12 best toys for 3 yr olds

Toys for 3-year-olds should be both fun and educational, encouraging their development in various areas. Here are some ideas for age-appropriate toys:

  1. Picture Books: Children at this age are beginning to recognize letters and words. Look for colorful picture books with simple stories that can help develop their language skills.

  2. Building Blocks: Building sets with larger, easy-to-grasp blocks can help improve fine motor skills and stimulate creativity as kids construct various structures.

  3. Art Supplies: Crayons, washable markers, colored pencils, and finger paints are great for fostering creativity and fine motor skills. Consider art kits with a variety of materials.

  4. Puzzles: Simple jigsaw puzzles with large pieces and colorful images are excellent for problem-solving, pattern recognition, and hand-eye coordination.

  5. Board Games: Choose age-appropriate board games like memory matching games or cooperative games that encourage social interaction and teamwork.

  6. Dress-Up Clothes: Costumes and dress-up clothes allow children to explore their imaginations and engage in imaginative play.

  7. Playdough: Playdough can be molded and shaped to foster creativity and fine motor skills. Consider sets with various colors and accessories.

  8. Musical Instruments: Basic musical instruments like xylophones, tambourines, or toy keyboards can introduce kids to rhythm and sound exploration.

  9. Outdoor Toys: Items like tricycles, scooters, or a soccer ball can encourage physical activity and outdoor play.

  10. Building Toys: Construction toys like LEGO DUPLO sets are designed for younger children and help develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and creativity.

  11. Dolls and Action Figures: Age-appropriate dolls and action figures can inspire imaginative storytelling and role-playing.

  12. Pretend Play Sets: Playsets such as kitchen sets, doctor kits, or tool sets can encourage imaginative and cooperative play.

  13. Educational Toys: Look for toys that teach numbers, shapes, colors, and basic concepts while keeping the child engaged and entertained.

  14. Science Kits: Simple science kits for kids can introduce them to basic scientific concepts and experimentation in a fun way.

  15. Outdoor Play Equipment: Consider swings, slides, or a playhouse for outdoor fun and physical development.

When selecting toys for 3-year-olds, prioritize safety by checking for small parts that could pose a choking hazard and ensuring that the toys are age-appropriate. Additionally, consider the child's interests and preferences to choose toys that will keep them engaged and excited to learn and play.

Below you can find our editor's choice of the best toys for 3 yr olds on the market
  

Big Skills for Little Hands® Trace Letters Workbook—Alphabet, Letters, Sounds, Handwriting Practice, Tracing Activity Book for Preschool–Kindergarten (32 pgs)

Brighter Child

Based on 7 reviews Check latest price

Product features

PARTNERING WITH FAMILIES

This workbook helps your child get ahead with continued practice at home.

ENGAGING EXERCISES

Grade-appropriate activities help children develop essential skills in a fun and engaging way.

KINDERGARTEN READINESS

Set your child up for success with the skills they need for confident learning in kindergarten.

Scissor Skills Preschool Workbook for Kids: A Fun Cutting Practice Activity Book for Toddlers and Kids ages 3-5: Scissor Practice for Preschool ... 40 Pages of Fun Animals, Shapes and Patterns

Based on 8 reviews Check latest price

Paint with Peppa! (Peppa Pig)

Based on 759 reviews Check latest price

School Zone - Go Fish Alphabet Game Cards - Ages 4 and Up, Preschool to First Grade, Uppercase and Lowercase Letters, ABCs, Word-Picture Recognition, Animals, Card Game, Matching, and More

School Zone

Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Time-Tested Tools

Our learning materials have helped educate three generations of kids, creating life-long learners, and the legacy continues. Digital content, flash cards, workbooks, readers, toys and games—all are crafted through a child’s eyes, while integrating parent and teacher standards.

Writing by Hand Improves Memory

Writing in workbook pages, as opposed to typing on a computer, can help kids focus and learn. Writing by hand fires up specific areas of a child's brain, improving the ability to both remember what he or she learns and to think of new ideas.

Longer Retention

Kids and parents who use our flash cards for practice testing are using one of the most effective learning techniques available. A hundred years of research shows practice testing is highly likely to boost retention.

Reading Has Lifelong Benefits

A love of reading has been proven to have far-reaching benefits for children, emotionally and academically. And children who enjoy reading become confident readers and read more often.

Kids Love Technology

School Zone’s digital content supports children’s learning goals by enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking, as well as reinforcing skills through multisensory activities. It also improves language skills, increases motivation to stay on task, and stimulates curiosity and imagination.

Not Just for Fun

When kids play games together, they learn a healthy sense of competition and experience the joy of winning and empathy for losing. Along the way, they learn collaboration, cooperation, and problem-solving. Creative play stimulates imagination and nurtures emotional well-being.

School Zone - Memory Match Farm Card Game - Ages 3+, Preschool to Kindergarten, Animals, Early Reading, Counting, Matching, Vocabulary, and More (School Zone Game Card Series)

School Zone Publishing

Based on 4 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Time-Tested Tools

Our learning materials have helped educate three generations of kids, creating life-long learners, and the legacy continues. Digital content, flash cards, workbooks, readers, toys and games—all are crafted through a child’s eyes, while integrating parent and teacher standards.

Writing by Hand Improves Memory

Writing in workbook pages, as opposed to typing on a computer, can help kids focus and learn. Writing by hand fires up specific areas of a child's brain, improving the ability to both remember what he or she learns and to think of new ideas.

Longer Retention

Kids and parents who use our flash cards for practice testing are using one of the most effective learning techniques available. A hundred years of research shows practice testing is highly likely to boost retention.

Reading Has Lifelong Benefits

A love of reading has been proven to have far-reaching benefits for children, emotionally and academically. And children who enjoy reading become confident readers and read more often.

Kids Love Technology

School Zone’s digital content supports children’s learning goals by enhancing problem-solving and critical thinking, as well as reinforcing skills through multisensory activities. It also improves language skills, increases motivation to stay on task, and stimulates curiosity and imagination.

Not Just for Fun

When kids play games together, they learn a healthy sense of competition and experience the joy of winning and empathy for losing. Along the way, they learn collaboration, cooperation, and problem-solving. Creative play stimulates imagination and nurtures emotional well-being.

Workbooks

School Zone grade and skill specific workbooks begin with the basics and advance. Strategic, teacher-designed content makes it easy for kids to work independently, with simple instructions, clean page designs, and illustrations that support the learning material.

Flash Cards

School Zone flash cards offer big learning power packed with near-endless possibilities. From interactive cards that create bed-time shadow art, to puzzle cards, they offer a fun, fast, easy, time-tested way to memorize new information and apply important concepts. Kids can use them solo, with a friend, or as a family activity!

Start to Read!

Each of the three levels in our Start to Read! series contains stories with picture clues and vocabulary words chosen specifically for that reading level. As kids gain confidence, they can progress to the next level with ease.

Little Scholar

Little Scholar is the best tablet to prepare kids for pre-K through 1st grade because it's fully loaded with School Zone's proven learning curriculum! Our child-friendly tablet is 100% focused on education.

The School Zone Advantage

School Zone is a recognized market leader in creating innovative, multimedia learning tools to prepare children for a lifelong love of education. With a 40-year heritage of delivering original and award-winning education solutions across a variety of platforms, our products connect with kids “where they are.” Designed by educators, with proven, research-based content, our software, apps, music , games, flash cards, workbooks, and more have helped millions of parents give their children an early-learning advantage.

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)

National Geographic Kids

Based on 12 reviews Check latest price

World of Eric Carle, Hear Bear Roar 30 Animal Sound Book - PI Kids (Play-A-Sound)

P I Kids

Based on 6 reviews Check latest price

Product features

30 Play-a-Sound Buttons!

With 30 buttons comes 30 great illustrations and 30 different sounds, creating an amazing interactive multi-sensory experience.

Amazing Amount of Animals

Your little one will love learning about animals while building their language and reading skills with short words and simple sentences.

Eric Carle Illustrations Come to Life

The incredible illustrations of Eric Carle including his Very Hungry Caterpillar are full of color and come alive with the help of the Play-a-Sound module.

Me Readers and First Smart Pads with 8-Book Library

With the Me Reader your little one can select which of their 8 included books they want to read, and press the color and shape coded buttons to hear it read out loud.

The My First Smart pad is a double sided tablet that allows your little one to go through their included 8-book set and complete over 100 interactive activities.

Sound and Song Books

Sound and song books offer a hands on interactive experience for young readers. The multi sensory reading adventure stimulates their imagination, while pressing the sound buttons helps with their matching, comparing, and motor skills.

My First Library Book Blocks

Twelve Just-My-Size tiny board books come packaged in a fantastic case! Your little one will love carrying the case and taking out/putting back their books while developing a love for reading and early motor skills.

Look and Find Activity Books

Search for hidden objects in wonderfully illustrated scenes! Whether your little one is a Disney Princess or a PAW Patrol pup, PI Kids has the perfect Look and Find for you!

Look and Find are available as hardcover books and My First Look and Find are available as board books.

Phoenix International Publications, Inc

At Phoenix International Publications, Inc., we are committed to crafting engaging, educational, and entertaining books for young readers to encourage a lifelong love of story time.

Together with licensing partners Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Eric Carle, among others, and our own collection of family favorite original authors and illustrators, we’ve worked to interlace beloved characters with charming illustrations, activities, sounds, and songs for over three decades. Our stories, and eye for digital advancement, provide a unique interactive reading experience that will delight any child and inspire a lifelong love of reading for the whole family.

Our sound books, picture books, board books, apps, and activity and song books are available at all booksellers and online retailers. Our PI Kids brand is recognized worldwide and our books have been translated into more than 35 languages.

Nickelodeon - Paw Patrol Me Reader Electronic Reader and 8 Sound Book Library - PI Kids

PI Kids

Based on 5 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Electronic Me Reader

Your little one can select what book they wish the Me Reader to read aloud, then they will be prompted to press buttons of specific shapes and colors as they go through the book. This fosters a lifelong love of reading while teaching great early learning concepts.

8 Hardcover Books Included

Each book has 20 content pages each making this library 160 pages total. This collection is great for providing hours of fun for your little one!

PAW Patrol Comes to Life

The amazing pups of the hit show PAW Patrol have found their way into the hearts of millions of kid's and their parents around the world, and with the help of a Me Reader module their amazing world comes alive.

Me Readers and First Smart Pads with 8-Book Library

With the Me Reader your little one can select which of their 8 included books they want to read, and press the color and shape coded buttons to hear it read out loud.

The My First Smart pad is a double sided tablet that allows your little one to go through their included 8-book set and complete over 100 interactive activities.

Sound and Song Books

Sound and song books offer a hands on interactive experience for young readers. The multi sensory reading adventure stimulates their imagination, while pressing the sound buttons helps with their matching, comparing, and motor skills.

My First Library Book Blocks

Twelve Just-My-Size tiny board books come packaged in a fantastic case! Your little one will love carrying the case and taking out/putting back their books while developing a love for reading and early motor skills.

Look and Find Activity Books

Search for hidden objects in wonderfully illustrated scenes! Whether your little one is a Disney Princess or a PAW Patrol pup, PI Kids has the perfect Look and Find for you!

Look and Find are available as hardcover books and My First Look and Find are available as board books.

Phoenix International Publications, Inc

At Phoenix International Publications, Inc., we are committed to crafting engaging, educational, and entertaining books for young readers to encourage a lifelong love of story time.

Together with licensing partners Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Eric Carle, among others, and our own collection of family favorite original authors and illustrators, we’ve worked to interlace beloved characters with charming illustrations, activities, sounds, and songs for over three decades. Our stories, and eye for digital advancement, provide a unique interactive reading experience that will delight any child and inspire a lifelong love of reading for the whole family.

Our sound books, picture books, board books, apps, and activity and song books are available at all booksellers and online retailers. Our PI Kids brand is recognized worldwide and our books have been translated into more than 35 languages.

My First Learn to Write Workbook: Practice for Kids with Pen Control, Line Tracing, Letters, and More! (Kids coloring activity books)

Rockridge Press

Based on 44 reviews Check latest price

Peppa Pig - Sing with Peppa! Microphone Toy and Look and Find Sound Activity Book Set - PI Kids

PI KIDS

Based on 3 reviews Check latest price

Product features

Hands On Interaction

Hands on interaction with 4 Play-a-Sound buttons while reading and singing engages little ones and holds their attention.

Matching, Motor, and Music Skills

While reading your little one will work on their matching and comparing skills, and their motor skills, as they press the Play-a-Sound buttons.

While listening and singing they will also improve their language skills, and rhythm.

Peppa Pig Come to Life

The incredible Peppa Pig has been entertaining children and their parents since 2004, and the amazing creations come alive with the help of the Play-a-Sound module.

Me Readers and First Smart Pads with 8-Book Library

With the Me Reader your little one can select which of their 8 included books they want to read, and press the color and shape coded buttons to hear it read out loud.

The My First Smart pad is a double sided tablet that allows your little one to go through their included 8-book set and complete over 100 interactive activities.

Sound and Song Books

Sound and song books offer a hands on interactive experience for young readers. The multi sensory reading adventure stimulates their imagination, while pressing the sound buttons helps with their matching, comparing, and motor skills.

My First Library Book Blocks

Twelve Just-My-Size tiny board books come packaged in a fantastic case! Your little one will love carrying the case and taking out/putting back their books while developing a love for reading and early motor skills.

Look and Find Activity Books

Search for hidden objects in wonderfully illustrated scenes! Whether your little one is a Disney Princess or a PAW Patrol pup, PI Kids has the perfect Look and Find for you!

Look and Find are available as hardcover books and My First Look and Find are available as board books.

Phoenix International Publications, Inc.

At Phoenix International Publications, Inc., we are committed to crafting engaging, educational, and entertaining books for young readers to encourage a lifelong love of story time.

Together with licensing partners Disney, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, Eric Carle, among others, and our own collection of family favorite original authors and illustrators, we’ve worked to interlace beloved characters with charming illustrations, activities, sounds, and songs for over three decades. Our stories, and eye for digital advancement, provide a unique interactive reading experience that will delight any child and inspire a lifelong love of reading for the whole family.

Our sound books, picture books, board books, apps, and activity and song books are available at all booksellers and online retailers. Our PI Kids brand is recognized worldwide and our books have been translated into more than 35 languages.

Where's Woody? (Disney/Pixar Toy Story) (Pictureback(R))

Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Whose Birthday Is It? (Disney's Mickey Mouse Club)

Disney Press

Based on 2 reviews Check latest price

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