How to Buy Toy Dinosaurs

Toy dinosaurs are a long-standing favorite of young children. Look for special features when you select them for the boys and girls in your life.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dinosaur Exploration Kit
• Dinosaur Model Kits
• Toy Dinosaurs
• Dinosaur Videos

1. Consider the age of the child you are buying for. For kids under 3, watch out for choking hazards: If a toy is small enough to fit inside a toilet paper roll, it's probably too small for a child this age.

2. Think about the child's interests. Is he or she very imaginative? Children with active imaginations will enjoy pretending with dinosaur figures.

3. Look at action dinosaurs. Many dinosaurs on the market make noises, can be moved or come with action pieces, such as eggs that crack open or skeletons that appear.

4. Mix and match so that you buy a selection of different dinosaurs. Some types include velociraptor, tyrannosaurus rex, stegosaurus, triceratops, plateosaurus and styracosaurus.

5. Look for toy dinosaurs based on recent movies like "Jurassic Park" and "Dinosaur."

6. Know that children in the 6-to-10-year-old range will likely enjoy dinosaur science kits, which allow them to assemble bones, form fossils and learn about the science of dinosaurs.

Tips & Warnings

• Purchase an age-appropriate book about dinosaurs to accompany the toy.