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. 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. 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. 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.

With a little bit of elbow grease (and their own tools), kids can put together these dinos that have moveable joints. This STEM-friendly set—Tyrannosaurus rex, triceratops, and velociraptor—helps teach motor and problem-solving skills, complete with a small kid-safe power drill. And what kids don’t love a power drill? (Just mine?) Simple toys that do not have fancy lights, music, or movement are great because they are versatile,” says Liz Nuernberger, M.A., CCC-SLP, a pediatric speech-language pathologist. “You choose what you want to do with them, and it gives you a chance to use your imagination.” For the true dino enthusiast, this remote-controlled T-Rex does it all. It makes noise and even sprays steam for a more intense playtime experience. This 23-inch T-Rex can respond to some half-dozen commands, including walk, shake head, roar, and spray steam. The remote control also plays music and controls volume. 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.The ToyVelt set comes with six dinosaurs and six tool sets, each with a screwdriver and wrench. Of the six dinosaurs, there are three different kinds: T-Rex, brontosaurus, and triceratops. They all feature brightly colored body parts and red and yellow screws. Among all the parts, and there are a lot (218 in all), there doesn’t seem to be a purpose for the wrenches. You could use them for removing the feet, but the screwdriver works for that as well. And unlike the fossil kit (see above), this set is designed for play, with movable joints, including a working mouth.

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). Experts from the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) concur: “The less a toy does, the more the child can do with it,” according to ASHA. “The more the child can do with it, the more opportunities for interaction it allows.” Quiet for Creativity If that’s not enough to teach the power of hard work, the set also includes two manual screwdrivers to put the pieces together. The dinosaurs and the tools don’t feel incredibly sturdy…so we aren’t sure if these dinosaurs will ever secure hand-me-down status. 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.Editor's Note (September 2023): This product review was originally written and published in 2019. To make sure we are still recommending the best products for your needs, we recently reviewed this story to make sure it is still accurate and that we stand by what we wrote. Despite newer models and options being available, we still feel confident that this product is one of the best choices, and therefore have included it in The Best Toys for 3-Year-Olds. 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. Our 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. Users are impressed with this set’s versatility. For example, for a 3-in-1 set, each dinosaur requires its own build, while other multi-use sets might have a main build and then smaller add-ons or adjustments. 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.