now my youngest so we got this one also.

The pieces are large but not too large for little hands to manipulate. I like that when the puzzle pieces are removed there is a picture of the piece underneath. This really helps little ones who are just getting the concept of puzzles to correctly place the pieces.

This puzzle also holds up really well since it is made of wood. Definitely recommend these!

✅

Yes, dinosaurs can be ferocious and scary … but they can also be your cute and cuddly friend. Here are some stuffed dinosaurs that toddlers and preschoolers will love at bedtime or any time.

Melissa & Doug Stuffed T-Rex

This big blue guy is Amazon’s Choice in the “Life Size Dinosaur” category.

Made by Melissa & Doug, he has bold colors, is super soft, and measures 30 by 9 by 26 inches.

Reviewers loved that this dinosaur was slightly stiff as opposed to flimsy or floppy, making it able to stand up on its own.

Five (5) Stuffed Animal Dinosaur in Play Dinosaur Carrying Case

What a clever idea! This toy is a soft egg-shaped carrying case with a handle for carrying. and a trap door on the bottom (held closed by Velcro) to put dinosaurs back in or get out.

The “egg house” has windows that you put the dinosaur heads through and then the toddler pull them out.

Reviewers loved how this was a quiet toy that could keep toddler happily occupied in the car, in doctors’ waiting rooms, or even at church.

Prextex High Quality Plush Dinosaurs 4 Pack

This is a set of 4 stuffed dinosaurs in different colors and styles. Reviewers loved how they were super-cute, high quality, and the perfect size.

a href=”https://amzn.to/2YoCLYN” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Click here to see a photo of these dinosaurs are lined up on a high chair tray.

There are soo many cute dinosaur books out there!

This was one of the first books I ever bought for my oldest child, and we still have it … somewhere. Not only is it super adorable and funny, but it also helps kids learn about opposites.

Here are some other dinosaur books your toddler or preschooler will love:

Count the Dinosaurs!: A Fun Picture Puzzle Book for 2-5 Year OldsHow Do Dinosaurs Say Happy Birthday?Dinosaur Dance! (Sandra Boynton Board Books)How Do Dinosaurs Say Goodnight?If You Happen to Have a DinosaurPop-up Peekaboo! Baby Dinosaur

A great gift for a dino-loving toddler doesn’t have to be a toy. Here are some other fun suggestions.

Trend Lab Children’s Plush Dinosaur Chair4 Piece Toddler Bedding SetSkip Hop Toddler Backpack, Zoo Preschool Ages 2-4, DinosaurDinosaur Glow in the Dark Vinyel Wall Decals for Kids

Play is about so much more than just a fun, happy way to pass the time when it comes to toddlers. (And frankly, that’s true about adults too, but that’s a conversation for another day. )

A child with an intense interest in dinosaurs isn’t just having a great time. They’re also gaining:

• Deeper curiosity & imagination
• A new love and interest in geology and other science topics
• Increased knowledge & memorization skills
• Confidence from “mastering” something seemingly scary
• Improved attention span

Why do toddlers like dinosaurs?

There’s actually a psychological, developmental reason why many toddlers are so fascinated by dinosaurs other than just “they’re big and cool.”

According to this CNN article, Kids ages 3 to 4 go through a period of “hyperfixation,” or “imagination-based play.” This is when they become interested in things like fairies, unicorns, monsters, and dinosaurs. (Yes, dinosaurs are real, but they seem unreal because they’re not a part of our world.)

At this age, kids are just beginning a journey of creating this thing called “self,” and one of the ways they do that is to make up stuff in the world they’ve created.

According to Smithsonian Mag, most toy dinosaurs appeared on the market in the 1950s and were driven by popular art at the time — particularly a 110-foot-long mural by Rudolph Zallinger called The Age of Reptiles. The mural was completed in 1947 and was the first major work showing what dinosaurs might have looked like when they were alive.

The Ultimate Dinosaur Gift Guide for Kids of All Ages

kids

ByKalea Harrison September 24, 2021October 24, 2022

If you know how to pronounce Archaeopteryx, chances are you have a dinosaur-obsessed child at home. Even though they’re extinct, these giant creatures continue to fascinate kids (and adults!) of all ages.

Did you know the dinosaur with the longest name is the 23-letter Micropachycephalosaurus? Or that the Argentinosaurus was the largest dinosaur and the largest land animal ever known?

Consider us the paleontologists of gift guides – digging for the very best prehistoric presents that will make every dinosaur enthusiast roar with delight. From building toys to costumes, and books to paleontology kits, here are the best dinosaur toys and gifts.

You can’t tricera-top this ultimate dinosaur gift guide for kids of all ages!

For more fun gift ideas for kids of all ages, check out the Themed Gift Guides.

Dinosaur Gifts for Toddlers

POKE-A-DOT! DINOSAURS A TO Z

Get ready for some dino-mite fun! Your toddler can poke the irresistible click-to-count buttons to hear satisfying “clicks” and “pops” as they learn about Dinosaurs A to Z.

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Dinoblock Board Book

This board book all about dinosaurs features thick pages cut into the shapes of dinosaurs! Little readers will learn about more than 20 different dinos via die-cuts of their unique silhouettes and a characteristic of that dinosaur.

And don’t worry, the author also includes a phonetic spelling of the dinosaur’s name to help with pronunciation. Phew!

Buy it: Amazon or Target

SmartMax My First Dinosaurs

With this magnetic dinosaur building set, your toddler can build five dinosaurs or mix and match for crazy Jurassic creations, all the while learning about magnetism, color matching, animal recognition, and stacking.

Buy it: Amazon

Bellzi Dinosaur Collection

The Bellzi Dinosaur Collection is seriously cute. Choose between a Brontosaurus, T-Rex, Triceratops, Stegosaurus, and Pterodactyl, or collect the entire prehistoric gang.

Buy it: Amazon

Mudpuppy Dinosaur Park Floor Puzzle

Tiny T-rex-or toddler sized hands will love to get on the ground and put together this large floor puzzle. Depicting a colorful and imaginative scene of a dinosaur park, this puzzle features 25 jumbo pieces, including 6 unique dino-shaped pieces!

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Jumbo Stickers for Little Hands: Dinosaurs

BIG creatures deserve BIG stickers! This book includes 75 friendly-faced dinosaurs that can be placed on 22 pages of prehistoric scenes. Great for creative minds and exercising fine motor skills, your child will love to place and re-place these stickers without the rips, and tears (and possibly shed tears) of traditional stickers.

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

LEGO DUPLO Jurassic World Dinosaur Breakout

Welcome to Jurassic World! This LEGO Duplo Dinosaur Breakout Set includes a buildable entrance to Jurassic World with open-and-close fencing, a large T. rex, a baby triceratops, and a dinosaur trainer figure with a motorcycle.

Experience Jurassic World from the safety of your home while your toddler has fun with an escaping dinosaur and a heroic rescue mission. 

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Prextex Dinosaur Volcano

Where do dinosaurs go to rest after roaming the prehistoric wild in search of ancient adventures? In their zip-up travel volcano, of course! This dinosaur volcano is a cozy home for the plush pack of five dinos.

Easy to use, just zip the dinosaur friends inside the volcano house for storage and the rest is dino history!

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Baby Alive Dino Cuties Doll

There’s nothing cuter than a baby in dino pajamas. Well, maybe one with a dino-shaped bottle! Choose between a tyrannosaurus, triceratops, stegosaurus, or collect all three.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Learning Resources Jumbo Dinosaurs

Oversized for little fingers, these jumbo dinosaurs are colorful and realistic. The set comes with five different dinosaurs and an activity guide, which encourages imagination and creativity.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Little Tikes Go and Grow Dino Ride On

Unfortunately, your toddler won’t be able to ride a real dinosaur, but this dinosaur-themed ride on toy is the next best thing. With an adjustable seat, this ride-on trike will be your toddlers’ go-to mode of transportation for a long time. 

Buy it: Target or Walmart

Naturally Kids Dinosaur Backpack

The dinosaur backpack has a special spot just for your kiddo’s favorite dino stuffed animal, so now your toddler never has to leave home without a dinosaur friend in tow!

Buy it: Amazon

Burt’s Bees Baby Pajamas

Dressing the part is half the fun! These organic cotton pajamas from Burt’s Bees Baby are sure to lull your toddler into a dreamy sleep full of dino adventures.  

Buy it: Burt’s Bees Baby or Amazon

Little Tikes T-Rex Cozy Coupe

Beep, Beep, T-Rex Cozy Coupe is coming through! The dinosaur spikes and decals will thrill even the smallest dino enthusiast. Add the floorboard and use the rooftop handle to push the youngest explorers, and remove the floorboard when they’re ready to take the wheel.

Features a working horn, clicking key, and an opening gas cap.

Buy it: Amazon

Step2 Dino Dig Sand & Water Table

Do you have a little paleontologist at home? Perfect for digging for dinosaur bones, this dino sand and water table has two sides of sensory play and comes with a 7-piece accessory set including a double-sided rake and shovel.

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Soft Landing Darling Duo Dino Ride-On

Rock away to adventure with your toddler’s new best friend! This plush and rocker bundle is perfect for the playroom, bedroom, living room, any room, really…and the stuffed animal counterpart means your little one will never leave the house without their favorite friend.

Buy it: Amazon or Kohl’s

Dino Anywhere Chair

Create a special spot that’s just right for reading, snuggling, or watching their favorite show by adding this comfy, kid-sized chair to any room. Plus, its scaly dinosaur details and toothy grin add an extra pop of fun!

Buy it: Pottery Barn Kids

Dinosaur Gifts for Preschoolers

eeBoo Dinosaurs Matching Game

Brush up on your favorite dinosaurs with this dinosaur memory game featuring 18 pairs of dinosaur tiles to match. The perfect size to take on the go.

Buy it: Amazon

Petit Collage Magnetic Dress Up Set

Your little one can create a fun dinosaur-themed scene using their imagination and the 25-piece accessory set in this magnetic dress-up set. All the pieces pack in their storage box with magnetic closure.

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs

The prehistoric world comes alive with this First Book of Dinosaurs. Bursting with fun facts and age-appropriate information, each spread features a different dinosaur, along with simple text in big type that is perfect for little kids.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Haba Dinosaur Sand Glove

Your paleontologist will find several ways to use their new dino-shaped sand glove! Take a bite out of the sand (dirt and snow too!), or bury the head and use excavating tools to dig it out.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzle

A puzzle starring BIG creatures deserves BIG pieces! This one contains 48 extra-thick durable cardboard pieces perfect for preschool paleontologists. When they complete this prehistoric puzzle measuring  2’ x 3’, they will see their favorite dinosaurs on display.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Fred Dinner Winner Dino Time

The dino tray turns mealtime into a trek through the prehistoric past! It divides your kids’ meal into eight portions, with an extra covered portion for dessert. Can you make it through?

Buy it: Amazon

Dinosaur Dig Sensory Bin

This spectacular dino dig sensory bin comes with play sand, faux plant, rocks, eggs, sand shifter, dinosaurs, dino skeleton, fossils, brush, foam volcano, and tree and magnifying glass. It’s time to excavate dinosaur skeletons with this kid-friendly activity.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Hungry Hungry Hippos Dino Edition

Move over hippos! Your childhood favorite game has gotten a T-rex takeover! It still has all the chomping fun of the original, but the hungry hippos have been replaced with dinosaurs ready to devour the marbles.

Buy it: Amazon

Animal Planet Dino Mega Tub Collection

Let your kid bring the animal kingdom to life with this dinosaur mega tub collection. With realistic dinosaur figurines, this 45-piece playset is a whole lot of fun and a must-have for any dino fan.

Buy it: Target

Fisher-Price Imaginext Jurassic World Thrashing Indominus Rex

The Imaginext Thrashing Indominus Rex is a fierce predator with a thrashing head and tail. Attach the smaller raptor to the dinosaur’s back and move the dinosaur tail to toss the raptor off!

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Dinosaur Race Track

Ready, Set, Dino! This dinosaur-themed race track lets your kiddo create a unique track from a whopping 144 track pieces – an excellent activity for every dino fanatic with a need for speed.

Buy it: Amazon

Lottie Doll Fossil Hunter

From the creators of the sweetest Lottie Dolls comes a doll celebrating women in archaeology & geology. This fossil hunter paleontology doll comes with fossil-finding tools, info cards, a backpack, and even tiny ammonites!

Buy it: Amazon

Velociraptor Pillow Pet

Can a Velociraptor be cuddly? Well, this one is! This velociraptor pillow pet is a soft stuffed animal that unfolds into a fuzzy pillow for sleep. Sweet dinosaur dreams, little paleontologist!

Buy it: Amazon

Great Pretenders T-rex Hooded Cape

Dress-up just took a step back in time to the Jurassic period with this T-Rex hooded cape. This dino cape features textured velour, realistic eyes, and 3D stuffed detailing, making every kiddo feel like the real deal. Available in another dino cape style, too.

Buy it: Amazon or Maisonette

PBK Mackenzie Glow-in-the-Dark Backpack

Showcase your love of dinosaurs no matter how far you travel with the glow-in-the-dark dinosaur backpack. Available in multiple sizes for kids of all ages, with a matching lunch box and water bottle too!

Buy it: Pottery Barn Kids

Dig It Up! Dinosaur Eggs

This Dig It Up! Dinosaur Eggs Kit includes 12 individually wrapped dig projects, each with its own chiseling tool and instructions.  Soak each egg in water, then let your little paleontologist slowly chisel the shell to discover each unique skeleton.

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Pillowfort dinosaur hooded towel

How do you convince a busy dinosaur to get out of the bath? By wrapping them in this cuddly hooded dino towel! It’s 25″x50″ (the perfect step up from their baby towel) and made of 100% velour cotton.

Buy it: Target