Dinosaur Theme Crafts & Activities for Toddlers & Preschoolers

Dinosaurs are a timeless favorite in the classroom. They spark curiosity, invite questions, and naturally engage children’s imaginations. Because of this, dinosaur-themed crafts and activities are a great way to support creativity, fine motor skills, and hands-on learning. In this post, you’ll find ideas that are simple to set up, adaptable for different ages, and easy to connect with lessons about science, history, or imaginative play.

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Books:

Colorful World of Dinosaurs by Matt Sewell

Colorful World of Dinosaurs

By Sewell, Matt

Some Dinosaurs Are Small by Charlotte Voake

Some Dinosaurs Are Small

By Voake, Charlotte

Crafts:

• Dinosaur Chompers

• Dinosaur Hat

• Dinosaur Plate Craft

• Dinosaur Paint Tracks

Materials Needed:

• Toy dinosaurs (different sizes and types make it extra fun)

• Washable paint (any colors your child loves)

• Large sheet of paper (butcher paper, poster board, or even cardboard)

• Paper plates or shallow trays (for holding paint)

• Wipes or a bowl of soapy water and towel (for easy cleanup)

Instructions:

1. Set up your painting space.
   Lay out a large sheet of paper on the floor or table. Make sure you protect the surface underneath with newspaper, an old tablecloth, or a drop cloth.

2. Pour the paint.
   Squeeze small amounts of washable paint onto paper plates or shallow trays. Use a few different colors for variety.

3. Dip the dino feet.
   Gently press the feet of the toy dinosaurs into the paint.

4. Stomp, walk, and drag!
   Place the painted dino feet onto the paper and walk them across to make colorful tracks. Encourage kids to experiment with different dinosaurs—the bigger the feet, the bigger the tracks! They can stomp, march, or even drag tails and bodies through the paint for extra textures.

5. Switch colors.
   Rinse or wipe off the dinosaurs between colors to keep the paint bright and fun.

6. Create a masterpiece.
   Keep stamping and walking the dinos until the paper is covered with unique patterns and track marks.

7. Clean up.
   When finished, wash the toy dinosaurs with warm soapy water and wipe down surfaces.

Tips:

• Turn this into a science connection by talking about how real dinosaurs left footprints behind for paleontologists to study.

• Try mixing colors on the dino feet to see what new colors are created.

Activities:

• Playdoh Fossils & Footprints

• Dinosaur Tracing

• Dinosaur Fossil Hunt

Get ready for some paleontologist fun! This simple activity lets kids dig, brush, and discover dinosaur “fossils” hidden in sand. Whether you use toy dinosaurs or printable bones, this activity sparks imagination and sensory play while introducing little ones to the excitement of fossil hunting.

Materials Needed:

• Printable dinosaur bones (like a T-Rex skeleton) OR toy dinosaurs

• Scissors (to cut out bones if using printables)

• Laminator (optional, but helps the paper bones last longer)

• Kinetic sand or play sand

• A bin or tray (large enough for digging)

• Small paintbrushes, spoons, or toy shovels (for “excavating”)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the fossils.
   Print out dinosaur skeleton bones, cut them apart, and laminate them for durability. If using toy dinosaurs, simply set them aside.

2. Hide the fossils.
   Bury the bones or toy dinosaurs under the kinetic sand in your bin. Make sure some are deeper and some are closer to the surface for a more exciting discovery.

3. Set up the dig site.
   Provide the child with brushes, spoons, or small tools they can use to gently move sand and uncover the hidden treasures.

4. Start the excavation.
   Invite the child to dig, scoop, and brush through the sand like a real paleontologist.

5. Reconstruct the dinosaur.
   If you used printable skeleton bones, challenge your child to put the bones back together to form the full dinosaur skeleton.

6. Clean up.
   When the dig is done, shake or brush off the fossils, store them in a baggie, and save them for next time.

Tips:

• Use a small flashlight or magnifying glass to make the hunt feel more realistic.

• For group play, turn it into a “dig site” where kids work together to excavate and rebuild the dinosaur.

Song for circle time:

Additional Books:

ABCs of Dinosaur: A Powerfully Prehistoric Alphabet - ABC First Learning Book for Toddlers, Kindergartners, and Curious Minds with Fun Fact Bites, Ages 1-5

By Sienna Nightingale

Dinosaur, Dinosaur, What Do You See?: A Easy and Fun Introduction to Dinosaurs for Young Children

By Nanny, NRI

I hope you find these activities helpful for supporting a dinosaur theme at your school or clinic.