Dinosaur Games and Activities
for BIG DINO fun!

~ Dinosaur Games & Activities ~

DINOSAUR FOR A DAY - Make up some index cards with a dinosaur picture and some easy facts about each one (ex. herbivore or carnivore, size, weight, length, etc.).

Upon arrival, have each child pick a dinosaur card out of a hat. They will become that dinosaur for the day.

At the end of the party, gather party guests in a circle and ask some questions to see who best remembers their dino facts. Prizes are awarded accordingly.

This is a good activity to get kids quieted down after other more competitive or active dinosaur games...

GUESS HOW MANY DINOSAURS? - Fill a jar with small plastic dinosaurs. Have each child guess how many dinosaurs it takes to fill the jar. Closest guess without going over wins the jar of dinosaurs.

PIN THE HORN ON THE TRICERATOPS - This variation of "Pin the Tail on the Donkey" requires a poster-sized picture of a triceratops. Have the local copy shop enlarge a picture from your child's favorite dinosaur book. Make horns from posterboard and number them for each guest. Each guest is spun around 3 times and pointed at the poster to try to pin the horn on the triceratops.
Variation: Pin the Tooth on the T-Rex!

DINOS IN THE TAR PIT - Have a cassette player handy to play some fun upbeat children's tunes. Tape a length of wrapping paper or plastic tablecloth folded in half on the floor. This is the "tar pit". (You could even use dino paper or if you're ambitious or draw a few dinosaurs on the tablecloth).

Guests line up on one side of the tar pit and as the music is played they walk back and forth from one side of the tar pit to the other. When the music stops, any "dinosaurs" caught in the tar pit are eliminated. The last dino to escape the tar pit is the winner.

~ Dinosaur Games & Activities ~

I DIG DINOS - This is ideal for those with a sandbox. Bury several "fossils" in the sandbox and give each child a tool such as a spoon, small shovel, or paintbrush to dig for dinos. For fossils, you can use flat rocks painted with fossil shapes, "bones" cut from cardboard, doggie bone treats, or simply press bug shapes into ovals of clay. Or, try recipe below for Dinosaur Eggs...

FISHING FOR FOSSILS - Place several numbered dinosaur shapes in a kiddie pool. Each child is given a fishing rod or stick with string and hook (paperclip) attached. When they catch a dinosaur "fish", they are given a prize which corresponds to the number on their dinosaur.
Variation: Fill the pool with small toys, rings, and wrapped candy which can easily be hooked by the fishermen.

IT'S RAINING PTERADACTYLS! - Guests gather in a circle around the adult dinosaur games leader. Each is given the name of a dinosaur (T-Rex, Stegasaurus, Dimetrodon, Brontosaurus, Allosaurus etc.) or use those given at the beginning of the party.

The leader holds a balloon (the pteradactyl) above his head and says, "Dinosaurs, O Dinosaurs, can you catch the flying pteradactyl? He lets the balloon go as he calls out one of the dinosaur names. The child bearing that name must catch the balloon before it hits the ground. This is a challenge for both leader and children to remember the dinosaur names! Game can be played with or without elimination.

~ Dinosaur Games & Activities ~

STEGASAURUS STOMP -Inflate two balloons for each party guest and write their names on them in marker. Place all the balloons under a big queen or king sized sheet and tape it down with masking tape. Tell the children that they are hungry dinosaurs stomping through a swamp of alligators. They must stomp all the alligators (pop all the balloons) except one, which they will eat for dinner. The guest whose name is on the last surviving balloon is the winner. A food prize would be appropriate for this one! (If any balloons escape during the melee, just push them back under the blanket.)

T-REX TAG - One child is designated as the T-Rex. He roars and acts ferocious as the other children run from him. Whomever is tagged by the T-Rex must stand still until they are freed by one of the other guests crawling between their legs. This game can get pretty wild. You might want to give more than one child a chance to be the T-Rex.

HATCH THE DINOSAUR EGG - Inflate 2 white balloons for each child, and make a zigzag pattern on each with a black marker to resemble a cracked "egg". Place a small toy inside each balloon. Tell the guests they must pop or "hatch" their eggs to get the prize inside.

FEEDING FRENZY - Draw and color a large dinosaur head on a piece of heavy cardboard. Cut out the mouth area to form a large gaping hole. Prop the dinosaur against a chair or other support. Have guests stand behind a line and "feed" the dinosaur by throwing bean bags, rolled socks, or even dog chew toys (which resemble food) into the open mouth.

~ Dinosaur Games & Activities ~

DINO FOOTPRINTS - Make two sets of cardboard dinosaur footprints from heavy cardboard. Divide guests into two teams and line them up next to each other. Place a chair about 10 feet away from each group. Give the first person in each line two of the cardboard shapes. These shapes become the only thing they can step on as they travel across the room, around the chair and back again.

The game begins by having the first child on each team place one cardboard shape on the ground and step on it. Then, they place the other cardboard shape on the ground in front of the first and step on it. Next, they pick up the first cardboard shape and place it on the ground in front of the other, etc. When they reach the line were they started, they hand the two cardboard shapes to the next player in line. The team to make it all the way around the course first, wins!

DINOSAUR HUNT - Set a board across 2 chairs or saw horses. Set up a row of empty 2 liter bottles with pictures of dinosaurs taped to them. Each dinosaur is assigned a point value (T-Rex 10 points, Allosaurus 5 pts., Stegasaurus 3 pts., etc.) Arm guests with cloth balls or rolled socks and let them go on a dinosaur hunt by attempting to knock down the dinosaur bottles. (Nerf ballblaster guns are also great for this one.) Winner is the guest with the highest point value after all have had a turn.

~ Dinosaur Games & Activities ~

DINOSAUR EGG HUNT - Place candy and small toys inside recycled Easter eggs and hide. Have the guests hunt for the "dinosaur eggs".

DINOSAUR EGG HUNT - Tell guests there is a very large green dinosaur egg hidden somewhere in the yard. Let them hunt until they find it - a watermelon! Their reward: a cool refreshing slice!

Dinosaur Eggs - for Dinosaur Egg Hunt or I Dig Dinosaurs

To make the dough, mix all the dry ingredients together. Gradually stir in enough water so the mix holds together. Shape handfuls of dough around the small plastic dinosaurs in the form of egg shapes. Give these "eggs" up to 4 days to dry then you can let the kids discover them in your yard or garden. They can open with a hammer or rock.

Note: Turn the eggs regularly so they dry evenly and completely. Don't leave them outside overnight if there's a change of rain or even dew, which may soften them.