Best Toys and Gifts for 3 Year Olds

Tim Ponisciak:  These magnet tiles are endless fun for kids. Kids can try to make what they see pictured on the box, or they can let their imaginations run wild and build anything they can dream! This set comes with a lot of pieces so it is a good toy that can be shared by multiple kids.

Erin P.:  This is a great pretend play toy with lots of fun pieces that may be familiar to your little one from visits to his or her doctor's office! It is so fun to see what they remember and imitate when you return home. This toy has the added benefit of possibly relieving some of the stress and fear that may surround visits to the doctor!

This block set is equipped with built in magnets which means they won't fall down as easily and are perfect for little curious hands. The blocks allow for pattern recognition, problem-solving, and imaginative play as your little one grows.

Erin P.:  You may have had these growing up, but they withstand the test of time. Lincoln Logs are the perfect building toys for 3 year olds, and older siblings will enjoy playing too! With technology nowadays you can go online and find more designs to challenge your child to build.

Kelly R.:  This ball is high quality, adorable, and the perfect size for little hands and feet to practice throwing and kicking.

Vanessa M.:  Cool new bath toys make great gifts for 3 year olds! Stackable cups, an automated spout, and spinning suction cup gears allow kids to create different water effects for endless bathtime fun.

Vanessa M.:  When we go to our local library, my almost 3-year-old makes a beeline for the table that has this playset. LEGO Duplo is the perfect building toy for young preschoolers! The large blocks are easy for tiny hands to put together, and the little people are great for sparking imaginary play. I know what will be under the Christmas tree for my little guy this year....

Erynn:  These sticky blocks make for hours of open-ended play in our house, and first attracted the attention of our then-three-year-old who is now seven and still takes these out from time to time. For our current three-year-old, these blocks have created everything from a car to a castle to a robot, making them a seriously fun toy that never loses its appeal.

Jennie Utsinger:  We love everything made by Green Toys, but the helicopter is one of my son's favorites! Made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, it withstands crashes and is a great size for flying around. It's also dishwasher safe, so easy to clean.

Erin P.:  Our son received this easel for his third birthday, and it has been a huge hit in our house. One side has a chalkboard and the other side has a white board. Our son's favorite feature is the paper-roll holder for painting large pictures.

Kelly R.:  My kids both loved having a little tool set at age 3, and still played with it years later. Whenever my husband or I would fix something around the house, my son would grab the toolbox and come running to help.

Brigitte Nohra Miller:  Fisher-Price Teach 'n Tag Movi is an ideal companion to get your kids moving and learning. With three different modes of play and six different stimulating games, this cool little robot introduces your kids to high-tech toys they will love and learn from.

Erin P.:  We have gotten so much use out of our magnetic drawing board. The kids can write or draw on it and then use the knob to wipe the screen clean. It is a great car toy, and has also been a perfect toy for our son to use while waiting during our daughter's gymnastics class. Since it's quiet and travels well, we generally keep ours in the car nowadays for times such as these. (Personal confession: I used it quite often to doodle possible names when we were expecting our third baby!)

Erynn:  If your little one loves to draw, you can take their art anywhere with a Boogie Board. These LCD-screen tablets let kids color then erase with a click. They're ultra portable and mess-free, ideal for those times when you need to distract your toddler when eating out or riding in the car!

Erin P.:  Our son was a little young for this toy when he first received it as a gift, but I think that three is the perfect age for little ones to enjoy and start to learn their ABCs with this magnetic letter set. It's great that it's magnetic so it can provide some entertainment for your toddler while in the kitchen.