Awesome Toys for 3 Year Old Boys
What To Buy a 3 Year Old Boy?
Looking for toys for a 3 year old boy? There are lots of top toys for this age group and I have given lots of ideas in the article below. They are all based on toys my boys loved at age 3. Here are some top categories of toys to consider:
Toys that encourage imaginative play:
3 year old boys really enjoy all kinds of role play and toys that facilitate this are excellent. This can be toys such as doctors sets, fireman outfits, a drill or tool set, puppets, cooking and food sets.
Toys that burn off energy
Anybody who's looked after a 3 year old, knows how energetic they can be. Toys that burn off some energy such as a scooter, climber, trike, stomp rocket or even a ball are always great!
Toys with wheels
Boys this age often very much like cars, trains, fire engines, tractors and other vehicles. They love to push them around and play on all kinds of tracks. They will often include them in imaginative play.
Toys the encourage exploration of the world around them
Both my boys loved taking pictures with a Vtech camera at this age. It's fun as a parent to see the kind of photos they take. Any kind of toy that encourages them to explore is great. Another cool idea is a set of binoculars.
Construction toys
There are tons of construction and building toys for kids aged 3 years plus. Lego duplos are particularly great as they have bigger blocks for smaller hands.
Toys that encourage imaginative play:
3 year old boys really enjoy all kinds of role play and toys that facilitate this are excellent. This can be toys such as doctors sets, fireman outfits, a drill or tool set, puppets, cooking and food sets.
Toys that burn off energy
Anybody who's looked after a 3 year old, knows how energetic they can be. Toys that burn off some energy such as a scooter, climber, trike, stomp rocket or even a ball are always great!
Toys with wheels
Boys this age often very much like cars, trains, fire engines, tractors and other vehicles. They love to push them around and play on all kinds of tracks. They will often include them in imaginative play.
Toys the encourage exploration of the world around them
Both my boys loved taking pictures with a Vtech camera at this age. It's fun as a parent to see the kind of photos they take. Any kind of toy that encourages them to explore is great. Another cool idea is a set of binoculars.
Construction toys
There are tons of construction and building toys for kids aged 3 years plus. Lego duplos are particularly great as they have bigger blocks for smaller hands.
Train Set
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Both my boys loved train sets at age 3. There is something oddly satisfying about constructing one first and then playing with it (even for adults). Also once built if there is lots to do then even better!
There are all kinds of train sets that preschoolers will love. Wooden train sets are especially great. My boys loved playing with their train set all over the floor. Kids will love using their imagination to have all sorts of adventures with wooden tracks and trains. Other train set which are great for this age include Thomas trackmaster and lego duplo sets. Check out this article on train sets for 2 and 3 year olds which gives lots of advice on buying a set. |
Toy Cars, garages and other vehicles
Toy cars are definitely one of the most popular toys for 3 year old boys. My son loved cars at age 3. He drove them everywhere, took them to bed with him, lined them him in traffic jams, played with them in garages and drove them down slides. You can't go wrong with buying a toy car for a 3 year old and building up a good toy car collection.
As well as toy cars there are lots of other vehicles that are popular with 3 year old boys. Dump trucks and fire trucks are vehicles which are popular with this age group too. Or what about a superhero car like a batmobile? (Read further on in the article for an option).
* Please note we get a small commission for purchases made through links in this article
As well as toy cars there are lots of other vehicles that are popular with 3 year old boys. Dump trucks and fire trucks are vehicles which are popular with this age group too. Or what about a superhero car like a batmobile? (Read further on in the article for an option).
* Please note we get a small commission for purchases made through links in this article
Battat Build a Car
  
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This is a toy crane with a difference. Use the power screwdriver to take apart the toy and put it together again. Kids will love learning how to build, take apart, and play with the truck.
The car features 30 crane trucks parts and a battery powered drill with 3 different bits to use. The drill is easy to use and control. The chunky parts are easy to grab making it easier for little hands to use them. The toy is fantastic for building fine motor skills. There are other take apart vehicles and toys which also include a car and an airplane. |
Car Tracks / hot wheel sets
  
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Not only does my son like to use his imagination as he plays with all the toy cars from his collection, he also likes car and tracks too.
There are some great hot wheels tracks that are worth checking out for 3 year olds. The Gator car wash set featured works with color changing cars. Crank the car up to the top with the elevator and send it down the ramps, through the water to see it change color. |
Also, check out the photos below of my 3 year old son playing with the hotwheels race rally park set which was a huge hit with him. Unfortunately hotwheels don't seem to sell this set anymore although you could maybe pick it up on ebay. But there are lots of other hotwheels sets that kids this age will love so they may be worth checking out too.
Batmobile
  
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Young boys of any age like superheros and especially all the cool gadgets they use.
This Batman car is a great little toy and it comes with a pretty cool little Batman figure. There is also a robin figure and a motorbike with the set. My Batman mad nephew had one of these and he loved pretending to drive Batman around to his next adventure Squeeze the button to light up the batmobile. Launch the disks with the a batdisk luncher. This allows the car to shoot a coin sized plastic disk at whoever batman is fighting against this time. |
Hot wheels cars
  
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Hot wheels cars have stood the test of time and it's difficult to go wrong when giving such a classic car set.
The cars are durable. There are different colors and designs which young kids love. They are great to play with on their own but also make fun play for use with a garage. They also make fantastic take along toys. They are easily put in a bag to entertain a 3 year old boy when out and about. My sons used to love to play with their cars on different terrain (in sandpits, down slides at the playground or just on concrete. |
paw patrol 2-in-1 Transforming Mighty Pups Jet Command Center
  
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Paw Patrol is a TV program that many 3 year olds love. Whether or not they watch the TV program, most boys that age will love this 2 in 1 transforming jet command center. Switch from deluxe jet into a mobile command headquarters
It has lots of imaginative play opportunities and is super fun with lights and sounds, Press the button on the Mighty Jet's Engine to activate the lights and sounds. Load the launcher with the 5 included disks and push the button to release them in the Mighty Jet or Ryder's Mini Jet. The set comes with a Ryder figure. |
paw patrol
  
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This is a massive play set standing and impressive 2 and a half foot tall. Perfect for die hard Paw Patrol fans.
There is lots of interactive play value which includes a working elevator, a mission control panels, a zip line and a built in vehicle launcher. It comes with a Mighty Chase figure and vehicle but there is room for all of the Paw Patrol vehicles which are sold separately. |
matchbox 4 level garage
  
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Another must have toy for a 3 year old boy is a garage.
Great to play with all their die cast cars. My sons' used to love pushing the cars down their garage's ramps. Pushing them up in the elevator and lining them all up to be parked in a row. It's amazing how much imaginative play took place in their toy gargae. The matchbox garage features four levels of activity including a spiral ramp, gas pump, track and real working elevator. |
matchbox cars
  
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A set of matchbox cars is a great extra to accompany a matchbox garage.
This set has 9 different cars and vehicles with 9 different designs and colors. The cars in each set are random but it includes 1 exclusive decoration car not available anywhere else. |
More Superhero Ideas
From about age 3 1/2 my youngest son started to really love superheros. I'm not really sure why but from then on a lot of the toys he liked to play with had a superhero theme. If you have a little boy like this there are lots of ideas of toys they will love. Ideas include superhero figures (Fisher Price have a good range called Imaginext which has some fab superhero figures). My son loved playing imaginatively with superhero figures and playsets.
He also really loved dressing up in superhero costumes and still does at the time of writing (he's 4 now). The costumes my son particularly loved were ironman and spiderman. Batman is one he hasn't got but it's another great option.
He also really loved dressing up in superhero costumes and still does at the time of writing (he's 4 now). The costumes my son particularly loved were ironman and spiderman. Batman is one he hasn't got but it's another great option.
Binoculars
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Young kids like to explore and every explorer needs thier own set of binoculars (yes they do). I have a very expensive pair of binoculars because we have a lot of birds where we live and we like to look at them as a family. My youngest is always wanting a go so we decided to get he's very own pair and these ones are great. They enlarge the image by two times which is ok for him but I don't think he is that bothered my the magnification. I think it's the act of using the binoculars and the pretend play that goes with them that he enjoys
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They are also easy to use and focus well plus the eye cushioning on the binoculars is nice and soft so they won't be rough on the little ones face. Personally I would consider taking the strap off as well for safety reasons but it is a breakaway neck strap if you prefer to keep it on.
My youngest took these everywhere with him while we was on holiday and loved them.
My youngest took these everywhere with him while we was on holiday and loved them.
vtech camera
  
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The Vtech camera is designed to be durable for kids as young as 3 to use.
It takes real digital photos and even has a selfie mode. He can also put special effects onto the photos and make them his own! There are also four games to play, a video camera and a voice recorder too. |
Lego
Lego is a great toy for three year old boys. The classic toys are often the best and you really can't go wrong with legos. There are lots of options suitable for 3 year old boys and there are lots of different themes including the batman cave below. It's also great for developing their fine motor skills, imagination and it's great fun.
Another option is a standard lego set. My own 3 year old used to build farms, gates, zoos, towers, houses and all kinds of different structures with his set.
Another option is a standard lego set. My own 3 year old used to build farms, gates, zoos, towers, houses and all kinds of different structures with his set.
LEGO DUPLO Steam Train
  
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Lego duplo is great for little hands to build as the bricks are bigger than normal legos.
This set has so many cool features. 3 year olds can have a go at building a train track by themselves. The train has a push and go motor so once it's been built, just give it a push and watch it along the track. The set includes 5 action bricks so kids can experiment with cause and effect. Put in a red action brick to stop the train, a green one to reverse it, a yellow one to activate sound, |
And there's a free optional app that lets you become the controller of the train by remote control.
Awesome!
Awesome!
Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks
  
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Sometimes toys without batteries, flashing lights and sounds are the ones that really encourage kids to exercise their imagination and creativity. Wooden blocks are one of those toys.
The Melissa and Doug wooden blocks should last many years. Kids can hone their fine motor skills building all kinds of constructions. Towers, farms, a rocket, a castle, a house, a museum - your imagination is the limit! It's also a great toy for developing patience and hand-eye coordination. |
marble run
  
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their fine motor skills Another of the best toys for 3 year old boys is a marble run.
My eldest son received one of these for his 3rd birthday and played with it nearly everyday for a long while. We had to help him build the marble runs in teh beginning but it's fun for adults to have a go as well. AS he got older, he started putting the pieces together and building them himself. . |
Easy to Use Remote Control Car
  
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My 3 year old is car crazy and would love a remote control car. The easy to use car opposite is a great choice of remote control car for this age group. The remote is easy to use with just two buttons for movement. One button is for going forwards and reverse.
3 year olds will love the little guy which you can take in and out and play with. It also features lights and sounds. Press the horn to hear a horn sound. They include a horn, music and flashing headlights. There is an on/off button. Always remember to turn the toy off when you've finished using it to avoid the batteries being drained |
Tools
My own two boys loved legos and cars but my 3 year old nephew loves fixing things with his many tools in his tool kit.
There are lots of options including a basic tool kit, tool belt, a tool bench and there are lots of different power tool toys for this age group too including items such as a battery operated chain saw.
There are lots of options including a basic tool kit, tool belt, a tool bench and there are lots of different power tool toys for this age group too including items such as a battery operated chain saw.
Tool Kit
  
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This is a 20 piece tool set with some really fun tools including a drill, hammer and it also comes with a tape measure.
The battery powered drill makes realistic drilling noises when the button is pushed. It's great that the set comes with a box to store all the toys. Some tool kits don't and it must be really hard to keep all of the tools and utensils together. The tool set also includes safety goggles, a plastic hammer, nails, nuts and bolts, a wrench, a ratchet, channel lock pliers and a screwdriver. |
Plasma Car
 
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Now I first saw one of these at a friends son's birthday party when he had hired a load in a village hall. I was unsure what they where at first bit all the kids new exactly what they where! The unique thing about these Plasma cars is the fact that by steering left to right you can get these thngs to propel themselves forward. It takes a bit of practice but it wasnt too long at this party until all the kids were zooming around having a great time. Another good thing about these is they last as my 3 year old had just as much fun as my 7 year old when using one.
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Keyboard
  
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My 3 year old boy has a keyboard at home which he really enjoys playing with. He loves for me to sit down and listen to him make music. So, I would highly recommend a first keyboard.
The keyboard opposite is a good first choice. It lets them create original songs or play along with the melodies. Follow the lights on the keyboard to play the melodies. They can record and play back their music. It also allows you to explore a variety of sounds including drums, a scratch disc and a whammy bar. There are 40 plus songs and sound effects too. |
Build a Road Set
  
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This set is another great toy for 3 year olds who love cars and dinosaurs. It comes with a battery operated car and 2 dinosaurs.
The track is easy to assemble and you can use it in different designs. Once you've built your track there is a battery operated car to go over the track. But I can see my little boy pushing other cars over this track too. 3 year olds may need a bit of help to build the tracks especially at first but as they get older it's a great toy to encourage creativity as boys will easily be able to assemble their own designs of track for the cars. |
Outdoor Toys
3 year olds normally have lots of energy to expend so it's always a good idea to get them outside and burning off that excess energy. There are lots of great outdoor toys for this age group. Ideas include their first trampoline, a preschool basketball hoop and ball, a balance bike, a scooter, gardening toys (watering can, a preschooler gardening set, wheelbarrow etc), garden games like hoopla or outdoor bowling.
If you have a big budget, playhouses are a great toy. Kids this age have a huge imagination and they can think of all kinds of games to play in their own little space outdoors. Another option is a playtent. These can be put up indoors or outdoors and facilitate all kinds of games. They are also great for shielding kids from the hot summer sun in the summer too.
One of my favourite outdoor toys is the stomp rocket featured below.
If you have a big budget, playhouses are a great toy. Kids this age have a huge imagination and they can think of all kinds of games to play in their own little space outdoors. Another option is a playtent. These can be put up indoors or outdoors and facilitate all kinds of games. They are also great for shielding kids from the hot summer sun in the summer too.
One of my favourite outdoor toys is the stomp rocket featured below.
Stomp Rocket
 
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The stomp rocket is a fun outdoor toy that is great for all ages but 3 year olds will particularly love it.
You stomp on the pad at the bottom of the rocket and see how high you can shoot the rocket into the air. We have one of these and take it to the park to play. Quite often there are other kids who are interested and want to have a go. Kids love to take it in turns to run and get the stomp rockets as well. For older kids, you can have a race to see who will get there first. It's a great toy for siblings of all ages to play with but it's equally great for just 3 year olds to play too. The other great thing is that it's not very much money for lots of fun! |
Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set
  
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This is an awesome basketball set for 3 year olds that can be used indoors or outdoors.
It's height adjustable from 2.5 to 4 feet, so will grow with your child. It comes with 3 balls, so kids can play independently or take turns with another child. It's a fab toy for encouraging active play and burning off lots of energy. Kids can work on developing balance, motor skills and coordination skills too. |
Scooter
Scooters are definitely the toy of the moment. Look around in parks and playgrounds and lots of children have them. Help your 3 year old boy get active and burn off some of that energy with a scooter.
We bought our eldest son, his first scooter for his 3rd birthday present and it was not problem for him to use straight away. If buying a scooter for this age group, always look for one with 3 wheels.
We bought our eldest son, his first scooter for his 3rd birthday present and it was not problem for him to use straight away. If buying a scooter for this age group, always look for one with 3 wheels.
Mini Micro Scooter
  
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If you're looking for a scooter for a 3 year old, I would highly recommend the mini micro featured.
It is more expensive than other scooters but it's been fantastic for our son. The scooter is super lightweight which means it's really easy for little ones to pick up and control. If they need ot go down or up a step they can just get off and pick it up. It's also very light for Moms, Dads and other adults to pick up when little ones have had enough. Despite being lightweight the scooter can take a lot of punishment. It's made of strong but light material so can withstand the play of a 3 year old. The handlebar is the perfect height for 3 to 5 year olds. It is designed to come up to be the perfect height for children between 3ft – 3ft, 7in. My son loved this scooter and has found it easy to use and scoot along with. |
balance bike
  
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My youngest son had a balance bike and it was one of the best and most used toys we bought him.
He was still whizzing round on his bike at age 5. He used to love it from getting from a to b. It's great for teaching kids balance and coordination and it generally does make the transistion from balance to pedal bike quick and easy. In the meantime, it is perfect for them to get where they want quickly and speedily. |
power wheels jeep
  
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If you want a super cool toy that has the ultimate fun factor, the power wheels jeep ticks all the boxes.
The jeep goes up to 5 mph on grass and other surfaces and 2.5mph in reverse. There are different themed jeeps with a Toy Story 4 jeep being available in time for Christmas 2019 The jeep features motor sounds and revvin tunes and there is space to store some stuff at the back. |
Educational Toys
Most toys for 3 year old boys have some educational value. There are learning all the time, honing fine motor skils from playing with lego duplo, increasing their creativity through imaginative play, learning about taking turns through pop up pirate. But if you're looking for more educational toys here are some ideas:
Jigsaw puzzles - great for honing fine motor skills and learning about how things can fit together. If you do it with more than one person, jigsaw puzzles are great for demonstrating how you can work well as a team. They are also great for discussing the picture as you are completing it and learning new vocabulary.
Lacing boards and beads - these are great for developing those fine motor skills
Simple board games - there are lots of simple board games you can get for preschoolers that are great for helping them learn social skills such as taking turns, winning and losing. Some board games at this age group also teach lots of other skills such as matching, numbers, introducing letters, shapes and colours.
Jigsaw puzzles - great for honing fine motor skills and learning about how things can fit together. If you do it with more than one person, jigsaw puzzles are great for demonstrating how you can work well as a team. They are also great for discussing the picture as you are completing it and learning new vocabulary.
Lacing boards and beads - these are great for developing those fine motor skills
Simple board games - there are lots of simple board games you can get for preschoolers that are great for helping them learn social skills such as taking turns, winning and losing. Some board games at this age group also teach lots of other skills such as matching, numbers, introducing letters, shapes and colours.
melissa and doug see and spell
  
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Both my boys used the Melissa and Doug see and spell jigsaws at age 3. They were a fantastic way to introduce kids to letters and spelling their first words.
They are also brilliant for working on fine motor skills as they try to get the letters into the holes. Each wooden jigsaw has a picture next to the word you are trying to spell. It's a great activity to prepare them before going to school. |
sneaky snacky squirrel game
  
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This is a fun game which is great for matching and fine motor skills, it's won lots of awards and no reading is required!
Spin the spinner, squeeze the matching colored acorn with your squirrel squeezers, and place it into your log. Be the first to fill your log with delicious acorns and you win! You could also spin pick an acorn, steal an acorn, or lose an acorn so little ones have to be strategic too. There's lots of educational value. The squirrel squeezer perfect fine motor skills. Take turns and developing matching, sorting, strategic thinking and hand-eye coordination. |
Great Books for 3 Year Olds
Not so much a toy but 3 year olds love it when you read them stories. Reading with a three year old boy is really enjoyable and great to help them improve their communication skills and increase their vocabulary. It also give them a great start at school. By the time a child reaches three there are also some books that are really enjoyable for adults to read too.
There are some great books you can get with some toy elements including puppet books where there is a puppet as part of the book and sound books where you press buttons to hear sounds as you read the story.
If you'd like more book suggestions, check out this article on books for 3 year olds
There are some great books you can get with some toy elements including puppet books where there is a puppet as part of the book and sound books where you press buttons to hear sounds as you read the story.
If you'd like more book suggestions, check out this article on books for 3 year olds
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
  
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I read with my son every night so books make great presents for us as it's always good to have a wide selection of picture and story books to choose from at bedtime. One of our favorites is Goonight, Goodnight Construction Site by Sherri Duskey Rinker.
The book says goodnight to all the construction vehicles with lovely illustrations and rhyming text - it will relax tired little boys at bedtime. The book is just perfect in every way. The story is just the right length for kids and their carers. The illustrations are colorful and just looking at the sun setting will make even adults sleep so be careful! If they're really into their vehicles and trucks you can have fun identifying each one too. |
Imaginative play
At 3 years old a child's imagination seems to set on fire! My boys love playing shop, puppet shows, doctors, fixing with tool kits and lots more. Check out some more toys to facilitate imaginative play below:
Cash Register
  
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Another toy that my son loves and adds a lot of educational value is a cash register. He loves to play shop and sell me things. It's great for introducing the concept of money as well as teaching him numbers.
The Learning Resources cash register opposite is the one that we have and it is an excellent choice in my opinion. The notes and the coins are very realistic, so much so that quite often when one is left lying around I mistake it for actual money. It's quite disappointing when I find out that it isn't. |
The buttons are easy to press and it also features a built in scanner, scale, and coin slot It also comes with a credit card for imaginative play. The transactions are rewarded with lights, sounds and voice messages.
There's lots of play opportunity that will last over years. As kids get older it's really good for teaching them about money as well as adding and subtracting.
There's lots of play opportunity that will last over years. As kids get older it's really good for teaching them about money as well as adding and subtracting.
fire Chief costume
  
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Many boys of this age like to dress up.
My eldest son was obsessed with fire trucks and firemen at this age so fire chief costume would have been perfect. This set by Melissa and Doug contains everything you need ofr an imaginative game where you are putting out a fire. It includes a jacket, helmet, badge, fire extinguisher, bullhorn, and reusable name tag. |
Ice cream truck
  
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I don't know what it is about ice creams but kids love pretending to make ice creams for people and eating them.
It's a simple game for adults to play with kids. Ask for a flavor of ice cream, have your child make it, give them the money and enjoy your treat. It also works well the other way round. A 3 year old will love to tell you what ice cream you should make him and enjoy "eating" it afterwards. As well as the obvious imaginative play, the ice creamp truck featured has lots of other cool features. Push the cart around. |
Count to ten along with the ice cream cart by pressing the syrup pump or coin button.
Playful phrases introduce colors, numbers, flavors and more while you explore the six activity cards.
Playful phrases introduce colors, numbers, flavors and more while you explore the six activity cards.
doctors kit
  
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This little doctors kit has everything you need for pretend play.
There are 12 pieces in total which include a cell phone that features a range of exciting tones and a stethoscope which produces a real-life heartbeat and coughing sound. Batteries are included for your convenience. They all can be stored and carried around in a convenient carrrying case. A top tip for parents, playing doctors can be a really lazy game to play when you're feeling tired. Lie down and pretend to be the patient - while your 3 year old plays doctor. |
arts and crafts
3 years old is a great age to introduce kids to lots of drawing, painting, gluing and sticking and play dho.
My boys loved stickers and sticker books at this age too.
My boys loved stickers and sticker books at this age too.
Crayola Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Activity Set
  
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This is a fun first activity set for mess free coloring. It's great to use at home and on the go. Fab to have in a bag for when you need to entertain your kids at a friend's house, waiting room or other place.
The best thing about this set is that the crayola wonder makers and paints come out clear unless applied to the matching color wonder paper. So you don't have to worry about drawing on the walls or furniture. It includes a color wonder ink stamp pad, 4 stamps, stamp holder, 24 page blank color wonder book, 3 sticker sheets and 5 color wonder markers. |
Play-Doh Kitchen Creations Magical Oven
  
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3 year old kids love play doh and this magic oven just increases the fun.
Make play doh pretend food, put it in the oven and pull the lever. The oven lights up and you can watch while the baking is done. When completed the oven will ding! The set includes the oven, 5 pretend baking trays, 3 cutters, roller, knife, fork, spoon, plate and 6 cans of play doh. 3 year olds will love all stages of this toy. They will love the play doh and the making and the cool features of baking in the oven. It's great for imagintive play too. |
dino sticker activity book
  
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This is a sticker book with lots of learning activites inside as well including mazes, drawing activities and spelling and pattern games.
Some of the activities may have to wait until 3 year olds are a little older but they will love the 1000 plus stickers waiting to be used. It's a great way to introduce kids to dinosaurs and it's perfect to take to entertain kids while you're on the go. |
paw patrol pajamas
  
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Every kid should have some cozy pajamas especially during the winter months.
If you know a 3 year old who likes Paw Patrol, he will love to get comfortable in these Paw Patrol themed pajamas. They are made of 100% cotton and are machine washable too. Awesome for Paw Patrol fans. |
paw patrol hoodie
  
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Another cool clothing gift for Paw Patrol fans is a themed hoodie.
The one features is Marshall but you can find hoodies featuring all the other characters too. It has a zipper closure and is machine washable. |
Nightlight
  
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This is a fantastic nighlight to have in any young kid's bedroom.
It projects a starry sky scene onto a bedroom's wall and ceiling. It looks amazing and kids love it. There is a timer on the light so you can set it to go off when after a child normally falls asleep. There are also different color options. |
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