If your kid is deep in their dinosaur phase, these 15 easy dinosaur crafts for preschoolers are going to be a hit. They’re simple, use basic supplies, and keep little hands busy—perfect for short attention spans.
1. Paper Plate Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Paper plates
- Paint and brushes
- Construction paper
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Googly eyes
Start with a classic. Use half paper plate and let your child paint it, then turn it into a dinosaur by adding a paper head, tail, legs, and a few spikes.
There are no rules with this one—every single dinosaur ends up a one-of-a-kind masterpiece. That’s part of what makes these so fun. Write the date on the back, save it, and you’ll love looking at those tiny painted hands one day when they’re not so tiny anymore.
Supervision tip: You cut shapes and help with scissors and small googly eyes; little ones do the gluing and painting.
2. Handprint Dinosaur Art
Materials:
- Colored paper or cardstock
- Washable paint
- Paintbrush
- Marker
Paint your child’s hand, stamp it on paper, and decorate it to look like a dinosaur. A cute keepsake you’ll treasure! Write the date on the back and tuck it away — you’ll be so glad you did when those tiny hands aren’t so tiny anymore.
Supervision tip: You handle the paint pouring and hand‑washing; kids can happily stamp and decorate.
3. Dinosaur Footprint Stomp Painting
Materials:
- Toy dinosaurs
- Washable paint
- Paper plates
- Large sheet of paper
Try dinosaur footprint art by dipping small toy dinosaur feet into paint, then letting your child stomp them across some paper. It’s pure messy fun. Cover the table and let your kid go wild—the more splatters, the better.
Supervision tip: Keep this one at a washable table or on the floor with a mat; you manage paint amounts and cleanup.
4. Egg Carton Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Egg cartons
- Paint and brushes
- Pipe cleaners
- Construction paper
- Scissors and glue
Just cut egg cartons into pieces, paint them, and add legs, tails, and heads. Suddenly, recycling turns into art. Kids love transforming “trash” into something adorable and cool.
Supervision tip: You cut the egg carton and poke holes for pipe cleaners; preschoolers paint and help glue.
5. Playdough Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Playdough or salt dough
- Toothpicks or straws
- Small beads or buttons
Playdough dinosaurs are always a win too. Let your child make their own dino shapes, adding spikes or silly decorations however they like. Five-legged T-Rex? Star-covered Stegosaurus? Why not! There’s no wrong way to do it.
Supervision tip: Use straws instead of toothpicks for very young kids and skip tiny beads if anyone still mouths objects.
6. Dinosaur Masks
Materials:
- Cardstock or paper plates
- Paint, crayons, or markers
- Scissors
- Glue
- Popsicle stick or elastic string
For something a little different, cut out a simple mask shape from cardboard, decorate it like a dinosaur, and attach a string or stick. Don’t be shocked if this leads to an afternoon of roaring around the house, chasing siblings (or the dog).
Supervision tip: You cut eye holes and help attach elastic; kids can decorate freely.
7. Tissue Paper Dino Collage
Materials:
- White paper (with dinosaur outline)
- Colored tissue paper squares
- Glue stick
If you want to work on fine motor skills—crumple up tissue paper and glue it inside a dinosaur outline for a textured, colorful friend. You can draw your own dino, or print a simple outline. This keeps little hands busy for longer than you might expect.
No special safety needs beyond normal glue and paper use—just stay nearby to help with sticky fingers.
8. Foam Cup Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Foam or paper cups
- Paint and brushes
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Googly eyes
Upside-down cup dinosaurs are a breeze. Just paint a cup, glue on paper tails, heads, and legs, and there you go—another new dino friend. These look adorable lined up on a shelf, and your child will love showing them off.
Supervision tip: You handle cutting and gluing small parts; little ones do the painting and help place the pieces.
9. Dino Fossil Imprints
Materials:
- Salt dough
- Rolling pin
- Small dinosaur toys
Press toy dinosaurs into salt dough to make fossil imprints, then let them dry. It’s like a mini dino dig! This one is great for sparking curiosity — you can talk about real fossils and how paleontologists find dinosaur bones, and suddenly craft time turns into a little learning moment too
Supervision tip: You mix the dough and roll it out; kids press toys and explore the textures.
10. Bubble Wrap Dinosaur Prints
Materials:
- Bubble wrap
- Paint
- Paper
- Scissors
- Glue
Try bubble wrap painting for a cool texture. Have your child paint a sheet of bubble wrap, press it onto paper, and see what kind of dino skin pattern they can make. And, yes, expect some bubble popping—honestly, that’s half the fun.
Supervision tip: You cut the bubble wrap and manage the paint; remind kids not to put it near their mouths.
11. Cupcake Liner Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Cupcake liners
- Construction paper
- Glue stick
- Googly eyes
Flatten cupcake liners and use them as dinosaur bodies. Add paper legs, tails, and heads. Great for quick, no-paint crafting! This one is perfect for those days when you want to do something fun but really don’t feel like dealing with paint and cleanup. The ruffled edges of the liners give the dinosaurs the cutest built-in texture, and kids love picking out their favorite colors.
Supervision tip: You handle any cutting and tiny eyes; kids do the gluing and arranging.
12. Dinosaur Tail Headbands
Materials:
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Tape or stapler
- Markers or stickers
Make a headband strip that fits your child’s head, then tape a long tail shape to the back. Perfect for active pretend play or a mini “dino dance”! Once that headband is on, get ready — your living room is officially a prehistoric jungle.
These are also super fun to make for a dinosaur-themed birthday party so every little guest can stomp around in style.
Supervision tip: Adults must handle the stapler and scissors; kids decorate and wear.
13. Popsicle Stick Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Popsicle sticks
- Paint
- Small pom-poms or paper cutouts
- Googly eyes
- Glue
Use 3–4 sticks to form a body and tail, paint them, and decorate with pom-poms or paper spikes. A fun tactile craft for little hands. Popsicle stick crafts are always a win because they’re so easy to manage at this age — nothing too floppy or tricky to hold.
Let your child pick the colors and go wild with the decorations. The more pom-poms, the better, according to every preschooler ever.
Supervision tip: You manage hot or strong glue (if used) and tiny pieces; kids place parts and paint.
14. Toilet Paper Roll Dinosaurs
Materials:
- Empty toilet paper rolls
- Paint
- Construction paper
- Scissors and glue
- Markers
Got some empty toilet paper rolls? Paint them, glue on a head, tail, and some spikes, and draw a big smiley face. These are always favorites. Before you know it, you’ll have a whole herd lined up—a homemade Jurassic collection way cuter (and prouder) than store-bought.
Supervision tip: You cut slits and small shapes; little ones decorate and assemble.
15. Paper Bag Dinosaur Puppets
Materials:
- Brown paper lunch bags
- Construction paper
- Glue
- Markers
- Googly eyes
Decorate the bag flap as the dinosaur’s face, add spikes or tails, and you’ve got a puppet ready to roar and play. The best part is what happens after the craft — the puppet show that follows is pure entertainment. Give your child a few minutes and they’ll have a whole storyline going.
These also make a great quiet-time activity for the backseat on road trips if you prep them ahead of time.
Supervision tip: You cut small parts; kids color and glue everything on.
Final Thoughts
Preschoolers love dinosaur crafts. Give them some paint, glue, and a few supplies, and they’re off making their own wild Jurassic creatures. These projects don’t take much time or prep, but they always spark big grins—and plenty of silly roars!
If your little one is obsessed with animals, don’t stop here. Try these next:
- Animal Fun Crafts for Kids: Creative Projects by Age
- Farm Animal Crafts for Kids That Teach and Entertain
- 15 Easy and Fun Capybara Crafts That Kids Will Love
- Zoo Animal Crafts for Kids: Bringing the Safari Home
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