The 42 Best Gifts For 3-Year-Olds, According to Experts

Toys that emulate items found around the home can help children understand their daily lives, while also keeping them out of your cupboards. Freegard; Sarah Ockwell-Smith, author of The Gentle Parenting Book; and Lisa Clegg, author of The Blissful Toddler Expert, all recommend investing in a toy kitchen. Freegard suggests getting this one. “Sustainable wooden toys will last to be used by siblings and not add to the plastic crisis,” she says.

When we asked experts for their tips on cooking with kids, this measuring tool came recommended. “This is a brilliant way for children to learn how to measure,” says Ruth Chubb, founder of Three Bears Cookery children’s clubs in Derbyshire. Young children may find using conventional scales a bit tricky, but this clever cup makes it easy to measure both wet and dry ingredients by simply filling it up to the relevant line.

Kitchen tools in child-friendly sizes would also make great gifts. “I always get my rolling pins from Wilko’s,” says Chubb. “They are good value for money, plus they have the standard-size ones for older children and they also do smaller rolling pins, which are perfect for little hands.” [Editor’s note: Wilko’s mini-rolling pins are currently out of stock, but we found this Amazon alternative.]

The Swedish brand Brio is now pretty much synonymous with toy trains – having been sold in Europe since 1958, it has truly stood the test of time and “is something your toddler will play with for years,” says Ockell-Smith.

Alternatively, Ockwell-Smith recommends heading to Ikea, as their wooden railway tracks are compatible with other brands so can be used as an inexpensive way to expand your set.

For a less messy alternative, Rachel Vecht, a teacher and mum of four who founded the “Educating Matters” seminars, says, “A sand-and-water table provides endless options for imaginative play and exploring early science concepts such as floating and sinking.”

“With chunky, go-anywhere tyres and a detachable rear trailer, this Green Toys Tractor (made from 100 percent recycled plastic milk jugs) is ready for any playtime load, indoors or outside,” says Tessa Trabue, Let Toys Be Toys campaigner and co-founder of the Toymark Award.

Spinning round and round on the Whizzy Dizzy will help children improve their hand-eye coordination and develop their gross motor skills, says Victoria Millsop, manager at Fledglings — an online shop that is part of a disability charity called Contact. It can be used indoors or outside and children are always in control of their speed as the Whizzy Dizzy will only spin as fast as they are pulling on the wheel.

“This spiral ball run is ideal for encouraging little ones to develop their hand-eye coordination and introduces them to problem-solving logic,” says play psychologist and Good Play Guide founder Amanda Gummer. “We found it great for helping young children to improve their turn-taking and collaborative play as they cheered others on and waited for their go.” She adds that 3-year-olds will need some adult help to construct the track.

Kids can make cars, bikes, SUVs, trucks and even robots with these magnetic tiles and wheels. They may need adult help at first, says Gummer, but with a little practise they’ll learn to follow the instructions and use their imaginations to create their own constructions.

“Children enjoy pressing the buttons and listening to the characters talk – this is fantastic for teaching cause and effect at this age,” says Gummer. “Little ones also learn through repetition so as they repeat pressing the buttons to get the desired reaction, they learn about how things work.”

“Wooster the Dachshund” comes with a smart red lead so can be taken for walkies by dog-loving toddlers, says Crookes.

“Dinos are very popular with this age group,” says Trabue. “This stripy T. rex is a fun and colourful take on a classic toy.” [Editor’s note: This product is currently sold out].

“Games help children to develop and maintain attention, follow simple rules and practice key skills such as turn-taking, joint attention and attending to others,” says Emma Fraser, teacher of the deaf at the National Deaf Children’s Society. She recommends this colourful card game in which players have to find matching pairs of wellies for their monsters.

“Tummy Ache is a classic game which every family should own,” says Freegard. “It’s funny and yucky – which 3-year-olds love – but also subtly teaches them healthy eating skills too.”

This game involves finding matching pairs of fabric squares, each with a pattern on one side and a strongly contrasting black/white pattern on the reverse. Each matching pair also includes an inner texture layer which Millsop says can be matched by touch, so is “ideal for inclusive play with children who are visually impaired.”

Vecht recommends this game in which players use their mini fishing poles to try to catch fish as they pop their heads up and down to eat. “It really helps with fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination,” she says.

Each one of the nine different-coloured doughs in this set has a different scent – including blueberry, watermelon, banana and chocolate – which adds an additional sensory element to your child’s play. This set would also be good for visually impaired children, as Elliott says that smells can help them differentiate between colours.

“This colourful, musical crocodile provides a great way to encourage little ones to make music, which is excellent for their creative development and self-expression,” says Gummer. With a washboard, drum, xylophone bell and two mallets, your little one can perform duets or become a one-man band. You can also personalise it with the giftee’s name and age.

“These first percussion instruments make a lovely sound and are a great gift to develop a child’s love of music from the age of 3,” says Trabue. This set contains a vibrantly decorated cymbal, castanet and a guiro.