Why Kids Love Dinosaurs: What Makes These Prehistoric Creatures So Fascinating? By Contributor Annamarie von Firley
Kids go through all kinds of phases, but the dinosaur phase hits differently. Almost every kid has a moment where they’re running around roaring, correcting adults’ pronunciation of names like Stegosaurus, or even explaining extinction like they have a Ph.D. It’s a weirdly intense interest, but when you look closer, it makes more sense than it seems. Dinosaurs give kids a mix of mystery, power, science, and imagination that nothing else really offers.
Dinosaurs Let Kids Build a Whole Universe From Scratch
One reason dinosaurs hook kids so strongly is because there’s so much room to imagine. There are no videos of what dinosaurs actually looked or acted like, so kids get to fill in all the blank spaces. It’s basically the perfect creative setup: real enough to be interesting, but unknow enough to let their imagination take over.
Children mix what they learn, like what a fossil looks like or what certain dinosaurs ate, with whatever stories they want to tell. Some kids make dinosaurs live peacefully together, others stage dramatic battles, and some build entire landscapes out of sand or blocks. This type of pretend play helps kids learn to make decisions, come up with ideas on their own, and practice creative thinking without anyone telling them what is “right”.
Hands-on play that doesn’t feel like “learning”
Even if dinosaurs seem like just toys, kids are doing a lot of physical activity while they play with them. They move pieces around, place them into little habitats they build, or line them up in size order. If they’re doing fossil-dig kits or building model skeletons, they end up practicing patience and using their hands in careful, coordinated ways.
These small actions build fine motor skills, the same skills kids need for writing, cutting with scissors, or doing detailed school work later on. What makes it effective is that kids don’t think of it as practice; they’re just having fun.
Dinosaurs turn Kids into little scientists without them realizing it
This is the part that researchers find really interesting. Kids who love dinosaurs tend to ask a million questions, like what did they eat? How do we know what they looked like? Why did they go extinct? These types of questions push them into early scientific thinking.
A study published in Frontiers in Psychology followed kids exploring dinosaur exhibits in a museum and found that children naturally compared fossils, made guesses, and explained their ideas like tiny researchers. They weren’t memorizing facts for a test; they were genuinely curious.
Another paper by Eric (Palmquist & Crowley, 2007) found that science-heavy interests like dinosaurs help kids stay focused longer and absorb more information. Basically, when a kid is into dinosaurs, they go all in. They remember details, learn words, and take pride in being the “expert” in the room.
Not Just Roaring — Real Social and Emotional Learning
Dinosaurs are huge, loud, and sometimes scary, but they’re also safely out of reach because they’re extinct. That’s part of the appeal. Kids can explore ideas like danger, bravery, or survival without actually feeling afraid.
When they play with other kids, dinosaur play becomes social. They negotiate who plays which dinosaur, talk through what’s happening in their pretend world, and figure out disagreements like, “No, the T-Rex can’t fly”. They learn cooperation, communication, and how to deal with conflict while they play. Museums like the Smithsonian point out that dinosaurs also spark conversations about change, life cycles, and extinction, which gets kids thinking beyond the present moment.
So, Why Dinosaurs?
Because they hit every part of a kid’s brain at once. They’re dramatic, mysterious, ancient, and slightly scary — all the things that make childhood curiosity explode. Kids get to imagine, question, experiment, and teach others what they’ve learned. It’s not just a quirky phase; it’s actually a pretty meaningful part of how children explore the world.
Where to Buy Dinosaur Toys & Activities for Budding Paleontologists
For the youngest among us:
This fair-trade all-natural Crochet Dinosaur Rattle is something your future paleontologist can really sink their teeth in.
Toddlers to Kindergarteners
Dinosaur Puzzle Sticks are a great way to build the cognitive and sequencing skills that your toddler will need for their future career as a paleontologist.
These Build-your-own Wooden Dinosaurs Kits are the perfect way to get your Dino-loving preschooler to make their own prehistoric creature out of natural rubber and sustainably harvested wood. Five dinosaur kits are available: T.rex, Stegosaurus, Brachosaurus, Triceratops, and Pteradactyl.
This clever Parasaurolophus Model Set is a darling way for your budding paleo nerd to explore what it looks like inside of a dinosaur. Pull the magnet dino halves apart to reveal its bones that are a mini puzzle themselves.
Dinosaur Shadow Puppets are fun for both parents and children alike. Set up a sheet and a spot light for an evening of dino-mite storytelling.
Dino Activities for Emerging Paleontologists 4 to 8 years olds
This Junior Paleontologist Excavation Kit mimics the same processes that Paleontologists use: from excavating bones, identifying the prehistoric creature, and assembling the bones to reconstruct the creature. 12 dinosaur puzzles & matching cards included.
This Dinosaur Discovery Poster Sticker Activity is a fun way for your junior Paleontologist to learn the names of dinosaurs. Match the dinosaur name to the sticker. The finished poster is suitable for framing and decorating your child’s room.
This Dinosaur Lover Craft Kit is the perfect way to keep your dino-lover busy during school breaks. With 15 activities that include scratch kits, painting activities, sticker art, 3-D pop-up creatures, and more, the time will just fly by.
Dino Activities for Junior Paleontologists 8 to 15 years old:
This Dinosaur Discovery VR and Book Gift Set is a must-have for any self-respecting paleo nerd. It comes with VR goggles, 80-page DK book on dinosaurs, and a dig kit. Your dino-lover can see what it would have been like to walk with the dinosaurs with dozens of VR activities for immersive learning with this award winning kit.
Your future Paleontologist can get up close and personal with the inner workings of this prehistoric creature with this Anatomy of a Stegosaurus kit. Kit includes all the internal organs of the stegosaurus and an illustrated guide book with descriptions of the anatomy, as well as information about their habitat.
Citations:
Dierking, L., Falk, J., Palmquist, S. and Crowley, K. (2007). SCIENCE LEARNING IN EVERYDAY LIFE From Teachers to Testers: How Parents Talk to Novice and Expert Children in a Natural History Museum.
From teachers to testers: How parents talk to novice and expert children in a natural history museum
Weisberg, D.S., Dunlap, L.C. and Sobel, D.M. (2023). Dinos and GoPros: Children’s exploratory behaviors in a museum and their reflections on their learning. Frontiers in Psychology
Annamarie von Firley is the President of the beloved Adventuretown Toy Emporium located in Los Angeles. She has a BFA in Wooden Toy Design and Construction from Hampshire College and BFA in Furniture Design from California College of the Arts She was the cofounder and designer of the revered reproduction vintage clothing store, reVamp, for 20 years. Her handiwork has been seen on Broadway and major motion pictures, as well as in the Smithsonian.