11 simple dinosaur activities for a rip-roaring, fun-filled summer

Summer is upon us. As temperatures and humidity levels rise, it feels like we’re living in a prehistoric swamp. School holidays start before the end of the month.

Many Dinomamas (myself included) are already thinking about what we’re going to do to keep our little dinosaur fans occupied and happy over the summer. And we don’t want to be debating whether dinosaurs should have worn sunscreen (ask me how I know).

We’ve got you covered with 11 simple summer dinosaur activities which won’t break the budget and all of them are tried and tested by our Little Dinosaur Aficionado. It’s the ultimate summer bucket list for dinosaur fans.

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Wait, back up. Dinomama?

Dinomama

noun /ˈdaɪnəˈmæmə

1. Compound word combining dino, meaning “terrifying, frightful” with mama meaning “mother, female parent of an animal or child”.
2. Similar to a Mama bear, a Mamasaurus is a mother who will fiercely protect her little dinosaur or child.
3. A mother of a child who loves dinosaurs.

Synonyms: Dinomum, Dinomom, Mamasaurus

See also:

Dinomummy

noun /ˈdaɪnəˈmʌmi/

An exceptionally preserved dinosaur fossil with a fossilized imprint of the carcass (skin, armor and guts), such as the Edmontosaurus Mummy.

11 simple summer dinosaur activities

Look no further Mamasaurs: we’ve got 11 simple, fun, and cheap dinosaur activities for you to do with your little dinosaur fan this summer. That’s about one a week! And many can be done inside if the weather does not cooperate.

Grab this fun dinosaur bucket list of 11 simple summer dinosaur activities – and your free dinosaur summer planner – and start planning your summer activities.

1. Fly a pterosaur

Grab a pterosaur kite and take it for a fly on a suitably windy day. If you’re a dinosaur purist, get a dinosaur kite instead. We’d love to see this Triceratops fly!

You can also make one out of a plastic garbage bag, and sticks and string for the frame and some permanent markers. Check out this post for some simple instructions on how to make a kite – then just add your dinosaur silhouette!

2. Make some T-Rex sized bubbles

What child doesn’t like bubbles? Yes, you could get some dinosaur bubble wands or even some dinosaur bubble blasters and spend some time blowing and popping bubbles with your little dinosaur fan. However, your little dinosaur will have more fun trying to create giant dinosaur-sized bubbles.

You’ll need a bubble set like this one. Here are clear instructions to make your own wand.

Don’t forget to get enough bubble mix or make your own. Use 1/2 a cup of dish soap, 1 1/2 cups of water and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Stir gently until the sugar dissolves and the mixture is well combined.

For optimal bubbles, choose a cloudy or overcast day with high humidity and little wind.

3. Go on a dinosaur dig

You might be lucky enough to live in an area where fossils are commonly found. The Jurassic Coast in Dorset, the Altmühltal in Germany, and Laurel Dinosaur Park in Maryland are three places where fossils are quite easy to find.

You might not be able to make it to one of these dig sites, but there is nothing to stop you from having a dinosaur dig in a sandpit at the local park or beach. Grab some dinosaur fossil beach toys. We have the T-Rex and Triceratops but might have to get the Stegosaurus. You could also secretly spread some real fossils in your sandpit and let your little dinosaur fan discover them.

Alternatively, make some dinosaur fossil eggs and spend time excavating them.

4. Make a dinosaur recipe

We have a number of dinosaur recipes on our site and the list is growing! Dino burgers are great for summer…

You might need a dinosaur apron for cooking, too!

5. Watch a dinosaur movie under the stars

Our LDA wrote “watch a movie under the stars” on her summer bucket list. Why not dino-fy it for another simple summer dinosaur activity?

What you’ll need:

1. A screen, such as a wall or old white sheet or blanket strung up between trees or buildings
2. A projector
3. Ideally, a bluetooth speaker
4. A movie – you can stream numerous dinosaur movies via amazon prime or other streaming services
5. Some blankets and cushions for comfort
6. Theatre snacks, like our coprolite popcorn pops or fossil fuel ice cream.

If you don’t have the space to watch a movie under the stars, watching a dinosaur movie on the TV or iPad from a pillow fort is an equally enjoyable simple summer dinosaur activity.

6. Swim like a Plesiosaur

One of the simplest dinosaur activities for summer is to go swimming like a Plesiosaur (yes, I know a Plesiosaur is not technically a dinosaur). Spend time in the pool or at the beach with a dinosaur pool float, dino pool toys and dinosaur water pistols. Our LDA loves attacking us with this Super Soaker! Or if your little dinosaur is really little, try a dino pool!

7. Eat dinosaur ice cream

I know you have been waiting for an excuse to try our fossil fuel ice cream recipes. This is your chance.

8. Draw some dinosaurs

Chalk drawing on the driveway or footpath is a classic summer activity. Make it a simple summer dinosaur activity by drawing dinosaurs with your chalk. Use your dinosaurs as models/silhouettes.

This “Dino-might” set turns sidewalks into prehistoric playgrounds, with three dinosaur stencils and an app that makes the drawings come alive. These chalk dinosaur eggs have a dinosaur hiding inside.

And you can make your own dinosaur chalk, too!

9. Create and play in a dinosaur garden

Check out this post for all you need to know to make your own garden.

10. Enjoy a prehistoric tar pit

Give your child their first experience of prehistoric tar pits with this fun activity. Your little dinosaur fan is going to love this simple summer dinosaur activity!

11. Visit a dinosaur park or museum

Of all the simple summer dinosaur activities, perhaps the highlight for any dinosaur fan is a visit to their favourite dinosaur museum or park. Or perhaps a new one with new highlights to discover? Where you go is up to you. If you buy the tickets now for later in the season, your little dinosaur fan will be looking forward to the visit all summer long!

Dino summer, here we come!

Relieve the Mamasaurus headache and make this summer memorable for your little dinosaur fan with these fun, cheap, and simple dinosaur activities. Your little dinosaur fan will be roaring with delight and will have so much to tell the other dinosaur fans when they return to school.

Is there anything we should add to our ultimate summer bucket list for dinosaur fans?

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