Dinosaurs Sensory & Toddler Storytime
Let’s roar!!!! Choose two of the following dinosaur-themed sensory storytime books and pair them with these songs, crafts, and sensory play ideas for more engagement and fun in your next Toddler or Sensory Storytime.
Visit The Youth Desk’s Sensory Storytime page for a complete sensory storytime overview and more detailed guidance.
Dinosaurs Toddler & Sensory Storytime Books
Dinosaurs Sensory Storytime Songs & Rhymes
Dinosaur Dinosaur
Sing to the tune of “Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear” and encourage kids to act out the motions with you.
Dinosaur, dinosaur, stomp around
Dinosaur, dinosaur, shake the ground
Dinosaur, dinosaur, flap your wings and fly
Dinosaur, dinosaur, touch the sky
Dinosaur, dinosaur, eat meat or plants
Dinosaur, dinosaur, do a little dance
Dinosaur, dinosaur, swim to shore
Dinosaur, dinosaur, let me hear you ROAR!
Dino Ditty
Sing to the tune “Do Wah Diddy Diddy” by Manfred Mann
A hungry dino walking down the street (pat legs)
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty do (pat legs)
He’s looking for something good to eat (searching)
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty do (pat legs)
He’s big, he’s big, he’s strong, he’s strong (show big, show muscles)
He’s big, he’s strong, won’t be hungry very long (rub tummy)
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty do (pat legs)
Singing dino ditty ditty dum ditty do (pat legs)
(Credit: King County Library System)
Dino-Pokey
Put your claws in, put your claws out
Put your claws in and scratch them all about
Do the dino-pokey and turn yourself around
That’s what it’s all about
Put your teeth in…chomp them all bout…
Put your feet in…stomp them all about…
Put your tail in…shake it all about…
Five Enormous Dinosaurs
Put five dinosaurs on a flannel or magnet board and remove when appropriate, or just count down with your fingers!
Five enormous dinosaurs letting out a roar (Roar!)
One danced away and then there were four (Dance)
Four enormous dinosaurs smashing down a tree (Put arms high over ahead like a tall tree)
One jumped away and then there were three (Jump)
Three enormous dinosaurs eating vegetable stew (Pretend to eat stew)
One stomped away and then there were two (Stomp)
Two enormous dinosaurs resting in the sun (Tilt face towards the sky)
One flew away and then there was one(Fly around)
One enormous dinosaur left all alone
It wiggled away and then there were none (Wiggle)
We Are the Dinosaurs by The Laurie Berkner Band
Play the song and sing and dance along!
We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs
Whaddaya think of that?
We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs, we make the earth flat
We make the earth flat
We stop and eat our food, when we’re in the mood
We stop and eat our food on the ground
We stop and eat our food, when we’re in the mood
We stop and eat our food and then we march around
‘Cause we are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs
Whaddaya think of that?
We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs, we make the earth flat
We make the earth flat
We stop and take a rest, over in our nest
We stop and take a rest at the end of the day
We stop and take a rest, over in our nest
We stop and take a rest and then you’ll hear us say
That we are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs
Whaddaya think of that?
We are the dinosaurs, marching, marching
We are the dinosaurs, we make the earth flat
We make the earth flat
And then we roar!
‘Cause we are the dinosaurs!
Dinosaurs Sensory Play & Craft Activities
Ending Sensory Storytime with free play provides children and their caregivers with an excellent opportunity to explore and socialize. Set out any puppets or flannel board pieces you used during storytime for attendees to enjoy, and offer one of these great bedtime-themed play activities.
Building Blocks
Just like in Rex Wrecks It! by Ben Clanton, set out blocks and toy dinosaurs for kids to build and destroy!
Dinosaur Dig Sensory Bin
Place toy dinosaurs or laminated dinosaur pictures in a bin and cover them with rice, sand, or beans. Provide large tweezers, paintbrushes, magnifying glasses, and similar tools for attendees to “excavate” the dinosaurs.
Dinosaur Playdough Prints
Set out balls of playdough and toy dinosaurs for kids to stamp into the playdough to create imprints of the dino bodies or feet.
Dino Footprints Art
Provide construction paper, a dinosaur figurine, and a dollop of paint. Dip the toy dinos into the paint and then make prints, aka tracks, all over the paper. Placing a pack of baby wipes at each table will help keep things tidy!
