20 Great Gifts for 3-Year-Olds, According to Parents Who Know
Wondering what to get the three-year-old in your life? One thing we’ve learned from watching our small kids at play is that at this age, children are still super open minded. They can imagine themselves in all kinds of roles and storylines. So it’s important to try not to get caught up in gender or other stereotypes when searching for toys for kids.
We’ve used many of the toys on this list in our home, and we talked to parents of other three-year-olds as well to get a feel for what kids enjoy playing with. Here’s what we recommend.
What to Look for in Toys for 3-Year-Olds
Most three-year-olds are now ready to play with toys that have small parts, but you know your child best. If he or she still tends to put things in their mouth, stay away from toys that are choking hazards.
Many three-year-olds are becoming more interested in pretend play and social play; a lot of the toys we included are ideal for both of those. Three-year-olds are also incredibly active, so look for toys that help them burn off some of their energy. Many kids are starting to kick and throw, and they may be recognizing letters, numbers, and letter sounds.
Cubby - Best Toys for 3 Year Olds Under $20
Toy figurines like these animals give three-year-olds a springboard to create their own play world. Often the simplest toys are the most fun and have the most longevity. Like all Schleich animals (they are the gold standard), this set is sturdy and ready to stand up to rough and tough play. —Alicia
Three-year-olds are full of questions, often ones that are increasingly complex and difficult to answer. Fuel their curiosity with this book instead of fumbling through an answer or turning to Google. We have this book, and it makes for interesting storytime, too. —Alicia
This gorgeous vehicles book is an Apartment Therapy parent favorite. It's got pop-ups, pull-out tabs, spinning wheels, and is overall incredibly engaging, for both little kids and parents! —Cambria
Many three-year-olds are very excited to clean, so I recommend leaning into that real hard and getting them this mini Dyson replica toy vacuum, which is a big hit with kids. When they're older and don't want to actually vacuum, you can remind them of their youthful enthusiasm for the chore. —Cambria
Dot markers are a fun way for three-year-olds to create without needing the precise fine motor skills that traditional coloring requires. In conjunction with a dot marker coloring book, they’ll have a blast with these markers. —Alicia
If your three-year-old grandchild has a favorite doll or stuffed animal, they’ll enjoy pushing them around in this stroller. It’s lightweight, foldable for storage, and also comes in denim and red. My two kids played with this exact stroller for years. —Cambria
Cubby - Best Toys for 3 Year Olds $20-$40
These multi-use silicone stamps can be used with play dough, washable paints, or even actual cookies. (Yes, the silicone stamps are dishwasher-safe.) The set comes with a stainless steel cookie cutter, a wooden stamper, and 15 silicone animals stamps that include a dog, a cat, deer, sloth, zebra, and hedgehog. among others. They're great for craft-loving kids. —Cambria
If we’re being honest, a spray bottle alone is enough to occupy a three-year-old for hours, but you’ll get so much more in this set. My daughter has had this set for years, and it’s still a favorite. I often find her “cleaning” the windows or offering to pitch in with household chores. —Alicia
It doesn’t get much more charming, quaint, and fun than Goldilocks and the Three Bears toy house. The small set is perfect for little hands, and it even comes with a Goldilocks & The Three Bears Book. They’ll enjoy acting out scenes from the book as they read. —Alicia
Kinetic Sand play sets can provide hours of fun. Kids will love that it comes with a crane, a dump truck, and brick molds. Parents will love that it comes in its own contained carrying case, making clean-up easy. —Alicia
Writing and coloring on a vertical surface can help build the strength kids need to properly grip a pencil. This one has a blackboard, a magnetic whiteboard, and it includes a clip to hold paper. It comes with chalk and dry-erase markers that you can store in the easel. —Alicia
Play stores and cash registers are as fun as they are educational. They introduce kids to the concept of money and give them a chance to mimic what they see in daily life. This one from Hape includes push buttons and a scanner. —Alicia
If you have dinosaur lovers in your midst, these dress-up capes will delight the crap out of them. —Cambria
Cubby - Best Toys for 3 Year Olds Over $40
Magna-Tiles are the ultimate building toy. They’re especially fun for three-year-olds because they stack together easily, eliminating some of the frustration for kids who are still learning to build. This 100-piece kit is the master starter set. Most magnetic tile brands can be used interchangeably if you already have other brands at home. —Alicia
This train set from Hape is an excellent starter train set. It comes with a lot of pieces, so it's a good value for the money, and it's compatible with other wooden train rail brands when you're ready to expand the set. — Cambria
Air forts are the newest trend in play forts. They blow up with a box fan, which means they’re easy to set up and compact to store. This starry night version is one of the coziest. Grab a book and snuggle in! —Alicia
In a world where screen time is inevitable, it may seem like a box that only plays sound would be boring to kids. However, my daughter and nephew both enjoy listening to their TonieBoxes. I like knowing that she can only listen to a predetermined set of stories or songs. Another screen-free, parent-recommended audio player option is the Yoto Audio Player, which you can read all about in our write-ups here and here.—Alicia
Lovevery play kits aren’t cheap, but they’re worth every penny. My daughter has played with all of the three-year-old boxes, and many of the toys and books have become long-standing favorites. Kits are delivered every three months, and they’re designed to meet kids exactly where they’re at developmentally. —Alicia
What kid doesn't love the thrill of being on two wheels? This balance bike is the perfect starter bike for three-year-olds. It's tough, durable, and will help give them the physical skills and confidence to move on to bigger bikes! —Alicia
More Gift Guides for Kids
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