Dinosaurs hold endless fascination for kids, and dinosaur attractions in the UK are always popular during school holidays. But if your budding palaeontologists need to have their interests stimulated at home, they’ll love making salt dough dinosaur bones. This fun and easy activity will keep them occupied on a rainy day, and if made correctly will last a long time, meaning you can use them again and again for fossil ‘discoveries’ in the sand pit. 

Making salt dough

Making salt dough is really simple. All you need is:

1. 250g plain flour

2. 125g table salt

3. 125ml water

To make the dough, mix the flour and salt together in a bowl. Then add the water a little at a time until you can begin to knead it with your hands into a ball. 

Create the bones

Once kneaded, you can divide the dough into smaller balls and mould them into bone shapes. Your kids can have fun making a variety of different bones, from leg and rib bones to vertebrae. If they’re feeling ambitious, why not get them to try making a dino skull? There are plenty of pictures online that will help them get the shapes right, whether they want to make a T-Rex skull with lots of teeth or a triceratops skull with its prominent horns.  

Baking your salt dough

When your little ones are satisfied with their creations, you can bake them. Simply put them on a baking tray lined with baking paper and pop them in the oven at 100°C for two to three hours until they are fully hardened. Remove them from the oven and let them cool.

Painting your bones

Your kids may like the whiteness of their salt dough bones, but if they want to make them look as if they’ve been hidden in the earth for millions of years, it’s time to get the paint brushes out. You can either stain the dough with cold tea or coffee, or you can mix up earthy colours such as yellows and browns and paint them. Of course, there are no rules against painting them bright blues, purples and oranges if that’s what your children prefer! Once dry, your kids can have fun hiding them in sand and then using clean, dry paint brushes to uncover them. 

Discover dinosaurs near you

If your little ones love discovering dinosaurs, don’t miss the Dinosaur World Live family theatre show. Touring the UK and Ireland from February, it’s a chance for kids aged three and up to learn about a handful of these prehistoric reptiles, with the help of intricate puppetry and plenty of interactive moments. From favourites such as T-Rex and Triceratops to lesser known dinos such as Giraffatitan and Segnosaurs, it’s one of the best family things to do in the UK for budding palaeontologists. Book tickets for the show at a venue near you before they become extinct!