Here are our gift ideas for three year old toddlers based on typical development and the way children this age generally explore the world through play.
At three children are actively exploring the world outside of their own world. They still enjoy solitary play and playing around others, but are starting to show interest in interacting with them too. They may have started coordinating their fun with friends but not necessarily so. They are definitely learning some awesome new social skills like sharing, taking turns, and cooperation. As they engage in more complex physical, constructive, expressive, and dramatic play, every day is filled with discovery, wonder and imagination.
Ways to Play: Breaking down the big categories of play by the types of activities children engage in
Here are our 2021 top toy picks for 3 year olds (not in any particular order). Scroll down for more on each recommendation and the associated developmental benefits:
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*Products mentioned on this page are meant for toddlers under adult supervision. (Manufacturer's age recommendations are noted when available)
Building Blocks
Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Building Blocks. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks With Wooden Storage Tray, 60 pcs (3-8 years)
This set of open-ended standard sized unit blocks have been well loved in our playroom. They are beautifully crafted, made of solid wood, and pretty substantial. These traditional blocks are perfect for stacking, building, balancing, learning early math concepts, and imaginative play.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Strengthens problem solving
Focus and concentration
Learns shapes, counting
Natures creativity
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Jumbo Puzzles
Mudpuppy At the Zoo Jumbo Puzzle. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
We are venturing into jigsaw territory with these jumbo floor puzzles. We have several of these and my little one loves them! The precision cut pieces are big, thick, and sturdy making them easy to manipulate and connect. The whimsical artwork on every puzzle is colorful, full of toddler friendly easy to identify details, and fun to look at.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Visual perception skills
Focus and concentration
Encourages communication and language development
Strengthens problem solving
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Sensory Fun
Sensory Bin Tools. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Sensory bins at this age are so much fun. This gorgeous set of 12 wooden sensory bin tools makes the perfect addition to any set up. My little one loves exploring with her tools and gets so much wonderful fine motor practice (like scooping, pouring, transferring, stacking, nesting, pinching and squeezing). Playing in her sensory bin also builds her observational skills, abstract thinking, and encourages experimentation.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and concentration
Engages the senses: enhance auditory, tactile and visual sensory development
Learns cause-and-effect
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Memory and Matching Game
eeBoo I Never Forget a Face Game. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
This game is a wonderful way to sharpen recognition and memory skills while introducing the diversity of children from countries around the world. It's a thoughtfully designed memory and matching game that celebrates cultural differences in beautifully illustrated details.
BENEFITS:
Focus and concentration
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Learns world cultures and geography
Celebrates diversity
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Sharpens memory skills, attention to detail, spatial memory
Builds confidence
Encourages communication and language development
Magnetic Play Set
Magna-Tiles® Jungle Animals. Click the photo to see the price on Magna-Tiles
We love the open-ended awesomeness of our Magna-Tiles 3-D magnetic building sets but when they decided to create movable magnetic animals to go with them we went wild! Our set has been well loved by our little one and found its way into countless builds and environments we've constructed with our other sets. The "magna-mals" are just the right size and shape for small hands and make frequent appearances in her pretend play with other toys too.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Engages the senses: enhance auditory, tactile and visual sensory development
Strengthens problem solving
Focus and concentration
Learns shapes, colors, animals, STEM concepts
Natures creativity
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Builds confidence
Pretend Cooking
Melissa & Doug Stainless Steel Pots and Pans. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Melissa & Doug Stainless Steel Pots and Pans Pretend Play Kitchen Set for Kids, 8 pcs (3 years & up)
This realistic kid-sized set has been used to whip up oodles of delectable delights and grand feasts in our play kitchen, sensory table, and any other place the mood strikes. The sturdy stainless steel construction and riveted handles have kept every piece looking as good and feeling as secure as the day we got it. I love that It's dishwasher safe and super durable. It's extremely versatile too! Our girl has involved it in all sorts of imaginative play and noise making spectaculars.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Natures creativity
Cultivates social skills
Encourages communication and language development
Construction Zone
Kinetic Sand, Construction Site. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
It's basically a portable construction themed sensory bin with the coolest and most mesmerizing sensory enhancing base, Kinetic Sand. It's such an awesome set we've gifted it to other friends turning 3 and they loved it too!
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and concentration
Engages the senses: enhance tactile and visual sensory development
Learns cause-and-effect
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Natures creativity
Encourages communication and language development
Balance Board
Gentle Monster Balance Board. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Balance boards are everything! They are a great way to develop multiple skills while having a blast doing it. It's open-ended nature turns it into anything your little one can imagine. Our balance board has been a rocker, slide, cave, lounger, theater, goal, race track, counter top, and much much more.
BENEFITS:
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor(big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Coordination and balancing skills
Builds confidence
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Natures creativity
Encourages communication and language development
Play Silks
Sarah's Silks Enchanted Playsilk. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
The whole family loves touching and playing with these luxuriously soft play silks. They are gloriously versatile! They can transform into anything your little one imagines or used as a prop in their pretend play. The generous 35" x 35" size makes it perfect for loads of dress up fun and expressive play! They are sturdy but not indestructible. They do require some care to keep them looking and feeling like new (especially if your little one is still mouthing).
BENEFITS:
Engages the senses: enhance tactile and visual sensory development
Coordination and balancing skills
Builds confidence
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Natures creativity
Encourages communication and language development
Caring for Baby
Plan Toys Doll Feeding Set. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Toys that enhance caregiving behavior give toddlers a chance to practice social interactions. Time spent caring for their dolls is a great way to help them develop their sense of empathy and social-emotional skills. We love this simple gender neutral doll feeding set. It's gorgeous in person and is the perfect size for kiddos this age.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Natures creativity
Cultivates social skills
Encourages communication and language development
Flexible Roads
waytoplay Highway Flexible Toy Road Set. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
If your little ones love things that go as much as ours does, this set of open-ended toy road is fabulous for enhancing their imaginative play. These flexible interlocking road pieces can be used on almost any surface (inside and outdoors), are waterproof, and practically indestructible. Our sets are well loved, out often, and an absolute hit when friends come over to play.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Strengthens problem solving
Focus and concentration
Natures creativity
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development