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Since the Dinosaur Take Apart toys come apart completely, you can ensure they are thoroughly clean. The best way we’ve found to do it is to take apart the dinosaurs and put the parts in a sink full of warm soapy water. We then let them air dry on a big towel. If your little one wants to get in on the action, giving the dinosaurs a bath can be a fun game in itself. No, you can’t grow your own dinosaur. ( Jurassic Park scientists tried that, and it didn’t go as planned.) But with the Dino World Terrarium Kit, kids can create their own miniature garden (with dino figurines) and watch it grow. ToyVelt’s Take Apart Dinosaurs are meant for children ages 3 and up and are designed to help them develop problem solving skills, hand-eye coordination, and patience. We saw firsthand how our son’s hand-eye coordination improved after using the screwdriver just a few times.
We found that our 3 year old son, who is at the minimum age for these Take Apart Dinosaurs, was far more interested in sliding the dinosaurs around on the floor than actually taking them apart and rebuilding them. Thankfully, we anticipated that might happen, so we did a little prep work before introducing him to this toy. We kept four dinosaurs in the box and brought out just one matching pair. Then, we took one apart and left one intact so he could see what he would be building. That first build was really fun and kept him totally engaged. However, once it was built, he had no interest in taking apart any other dinosaurs. The set includes 12 acrylic paints and two brushes for your paleontologist-turned-artist to decorate the dinos before creating a prehistoric scene, complete with artificial grass, a virgin forest (like those from pre-human times), and two display boxes. If that’s not enough to teach the power of hard work, the set also includes two manual screwdrivers to put the pieces together. Switch the light on at night for a glowing terrarium, while the plants will grow during the day. The best part, especially for anyone who can’t keep indoor plants alive, is that the terrarium is easy to set up, and having a green thumb is not required.The ToyVelt Take Apart Dinosaur set is a good choice for any child who loves to tinker or is in a major dinosaur phase. For the younger crowd, it’s best as a parent-led activity, but for older kids, these dinos could provide hours of entertainment. Even better, the boat can float, so kids bring the toy in the bath or play with it while using a water table for a more creative experience.
Kids (or kids with their grown-ups) will build a 1:32-scale Tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, and pteranodon, with the T-Rex measuring 15 inches long and 7 inches tall. The finished pieces sit on their own labeled stands for display or play, along with two Lego mini figures: a paleontologist for role-playing and a skeleton (with the label “Lego sapiens”) for laughs. The manufacturer suggests this product is for kids over the age of 3. Our son didn’t have any safety issues with the small pieces. However, the screws are tiny, so if your child still likes to put things in their mouth, make sure you watch them closely while playing with this toy. Also, for the younger set, anticipate this being a parent-led activity rather than a free play toy (at least until they get the hang of it). According to a 2016 study published in JAMA Pediatrics, electronic toys—talking farms, baby laptops, baby cellphones, for example—were associated with decreased quantity and quality of language input compared with books or toys that don’t make noise. Is there anything for which Lego doesn’t have a set? This 910-piece kit is a challenge for older kids but makes for a good rainy- or snowy-day family activity. It’s unique, too, in the fact that it features dinosaur bones versus the “living” animal, for a museum-style display. Plus, quiet toys are easier on parents’ and caregivers’ ears. That’s not to say toys that make noise or have screens are a hard no. “Believe me, as a parent, [I agree] there is a place for these,” says Nuernberger. “Just make sure you’re interacting with your child. For example, you can narrate what they’re doing and expand on what the toy is doing or saying.” How We SelectedOur biggest issue is that there weren’t any instructions. We were left wondering if we could switch body parts for the dinos or if there was a way to use the wrench that we didn’t realize. An instruction book with images would’ve been helpful. This set features two raptors attempting to escape the reigns of enemy explorers. A little dark—not to mention anachronistic—but kiddos can rescue the dinosaurs and trap the hunters in the cage. And unlike the fossil kit (see above), this set is designed for play, with movable joints, including a working mouth.
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