53+ Perfect Dinosaur Gifts for Kids of All Ages

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Need some awesome dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old (or any age between 3 and 8 years old)? I’ve curated the best dinosaur toys, books and gifts, based on our family’s longtime fascination with dinosaurs. You’re sure to find the perfect gift for little kids as well as older children who love dinosaurs!

Our son and daughter playing on a dinosaur play mat - one of our favorite Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
Dinosaur figures and playmate

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*TL:DR All of our dinosaur recommendations can be found in our Amazon Storefront or in our Dinosaur collection at Society6 for easy browsing!*

We also include reviews of two dinosaur experiences towards the end of our post for families who want to gift experiences rather than a physical gift. Check out our reviews of Prehistoric Gardens and Jurassic Quest!

@dinkumtribe Dig for fossils, ride full sized dinos, pet a baby dino, meet raptors and more at Jurassic Quest! @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #hostedbyjurassicquest #adhdfamilytravel #familytravelcreator #oregonfamily #pnwfamily #pnwfamilies #oregonfamilies #familytravelvlog #familytravelblog #familytravelinfluencer #travelwithkids #dinosaursarecool #dinosaursoftiktok #teenactivities ♬ The Mandalorian – Nstens1117

We Love Dinosaurs!

Child sized wooden tool box with a painting of a red dinosaur holding balloons personalized with the name Brian.
One of the best dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old in the 1980s – a personalized dino tool box

As a little boy, my husband Brian loved dinosaurs, and spent a lot of time memorizing every dinosaur fact. We both enjoy watching the Jurassic Park movies even now. Several of our children have inherited this love of dinosaurs too. 

We’ve had dinosaur toys, books, movies and activities in our home almost since our first child was a toddler. Most of the recommendations in this list are either products we have owned, still own, or would gladly purchase for our current dino lover.

Man and woman in front of theater poster for Jurassic World Dominion movie.
At the theater to see Jurassic World 3.

How to choose the right dinosaur gift for a child

With so many possibilities for unique gifts, how do you decide which ones to get your dinosaur-obsessed child? 

@dinkumtribe Plastic dinosaurs are another great option for pretend play. Kids can practice social skills, classification and creative thinking. @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #preschoolactivities #preschoolathomeactivities #steamactivities #steamactivitiesforkids #stemlearning #homeschoolfamily #homeschoolactivities #homeschoollearning #openendedtoys #openendedplay ♬ Dinosaur Song – Blippi

The first thing to consider is age and safety concerns. Some gifts are not recommended for kids under 3 because they contain small parts that may become a choking hazard. 

Young children develop fine motor skills as they grow and play. Some toys aren’t recommended for little kids because they don’t have the hand-eye coordination to play with the toy. Their little hands are just not ready yet.

Jenn pretends to scream in front of Jurassic World cutout.
Gotta take advantage of a photo op like this!

Age-appropriate gifts

We discovered this firsthand with our kids and standard Lego sets. The age rating on the box is based on the age at which most children are ready to build the set.

When our children received Lego sets rated higher than their current age, our kids were often frustrated because they couldn’t do it all by themselves.

The best toys for kids are those that are designed to be at their current skill level, with room to learn just beyond their current skills. If you follow the toy manufacturer’s age recommendations, most of the time you won’t go wrong.

@dinkumtribe Old video of our toddler pretending to be a dentist tooth dinosaur toy. @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #PretendPlay #toddlerfunactivities #trexoftiktok #pretenddentist #reallifeathome #dinosaurtoys #dinosaurfun #pnwfamily #oregonfamilies ♬ original sound – DinkumTribe ADHD family travel

How These Gift Ideas are Organized

I’ve arranged this post into 3 main sections. The first two sections are arranged for younger kids aged 2 to 4 years old, and older kids aged 5 to 8 years old.

The last section has ideas that are not age dependent, as well as ideas for dinosaur experiences that will appeal to kids of all ages (and many adults too).

Gifts that are best for younger kids (ages 2-4)

Best dinosaur books for kids under 5

1. How Do Dinosaurs …? Series by Jane Yolen and Mark Teague

Our son wearing a Santa hat reading How Do Dinosaurs learn Their Colors? book.

We love these dinosaur books because of the funny storytelling and beautiful illustrations. The dinosaurs in this series forget the rules or their manners in the first half of the story, then learn to do better in the second half. So much fun!

This series also comes in a board book format perfect for littles!

2. What the Dinosaurs Did Last Night series by Rafe and Susan Tuma

In this fun series, plastic dinosaurs come to life and cause all sorts of trouble. This book series was inspired by real parents and the Dinovember challenge (think about Elf on the Shelf, but with dinosaurs in the month of November). Kids and adults will love seeing what mischief the dinosaurs have caused!

hand holding up the book "What the Dinosaurs did last night" by Refe and Susan Tuma

3. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs

I’ve included this as a non-fiction option for dinosaur lovers. It has bright illustrations and less text than a standard dinosaur book. It also has a handy pronunciation guide for the adults helping to read this book to the child.😊

Dinosaur board books

Board books are perfect for little hands that may struggle to hold a big book. They are also great for kids who may still be putting things in their mouth, or for toddlers who are still a little bit rough on books. Here’s a few favorites.

4. Dinosnores (Boynton on Board) 

Dinosaurs go about their bedtime routine, and go to bed. Watch for the funny ending!

5. Smithsonian Kids: Digging for Dinosaurs by Jaye Garnett

A book about paleontology, with flaps and dials to turn so that kids can interact with the pages.

6. Dinosaur ABC board book by Roger Priddy

A fun book that illustrates 26 dinosaurs from A to Z.

Best Dinosaur Activity Books for Kids under 5

Activity books are perfect for road trips or an airplane ride, giving younger kids a screen-free alternative. Here are some great options.

7. I Spy Dinosaurs: Find the Dino friends playing hide and seek! A cute search and find dinosaur book for toddlers 2-5

8. Dinosaur Busy Book: Montessori Toys for Toddlers, Newest Dinosaur Themes Busy Book for Kids

Dinosaur Plush Toys (for kids of all ages)

Our young son holding his favorite stuffed dinosaur.

Cuddly stuffed animals are popular with most kids. We’ve found several high quality dinosaur plush toys that are beautifully made and look like your child’s favorite dinosaurs from Jurassic World or popular kids shows like Dino Dana and Dinosaur Train.

9. WILD REPUBLIC Stegosaurus Plush, Dinosaur Stuffed Animal

Our youngest son received a plush stegosaurus very similar to this one as a Christmas gift a couple years ago, and it’s his absolute favorite stuffy! Just check out his happy face in this photo!

Our son holds a stuffed stegosaurus plushie.
So happy with his plush dinosaur!

Bigger really is better when it comes to stuffed animals for kids, so don’t hesitate to give your favorite little dinosaur lover a stuffed dinosaur that they can really snuggle.

10. WILD REPUBLIC T-Rex Plush, Dinosaur Stuffed Animal

Boy holding stuffed T. rex dinosaur.

A T. Rex as a plush dinosaur was a weird concept for me, but my son had no trouble with it. Wild Republic has several different dinosaurs as plush dolls, so check for your child’s favorite.

Dinosaur toys and figures (Best for Kids Younger than 5)

Plastic dinosaur figures. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.

I’ve had great success in finding sturdy plastic dinosaurs (like the larger ones in this photo) at the local dollar store, so if you’re on a budget, check there first.

A dinosaur play mat or a set of dinosaur figurines can be a great gift for little kids. Just be sure that the set you get has larger dinosaurs if the child is under 3, and no small removable pieces.

Dinosaur play figures on a Lego building.
As you can tell, our dinosaur figures came from several different sources and all have different features and colors.

11. Terra by Battat – Toy Dinosaur Set with Ceratosaurus (5pc)

Here’s a good collection of different dinosaurs that are about the right size for little ones to maneuver comfortably.

12. Schleich Dinosaurs, Large Dinosaur Toys for Boys and Girls, Realistic Giganotosaurus Toy

Schelich giganotosaurus. dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old
Schleich Giganotosaurus

The Schleich toy company makes incredibly accurate plastic figurines that are sturdy and have realistic features. They are made of hard plastic, and there are sharp edges that could injure a child if they threw the dinosaur or played too rough.

Close-up of the head of the Schleich gigonotosaurus.
Look at the detailing here: skin wrinkles, correct eye shape, shading and fine-tuned painting.

They are more expensive than standard plastic dinosaur toys, and have a heavier feel. If realistic figures are important to your young scientist, Schleich is the toy you’ll want. They have several harder-to-find dinosaurs, so if your child has a less popular favorite dinosaur, search the Schleich collection and you may just find it.

13. Melissa & Doug Rug – Dinosaur

This is the perfect gift for a child who has lots of dinosaurs already and just needs a place to play with them. Our boys loved having a dedicated play spot for dinosaur adventures, and this rug fit the bill.

A word of caution: the dinosaurs that come with this mat aren’t fantastic quality, and have fur that comes off easily if your child is still in the “everything-goes-in-the-mouth” stage. We used this for the rug, and quietly replaced the included dinos with our own.

Dinosaur Costumes and Clothes for Younger kids (Ages 2-4)

Dressing up as a dinosaur is a great way to encourage creative play! Here are a couple good dinosaur costumes or clothing accessories that will give your child the chance to let their imagination run wild.

14. Morph Costumes Dinosaur Costume Kids Dinosaur Costume For Toddler

This costume comes in Triceratops and two different colors of Tyrannosaurus Rex.

15. Costume Hooded Romper Jumpsuit from TONWHAR

I love this super sweet dinosaur costume, and there’s even a cute pink version!

16. Little Hand Boys Hoodies Dinosaur Toddler Boys Jacket Kids Sweatshirts

Kids love having clothes that also allow them to pretend. A hoodie like this is both a functional and fun way to make a dinosaur lover happy!

I’ve also found fun Jurassic World hoodies and pajama sets at Target and Fred Meyer, so check your local clothing stores for more dinosaur clothing.

Our son squeezes his dinosaur Squishmallow
A dinosaur Squishmallow might be perfect for an older kid!

Dinosaur Puzzles and Duplos for Younger Children

Little kids need big pieces to play with puzzles and Lego Duplos. We have enjoyed several different dinosaur wooden puzzle sets, floor puzzles and Duplo building sets with our kids. Below are a few favorites.

Hand holding Lego Duplo Jurassic World Gentle Giants Petting Zoo.

17. Melissa & Doug Land of Dinosaurs Floor Puzzle 

A big puzzle like this is fun for a toddler or preschooler to do with a bigger sibling or adult. A friend of mine once gave our kids several puzzles, including one similar to this as Christmas gifts. All the kids from toddler to teen enjoyed working on the huge floor puzzle.

18. Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Dawn Jumbo Jigsaw Floor Puzzle

This slightly smaller floor puzzle would be great for a preschooler to practice working on their own.

19. LEGO DUPLO Jurassic World Dinosaur Nursery Building Toy Set

Look at the adorable baby dinosaurs in this building set! Duplos are sturdy and continue to be popular even after kids graduate up to working with standard sized tiny Legos. Just ask my teen girls, who will often jump in to play with Duplos with their younger brothers.

20. LEGO DUPLO Jurassic World T. rex and Triceratops Dinosaur Breakout

Here’s another really fun set including T. rex and Triceratops dinosaurs, plus a motorcycle! One of the best things about Lego sets is that even if a child has the same set already, the pieces can be used to build new creations. This would be a great addition to a standard Lego Duplo set.

Lego Duplo Jurassic World T. rex Tower set in a store.

Great Dinosaur Gifts for a Kids’ Bedroom

Since so many of us love dinosaurs, having some dinosaur decor in our kids’ rooms was a no-brainer. We’ve included a few ideas for decorating a kid’s bedroom that are good dinosaur gift ideas for the kid who has all the toys and books already.

21. Bomehsoi White Funny Dinosaur Raptor Shower Curtains for Bathroom

Raptor shower curtain in our bathroom.

I got this as a surprise for our kids when we moved into our new house last year, and it’s been well worth it! It’s also sturdy and stands up to occasional washing.

22. Personalized Dinosaur Sign Children’s Room

Every kid loves to see their name on their things, so this sign would make a perfect gift for your little dinosaur lover. It’s a great way to encourage early readers (ages 4, 5 and 6) too.

23. Running, brown compsognathus dinosaur Framed Art Print

Screenshot of compsognathus dinosaur Framed Art Print from Society6.
Screenshot from Society6

A framed print of a favorite dinosaur like this is a classy gift idea that will excite a dinosaur enthusiast while not being an eyesore for the parents.

24. Dinosaurs Ride Cars Art print

Screenshot of Dinosaurs Ride Cars Art Print at Society6.

Who wouldn’t love this whimsical dinosaur print? It’s one of the best dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old, surely! Or any little guy with a sense of humor…

25. Dinos kids decor dinosaurs Rug

Dinos kids decor boys or girls room nursery gifts dinosaurs Rug from Society6.

Here’s a cute dinosaur rug that will complement nearly any kid’s room decor.

26. Cat And Pizza Riding Triceratops In Space Coffee Mug

Cat And Pizza Riding Triceratops In Space Coffee Mug from Society6.

My son came over and saw me looking through the dinosaur gift ideas, and he LOVED this. So if you’re for unusual dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old kid, give this goofy mug a shot!

Dinosaur Gifts for Older Kids (Ages 5-8 and Beyond)

Dinosaur Books for Big Kids

Cover of Dinotopia books by James Gurney 20th anniversary edition.

1. Dinotopia by James Gurney

My husband was determined to get this book when our boys started becoming interested in dinosaurs, because he had such fond memories of Dinotopia from his childhood. He has been reading it to our boys, and the in-depth storyline and beautiful illustrations make for excellent connecting time.

There are several sequels to Dinotopia, as well as a live action series that our kids have also enjoyed.

Inside illustrations from the Dinotopia book.
Inside the Dinotopia book.

2. Dinosaur Encyclopedia for Kids: The Big Book of Prehistoric Creatures

Here’s an excellent and comprehensive guide to all things dinosaur, written at a kid’s level. This book has lots of colorful illustrations and the authors are two of the best in the field of paleontology.

3. SUE: Welcome to the World of Tyrannosaurus Rex by Ted Rechlin

Sue: The world of Tyrannosaurus rex book. Best dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.

We picked this book up last summer at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana, where it captured my boy’s interests.

It’s a graphic novel (comic book) style story about how Sue (the most famous T. Rex) was found, and all of our kids have enjoyed reading it or having it read to them.

Boys looking at dinosaur comic book. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
The graphic novel style of Sue.

4. Weird But True! Dinosaurs: 300 Dino-Mite Facts to Sink Your Teeth Into

I don’t agree with everything National Geographic puts out (their ideology has some serious flaws), but they’ve done an excellent job in producing good quality, interesting kid’s books. This book shares some of the most interesting dinosaur facts in a colorful, engaging format.

5. Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life (DK Children’s Anthologies)

I love this beautiful, Victorian-style book about dinosaurs! It’s the kind of book a child can just quietly enjoy for hours.

Dinosaur Activity Books and Games for kids age 5 and up

Dinosaur coloring puzzle. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
Our son with a dinosaur coloring puzzle.

6. How to Draw Dinosaurs: Step-by-Step Drawings! (Dover How to Draw)

Dinosaur drawing and tracing book. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
Dinosaur tracing and drawing book

We got this book for our second son’s birthday, and he loved tracing the dinosaurs, though he didn’t feel confident enough to draw them himself. The whole series by Barbara Soloff Levy is excellent.

7. The Ultimate Colouring Book for Boys & Girls – Dragons Dinos Robots Ninjas: Fantasy for Children

Whoever created this coloring book clearly understands kids, because they included so many of the specific things that kids tend to like. Our boys love this coloring book for the big illustrations and different drawing styles. I loved it for the thick pages that worked well even for markers.

8. Ultimate Sticker Activity Collection: Dinosaurs and Other Prehistoric Life: More Than 1,000 Stickers and Tons of Great Activities (Ultimate Sticker Collection)

Our son works on his Ultimate Dinosaur Sticker Book.

With so many stickers and activity pages, your child will have hours of entertainment in this book! This would be an excellent travel activity book for road trips or air travel.

9. Skillmatics Card Game : Guess in 10 Deadly Dinosaurs (ages 8 and up)

These cards would be perfect for kids who enjoy learning fun facts and sharing them with everyone. If your child reads well before age 8, they would also enjoy these cards.

Play dinosaurs for big kids

Boy with dinosaur standing on play mat. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
Showing his dinosaur mat and figures.

10. Kiddiworld Dino Toys Play Mat

This set comes with dinosaur figures, a play mat, trees, and a handy carrying case. Everything a kid would need to play a fun dinosaur story is included. This is one of our favorite dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.

11. Dinosaur Toys, Create A Dinosaur World Road Race, Flexible Track Playset

Dinosaurs, a race track, cars that really race: what more could a kid want? Our kids have gotten so many hours of play from this play set! The track pieces connect and flex in many different ways, so kids can build the race course over and around objects.

This is one of our family’s favorite dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.

Dinosaur action toys. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
Two interactive dinosaur play toys

11. Remote Control Dinosaur Toy for Kids 5-7 – RC Walking Dinosaur Toy

There are so many remote control dinosaurs available now! This Raptor lights up, walks, and roars realistically.

While many kids would love to have a dinosaur that moves, roars, and lights up, be aware that for some kids, the realistic sounds might be a bit too much. We found this with our children when they received a big roaring T. rex: the toy had to be removed from their bedroom at night because it was a bit too scary.

12. Mattel Jurassic World Legacy Collection The Lost World: Jurassic Park Mamenchisaurus Big Possible Dinosaur Toy Figure with Physical and Digital Play

Big dinosaur toys are definitely better in this case: Mamenchisaurus is over 4 feet long! The long neck can be posed in different positions too.

Our son playing with 3 different dinosaur figurines on a green chair.
Playing with a variety of different dinosaur play figures – mixing and matching is part of the fun!

13. Jurassic World Colossal Carnotaurus Toro Dinosaur Action Figure Camp Cretaceous with Stomach-Release Feature

Here’s one of the coolest dinosaur toys I’ve ever seen! Not only is it huge (even bigger than the Brachiosaurus toy I mentioned previously), it also eats smaller plastic dinosaurs and has a stomach opening to take them out and do it all again! To be honest, I kinda want one myself.

Best gifts for the young paleontologist

If your child is really excited by the idea of finding fossils and learning the science behind dinosaurs, these paleontology gifts will be the perfect way to spark their imagination!

14. DANCING BEAR Fossil Collection Sorting Activity Kit with Over 100 Pcs

Our son looks at his magnifying glass and fossil kit.
We got our son the fossil sorting kit for Christmas one year – it’s the perfect gift for a young paleontologist.

We got this kit for our son one year, and he absolutely loved it. The fossil sorting kit comes with everything you need to identify fossils, and dozens of actual fossils to clean and sort. We also bought an additional magnifying glass to help with the process.

15. Fossils for Kids: An Introduction to Paleontology

The perfect beginner’s guide to the science of paleontology, this booklet is detailed without being too tedious. Our kids love flipping through guides like this when they can’t be “in the field” discovering their own fossils.

16. Fossils for Kids: A Junior Scientist’s Guide to Dinosaur Bones, Ancient Animals, and Prehistoric Life on Earth

Here’s another simple but informative guide for kids who love dinosaur bones and fossils.

17. Mary Anning Breaks New Ground: Courageous Kid of Paleontology (Courageous Kids)

Did you know that one of the first paleontologists was a girl? Mary Anning was the first one to discover Ichthyosaurus, and made many other discoveries as well. If you have a girl who loves dinosaurs and paleontology, this book will inspire her to keep learning and dreaming.

Our son, daughter and Brian look over a new dinosaur book.

Dinosaur building toys and model sets for big kids

18. LEGO Jurassic World Dinosaur Missions: Stegosaurus Discovery Building Set

Lego sets based on current movies and video games are regular favorites in our house. Even though our boys aren’t old enough to watch the Jurassic World movies, they see the photos and clips everywhere. It feels grown-up to be able to play with toys themed on popular movies. This Lego set includes a dinosaur, 2 mini figures (which are also collectibles) and a van, plus scene-building pieces.

19. PLAYMOBIL Dino Rise Triceratops: Battle for The Legendary Stones

Playmobil is another high-quality toy company that focuses on details and true-to-life (or historically accurate) features. They have small pieces so we don’t recommend Playmobil for kids under 3, and even a 4 or 5 year old may struggle to build some of the more complicated sets. This set features a Triceratops!

20. PLAYMOBIL Dino Explorer Carry Case

With a carrying case for all the pieces, this dinosaur play set would be a perfect road trip gift or plane ride toy. It’s one of the best dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.

21. SpringFlower Dinosaur Toys for 3 Years Old & Up – Dinosaur Arts and Crafts Painting kit 

Many kids love to craft, paint and draw, so a dinosaur painting set would be well appreciated. This set includes the paints and 12 plastic figures, so it’s an open-and-go kit.

Unique dinosaur gifts

22. ArtCreativity Magic Growing Dinosaur Capsules, 2 Packs with 12 Expanding Dino Capsules Each, Grow in Water

I couldn’t resist adding this classic 1980’s toy to the list. Drop the dinosaurs in warm water and watch them pop open and grow into cute sponges!

23. ArtCreativity Dinosaur Fossil Snapper with Sound, 1PC, Dino Reacher Grabber Toy for Kids

Another classic toy, this dinosaur-shaped grabber even growls! This would be a fun birthday gift or stocking stuffer to wake up to on Christmas morning.

24. Geo-rex Vortex | Magenta & Purple Ombré Carry-All Pouch

Dinosaur carry pouch from Society6. Dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old.
Cute dinosaur pouch!

Sometimes it can be challenging to find gifts for girls who love pink and purple as well as loving dinosaurs. This pouch would be perfect!

25. Watercolor Dinosaur Stripe Pink Water Bottle

Everyone needs one (or several) water bottles. Help your child’s water bottle stand out from the crowd by getting this Society6 water bottle with pink dinosaurs all over.

26. Cute Dinosaurs in Love, Purple Backpack

Purple dinosaurs in love backpack from Society6.

Sturdy and adorable, this backpack would be just right for a child who wants to have something different from the other kids. There are several other unique dinosaur printed backpacks in our Society6 dinosaur collection, so if this one doesn’t appeal, check the shop.

Experiences make perfect dinosaur gifts!

If you want to give a dinosaur gift that will be remembered for years, may I suggest that you give an experience?

Many parents of young kids are trying to limit the number of toys and stuff that their children receive. An experience may cost a little more money, but the wonder in a child’s eyes as they encounter life-sized dinosaurs, fossils, or replicas is well worth it.

Here are some favorite dinosaur experiences we’ve enjoyed. These experiences are meant to be a starting point for your own local experiences to look for.

Review of Jurassic Quest

Our family at Jurassic Quest.

Jurassic Quest is the perfect destination for young dinosaur lovers! We took our whole family ages 6-16 and everyone had a great time!

Brainy Beth is one of the dinosaur handlers, and she introduced us to Tyson, an adorable baby Tyrannosaurus rex. Our kids enjoyed petting Tyson gently and asking lots of questions about dinosaurs, how they grew, and how they lived. 

@dinkumtribe Cutest baby dinosaur ever! Thanks @jurassicquest for #hosting us! #jurassicquest2023 #babytrex #babydinosaur #dinosaurlovers #dinosaursarecool #dinosaursoftiktok #jurassicquest🦖😱 #welovedinosaurs #petthedinosaur #meetthedinosaurs ♬ original sound – DinkumTribe ADHD family travel

Life-sized Dinosaurs

Next, we explored the stationary, life-size, dinosaur models. Each dinosaur model had a video that explained lots of details about the dinosaurs, eating habits, growth, and family life.

Our son riding the Allosaurus at Jurassic Quest.

We also got to ride the Carnotaurus, Pachycephalosaurus, Triceratops, and Allosaurus! While  our kids waited their turn, they were able to dig in some fossil pits just like real paleontologists, or jump around in a bounce house until their favorite dinosaur was available to ride. 

Our kids digging in the fossil pits like paleontologists.

Our boys loved driving around in the mini jeeps near the huge Pteranodon. They also got to ride animatronic baby dinosaurs (Ankylosaurus and Triceratops). We were struck at how life-like these dinosaurs were—their fleshy bodies move and their eyes actually blink.

Our son petting the animatronic triceratops.

Meet the dinosaurs!

One of the highlights of our day was watching Diego the Utahraptor at the velociraptor show. Diego’s handler taught us how to give commands for Diego to follow, and then Diego went around to everyone and posed for selfies or videos with whoever wanted them. 

Selfie with Diego the Utah Raptor.

Jurassic Quest does a great job off making dinosaurs fun without making them terrifying. There was some scare factor but even more fun. We saw lots of smiling faces and got some epic photos!

@dinkumtribe Wanna meet a velociraptor? @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #velociraptor #meetthedinosaurs #petthedinosaur #dinosaursallday #dinosaursarecool #dinosaursoftiktok #hosted #diegotheraptor #adhdfamilytravel #familytraveltiktoker #familytravelvlog @jurassicquest ♬ original sound – DinkumTribe ADHD family travel

When we needed something quieter to take a break, there were lots of photo ops set up as well as tables where you could break open a fossil or make a dinosaur mask. It was all included with the unlimited wristbands we received. 

Even more dinosaur fun

The fun didn’t stop when we headed home for the day! Jurassic Quest’s website offers alphabetical coloring pages, folded paper crafts, and other fun activities that would make great pre-learning, homeschool projects.

We’d recommend Jurassic Quest especially for kids age 4-10. However, any person who loves dinosaurs or enjoys costume and special effects, is likely to have a great time. Each of our kids was able to have a great day.

@dinkumtribe Jurassic Quest’s full sized ride on dinosaurs are a fun experience for any dinosaur lover! @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #dinosaursarecool #jurassicquest #jurassicquest2023 #dinosaurride #dinosaurrides #carnotaurus #triceratops #pachycephalosaurus @jurassicquest ♬ At Jurassic World's End Credits / Suite – Michael Giacchino

Know Before You Go

Jurassic Quest is an incredibly popular event. An hour after the official opening time, the lines were long and it was already crowded. If you have little ones, or kids who don’t do well waiting in lines over an hour, we strongly advise arriving early or towards the end of the day. 

Our son petting the raptor.

Jurassic Quest often has a dedicated time for families with special needs to enjoy the exhibits without as many crowds. If that’s something your kids will need, call ahead before purchasing your tickets to ask about accommodations.

We’d like to think Jurassic Quest for providing us with free admission and unlimited wristbands to enjoy our visit.

Prehistoric Gardens (Port Orford, Oregon)

Giant T. rex with our kids in front of the Prehistoric Gardens in Oregon.
Some of our kids with the giant T. rex outside of Prehistoric Gardens

We loved walking through this old growth rainforest while seeing life-sized dinosaur dioramas! Our kids did the walking tour twice, to be sure not to miss anything. Our full review of Prehistoric Gardens is in our Oregon Coast with kids post.

@dinkumtribe Walking through Prehistoric Gardens.@dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe @dinkumtribe #prehistoricgardens #prehistoricgarden #oldgrowthforest #oldgrowthrainforest #pnwonderland #oregoncoast #oregoncoastvibes #travelwithkids #dinosaursoftiktok #dinosaurpark ♬ Jurassic World Theme – Voidoid

Museums with Dinosaur Bones

Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops fossils at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana.
Tyrannosaurus rex and Triceratops fossils at the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, Montana

If you search in your local area or in an area you’ll be visiting soon, you can probably find some museums that have dinosaur bones.

The ultimate dinosaur gift guide

I hope you’ve found some great dinosaur gifts for a 5 year old, 6 year old, or any other age! If you’re looking for other gift recommendations for a hard-to-buy-for child or adult, check out our other gift guides:

Dragon Gifts for Her or for Him

Cowboy Gifts for Men

Best Gifts from Oregon

Best Cowgirl Gifts

Best Dungeons and Dragons Gifts

Here’s hoping these dinosaur gifts will help a special child in your life celebrate their love of dinosaurs!

© Copyright Jennifer D. Warren 2022. Updated: October 1, 2024.

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About the author

I’m Jenn Warren, Co-Founder and Content Creator for Dinkum Tribe. I'm a Third Culture Kid (TCK) from Jamaica and California, married to my college sweetheart. I've been a missionary kid, pastor’s kid and (former) pastor’s wife. My husband and I traveled as pastors for 12 years throughout the United States and Canada before becoming travel content creators.

I love living in Oregon and exploring new places with my family. We’ve road tripped over 30,000 miles across the United States and Western Canada with our six children since their infancy. Prior to our marriage, I also lived in Spain for a summer and spent another summer in Mexico.

I’ve homeschooled our six children for over 10 years, and served on the board of a homeschool co-op for 4 years. Several members of our family are neurodivergent (gifted, ADHD, cPTSD), and I’ve spent 5+ years learning how to accommodate neurodivergent needs as well as supporting the resultant mental health challenges (anxiety, depression).

I’ve also served as a support group leader and co-director of Pure Life Alliance, a nonprofit organization that supports families struggling with sexual addiction.

I write about family travel and road trips, millennial marriage, general parenting, homeschooling, parenting neurodivergent children, grief, and abuse recovery.

Comments

  1. This is such a fun post! I love all of the dinosaur gift ideas – they are fabulous. I really LOVE your shower curtain – so cute!

  2. That shower curtain made me lol! I kinda want it for myself. I was really into dinos as a tween–neither of my children has shown any sustained interest yet, but I hope they will. Love your book recs. DK books are my go-to for children’s nonfiction, but I haven’t seen the one you listed. I’ll check it out.

    1. We love that shower curtain! Makes me chuckle all the time too. And I agree, DK books are AWESOME.

  3. My brother loved dinosaurs as a kid. He has two little boys now and some of these things would be great gift ideas for them!!! That dinosaur track! We live in Alberta so we have been to the Royal Tyrell museum more than once. (my oldest even got to sleep over there on a school field trip!) It is very cool and my girls years ago got the fossils they can chip away at to get the bones out from there and loved them!!! What a fun post with great ideas for dino lovers!!!

    1. Oh wow, super jealous of sleeping at the Royal Tyrell – that place is AWESOME! We only got to visit once, but we can’t wait to get back there.

  4. This is a brilliant post, I wish it has been around when my godson had been a few years younger!! Loved reading it though and hoping one of my 2 brand new nieces might like dinosaurs!

    1. Dinosaurs seem to be an ever-popular theme with kids – all of our girls liked dinosaurs at some point.

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