The only snag? There are so many options out there for him to engage with (and toys for you to buy). How ever will you choose what he’ll love? Kids can be so finicky and all.
Before you buy, here’s one important thing to remember: not all 3-year-olds are going to act the same. Some will gravitate towards educational activities (like learning the alphabet and counting numbers), while others are going to be into sports, race cars, and interactive games. To help you accommodate your kiddos interests, we’ve rounded up the best gifts to satisfy his imagination, keep him energized, and provoke his budding independence.
Your kiddo will know you’ve spared no expense in this awesome dinosaur park! Complete with nine different dinosaurs, a detailed play mat, and its own carrying case, this toy will provide hours of imaginative fun, perfect for sharing on playdates.
Remote control cars are undeniably awesome, but sometimes the ones meant for bigger kids can be challenging for preschoolers to figure out. This leads to frustration, which leads to a bad time for everyone involved.
These cool cars are perfect for smaller hands. Best of all, this set comes with two cars, making them ideal for sharing.
Just because your young Picasso wants to create doesn’t mean he’s ready for messy paint. This Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Set comes with scented markers, stamps, a scented ink pad, and a blank coloring book.
Though nontoxic, it’s a good idea to remind your little one not to be fooled by the yummy scents; they’re not for licking or eating!
Helping develop hand-eye coordination, the 3-year-old in your life will get a kick out of this game. Let’s face it: That toddler of yours will whack other things anyway, but now you can make it a fun competition between you and him.
Choose the speed that suits the child best, and go to town with the two provided hammers that are as soft as can be.
If your 3-year-old loves puzzles, this dinosaur stacking game makes for a fun new challenge: Not only will it help develop his concentration, but he will also learn a little logic and patience in the process.
When the dinosaurs drop, watch him squeal with joy. And don’t worry — the pieces are big enough that this toy is not a choking hazard for the younger set.
There is no greater joy for the 3-year-old than bubbles. Up his bubble game by gifting him this Gazillion Bubbles Hurricane Machine, which comes with an automatic blower that pumps out thousands of bubbles in a short amount of time.
Pour the quality bubble solution it comes with easily into the device, and watch it launch a fun bubble storm.
Don’t let the image fool you: This water wall might be as tall as your 3-year-old (or pretty close). Your tot will love the 13 accessories it comes with that will give him the opportunity to scoop up water from the bottom to pour on top.
Watch the water zigzag all the way down 33 inches of wall. And the best part is that two children can play because this water toy is double-sided.
LEGO Duplo My First Number Train Learning and Counting Train Set
Even if your toddler is new to Legos, he can probably build this one all by himself by looking at the pictures and using the numbers on blocks as a handy guide.
This Duplo set of 23 large Lego pieces that are easy for the smallest hands to handle. Help him improve his fine motor skills as well as his counting prowess. Once he’s done building, he can engage in imaginative play with his train set, which comes with two play people and a cat.
These days, you won’t be able to find a toddler (or parents) who are not huge Bluey fans; this lovable, spunky dog has instantly won the hearts of all.
A Bluey gift is just what the 3-year-old in your life would be into. This battery-operated find scoots around like a remote-controlled car. Press its buttons to play dancey tunes or a fun copycat game.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Pizza Food Truck Activity Center
Get playtime cooking with all the essentials for a pretend play pizza food truck experience. The multi-sided, easy-to-assembly wooden structure, with a built-in pretend pizza oven and dozens of wooden and felt play food accessories, lets girls and boys ages 3 and up have tons of fun being the helpful food truck vendor or the hungry customer.
Little pizza chefs will love using the pieces for counting, sorting, color recognition, and language development!
By three, he’s learning and understanding more about animals and where they live. This sticker book — featuring over 500 hand-drawn animal stickers and 12 pages to color — will reinforce the educational fun. He can stick dolphins, whales, tigers, lions, lizards, and more on the correct habitat scene pages and learn a lot along the way, too.
Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe Scooter
By age three, he’ll be ready to scoot. Unlike your typical basic scooter, this Micro Kickboard can be steered by leaning. Its adjustable height means your 3-year-old can also use it for a handful of years to come.
Its innovative design and wheels promise a smooth ride every time — perfect for a little rider who’s still learning.
We’re not going to lie: This drum set is for the kids, but not for the parents. That said, this five-piece set will encourage him to get ready for his future band and work on his music skills.
Designed for kids ages 3 to 7 years old, he can grow with this set, which comes with a bass drum, four snare drums, one pedal, one cymbal, two drumsticks, and one stool. Lessons not included.
Stomp Rocket The Original Stomp Rocket
Whether in rage, excitement, or glee, 3-year-olds are big into stomping their feet. Put that instinct to fun use with the Stomp Rocket. Just put the foam “rockets” on the launcher, countdown, stomp, and watch them sail up to 200 feet in the air. (It’s fun for adults sometimes, too.)
This vending machine is a 3-year-old’s dream toy — mini snacks and all! They’ll love the fun of selecting their favorite “snacks” and watching them drop down, just like in a real vending machine. With its colorful design and interactive features, it’s a great way to practice fine motor skills and imaginative play, all while having a blast.
GLM Brands Dinosaur Construct and Play
Does your kid like building things? Do they like dinosaurs? Do they enjoy building things but also using their imagination to play with toys? Then you’re in luck with this dinosaur toy set.
These dinosaurs are super sturdy and fun to play with, and also easy to put together and take apart with nothing but a small plastic screwdriver.
Your tiny architect’s imagination will be unleashed as he uses the clear, colorful magnetic tiles to build three-dimensional castles, animals, patterns, shapes, and more.
And because the possibilities are endless, he’ll enjoy Picasso Tiles for years to come as his ideas and designs grow with him.
Your 3-year-old can be anything he wants to be: a police officer, a chef, a construction worker, or, heck, why not a pirate? With these cool costumes, he can try out any one of his future careers … or at least have fun pretending.
Just looking at this toy might conjure up memories you have pedaling one of these down the sidewalk in your neighborhood or the blacktop of your preschool. Rest assured they’re just as fun now.
Your 3-year-old will be king of the road (or your driveway) on this cool Harley-Davidson model!
Subtly hinting that you think medical school is a great idea just got a lot more fun with this super-cool doctor’s kit with all the bells and whistles. It can transform into a handbag, trolley case, medical table, or bench quickly and easily.
It includes 40 pieces, from stethoscope to thermometer, complete with sound effects — making it the perfect gift for 3-year-old boys who also happen to be doctors-in-training (hey, you never know!)