Finding the perfect gift for a three year old can be hard. What do they want? What do they actually need? What will they actually use and enjoy? What won’t (or will) drive their parents crazy? Keep reading for a great list of gift ideas for the toddler in your life.
*Disclaimer: This blog contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn on qualifying purchases.
Top 10 gift ideas for a three year old:
- Kinetic sand
- Animal figurines / action figures
- Cardboard cutting and building kit
- Climbing toys
- Bubble wand
- Water table
- Paintable figurines and paint
- Ball drop toys
- Balance bike
- Books
Here’s why these make great gifts for toddlers:
1. Kinetic sand
Kinetic sand is a great sensory toys. It provides hours of fun for toddlers (heck, I’m 32 and I love playing with kinetic sand). Kinetic sand is a great gift for indoor or outdoor use. It is easy to clean up and it can be used over and over again. It makes a great gift that the whole family will enjoy. Here are a few links to some great kinetic sand kits on Amazon:
2. Animal figurines or action figures
Animal figurines or action figures of the three year old’s favorite TV characters will be a big hit. Does the child like zoo animals? Farm animals? Bluey? Paw Patrol? Here are some great toy figurine sets on Amazon:
3. Cardboard cutting/building kit
These kits are the perfect gift. This gift is perfect to build forts and other cool things out of cardboard! Most of these toys are listed as 5+ so this may be a family activity at first but will definitely grow with the child, their imagination, and skills. Here is one available on Amazon:
4. Climbing toys
Climbing toys make the perfect gift for a three year old. Anything from foam climbing cubes to indoor climbing gyms. As space permits, these toys will keep toddlers and preschoolers occupied and entertained for hours (and hopefully help get out some of that toddler and preschooler energy). Here are some popular climbing toys on Amazon:
5. Bubble wand
Bubbles are such a fun activity for a three year old. They love watching, chasing and popping the bubbles. Bubble provide lots of fun and little effort. Your toddler will love holding the bubble wand and pushing the on / off button. Here are some links to our favorite bubble wands on Amazon:
6. Water table
My kids LOVE playing in water. There are all types of games that can be played in water tables. Water tables make a great gift and provide hours of fun. If you live somewhere where it is warm all year long, these make great gifts! Here are some great water tables available on Amazon:
7. Paintable figurines and paint
Paintable figurines are one of the best gifts to give a three year old. These can be ceramic or wood figurines. They’ll have a blast painting them and the parents will have something to display in their home or garden. This may be a messy gift, but it will be a hit! Here are some kits on Amazon:
8. Ball drop toys
Ball drop toys are so fun for a three year old. They This gift will provide hours of fun. These come in all shapes and sizes. Here are a few options on Amazon:
9. Balance bike
Balance bikes are a great first bike gift for 3 year olds. They teaches balance and coordination. This is the perfect gift for an active three year old who loves outdoor activities. Here are some popular balance bikes on Amazon:
10. Books
You can never go wrong with gifting a three year old a books. While it may not seem like the most exciting gift, trust me, the parents will love it. Chances are the parents have read every single book in their collection a million times and can recite most of them by memory. Give them books they can touch and feel, maybe ones with buttons and sounds, or ones of their favorite TV or movie characters. Gifting a toddler new books is always a win. Here are a couple of our favorites on Amazon:
Additional gift ideas for a three year old:
These honorable mentions a three year old will love:
- Binoculars
- Magnifying glass
- Digital camera
- Duplo Legos
Here is why these also make great gifts for a three year old:
1. Binoculars
Binoculars are a great thing to bring along on adventures with a three year old and to add something extra fun. Check these out on Amazon:
2. Magnifying glass
A magnifying glass makes a great gift for a three year old so they can more closely look at bugs and plants outside. Here is a great set on Amazon:
3.Digital camera
Digital cameras make a super fun gift for a three year old. They will have a blast taking pictures of their favorite things. There are many toddler friendly digital cameras available on Amazon. We love this one:
4. Duplo Lego set
Duplo Lego sets are a classic toy that provide countless hours of fun. These make a great gift for a three year old. This is a great beginner set on Amazon:
Gifts to avoid giving to a three year old
In my opinion these do not make the best gifts for a three year old:
- Puzzles. In my experience, everyone always thinks puzzles are a great gift for young children. While some puzzles are great, they do not need 100 different puzzles. Trust me, they will get multiple puzzles from other people.
- Toys that light up and make a lot of noise. Unless this is something that the parent’s specifically put on a wishlist for their child, it is not a good idea to buy this kind of toy. It will get played with for a week before the parent gets annoyed with it and stores it in the closet for the rest of eternity.
- Large and over-the-top toys. While some of the toys listed above are large, you need to take into account the space and personality of the child and the parents. Be mindful of the specific circumstances of the child.
- Stuffed animals. Unless they are specifically asked for, do not gift stuffed animals. Chances are they already have 500 stuffed animals that the parents are storing away and never get played with.
- Impractical clothing. When it comes to buying clothing as a gift, stick to the basics and always provide a gift receipt.
- Offensive/passive aggressive gifts toward the parents. Be mindful that some gifts may be unintentionally (or intentionally) offensive to the parents. This could include a toddler potty training book or potty training materials. Unless specifically asked for this kind of gift, do not purchase it as a gift for a toddler.
