43 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

Jennie Utsinger said:  We love everything made by Green Toys, but the helicopter is one of my son's favorites! Made from 100% recycled plastic milk jugs, it withstands crashes and is a great size for flying around. It's also dishwasher safe, so easy to clean.

This 6-block set is equipped with built in magnets so they won't fall down as easily, making them perfect for small hands - and travel.

Tim Ponisciak said:  These magnetic blocks are loads of fun. Kids can build all sorts of animals out of just six blocks. They are colorful and toddler friendly! And, they come in a nice pouch so they are great travel toys.

Erin P. said:  Our son received this easel for his third birthday, and it has been a huge hit in our house. One side has a chalkboard and the other side has a white board. Our son's favorite feature is the paper-roll holder for painting large pictures.

Erin P. said:  We have gotten so much use out of our magnetic drawing board. The kids can write or draw on it and then use the knob to wipe the screen clean. It is a great car toy, and has also been a perfect toy for our son to use while waiting during our daughter's gymnastics class. Since it's quiet and travels well, we generally keep ours in the car nowadays for times such as these. (Personal confession: I used it quite often to doodle possible names when we were expecting our third baby!)

Brigitte Nohra Miller said:  Fisher-Price Teach 'n Tag Movi is an ideal companion to get your kids moving and learning. With three different modes of play and six different stimulating games, this cool little robot introduces your kids to high-tech toys they will love and learn from.

Erin P. said:  Our son was a little young for this toy when he first received it as a gift, but I think that three is the perfect age for little ones to enjoy and start to learn their ABCs with this magnetic letter set. It's great that it's magnetic so it can provide some entertainment for your toddler while in the kitchen.

Erynn said:  If your little one loves to draw, you can take their art anywhere with a Boogie Board. These LCD-screen tablets let kids color then erase with a click. They're ultra portable and mess-free, ideal for those times when you need to distract your toddler when eating out or riding in the car!

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.

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!

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.

Sarah Calamita said:  If you have a 1-5 year old, this is the best gift! Pair with some fun fake food (Melissa and Doug has great produce, boxed goods, pizza pie, ice cream scoops and cupcakes). Hours of entertainment!

Alexandra F. said:  We got this tool bench for my 2-year-old because he and his 4-year-old brother love playing with their toy tool sets so much, and it has been THE biggest hit. It will honestly keep them (and their older siblings and cousins!) entertained for so much longer than most toys, and the set is really well made and super easy to put together.