Choosing the perfect gift for anyone always takes some thought and a little bit of effort.  Finding the best toys for a 3 year old shouldn’t be any different.  

I am pretty picky with my toy selections because there is so much to choose from, and there are some really great options, and some not so great options.  

There are several things I consider before choosing a toy for any age kid, but I’m going to reference 3 year olds moving forward.  

Being 3 years old is such a fun and exciting time.  3 year olds already have so many amazing skills and they are learning at such a rapid rate.  It’s essential that we select toys that support these new emerging skills.

The more the toy does the less the child does. 

I am constantly thinking about this when selecting toys — the more the toy does the less the child does.  It seems like every new toy that comes out has more tech, buttons, sounds, and lights attached to it.

Although these toys are so appealing and look like so much fun, they leave very little room for imagination and creative play.  

There’s no need for a child to practice making different animal sounds if the toy makes them for you.  There’s no need for creative play when the toy does all the entertaining.

We typically think of play as a fun time for kids to be kids and laugh and enjoy themselves.  But play is the most important work.  

It’s what fosters lifelong developmental skills.  Instead of asking, will this toy entertain my child? Ask, how can my child use this toy as a tool in creative play to entertain themselves?

Look for those toys that might be on the “boring” side.  Then your child has endless possibilities.  Not one of my daughter’s toys has batteries and she’s had amazing language and communication skills from early on.

Pretend play! 

This one goes with the last one but pretend play is so important for 3 year olds.  This is when their imaginations explode, and we want to foster this.  Pretend play toys are some of the best toys for 3 year olds, both boys and girls.

Toddlers love to imitate adult actions and pretend play is also a great opening to include friends and strengthen social skills.  

It is through pretend play that children begin to have a greater understanding of their world around them and work on critical thinking, problem-solving, and their emotional development.

Less is more! 

Ok, I’ll admit it, this one is really hard for me to follow as a parent.  Especially around the holiday season with so many toys to choose from, 

I find myself slipping and thinking, oh just one more toy for her.  This is something I continue to work on and frequently remind myself, less is more, less is more.

But why is that? Well, for 3 year olds, we begin to see their attention to play activities expand.  Attention starts with play but then it strengthened and transferred to school and academic activities where it is so important for success. 

The more options of toys a child has in front of them to choose from, the less time and attention they will give to each toy.  

Toddlers can get overwhelmed easily by busy environments filled with toys.  By having fewer toys out and keeping them put away, a child is more likely to play with a toy for an extended period of time.

How long will they play with the toy? 

This is a question I am always asking when searching for the perfect gift.  The best toys for 3 year olds are toys they will play with for years to come.  

I think it’s a waste of money to buy a toy for a child who will become bored with it after a few months.  It makes more sense to invest in toys that will grow with the child and that they can play with for years to come.

What developmental skills does this toy support? 

When choosing the best toys for 3 year olds, it’s also important to consider what developmental skills do these toys support the development of?  

Just like adults, children have certain skills they are really good at and certain skills, they may have more difficulty with.  

It’s a good idea to choose a variety of toys that support different developmental skills, such as communication and language, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, social skills, problem-solving skills, and so on.  Different toys strengthen different developmental skills.

Don’t forget the importance of movement! 

The importance of movement for children is often overlooked when choosing the best toys for 3 year olds.  Movement is a vital part of child development and supports the development of other skills as well, such as cognitive skills and emotional development.

Ok, now that I’ve shared with you all of the different things I consider when choosing toys, I’ve listed my favorite recommendations of the best toys for 3 year olds below for you to look at.