These Are the Best Toys for 3-Year-Olds
The heart of toddlerhood calls for toys that inspire—and hold up to repeat play
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While threenagers sure have minds of their own, they’re also some of the most curious, endearing, inquisitive, and exploratory beings on the planet. Shopping for toys for a 3-year-old can seem like trying to pick a single piece of candy in a candy shop. There are so many options, including educational toys for toddlers that balance learning with fun.
“High-quality materials and open-ended design are two of the biggest factors in the longevity of a toy,” says Rachel Coley, a pediatric occupational therapist in North Carolina and child development expert for Lovevery. “Even though a set of wooden blocks seems basic compared to an electronic toy with letter and number buttons, it actually does a better job supporting increasingly complex play and skills through different stages of early childhood.”
While shopping, keep in mind that open-ended toys that they can play with in many different ways are better than single-use playthings, and that many parents are trying to reduce the number of loud, plastic toys in their playrooms. (No? Just me?)
I spoke with experts who work with toddlers every day and drew on my own experience as a mom of five. Here’s what we recommend looking for in your next toy for a 3-year-old.
Puzzles and Games
Puzzles and games support problem-solving skills and encourage kids to create imaginative storylines of their own—an attribute of a great toy, says Angela Seal, director of occupational therapy at School-Based Behavior Consultation in New Palestine, Ind. She’s a fan of any toy that encourages creativity. If you find yourself making up alternate rules or plot lines as you play a game with your child, that makes it all the more fun and silly.
Peaceable Kingdom Count Your Chickens Board Game
“In addition to fine and gross motor skills, I encourage games that allow for turn-taking, waiting, and prediction of outcomes,” Seal says. “These all can assist in the development of executive functioning skills.” Players in this cooperative game, which is recommended for ages 3 and up, help the mother hen count her chicks and bring them back. (Can you relate, moms?) There will be no braggy winners or sore losers here; everyone wins if the goal is met. Your chick-loving toddler will enjoy family game night even more with this option.
Dress-Up and Make-Believe Toys
“Any toy items that encourage creativity—such as dress-up play—assist in cognition, in that it allows a child to create storylines that are their own,” Seal says. At this age, children start to really enjoy dress-up play. You might see your toddler playing “mommy” or “daddy,” or pretending to be an animal or a hero from a favorite story. Open-ended props and fabric can help them try out roles from their imaginations.
Sarah’s Play Silks Set of 3 Rainbow Play Silks
Preschool teachers swear by play silks, and for good reason. A bin full of colorful, all-purpose fabric can be used in all kinds of imaginative ways, whether it’s a queenly cape, the sail of a pirate’s ship, or a cozy blanket at a pretend veterinarian’s office.
‘Helper’ Toys
Children this age are ready for what early childhood experts call practical life skills, such as washing their hands and helping with simple tasks around the house (yes, please). If you’ve noticed your child saying a lot of “I can do it myself” or imitating things they see you do, a play kitchen could be a great way to channel all that “helper” energy.
Lovevery The Real Life Play Kitchen
When my daughter wants a glass of water, she walks to the kitchen and gets one—her kitchen, that is. This super-cute new kitchen, featuring a variety of backsplash mosaics, includes a water tank that turns on and off and drains into a bucket underneath, which you can empty and refill as needed. It also features working cabinets and allows for pretend play that’s suitable for a variety of ages.
If you’re on a tighter budget, the same company offers a Toddler Food Prep Play Collection Mini Kit that’s an excellent option for your littlest kitchen helper. It comes with their very own apron, measuring cups, and even a first recipe book. We love the bright colors and the opportunities that the realistic props give your toddler for pretend play.
Building Toys
“Classic toys have stood the test of time for good reason. Shape-sorters, stacking cups, balls, ring stackers, chunky threadable beads, wooden blocks, peg people, toy houses, and vehicles are open-ended toys that captivate children and spark play-based learning through different developmental stages of their early years,” Coley says. But everyone needs a break from classic blocks sometimes to spark some fresh building inspo.
Magna-Tiles Classic 100-Piece Set
There’s really no match for the everlasting love young kids have for Magna-Tiles. I wish I had known about four kids ago that they magnetically stick to each other and also to other magnetic surfaces. And that they can stick to the inside of a garage door on a rainy day. My mind was blown as my toddlers approached their second hour of playing with the same toy, building imaginary cities vertically on the inside of the garage door.
Sensory Toys
When your child becomes too overstimulated, whether it’s from screen time or a long day at day care, a sensory-friendly toy can help them decompress and recenter. Seal says that sometimes parents have to do what they’ve got to do. “In the end, I am a parent of four children, and even knowing what I know, I did not always make the best toy choices,” she says. “At times, parents are going to give children access to toys or screens that do not maximize movement and learning opportunities so that they have the opportunity to have a child fully occupied to allow for tasks that the parent needs to complete.” One tried-and-true screen alternative that can help keep kids in one spot while a parent cooks dinner: Sensory bins.
Creativity for Kids Sensory Bin: Construction Zone
It’s hard to go wrong with a bucket of sand and some toys to dig with. Aside from the potential mess, this sensory set is exceptionally soothing for toddlers and allows for extensive opportunities for imaginative play. (You can also make a version at home with any sand, small toys, and a bin of your choice.)
Art Supplies
The point of giving a 3-year-old art supplies isn’t to encourage them to become a mini-Vermeer, of course. Instead, at this age, it’s all about experimenting with color, shape, texture, pattern, and self-expression. Select art supplies with their abilities in mind, including larger markers for smaller hands to grip more easily and a variety of creative surfaces and materials, and give them permission to make a little bit of a mess.
Jarmelo Dot Markers Kit
We all know that 3-year-olds rarely color inside the lines—and who would want to force them to, anyway? These markers specialize in making dots and also come with activity papers that help them explore how dot markers work. Before you know it, they’ll be identifying circles and making interesting designs of their own.
Books
“A toddler audiobook player or electronic read-aloud book is a great way to keep a toddler engaged and in one spot while a parent cares for a newborn sibling,” Coley says. But she adds, “It doesn’t get any better” than reading with your child.
The Gruffalo’s Child: A Push, Pull, and Slide Book By Julia Donaldson
Fans of the original Gruffalo will love and appreciate this board book version, which lets younger kids push, pull, and slide different parts to reveal the creatures. It’s durable yet gives them a taste of the chanty, singsong flow of the Gruffalo that will have them asking for this book every night at bedtime.
