This paper explores the impact of Augmented Reality (AR) interaction on the learning experiences of young children in nature-based education. The research focuses on understanding how AR can improve learning by comparing two different representations: traditional 2D image demonstrations and 3D interactive AR demonstrations. The study was conducted with 43 participants, all aged between 4 and 6 years, who engaged with educational content centered around the topic of dinosaurs. To provide a comprehensive assessment, the children’s learning experiences were evaluated on two aspects: their ability to acquire new knowledge and their development of critical thinking skills. The study’s results suggest that AR interaction positively impacts learning outcomes to some extent. Specifically, children who engaged in 3D interactive AR presentations did not show significant improvements in knowledge acquisition compared to children who learned through traditional 2D images. The interactive attributes of AR lead to a deeper engagement with the learning content, which significantly contributed to the development of critical thinking skills. This suggests that the experience provided by AR can stimulate cognitive processes more effectively than traditional methods. This research contributes to understanding how AR can be integrated into educational content to develop a more interactive learning experience.