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A 3 year old gift guide: the best gifts and activities for 3 year olds based on what my 3 year old got for his birthday and what he has been loving!

If you have a three year old in your life, check out these awesome 3 year old toys and gifts guide. Some fun and educational items that will keep your toddler entertained for hours.

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Gift Idea #1: Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play

Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play – we like this one because its neutral colored and not too big and overwhelming. Its modern looking and made of wood instead of plastic! We love Melissa & Doug brand toys because they are great quality and perfect for imaginative play!


3 Year Old Gift Idea #2: QPlay Scooter

QPlay Scooter – My toddler got this for his 3rd birthday and it seems to be the perfect age for a scooter! He is able to glide around on it and feel confident enough to go quick. My younger son can somewhat do the scooter so it might also be good for adventurous 2 year olds. I highly recommend getting a helmet too – we have this one and it’s reasonably priced!


Toddler Gift Idea #3: EZPlay Toys Panda Playground

EZPlay Toys Panda Playground – we got this indoor jungle gym a few months before my son turned 3 and it has been the BEST to stay cool and still get some energy out during the summer (it will also be perfect for the winter too when its too cold to go play outside). Its recommended for ages 18 months + so its perfect for a 3 year old! You can read more about my review of the Panda Playground here.


3 Year Old Gift #4: Little Tikes Big Digger Sandbox

Little Tikes Big Digger Sandbox – this was another birthday gift and it’s been perfect for our digger-loving boy! We chose to fill ours with pebbles, but its meant to be a sand box so that works too! Its on the smaller side, so great for small spaces.


Toddler Gift Idea #5: Melissa & Doug My First Daily Magnetic Calendar

Melissa & Doug My First Daily Magnetic Calendar – 3 has been the perfect age to start working daily with this interactive toddler calendar! We try to update this every day to help the boys learn the month, season, day of the week, weather, and other fun features.


Toddler Gift #6: Melissa & Dough Responsibility Chart

Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Magnetic Responsibility Chart – this responsibility chart (like a sticker or chore chart) has been a game changer to help with my 3-year-old’s behavior! Its customizable so you can set goals and responsibilities that work for your toddler or your family. My 3 year old has started feeding the dog and I made my own called “stay in bed”!


3 Year Old Gift Idea #7: Play-Doh Deluxe Set

Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set – I was reluctant to try play-doh until now and this set has made it so fun! The squeeze shape spaghetti maker is their favorite so far.




Toddler Gift #8: Mega Bloks Deluxe

Mega Bloks First Builders Deluxe – we got these when my son was about 18 months old, but he didn’t really show much interest until his 3rd birthday. If you don’t have a set of Mega Bloks and are looking for a smaller gift your toddler can play with for years to come, be sure to grab some Mega Bloks!


3 Year Old Gift Idea #9: Strider Balance Bike

Strider Balance Bike – My 3-year-old LOVES zipping around on his strider bike and its amazing how far he has progressed from 2 to 3 years old. Just a few months ago he could barely walk along with the bike and now he can twist and turn with his feet up and keep up with me on walks. I love that this lets your little ones practice for a real bike without the need for training wheels (one less thing to transition out of)!


Toddler Gift Idea #10: Bamboo Hooded Towels

Bamboo Hooded Towel – we had been needing to update the boy’s hooded towels so my toddler got this cute set for his birthday! They are the softest towels I have ever felt and are made of organic bamboo. They are larger than the ones we previously had and are perfect for toddlers and young preschoolers!


Toddler Gift #11: Melissa & Dough Water Wow!

Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow! – a fun gift for toddlers and great for restaurants or traveling! My younger toddler just loves to color with the water, but there each page is also a scavenger hunt and my 3 year old loves looking for each picture.


3 Year Old Gift #12: Kindle Fire 8 Kids

Kindle Fire 8 Kids – if your toddler doesn’t have a tablet already, 3 is a great age to introduce one! We love the Kindle Fire Kids because it comes with a year of Amazon Kids for free! Amazon Kids is a subscription that includes hundreds of kid-friendly apps, videos, shows, games, and books that you can set to be age-appropriate (plus additional parental controls). We have had ours for 6 months and i’m amazed how much my toddler is learning!


Toddler Gift Idea #13: iPlay iLearn Take Apart Trucks

iPlay iLearn Take Apart Trucks – this toy is fun for toddlers who like trucks, but also fun for the thinker and engineer. We have had these trucks for a few months and just recently he became interested in taking them apart and putting them back together. They are the perfect size and number of parts for toddlers to play with and still have fun and be able to put them back together. Bonus that it comes with extra screws!


3 Year Old Gift Guide Summary

Here is a break down of our 13 favorite toys and activities for 3 year olds based on what my toddler has been loving (and what he actually got for his 3rd birthday)!

  1. Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Pretend Play
  2. QPlay Scooter
  3. EZPlay Toys Panda Playground
  4. Little Tikes Big Digger Sandbox
  5. Melissa & Doug My First Daily Magnetic Calendar
  6. Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Magnetic Responsibility Chart
  7. Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Set
  8. Mega Bloks First Builders Deluxe
  9. Strider Balance Bike
  10. Bamboo Hooded Towel
  11. Melissa & Doug On the Go Water Wow!
  12. Kindle Fire 8 Kids
  13. iPlay iLearn Take Apart Trucks

What are some of your 3-year-old’s favorite toys? Let me know in the comments!

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