My son’s really into crafting projects, so I try to unearth new, and unusual ventures we both will enjoy without breaking the bank. Online sources like kidsdomain.com, and familyfun.com have been invaluable to me, especially during the holidays. One of our favorite craft activities that doesn’t require a lot of supplies is stamping. We make cards, letters, and plenty of beautiful pictures with stamps, some paper, and a few inkpads.

Over the years I’ve collected various types of stamping sets, but the most loved is the Dinosaur Stamp Set by Melissa & Doug. This very durable collection includes a storage box, 8-stamps, 2-pads, and 5-pencils. These chunky stamps are solidly constructed. They are made of wood with rubber stamps, and are marked with colorful labels, so kids can tell which dinosaur they are stamping before placing them in the pads. There are 7 dino stamps, and one volcano stamp. Following are the types of dinosaurs featured: Tyrannosaurus, Stegosaurus, Triceratops, Pteranodon, Ankylosaurus, Apatosaurus, and Velociraptor. Epinion's image of this set indicates one inkpad with in two colors, my set actually came with two separate inkpads in colors blue, and in red. The pencils are standard feature in black, red, yellow, blue and green. The set is recommended for children 4 and up, and is guaranteed non-toxic.


Our Experience:
My son has had the Dinosaur Stamp Set for a little over 2-years now, and it’s been well used. This collection is stored in an all-wood box that eventually stains with use. I actually like the look, as it reminds me of my painting kit. The storage box is designed well, and divided into 5 compartments: 3-for the stamps, 1-for the pads, and 1-for the pencils. The pigeonholes help little ones sort, and put items in their proper place. I also like that it comes with a clear plastic lid, so kids can see what’s inside. The box has a label on the outside as well, which indicates each dinosaur, and has really come in handy for me, as I know very little about the Mesozoic Era.

The labels on these stamps are very sturdy. I know this sounds elementary, but some of the stamping sets I own are either not labeled, or the markings are so cheap they fall off. Some of the well-used dino labels have started to peel in areas, but I’ve glued them down with Super Glue, so it’s not an issue for us. The only shortcoming I’ve experienced with the Dinosaur Stamp Set is the worthless pencils. The pigment is so hard it doesn’t work. I tossed them in the trash after our first play session, and replaced them with our Crayola color pencils. Although the set only came with 5 pencils, it will actually hold 12.

The stamps are nice and chunky for little hands. My son is delayed in fine motor skills, but has no trouble picking these up, and using them. He creates a landscape of plants, mountains, and rocks with markers, and then stamps, stamps, stamps. He actually prefers to color the stamps in with markers, but every now and then I notice he uses the pencils. If you’re child’s not into dinosaurs, Melissa & Doug make many different stamping sets, such as the Deluxe Set, the Alphabet Stamps, a Friendship Set, a Sea Life set, and a Horse Set. The Dinosaur Stamp Set makes for a fun, creative time especially at the discounted price of $7.99. This can be a messy activity though, so if you’re not into using Spray ‘n Wash on your kids clothes, or spraying 409 on the table after play, you may want to avoid this toy.

A special thank you to Suzanne for adding the Dinosaur Stamp Set to the database for me!

Melissa & Doug
P.O. Box 590, Westport, CT 06881
1800-284-3948
www.melissaanddoug.com/



Additional Melissa & Doug Reviews:
Band in a Box
Stacking Train
Alphabet Art Puzzle
Unit Blocks in a Tray
Transportation Puzzle
Fire Truck Peg Puzzle
Lace & Trace Vehicles
Pattern Blocks & Boards
Farm Cube Wood Puzzle
Jumbo Knob Puzzle: Shapes



Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): $7.99
Type of Toy: Arts and Crafts
Age Range of Child: 3 to 5 Years