Learn how to create a DIY dinosaur dig activity that’s great for a dinosaur party or for some creative play for kids!
Our dinosaur dig activity was the highlight of my son’s dinosaur birthday party.
There’s something about digging in the sand for dinosaur bones that kids just love.
They couldn’t get enough of digging through the dirt with their little dinosaur dig kit!
DIY Dinosaur Dig Activity
Supplies:
- Play sand (mine came in a big bag from Home Depot)
- Plastic dinosaur skeletons
- Plastic dinosaur toys
- DIY dinosaur fossils
- Plastic play pool or large tub or container
- Dinosaur dig box
- Magnifying glasses
- Paintbrush
- Pith helmets
How to Create a Dinosaur Dig for Kids
Step 1. Pour the sand into a small swimming pool or large tub or container.
A small plastic swimming pool worked great for us.
Step 2. Add lots of plastic dinosaurs and dinosaur skeletons.
These were definitely the kids’ favorite!
I also added some DIY dinosaur fossils I made with just a few ingredients that turned out really cool.
Most of the dinosaurs were covered up with sand so the kids had to really look and dig to find them.
Step 3. For more fun, make each of the kids a cute dino dig kit!
Inside each dinosaur dig box I placed a magnifying glass and a large paintbrush.
A small rake was tied to each box with some jute.
When it was time for the dig at the dinosaur party, each boy opened up his kit and put on an adorable pith helmet.
Their cute hats made them look and feel like little paleontologists.
I explained to the kids how paleontologists would use special tool to find dinosaur bones in the ground.
Next, I showed them their tools and explained how to use them to find the dinosaurs fossils in the sand.
Then I let them go for it!
The big smiles on the kids’ faces were priceless!
They made sure they got every last single dinosaur and fossil, then dumped out all their loot and sorted and traded them.
It was all so much fun!
This was a great dinosaur party activity, but also is a lot of fun to do when the kids are bored or just need to get outside and play.
They can re-hide and re-find all of their dinosaurs for many days of creative play.
More Dinosaur Ideas-
How to Make a Dinosaur Dig Cake (and amazing chocolate cake recipe!)
How to Make Breakable DIY Dinosaur Eggs (with a surprise inside!)
How to Make Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils
This article was updated in February 2020 and was originally posted in September 2017.
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