If you’re after a screen-free activity that holds a child’s attention, we put the Cartonic Dinos Trio 3-in-1 3D cardboard puzzle from CoolThings to the test. Cartonic makes layered cardboard construction kits from eco-friendly pre-cut pieces, and this $69 set has 312 pieces across the three models: a T-Rex, a Triceratops and a Pterodactyl. CoolThings Australia says all three take about an hour and a half to build, which works out roughly to 30 minutes each. That lines up with our experience, because Michael built the T-Rex with our 2.5 year old “helping” beside him and it took about 30 minutes. It’s easy to spread the builds over a few afternoons.

How the Build Went

There’s no glue and no mess, so you can build it at the kitchen table without laying anything down first. Every piece is numbered, so there was no confusion about what went where, even with a toddler reaching uin to grab bits. That also makes it a friendly first build for beginners, because you never have t stop and work out which piece comes next, and you get to watch each dinosaur take shape layer by layer.

How Sturdy Is It Once It’s Built

Cardboard may sound flimsy, but the finished T-Rex is solid and has survived a fair amount of toddler handling without coming apart. We painted ours instead of leaving it as plain cardboard, and it took the paint beautifully., so I’d 100% recommend that step. Painting turns the puzzle into a keepsake and makes a good second activity for another day, though the natural kraft cardboard look is nice too if you’d rather leave it plain.

Who Is It For?

Kids aged 10 and up can generally build it on their own, although it’s worth having an adult nearby for the first few minutes while they get the hang of  the pieces. Younger kids need a grown-up to sit down and do it with them, because the small pieces and dowels are a choking risk and the set isn’t intended for children under 3. Our 2.5-year-old had a great time helping her dad, but he handled the fiddly parts, so this is not a hand it over and walk away kind of activity.

It isn’t only a kids’ toy either. Teens and adults who enjoy construction can happily fly solo, which makes it a good gift for parents, grandparents or anyone who likes making things with their hands. Once it’s built, it works as a shelf-display or an ornament, and in our house the T-Rex has also become a prop for an imaginary tea party, so it gets played with as well as looked at.

More Cartonic 3D Puzzle Designs

If dinosaurs aren’t your family’s thing, the range also includes a unicorn, a piggy bank, a NASA-style shuttle, the Eiffel Tower, a trio of kittens, a sneaker and even a poop!

Save 10% with Our Code

Use code MLCART99 for 10% off any Cartonic purchase at CoolThings Australia. It’s active now until midnight on 18^thOctober 2026 and works across the whole Cartonic range.

About CoolThings Australia

CoolThings Australia is a great place to look when you’re stuck for gift ideas for the whole family. They’ve been selling puzzles and games for over 20 years, and their aim is to help people become cool gift givers. It’s the kind of shop where you find little unique gadgets, games and novelty finds that you don’t see in every big retailer, which makes it handy for birthdays, Christmas stockings, teacher gifts, and those times when you need something for a hard-to-buy-for relative. Whether you’re shopping for a toddler, a teenager or an adult who says they don’t want anything, it’s well worth a browse.

Disclosure: We were gifted the Cartonic Dino’s Trio 3-in-1 puzzle by CoolThings Australia for this review. The links to CoolThings Australia in this article are affiliate links, which means Mums Lounge may earn a small commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. All opinions expressed here  are my own.

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