Kids have always loved dinosaurs and dinosaurs toys, with a huge range of different products available to purchase. There is just something about dinosaurs that excites and inspires young children, and has done for quite some time. Along with a huge range of dinosaur toys, there are also a number of books, movies, and television shows that are based around dinosaurs, giving kids and adults alike the chance to learn and be inspired by these fascinating creatures. Public enthusiasm for dinosaurs began in Victorian England in 1854, which is three decades after the first discovery and description of dinosaur remains. This initial rise in popularity was due to the unveiling of the famous dinosaur sculptures in London’s Crystal Palace park. Ever since this time, there has been a wealth of cultural depictions of dinosaurs, including various museum exhibitions, books, movies, TV shows, computer games, and children’s toys.
Unlike some toys which may only stay in fashion for a couple of seasons, dinosaur toys have an enduring popularity that withstand the tests of time. It is hard to find a young boy or girl who is not fascinated by dinosaurs, a fascination that often endures into the teenage years and even into adulthood. Because dinosaurs came from so long ago, they have a certain presence and an almost fantastical quality that kids simply can’t ignore. Some of the best examples of dinosaur toys include dinosaur figurines, dinosaur board games, dinosaur costumes, dinosaur play landscapes, and a huge range of books and other media material. Along with a huge range of generic dinosaur figurines and other toys, there are also many toys from specific movies like Jurassic Park and the Land Before Time.
The enduring popularity of dinosaurs has led to significant public funding for educational programs and dinosaur science, which has further enabled the interest in these magnificent creatures. The competition between various museums for public attention in the 1880s and 1890s led directly to the time known as the “Bone Wars”, where feuding scientists and palaeontologists scrapped for public funding and scientific contributions. Some of the most famous dinosaur depictions in the 20th century included Charles Dickens’ Bleak House, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s book The Lost World, the iconic 1933 film King Kong, 1954′s Godzilla and its many sequels, and the best selling 1990 novel Jurassic Park by Michael Crichton and its associated movie.