Can we talk about dinosaurs

[lmhj]

Hello

I'm desperate for some MN help and ideas for DD who will be 7 in December. All she wants is dinosaurs or fossils.

She has a metal detector, used daily.
She has, in my view, all the toy dinosaurs one would ever need.
Her clothes are all dinosaurs.
We have done many of the days out.

I'm stuck.

She seems to be talking about a real dinosaur, a robot one? I can find nothing of her age that would fit this. All more remote control younger.

Is this the year we go for tech and she can build a Dino world or something? Does such a game exist.

I'm reluctant to give animals as a gift. We do have Rex the lizard and diplo the gecko. So that is sufficient.

She breeds butterflies. Collects rocks. Loves crafting. Marble runs.

I am completely out of ideas. Has anyone any genius ideas for main birthday, Christmas gift.

She's a good kid who doesn't really fit in and I would like to get her something that suits her interests

Books about Mary Anning - because who cares if you don’t fit in when you’re in such good company? She didn’t fit in either! 😊

A weekend in London to visit the Natural History Museum and the Science Museum?

My friend got her 7 year old a wonderful palaeontologist doll - complete with backpack, rock hammer and fossils. I’ll have to ask where she found it!

Your DD sound brilliant.

Does she like Dino Dana (show on amazon prime, i think?) Lovely show about a 9 year old girl obsessed with dinosaurs, and a great example of being exactly who you want to be and following your interests. Might be some related merchandise, too.

This! My son sounds similar to your daughter and loved this. They did a torchlit hunt in the dinosaur gallery and had a talk from a paleontologist, as well as other activities. In the morning you can explore the museum before it is open, meaning no crowds and plenty of rock-studying activities.

Or in Scotland- have you been to Dynamic Earth on Edinburgh? And the Camera Obacura. Both were great hits with ours. Similarly the Cairngorm Wildlife Park and Nessie hunting.

Sounds like a Lottie doll www.lottie.com/products/fossil-hunter-lottie-doll?

Robotic Dinosaur toys

I like your DD's style @lmhj. I
Loved dinosaurs at her age. I'm now a Chartered Geologist!

I've nothing more to add but I just want to thank you for going with her interests and not encouraging her to be someone she isn't. Your DD sounds like a really cool kid @lmhj

Yes that’s the one! I’d have KILLED for that when i was 7!

Oh wow. We have been out in a big walk this afternoon and found some dinosaur (animal) bones so big excitement here.

This is exactly why I love Mumsnet. Each and everyone of you have the BEST ideas. I'm going to spend this week sorting them all and print this for future reference.

From the bottom of my heart thank you 🙏

I've just found a shop Jurassic jack will that be it? He has the doll on sale?

If you come down to London to do the dino sleepover then you should do a trip to Crystal Palace to see the mad Victorian dinosaurs. Quite a long way out of town but a must see.
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crystal_Palace_Dinosaurs

@InfradeadToUltraviolent if I make it to London I may need to pay one of you to be my tour guide. Country girl never been on a train!

Have you been to dinosaur kingdom in carrbridge?

@muffledvoice yes. A firm favourite
Blair Drummond
Edinburgh zoo

Not museum Edinburgh but I think that's birthday plan.

I was looking at a bus tour to Lyme Regis as Mary Anning is her hero for next year maybe. Long way.

We've just got back from Dorset where we visited The Etches Collection and went fossil hunting in Kimmeridge. I picked up some lovely gifts for a Dino mad friend. They seemed to have a lot of things from British Fossil - I'm not sure if they sell to the public though but you might find a retailer who will post. Also have a look at Jurassic Jim on Facebook. They have a shop on the Isle of Wight but do ship - I have contacted them in the past with a budget and asked for ideas.

Your DD sounds just like my 6 year old DD too so shamelessly following for inspiration.

Her favourite Dino toy at the moment is the hot wheels Dino transporter which was her main present last Xmas if your DD ventures to vehicles too.

Sorry just seen that loads of people have recommended Jurassic Jim too. They really are fantastic. I had £100 to spend and they sent me a massive box with over 30 different samples, all labelled with explanations. It had amazing unusual samples of fossils, rock types, gem stones. It was amazing to open.
Here's the link: www.facebook.com/jurassicjim

I bought DS a carcharodontosaurus tooth. Surprisingly cheap actually, as long as you don’t want a massive one, or one in pristine condition.

DD is a dinosaur and reptile fan too and loves watching Snake Discovery on YouTube.

They have an online store and sell craft kits where you get some real snakeskin and the bits to turn it into a pendant which she really loved last Xmas.

ukfossils.co.uk/category/scotland-north/

ukfossils.com/ for gifts

National Museum of Scotland is fabulous
www.nms.ac.uk/discover-catalogue/tyrannosaurus-rex
https://www.nms.ac.uk/collections/departments/natural-sciences/palaeobiology

This https://www.amazon.co.uk/David-Attenboroughs-Natural-History-Museum/dp/B00HW4NUQS
is brilliant!

A bit closer for you than Lyme Regis, but you can find fossils around Scarborough, stick, Sandsend, Cayton Bay and there's a geological museum Rotunda Museum.

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/dino-superfan-spends-27k-transforming-29746517

Any ideas here?

I can more than help with this!

Does she like Dino Dana- the field guide is awesome. I also managed to get someone to crochet her a hat like on that Dino Dana has.

I'm struggling to keep up here because I'm now crying. 😭

She loves Dino Dana.

Seriously, what was meant to be a wee cry for help has turned into a complete miracle.

I don't mean to get soppy but she has had the toughest time. She really struggles with friendships, just not into the same things. Even her sisters are Barbie mad. She said to me today "mumma I know I'm weird, but I can't help it." I said who called you that darling, you are NOT weird. She said nobody, but they don't play with me and I know I am.

Breaks your bloody heart. So this has really helped me so much.