Best Toys and Gifts for 3 Year Olds

Lisa R said:  If you don't mind a little screen time and your child is already obsessed with your smart phone or tablet, then they'd probably love a subscription to ABCmouse. A favorite educational website with age appropriate learning games and activities to keep kids entertained while secretly giving them a jump start on preschool.

Kelly R. said:  This high quality puzzle is fun for teaching letter recognition and working on dexterity. The unique chunky design of the pieces makes them great for toddler hands, and allows them to stand up on their own for endless arranging and simple word spelling. The puzzle is crafted with child safe paint and wood sourced from sustainable forests.

Erin P. said:  This is such a great toy for building fine motor skills and visual thinking skills. It includes 50 design cards and many brightly-colored magnetic blocks. Children look at a design card and use the magnets to construct the design that they see. Our son is so proud when he completes a challenge! All of the pieces and cards can be stored in the sturdy wood carrying case, so this is a great toy for playing at home or on the go.

Kelly R. said:  This creative hands-on book is a great quiet time activity for young kids. It is filled with interactive components (zippers, buttons, buckles, etc) for fine motor and sensory play. The entire book zips closed to safely contain all of the pieces, making it a perfect toy for car or plane rides!

Kelly R. said:  Squigz are silicone building toys that use suction cups to stick to each other, to the windows, to a table, to your forehead...you get the idea. They make excellent mold-free bath toys because they don't take on water, and also work great for entertaining kids on airplanes or road trips.

Brittany Kozielski said:  Water tables are great gifts for 3 year olds that encourage active outdoor play. This combo sand and water table will give your kids a fun outdoor activity all summer long! My nine year old still enjoys playing with the same table she got when she was three. The little umbrella will help to protect them from those very sunny days.

Erin P. said:  This is an adorable set. Our kids love to help in the kitchen, so it's fun to see what they remember and imitate when playing with their own kitchen toys. We love any toys that encourage creative thinking and imaginative play!

Chrissy OGorman said:  This kit will make your pre-school age child feel like they are playing instead of learning! It includes many different mediums that will teach your child how to tie their shoe, learn the alphabet, cutting skills, and more.

Erin P. said:  Although many 3 year olds are not quite ready for sleepovers, sleeping bags can be great fun for playing at home! Think: forts, tents and pretend trips!

Erynn said:  Capes and matching masks are the easiest way to achieve dress-up success and make great gifts for young superhero fans, especially for preschoolers who may still be learning to dress themselves. The felt masks are soft on kids' faces.

Molly Weber said:  This book is all about the reader. Each page is a letter of their name, first and last, and is spelled out using animals whose names start with the same letter. Not only does it help them begin to learn how to spell their name, it helps to make them feel special and unique. I received this as a gift for my daughter and love the story behind it and the customized aspect.

Bubby and Bean said:  Great for fine motor skill and brain development, these wooden puzzle sets feature four separate, 12-piece jigsaw puzzles that are stored in a wood box (makes for easy clean up!) Each puzzle piece is shape-coded on the back which allows for easy sorting.

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  This dinosaur cube set is perfect for all little dinosaur fans. The cubes feature different dinosaurs and each side displays different information such as name, foot print, skull form, period of existence and geographic area. This set is a great example of the power of learning through play! These eco-friendly cubes made from sustainable basswood are hand crafted and printed using non-toxic and child-safe inks.

Tim Ponisciak said:  Get your Paw Patrol loving kids a chair that they can sit in while watching their favorite show! This chair is the perfect size for a three year old, and will make them feel big and important! It is comfortable and has all of your favorite pups (except the often overlooked Tracker)!