When kids turn 3, gift-giving takes on a whole new level. Many 3-year-olds know exactly what they like and have more opinions, interests, and language to express their excitement. But that doesn’t mean they don’t still love a fun surprise!
At this age, kids are ready for toys that spark their imagination, says Heather Singh, former director of educational programs at the Thinkery, a children’s museum in Austin, Texas. So, toys that encourage storytelling and creative play are much better than toys that only do one thing. Role-playing costumes and board games that get kids interacting with others help build important social skills. Plus, a lot of 3-year-olds are ready for faster, more exciting movement toys—like scooters and trikes—that boost their physical confidence.
We’ve gathered toy ideas from Singh and other educators, and our team has added some of the most memorable gifts that have been a hit with the 3-year-olds in our lives.
Cooperative counting games
Cooperative board games—where everyone works together instead of against each other—are perfect for 3-year-olds who are learning to follow rules, take turns, and collaborate. One favorite at Toybrary Austin, our local toy-lending library, is the Count Your Chickens Board Game. In this game, players help a mother hen get her chicks back to the coop. It’s easy to play and, just as important, quick—just right for a 3-year-old’s short attention span. Once you’ve got the hang of rounding up chickens, you can try The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game, another fun cooperative game for beginners. (For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best board games for kids.)
Dotty art supplies
You really can’t go wrong with a fun set of new art supplies. When my son turned 3, he got a set of Do-A-Dot Art Rainbow Dot Markers, which kicked off his long-lasting love for rainbows. These markers are easy for little hands to hold, and the colors are super bright—whether on cardboard or regular paper. I love that they feel like paint without the mess or hassle. They even come in metallic and shimmer versions for extra fun. You could pair them with a stack of paper or some other art supplies, like scissors and glue sticks.
A water whisk
The Haba Bubble Bath Whisk brings some good, clean fun to bath time. This 10-inch plastic tool works like an egg beater, creating a whirlpool of bubbly waves. (When my daughter gets a little too excited with it, her babysitter ends up looking like she just left the splash zone at SeaWorld.) But the joy and laughter this whisk brings definitely make it worth the mess!
A-to-Z sports
I’m not sure which my son learned first—the alphabet or the names of NBA legends. B Is for Baller: The Ultimate Basketball Alphabet is a fun tribute to pro basketball. Each letter introduces a current or former NBA star. For example, “T is for Three” shows Steph Curry making a three-pointer across the Golden Gate Bridge. Since this book came out in 2018, two more books have joined the series. G Is for Golazo: The Ultimate Soccer Alphabet celebrates soccer stars, including Brazil’s Marta Vieira da Silva. And S Is for Slugger: The Ultimate Baseball Alphabet features baseball greats like Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, with “P” standing for “Pioneer” because she was the first woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues.
A sturdy puzzle
When my son was in preschool, he loved the fun and challenge of a good puzzle. One of his favorites was the Melissa & Doug 100-Piece Safari Floor Puzzle. The large, sturdy pieces were easy for him to handle (and hard to lose), and once it was done, it turned into a big masterpiece spread across the floor. He’s really into wild animals, so the safari theme—with giraffes, an elephant, and a rhino—was a big hit. If 100 pieces feel like too much, you can start with one of their 48-piece floor puzzles, like dinosaurs or the solar system.
Clever cupcakes
Toys that are both fun and educational are a win for my two kids, and the Smart Snacks Shape Sorting Cupcakes check both boxes. Each cupcake comes apart to reveal different shapes, with the tops matching the bottoms, and the bottoms fitting perfectly into the pan. My younger son loved figuring out the shapes and colors, while my older son used them for pretend baking, picnics, and imaginary shopping trips. The set is super durable, and I ended up picking it up every night during cleanup—it was a favorite in our house!
Also Read: Choosing Safe Plastic Toys for Toddlers
A musical book
I’m usually not a fan of children’s books that make noise, but Welcome to Jazz: A Swing-Along Celebration of America’s Music by Carolyn Sloan is an exception. At first, I thought my 2-year-old might be too young for a jazz book, but he instantly loved it. The bright illustrations, showing a group of cats learning about jazz, and the 12 buttons that play parts of “When the Saints Go Marching In,” really caught his attention. He enjoyed hearing the deep double bass, the lively rhythm section, and even the scatting. Plus, he learned about jazz legends like Billie Holiday and King Oliver. It’s a fun, musical introduction that we both enjoy!
Superior sand
We were gifted a pack of Mad Mattr Modeling Dough, and honestly, it has some big advantages over Play-Doh for both kids and parents. It molds like dough and can be pressed into solid shapes, but when you stretch it, it feels more like soft sand. The best part? It’s not sticky, doesn’t stain, won’t make a mess, and it never dries out. It’s a bit less flexible than Play-Doh, but overall, it’s a great option for creative play without the usual cleanup hassle.
Sticky adventures
When my toddler started getting into stickers, I was really excited. I mean, what’s not to love about a fun activity that’s cheap, nostalgic, and doesn’t take up much space? But when she began secretly sticking them on random surfaces around the house, I wasn’t as happy. So, we found a great solution: the Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad with a jungle-and-savanna theme. This big 11-by-14-inch pad has 175 durable, cling-style stickers that you can arrange and rearrange on five shiny backgrounds. Plus, you can stick them on your fridge, windows, or dishwasher without worrying about damage! The stickers come in different sizes, but my daughter sometimes needs a little help getting them off the sticky sheets (older kids probably won’t have this issue). If animals aren’t your thing, Melissa & Doug offers these pads in lots of other themes, like the fun Make-a-Meal version!
Piece out
Not all puzzles are created equal—some are definitely better than others! For example, the Petit Collage Ocean Life Puzzle has 24 pieces that are thicker than usual, making them super easy for little hands to hold. They even make a satisfying click sound when you snap them together! And when it’s time to take them apart, they come apart easily without sticking. One of the best things about these puzzles is that they come in a colorful, sturdy box with a rope handle for easy carrying. Petit Collage has other cool designs too, like a world map and a wild rainforest puzzle. Crocodile Creek also makes great puzzles that come in stackable boxes that don’t rip or lose their shape. These were the most popular choices during our neighborhood puzzle swaps—they went fast!