educational toys for 3 year old boy

28 of the best toys for 3-year-olds, from a mess-free painting set to an indoor basketball hoop

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• The best toys for 3-year-olds encourage their development while being fun and engaging.
• We spoke to toy experts and a psychologist to round up some of the best toys to gift 3-year-olds.
• Still looking for a gift? Check out our list of the  All-Time Best products we've ever tested .

At 3 years old, children enter a new world of imaginative and pretend play, and the selection of toys to inspire their play is virtually endless. If you're shopping for a holiday gift for a 3-year-old, consider this list of toys that we narrowed down after talking to two toy experts and a developmental psychologist.

All of our experts emphasized the importance of considering a 3-year-old's interests when buying them a toy, whether that's their favorite activity, TV show, or animal. If there's a hot toy that you know they'll love, we recommend buying it now to avoid potential price increases and stock shortages due to supply chain issues .

With our experts' advice in mind and our own research and testing, we've compiled our favorite toys for 3-year-olds. From active toys to art projects and everything in between, we found something that's bound to delight the child on your shopping list.

Here are 28 of the best toys for 3-year-olds that are educational and fun:

A simple and open-ended dollhouse.

Haba Little Friends Dollhouse, $99.99, available at Amazon

Some of the best toys for kids are open-ended and require them to use their imagination. Three-year-olds will be encouraged to create their own play world when they open this furnished dollhouse. My 3-year-old often reenacts parts of her day in this house. Note that you'll need to purchase dolls separately.

Recommended ages: 3 to 8 years old

Magical sand that easily molds

Kinetic Sand Sandwhirlz Playset, $13.49, available at Amazon

As opposed to typical dry sand that falls apart, kinetic sand keeps its molded form, providing an excellent sensory experience. Charlton said that open-ended toys engage the imaginations and critical thinking skills of 3-year-olds. When they're given this kit with 2 pounds of sand and 6 shapeshifters, kids will have no choice but to imagine and create their own play world.

Recommended ages: 3 to 12 years old

A basketball hoop just their size

Little Tikes Easy Score Toy Basketball Hoop, $23.97, available at Walmart

Most 3-year-olds are ready to refine their throwing and catching skills — there's no better time than now to get them a basketball hoop. You can adjust this hoop from 2.5 to 4 feet, so it can grow with them and always stay at an ideal height. Perfect for indoors or outdoors, this gift will help them channel some of their seemingly never-ending energy.

Recommended ages:  18 months to 5 years old

A dinosaur set for creative play

Melissa & Doug Play, Draw, Create Reusable Drawing and Magnet Kit, from $12.50, available at Amazon , Target , and Macy's

Three-year-olds who love dinosaur toys will grow their creativity and fine motor skills with this activity set they can revisit over and over. It comes with magnets, dry-erase markers, and an erasable drawing board and activity book with facts about dinosaurs, drawing games, and more.

Recommended ages:  3 years and up

A sensory bin for space exploration

Creativity for Kids Sensory Bin: Outerspace, $15.97, available at Amazon

Kids are always exploring their environments. With this sensory bin, they can explore outer space through sight, touch, and hearing. The set comes with outer space rocks (instead of typical sand), glowing stars, an astronaut, a squishy alien, tongs, and a scoop.

A set of aquatic pets made for coloring

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Ocean Pets Lagoon Playset, from $19.99, available at Amazon and Michaels

These four aquatic pets are perfect for 3-year-olds to color. Kids can decorate them with the included markers, wash them off when they're ready to make a new design, and then start all over. "Kids can go on imaginative adventures with their pets based on their looks and get to totally customize their experience," said Maddie Michalik , senior editor of The Toy Insider. This set comes with shark, octopus, whale, and clown fish figures, six markers, and a scrubbie tub.

Recommended ages: 3 years and up

A beloved TV show combined with a classic building toy

CreateOn Magna-Tiles Sesame Street Cookie Monster's Shapes, $44.95, available at Amazon

Elmo, Big Bird, Oscar, and of course, Cookie Monster all make an appearance in this 17-piece Magna-Tiles set. Bronwyn Charlton, PhD, developmental psychologist and cofounder of Seedlingsgroup , recommends Magna-Tiles as a toy that can be used in a variety of ways, and this one can be combined with other CreateOn Magna-Tiles sets.

A Paw Patrol set for rescue by land and air

Paw Patrol, Chase's 5-in-1 Ultimate Cruiser, from $68.99, available at Amazon and Target

Kids who love "Paw Patrol" will delight in taking Chase on rescue missions by truck, helicopter, and motorcycle. The most exciting part of this toy is the dual-launching motorcycles. Just press a button on the cruiser and the bikes pop out the sides.

A doll that encourages handwashing

Doc McStuffins Wash Your Hands Doll, $19.01, available at Walmart

Doc McStuffins is a toddler favorite, making this doll an accessible way to encourage kids to wash their hands and wear their mask. The doll comes with an interactive stethoscope, face mask, doctor's bag, thermometer, and otoscope. As part of the doll's launch, Disney and Just Play donated funds for two million meals to Feeding America.

A climbing tower to channel their energy

Toy Bars Eezy Peezy Monkey Bars Climbing Tower, $149.99, available at Amazon

If you know a 3-year-old who can't help but climb furniture, this tower will give them an appropriate and safe place to get their climbing fix. Charlton recommends the Monkey Bars Climbing Tower to get kids moving, even in a small space. This durable tower can withstand up to 150 pounds, so multiple kids can play together.

Recommended ages: 3 to 6 years

The ultimate PJ Masks toy

PJ Masks Transforming 2-in-1 Mobile HQ, $67.99, available at Amazon

Jim Silver , CEO of TTPM (Toys, Tots, Pets & More), said that the PJ Masks HQ is the ultimate toy for fans of the show, and it's easy to see why. In HQ mode, the toy is 3 feet tall and has five levels, and in Seeker mode, it's ready to roll to take Catboy on a mission. The toy comes with Catboy and one Cat-Car as well as a compartment to trap villains.

A monthly activity box for 3-year-olds

KiwiCo Panda Crate, from $15.95/month, available at KiwiCo

This subscription activity box brings a new adventure for curious kids every month. Each box has themed educational activities and games that allow kids to explore topics like ocean life and visiting the doctor's office. The items are chosen by developmental psychologists to keep kids interested and learning long after opening the box.

Recommended ages: 2 to 4 years

A watercolor set with minimal mess

Melissa & Doug Paint With Water, $18.29, available at Amazon

These watercolor books are an excellent introduction to painting for 3-year-olds. They can wet the included paintbrush and use it to activate the colors on the paint palette at the top of each page. Learning to use a paintbrush helps hone fine motor skills. Charlton recommends toys such as this that strengthen finger dexterity, a precursor to writing.

A bike for beginners

Little Tikes My First Balance, $69.99, available at Target

This balance bike skips training wheels, as kids learn to balance with their feet on the ground before learning to pedal. "Prioritize toys that encourage your child to be active," Charlton said. Once toddlers get the hang out it, this will be a go-to toy for getting energy out. The seat and handlebars are adjustable to grow with the child, and the tires are made of foam that won't go flat.

Recommended ages: 2 to 5 years

A set of jigsaw puzzles

Melissa & Doug Vehicles 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles, $9.16, available at Amazon and Walmart

This set includes four wooden jigsaw puzzles: a firetruck, a train, a school bus, and a race car. The sturdy wooden pieces and included storage box minimize the risk of pieces getting destroyed or going AWOL. Charlton recommends puzzles for 3-year-olds because they encourage exploration and problem-solving.

A tree house play set

Timber Tots Tree House, $57.49, available on Amazon

The Timber Tots Tree House packs a lot of play into a small package. The set comes with two Timber Tots, a tree house that closes up for easy carrying, a working elevator, three rooms, a swing, a hideaway, a car, and nine pieces of furniture. It's an ideal set for 3-year-olds who are beginning to explore pretend play.

Recommended ages: 2 years and up

A sweatshirt that turns into a stuffed animal

Cubcoats Hoodies, from $20, available at Amazon and Macy's

Cubcoats can be transformed from a sweatshirt to a stuffed animal in less than a minute. Choose from popular characters from their favorite TV shows and movies, like "Paw Patrol" and "Star Wars," as well as animals like a puppy, cat, sloth, and panda. The quality of the fabric and the hoodie's easy layering are convincing enough , but the stuffed animal transformation makes this a truly special purchase.

Available sizes: 2T to 10

A game about emotions

Janod Emotions Magnetic Game, $29.99, available at Amazon

Learning to identify and regulate emotions is difficult for toddlers, but this game makes it easier. Recommended by Charlton, the Emotions Magnetic Game helps kids build social-emotional skills. It encourages them to identify 10 feelings by matching them with situations from everyday life and even includes a mirror to practice emotional faces.

A kids' book that explores different cultures

"A World Together," from $10.28, available at Amazon and Barnes & Noble

This new book was written by Sonia Manzano of "Sesame Street" to spread the message that although all of our lives look different, we're really all the same. This message is beautifully illustrated through real photographs of people around the world. The pictures are sure to spark conversation about different cultures with curious kids.

Recommended ages: preschool to grade 2

A play appliance just their size

Little Tikes First Appliances, from $19.77, available at Amazon and Target

Surprise a kid with a miniature version of a major appliance. Michalik said that an ideal gift for a 3-year-old is one that centers around role-play. Kids get to pretend they're using real appliances with these toys that have interactive features, including as a washer that spins, a sink with a working faucet , a stove with play food and burners that light up, and a fridge that dispenses plastic ice cubes.

Jungle animal figurines

Learning Resources Jungle Animal Counters, $24.99, available at Amazon  and Walmart

This collection is an ideal springboard for creative pretend play. Kids will find 60 figurines from across 12 animal species, including giraffes, lions, elephants, tigers, and zebras. These toys help teach early learning concepts like counting, sorting, compare and contrast, addition and subtraction, and pattern recognition.

A vacuum that picks up 'dusties'

Leapfrog Pickup and Count Vacuum, from $24.96, available at Walmart and Target

Three-year-olds can help around the house with this vacuum that comes with "dusties" for them to pick up. A conveyor belt in the vacuum sucks them up, and the talking toy challenges kids to pick up specific colors or to suck them all up as quickly as possible. Toddlers will enjoy engaging in the challenges while "helping" with chores. 

An environmentally friendly version of an old classic

Mr. Potato Head Goes Green, $6.99, available at Amazon

Mr. Potato Head has gone green in this new iteration made from plant-based plastic. Kids will love mixing and matching his body parts to create silly face combinations. It comes with 14 accessories, including some new additions like a worm, flowerpot, and plant sprout.

A baby that grows into a big kid

Baby Alive Baby Grows Up, from $47.99, available at Macy's and Target

When kids open the box, they'll find a surprise newborn baby that will grow into a big kid with lots of love and care. Michalik said toys that develop social and emotional skills are of the utmost importance for toddlers. Kids will get to feed the baby her first bottle, hear her first word, and help her stand for the first time.

A Baby Yoda doll to snuggle

The Child Plush, $9.99, available at Target

The only thing more adorable than Baby Yoda is a 3-year-old cuddling Baby Yoda. Officially named The Child, this 8-inch plush version is just the right size for a toddler. It has a weighted bottom so it can stand upright, yet the entire toy is soft and huggable.

A classic game with a twist

Don't Break the Ice, Disney Frozen II Edition, $19.99, available at Amazon

"Frozen" fans will enjoy this new twist on a classic game as they try not to break Elsa's ice. In addition to being a fun family game, it will challenge 3-year-olds to practice patience and motor planning. They'll also feel a sense of accomplishment as their ice-tapping skills improve.

A 3-story Lego Duplo house

Lego Duplo Modular Playhouse, $59.99, available at Amazon

Playing with Lego bricks helps 3-year-olds develop their fine motor skills and inspires creativity. "Toddlers love to take apart, put back together, pull out, put in, add on, and build up," said Charlton. This 129-piece set includes extra building ideas so kids can create their own unique houses. Some of the pieces include a fridge that opens, a guitar, a rocking horse, and a pet dog.

Sensory dough they can help make themselves

The Dough Project DIY Mix, $12, available at The Dough Project

This DIY kit includes ingredients and simple instructions to make a batch of play dough. Kids can help combine the dry mix with water and oil before it's cooked on the stove. The dough is a breeze to make and surprisingly not messy. One package makes a generous 15 ounces of dough and is available in red, yellow, or blue.

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Home » Recommendations » Toys » 9 Best Educational Toys for 3-year-olds to Promote Development

9 Best Educational Toys for 3-year-olds to Promote Development

Preschool-aged children learn through discovery and exploration in their daily surroundings. Providing access to educational toys for 3-year-olds crates a natural teaching environment. This fosters developmentally appropriate situations where children encounter learning and discovery that promotes the development of cognitive, motor, social and emotional skills.

1. Bath Letters and Numbers by Munchkin

Turn bath time into learning time with Bath Letters and Numbers by Munchkin . Incorporate learning into your 3-year-old’s bath routine with colorful foam letters and numbers.

These foam toys float in the bath and cling to tub walls when wet. Then they come off easily when dry and leave no residue. With 26 letters and 10 numerals in six fun colors, there is plenty of opportunities for children to learn names of the colors, letters, and numbers.

Why We Recommend:

• 36 colorful, floating letters and numbers
• Sticks to bathtub walls when wet
• Made of soft, durable, non-toxic foam
• Introduce colors, letters, and numbers
• Incorporates learning into daily activity

2. Dado Cube by Fat Brain Toys

These educational toys for 3-year-olds and up are an exciting twist on classic building blocks. Dado Cubes are a set of 10 cubes scaled from 1 inch to 5 inches that nest, stack, and connect along slits in their edges. These unique blocks teach kids proportion, balance, structure, and color in a naturalistic teaching environment. Young imaginations engage with the slits in each block that interlock to create 3-dimensional structures.

You can construct vertically, horizontally, diagonally, or nest them together. Dado Cubes promote visual-spacial awareness and problem-solving skills through experimentation and play. These innovative blocks inspire art and STEM as kids explore architectural principals.

• Great STEM toy for preschool classrooms and home
• Open-ended play for individual or cooperative learning
• Improves fine motor skills, hand strength, finger dexterity, and coordination
• Encourages visual-spatial skills, creativity, experimentation, planning, self-esteem
• Nests for easy storage
• Made of durable, BPA-free plastic
• Developed, manufactured, and assembled in the U.S.A.

No products found.

3. MightyMind by LeisureLearning

The innovation of Mighty Mind makes it a singularly amazing toy for 3-year-olds at home or school. This toy promotes the development of essential skills such as creativity, spacial awareness, logic, problem-solving, fine motor, and self-confidence.

Children can learn to solve these mind boosting puzzles before they ever learn to read. The brightly colored shapes can fit onto the shape card in various ways. These educational toys for 3-year-olds and up has received many awards, including Parents Choice Honor Toy, Teachers Choice Award, Dr Toys Best Vacation Toy, and more.

The sequence of numbered patterns gets increasingly difficult as children manipulate 32 geometric shapes and build pictures. The first 20 puzzles provide prompt and clues in the picture to assist a child in selecting the correct shapes, but the last 10 are without clues and are the most challenging of them all. Children can also get creative with their own designs using the 32 vibrant Mighty Mind colored shape tiles.

• Teaches kids how to build and solve puzzles.
• Unique program designed to build a child’s confidence
• No reading or language required
• Distributed worldwide in 26 countries
• Develops essential critical analytical thinking skills
• Structured or open-play for individual or cooperative learning

4. Inchimals by Fat Brain Toys

Inchimals by Fat Brain Toys take children on a mathematical safari adventure. These precisely-sized animal blocks help with learning math concepts such as measurement, numbers, addition, subtraction, and pre-algebra. These 12 beautifully crafted wooden blocks range from 1 to 12 inches in hight. Each features a different animal, inch line segments, written numerals, and representative dots corresponding to the actual hight of the block.

These fun, colorful blocks allow for measurement exploration and visual representations of addition and subtraction. The set comes with a write-on, wipe-off puzzle book to introduce pre-algebra concepts and balancing equations. Great for use in schools or at home for early math education.

• Multiple ways to learn and explore – structured and open-play
• Introduce vocabulary – shorter, taller, hight, length, distance
• Teaches addition and subtraction concepts
• Stacking blocks promotes motor control
• Encourages creative thinking, spacial reasoning, and dramatic play
• 12 animal blocks and a write-on, wipe-off puzzle book
• Use in home or classrooms

5.Robot Engineer (Level 1) by Kids First

Level 1 Robot Engineer Kit by Kids First includes a storybook and 51 large, colorful plastic building pieces that are easy for small hands to manipulate. Children can construct robots with arms that spin while they learn about simple machines. Kids can have a blast constructing the simple, non-motorized robot models based on the robots in the included storybook.

Little Engineers can follow along with Ty and Karlie in the silly storybook as they build and repair robots and solve problems in a candy factory. The book and construction kit are a fun way to introduce simple engineering concepts to 3-year-olds.

• Introduces simple machines and gears
• Develops STEM-related skills – science, math, visual-spacial, reasoning, and problem-solving
• Engages children with simple engineering concepts
• 53-piece building set
• Durable Storage Case
• 32-page storybook

6. Rhyming Words Match & Learn Puzzle

This box set of Rhyming Words Match & Learn Puzzles make great educational toys for 3-year-olds. The self-correcting puzzles have real-life pictures with the associated word underneath. Flip the pieces over and the associated word only is on the back for more advanced gameplay for 2 games in one.

The rhyming part of each word pair is highlighted in matching colors to help early learners identify correct rhymes. Children improve fine motor skills through manipulating the puzzle pieces. Pieces are large enough for little hands to grip and manipulate.

• Introduces rhyming words
• Self-correcting puzzles
• Fine motor skills
• Real-life pictures and associated words
• 2-in-1 game

7. 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch by LeapFrog

The 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch by LeapFrog is a touch-screen learning toy for preschoolers that transforms from a laptop-style device to a tablet. The screen flips to convert from keyboard to tablet mode. This computerized toy comes loaded with 26 fun animals that teach letter recognition and letter sounds. Five learning modes include ABCs, numbers, games, music, and messages.

Children can also have a blast pretending to be mom or dad sending emails on the computer. The 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch introduces basic computer literacy skills to young children in an age-appropriate and entertaining way. Children role-play typing on a laptop and tapping on a tablet to play fun games and activities that teach letter sounds, counting, and animals.

• Teaches Letters and Numbers
• Encourages Social Skills
• Makes learning fun with music and rhyme
• Boosts basic computer literacy
• Dramatic play and role-playing

8. Wooden Latches Board by Melissa and Doug

Keep your 3-year-old busy and entertained with the Wooden Latches Board for Melissa and Doug. Children can undo locks and latches to swing open the numbered doors. Fun pictures hide behind each door. Build fine motor skills while learning colors, numbers, animals and more with this educational toy.

• Promotes fine motor development
• Introduces colors and numbers
• Encourages problem-solving
• Learning to open latches promotes self-help and daily living skills
• Promotes independence and self-confidence

9. My Magnetic Daily Calendar by Melissa and Doug

Maintaining their own calendar gives children a greater sense of independence, self-reliance, responsibility, and control. Each day your 3-year-old can help post on My Magnetic Daily Calendar by Melissa and Doug. This calendar provides a visual facilitation to talk to your child daily about the day of the week, date, weather, and special events.

There’s even a space to post their moon which encourages open communication and emotional awareness. Preprinted magnets make updating the calendar simple and fun. There are even two dry-erase magnets to make your own custom tiles.

• Promotes independence and responsibility
• Teaches calendar skills — days, dates, months
• Teaches weather, seasons, and holidays
• Promotes social-emotional wellness
• Practice fine motor skills daily by moving the calendar pieces
• Solid wood construction

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by Aaron Martin

This article may contain affiliate links. These opinions are our own. If you buy something, we may earn a small commission, helping us keep our content free to our readers. ❤️

When I sat down to think about the best 3-year-old toys my daughter Adley would like, it didn’t take me long to come up with a long list. There are some usual suspects you will likely recognize. But the best part about this age is ANYTHING can be a toy. Empty Amazon box? You better believe that’s her new favorite sled (we don’t get a lot of snow in Florida, so it’s as close as she will get). Package of toilet paper? We turned it into a fort and got more than an hour of entertainment.

When playing with a toddler, your imagination is the only thing you are limited by. It allows for countless adventures and memories that can’t be replaced. However, we do have plenty of traditional toys as well. Even some new ones I didn’t know existed until recently. We gathered a list of our favorite toys for 3-year-olds to share with you. Some of them are low-cost, portable life-savers. Others are bigger gifts that require some assembly. Each is special in its own way, but the one thing they all have in common is they will get a lot of use in your house.

Educational and STEM Toys for 3-Year-Olds

Who doesn’t love toys that are fun and double as educational opportunities? Here are two great picks for STEM toys for 3-year-olds.

1. Boogie Board Reusable Writing Tablet

Remember the Etch-A-Sketch? It was one of my favorite toys growing up and caused many fights between my sister and me. Boogie Board tablets are the 21st-century version of this childhood favorite. With a specialized pen and one button to erase, this provides plenty of entertainment, especially on the road or in the air. It’s a must-have 3-year-old toy and a staple in our travel bag.

2. Toddler Water Lab Science Kit

Are you looking for a gift for the little scientist in your life? Splashology is the perfect STEM toy for 3-year-olds and an excellent way for kids to learn while having fun. The science kit gives kids seven hands-on experiments they can do in a sink, bathtub, or water table. It’s a gift your kids will love, and you’ll feel good about helping them learn!

Outdoor Toys for 3-Year-Olds

Get your toddlers outside as much as you can! They can run, chase, kick, bounce, whatever you can imagine, and get that 3-year-old energy out. Here are six top outdoor toys that every 3-year-old will love.

1. Bubble Machine

There’s little that my 3-year-old cares about more than bubbles. We recently bought a bubble machine without thinking much of it. It turns out that it provides more entertainment than we ever expected! They are simple, easy to set up, and inexpensive (this “fancy” one is $20). Even better, it’s a toy that extends to ages above and below 3. Win-win!

2. Little Tikes Trampoline

Does your 3-year-old have seemingly endless energy? Of course, they do. An excellent way to burn that energy is a mini trampoline. In our case, Adley loves jumping on it every chance she gets. She’s jumping on it now while I write this article. That should help you understand why this 3-year-old toy will surely be a crowd-pleaser!

3. Bounce House

If you’ve been to kids’ birthday parties , you know nothing gets 3-year-olds more excited than a bounce house. I once thought these were just things you rented for big events, but they are more affordable than you might think. You can find all kinds of bounce houses on Amazon, including several designed to be used indoors . This big-ticket item requires a lot of space, so it won’t be for everyone. But if you’re looking for that jaw-dropping gift that will likely get used for a long time, this could be it!

4. Reusable Water Balloons

Parenting is all about highs and lows. The high of watching your kids have an absolute blast playing with water balloons . . . and the low of cleaning up a million little pieces of balloon afterward. Enter reusable water balloons. It’s a simple solution that works great and is very popular at my house. Another plus is that they are very easy to fill. So much so that my 3-year-old regularly does it on her own. This gift is a can’t-miss.

5. Zip String

I like to think of myself as an educated guy. I went to college, read, and watch the news occasionally. However, I do not understand the science behind how Zip String works. What I do know is it’s awesome! Zip String is a long loop of string that easily attaches to a handheld controller and then floats in the air at the push of a button. It is a toy for all ages, and Adley has quickly shown it to her friends when they come over. This gift will make you the family’s cool mom/dad/aunt/uncle/cousin.

6. Elefun Butterfly Catcher

This toy has been around for decades and has aged well. An elephant that shoots paper butterflies out of an extended chute that kids catch with a net? It’s that simple and provides hours of entertainment. I even have fun doing this with my daughter.

Montessori Toys for 3-Year-Olds

You can’t go wrong with Montessori toys ! Your 3-year-old likely will love figuring out puzzles and other learning activities; give one of these a chance.

1. Lovevery Subscription Play Kit

This box won’t be for everyone because of the price (about $120 per kit). But I can honestly say it is worth it. This is your jam if you’re interested in Montessori toys for 3-year-olds. The kits arrive every three months with activities, games, and learning toys for kids. They are specifically designed for each age group and are very well-made. We’ve been using Lovevery since Adley was a baby and will continue to use it when our second child arrives.

2. Wooden Puzzles

Adley is at a stage where she loves puzzles. I show her the pieces and how they are supposed to go, and she figures the rest out pretty quickly. These are well-made with cool designs and affordable (under $20). Sometimes, the best gifts are the simplest ones.

Ride-On Toys for 3-Year-Olds

Ride-on toys are fun at any age, especially with 3-year-olds who always want to be moving. Try one of these ride-on toys for your 3-year-old and watch them cruise in style!

1. Micro Mini Scooter

I’ve learned never to underestimate a toddler’s coordination. When my parents wanted to get Adley the Micro Mini Scooter not long after she turned 2, I wondered whether she had the coordination and dexterity to ride it. Within 20 minutes, she was cruising around the neighborhood with a big smile. It’s a great outdoor toy for 3-year-olds that helps kids develop balance, among other skills. Nearly a year later, Adley still rides it several times a week.

2. Battery-Powered Tractor

Calling all future farmers! Battery and electric vehicles for kids are a blast and the perfect ride-on toy for 3-year-olds. I still remember my red Corvette as a kid. This John Deere tractor is a stereotypical toy for 3-year-old boys. But it’s also really cool and sure to be a winner for any child. Just be ready for the price.

Pretend Play Toys for 3-Year-Olds

Toddlers have been playing pretend and dress-up for ages. Their imaginations are fascinating, and we can keep them firing with great playsets for cooking, doctoring, and more.

1. Kids Grill Playset

We’re all familiar with kitchen playsets . But why not take it up a notch? This 15-piece kids grill barbecue playset is fully loaded for the active toddler in your life. Plastic steak? Check. Tongs? Check. Everything you can think of in a mini kid grill? Check. A cool idea that will be universally loved!

It’s a bit of a stereotype that little girls love tea sets. In my household, this stereotype holds. Adley and most of her friends LOVE pouring tea for each other. And for me. And my wife. And our dog. And anyone or anything that’s breathing close by. I don’t get it. But I’ve come to accept that I’m just not meant to understand some things. It’s been a 3-year-old girl toy staple for generations. Guess what? It’s still a winner!

3. Kids Cleaning Set

If you’re like me, you spend an astonishing amount of time cleaning up after your kids. It’s time for them to earn their keep. In all honesty, Adley enjoys helping me clean. So, we got her a kids’ mop and a broom. It started as something to distract her while I did some actual cleaning. But soon after, she started helping me clean up spills and crumbs. It’s now one of our regular activities. Sign me up for any toy that cleans up messes!

4. Princess Dress-Up Set

Do you have a little princess in your life? I do; mine enjoys dressing up like a princess every day. So, we leaned into it and got her a princess dress-up set. It’s simple, containing several pairs of princess shoes, plastic jewelry, and a crown. Adley asks to play with it daily after school and loves putting everything on simultaneously. This is the best $20 we’ve spent in a long time.

5. Toy Suitcase

Rule #87 in the standard issue parenting guidebook is preparing to travel with your kids. My wife and I found one of the best ways to make the trip go smoothly is to get Adley excited about the adventure. This toddler suitcase (complete with a sleeping mask, moisturizer bottles, and fake headphones) gives off a fun vacation vibe. We practice packing her suitcase, and any nervousness about traveling quickly turns into excitement. Everyone wins!

6. Pretend Doctor Kit

The days of doctor house calls are back. Watch as your child checks your heartbeat, gives you pretend shots, and asks to see your tonsils. As a parent, it’s an experience. But my toddler enjoys going through all the doctor items in the kit. With more than a dozen to choose from, this should keep them entertained for a long time. It’s a classic and truly a fantastic educational toy for 3-year-olds.

7. Plastic Garden Set

Not everyone has access to a garden, and some of us fail miserably at keeping anything alive (thankfully, this doesn’t cross over to my family). This plastic garden set helps your 3-year-old connect the pieces while building beautiful arrangements. This was a birthday gift for my daughter that we now buy for friends and family with toddlers.

Other Fun Toys for 3-Year-Olds

Educational or outdoors, toys should be fun for 3-year-olds. Sensory kits are perfect for learning and having fun, and ball pits are meant for good times!

1. Specialty Sensory Kits

If you have a 3-year-old, you’re likely familiar with sensory activities . One of my favorites is a pack with a little bit of everything. Squishy balls, stretchy strings, and tubes, these unique kits are designed specifically for a child’s age. Best of all, you won’t find a kit costing more than $40.

2. Kids Instant Camera

Do you remember how mind-blowing it was when we learned our phones could take good pictures and we wouldn’t have to carry a separate camera anymore? Well, what’s old is new. I bought Adley one and can’t wait to give it to her. It’s not only a digital camera made for kids, but it instantly prints a copy. Think mini Polaroid. This gift has many versions depending on your child’s age and price point. Let the photo shoots begin!

3. Ball Pit

What you remember from childhood is strange. I remember going to IKEA with my parents and being dropped off inside a giant ball pit at the front of the store while they shopped. I thought it was the best thing ever. Now, you can bring a small part of that experience home. The downside is plastic balls will be everywhere, but the fun your 3-year-old will have is worth it. They’re also very affordable, costing less than $50 on Amazon. Boom!

4. Hot Wheels Ultra Loop Set

Over 30 years ago, I wanted no toy more than the latest Hot Wheels. They have staying power for a reason. This Target exclusive features a triple-loop track for less than $20. Like most Hot Wheels sets, it also breaks down easily for storage. It’s a classic that keeps delivering.

5. Dance Mat Floor Piano

If you’ve ever seen the movie “Big,” you likely remember how cool it was to see Tom Hanks and Tom Loggia dance on the giant piano. Chances are your kids haven’t seen that movie. But they can have a similar fun experience with a floor mat piano. With a wide variety of instruments and plenty of lights and sounds, this is a 3-year-old toy that will get your kid moving and having a blast!

6. Let Loose Moose Hovering Soccer Ball

Add this to the category of “Why didn’t I think of that?” My wife recently got this for Adley, and it’s her new favorite toy. This is a disc that you kick like a soccer ball. It slides easily across hard floors and carpets alike. It also has foam to protect walls or anything else that could get bumped. The highlight for Adley is the LED display so she can play in the dark. It’s the type of toy that doesn’t have an age limit. The best kind!

There are gifts for budgets big and small. But what matters most is finding the gift that will help you connect with your toddler. Ultimately, there are no bad options—only unexplored ones.

Aaron is a stay-at-home dad for his 2-year-old daughter, Adley. Before taking the leap, Aaron spent 12 years as an investigative reporter working for TV stations across the country. You… Read more

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• Gifts for babies and kids

The 33 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

By Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

When kids reach the age of 3, the gift-giving game changes. Many children in this age group are likely to know what they want. Lots of them will have more interests, opinions, and language to express their excitement than they had in the past. But that doesn’t negate the thrill of a good surprise. “Often the idea of receiving a gift is what’s exciting for them, not necessarily what the gift is,” said Heather Singh, director of educational programs at the Thinkery , a children’s museum in Austin, Texas, at the time of our interview.

Three-year-olds are ready for toys that foster lots of imaginative play, Singh said. So open-ended playthings that inspire storytelling and creative engagement are better than one-trick ponies. Toys and costumes that allow for role-playing and board games that encourage group interaction will nurture 3-year-olds’ developing social skills. And many kids at this age are ready for speedier, sleeker movement toys—like scooters and trikes—that reward their growing physical confidence.

We’ve included toy suggestions from Singh and other educators. And members of our staff added the kind of memory-making gifts that have gone over best with the 3-year-olds in their lives. If you’re looking for more gift ideas for kids, check out our guides to the best gifts for 1-year-olds , 2-year-olds , 4-year-olds , 5-year-olds , 6-year-olds , 7-year-olds , 8-year-olds , 9-year-olds , and 10-year-olds , as well as wonderful stocking stuffers for kids . (We also have guides to gifts for tweens and teens .) Since kids vary widely in their personalities, interests, and development, we advise that you take these age recommendations with a grain of salt. And please share your own best ideas in the comments below.

Cooperative counting games

Count Your Chickens Board Game

In this beginner board game, all of the baby chicks need to be returned to the coop.

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The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game

Players work together to help a hungry squirrel collect acorns.

Cooperative board games—where players work toward a common goal, instead of competing against one another—are ideal for 3-year-olds who are learning to follow directions, take turns, and work as a group. The Count Your Chickens Board Game  is a hit with preschoolers and parents at Toybrary Austin , our local toy-lending library in Texas. In this game, players team up to bring a mother hen’s chicks back to the coop. It’s simple and, just as importantly, fast (perfect for a 3-year-old’s attention span). Once you’ve all mastered the art of chicken reunions, check out The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game , another great cooperative board game for beginners. (We offer more ideas in our guide to the best board games for kids .)

—Caitlin Giddings

Dotty art supplies

Do-A-Dot Art Rainbow Dot Markers

These oversize markers create a fun trail of big, vibrant dots.

It’s hard to go wrong with a gift of novel art supplies. My son got a set of Do-A-Dot Art Rainbow Dot Markers when he was 3 (and just embarking on a now-years-long obsession with rainbows). The sticks are easy for little hands to grip, and the colors are vibrant enough to look bright both on cardboard boxes and on regular paper. I like that they have the special feel of paints but with less mess and effort. You may want to pair them with a ream of paper or some add-on art supplies, like scissors and a glue stick.

—Kalee Thompson

A-to-Z sports

B Is for Baller: The Ultimate Basketball Alphabet

This hoops-themed alphabet book features an all-star NBA lineup.

S is for Slugger: The Ultimate Baseball Alphabet

“O” is for “October” in this baseball-themed alphabet book.

I’m not sure which my son learned first—what the alphabet is or who the NBA greats are. B Is for Baller: The Ultimate Basketball Alphabet is an ode to pro basketball. Each letter of the alphabet presents an opportunity to explore the mythology of a current or former NBA star. For example, “T is for Three” depicts the Golden State Warriors’ sharp-shooter Steph Curry firing a three-pointer from one side of the Golden Gate Bridge to the other. Since this book came out, in 2018, two more have been added to the series. G Is for Golazo: The Ultimate Soccer Alphabet features athletes from the pitch, including Brazil’s Marta Vieira da Silva. S Is for Slugger: The Ultimate Baseball Alphabet highlights Mamie “Peanut” Johnson, among other baseball figures; in this book, “P” stands for “Pioneer” because Johnson was the first woman to pitch in the Negro Leagues .

—Lara Rabinovitch

A sturdy puzzle

Melissa & Doug 100-Piece Safari Floor Puzzle

The jumbo-size pieces of this floor puzzle easily fit together to create a 4-foot long safari scene.

May be out of stock

As a preschooler, my son loved the challenge—and reward—of a good puzzle, and the Melissa & Doug 100-Piece Safari Floor Puzzle was one of his favorites. The large, durable pieces were easy for him to manipulate on his own (and hard to lose), and the result was a grand masterpiece that stretched across the floor. My son loves wild animals, so this particular theme—with giraffes, an elephant, and a rhinoceros in the savanna—appealed to him. If a 100-piece puzzle feels too intimidating, start with one of Melissa & Doug’s 48-piece floor puzzles, instead ( dinosaurs and the solar system are two options).

Guessing game

Petit Collage What Am I? Game

In this fun take on the game 20 Questions, each player wears paper glasses holding a mystery card. Then players take turns guessing the objects on their cards.

The concept of Petit Collage’s What Am I? Game is simple: Each player dons a pair of paper glasses and takes a turn tucking a card into the slotted nose bridge, making sure they don’t look at the illustration on the card. The bespectacled person then asks a series of questions to help them guess what’s on their card—there are 50 options in all, ranging from an ice cream cone to a sailboat to a turtle. My pre-reader daughter, who got the game as a gift for her third birthday, was able to play it right out of the box. And back then, we didn’t worry ourselves over leading questions or a little peeking. (Petit Collage recommends this game for kids ages 4 to 8. But younger children can enjoy a looser version, sans timer and maybe with a few extra hints.) Now my daughter is 5, and we still play. When I’ve given this game to a few of her peers, it’s gotten rave reviews. The quality of the game itself is also high, with thoughtful touches like a sturdy wooden timer and glasses sized for adults and children. There’s just something about seeing one another in floppy paper spectacles that brings connection and fun to even our punkiest moments.

—Hannah Morrill

Clever cupcakes

Learning Resources Smart Snacks Shape Sorting Cupcakes

These cupcakes aren’t just pretend treats—they also come apart and double as a shape-matching puzzle.

Toys that pull double duty are my favorite for my two kids, and these Smart Snacks Shape Sorting Cupcakes deliver learning and fun in equal measure. Each confection pulls apart to reveal a different shape, with the tops matching the bottoms and the bottoms matching corresponding divots in the pan. My younger son enjoys the challenge of sorting shapes and identifying colors; my preschooler works these pastries into pretend baking games, picnic scenarios, imaginative shopping trips, and more. The set is nearly indestructible, and I find myself retrieving it during room cleanup every night—a surefire sign that it’s in the rotation for good.

—Ingrid Skjong

A musical book

Welcome to Jazz: A Swing-Along Celebration of America’s Music

This interactive book introduces young readers to jazz music, including the sounds of such instruments as the tuba, drums, and clarinet.

I can do without children’s books that blare sounds, but I make an exception for Welcome to Jazz: A Swing-Along Celebration of America’s Music , by Carolyn Sloan. Although I initially thought my 2-year-old might be a tad young for a jazz primer, he took to this book immediately—from the vivid illustrations featuring a trio of cats learning the genesis of jazz to the 12 buttons that, when pressed, play the different musical parts of “When the Saints Go Marching In.” (A 3-year-old might be in an even better position to enjoy it.) My son loves hearing the deep double bass, the jangly rhythm section, the free-spirited scatting—and he’s learning the names of jazz legends like Billie Holiday and King Oliver. This is a musical introduction we can all get behind.

Superior sand

Mad Mattr Modeling Dough

This soft dough can be molded, kneaded, and stretched. And it doesn’t dry out if it’s left out of its container.

Someone gave us a pack of Mad Mattr Modeling Dough , which has several advantages over Play-Doh for both kids and caretakers. It’s moldable like a dough and compresses into hard shapes, but it stretches out into a kind of soft sand. It’s not sticky, it doesn’t stain or get everywhere, and it doesn’t dry out, though it’s also less ductile than Play-Doh.

— Nathan Edwards

Sticky adventures

Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad: Jungle and Savanna

These reusable stickers—depicting animals including a kangaroo and a rhinoceros—can be placed in scenic habitats like the Australian Outback.

When my toddler began showing an interest in stickers, I was delighted. What’s not to like about an activity that’s nostalgic, cheap, and doesn’t hog floor space? But when she began surreptitiously applying the stickers to random surfaces throughout our home—you can still see traces on our butcher block—I was less thrilled. Our solution: Melissa & Doug’s jungle-and-savanna-themed Reusable Sticker Pad . The oversize, 11-by-14-inch pad comes with 175 durable, cling-style reusable stickers that can be arranged and rearranged on five glossy scenic backdrops, as well as on your fridge, windows, or dishwasher—consequence-free. The stickers come in varying sizes, and my daughter usually needs a little help freeing them from their tightly arranged contact sheets (older kids may not have this problem). If animals aren’t your jam, Melissa & Doug makes these pads in lots of other themes, too, like this Make-a-Meal version.

— Ingela Ratledge Amundson

Petit Collage Ocean Life Floor Puzzle

In this colorful, 18-by-24-inch floor puzzle, 24 sturdy pieces click together easily. This one is great for beginners.

It may seem as if most puzzles are created equal, but some of them stand out from the rest. Petit Collage’s Ocean Life Puzzle has 24 thicker-than-normal pieces that are easy for small fingers to grasp; the pieces also provide a bit of tactile feedback ( click !) when pressed into place. Then, when it’s destruction time, they separate cleanly, without sticking together. Perhaps best of all, every Petit Collage puzzle comes in a vibrant and sturdy box complete with a rope handle for carrying (other 24-piece designs include a world map and wild rainforest ). Crocodile Creek makes similar high-quality puzzles in stackable boxes that won’t rip or flatten; they were the hottest picks (and the first to disappear) during our neighborhood puzzle swaps.

A robo-bug brigade

Hexbug Nano Nitro 5 Pack

These delightfully creepy robotic bugs scamper around on their own, but they require button cell batteries.

These thumb-sized, multi-legged robots are equal parts endearing and frenetic. Propelled by the sheer force of their (amusing) vibrations, they skitter around corners, scale small obstacles, and right themselves. They move surprisingly quickly. So if—like us—you live somewhere with actual big bugs that race across your floor (hello from Texas!), you might want to warn your family before you let a Hexbug loose. Once they’re in play, they’re a blast. For cats, the challenge is to chase them around. (Just use caution around pets who aren’t discriminating about what they swallow.) For kids, the fun is in creating obstacle courses and elaborate containment chambers out of anything you can find, like train tracks, shoes, and boxes. (Adults get to just sit back and watch the cats and kids entertain each other.) The only downside is that each critter in this Hexbug Nano Nitro 5 Pack requires an AG13/LR44 button cell battery . The first one is included, but it will need to be replaced fairly quickly if your household enjoys robot bugs as much as mine does.

A groovy board game

Pete the Cat The Missing Cupcakes Game

Featuring characters from the popular Pete the Cat series, this game challenges players to sing, act, or perform so they can collect cupcakes for Pete’s birthday party.

If your child is a fan of this cool cat , then there might be some added excitement when you break out the Pete the Cat The Missing Cupcakes Game . But you don’t have to be familiar with the groovy feline and his friends (featured in this book and more) to understand or enjoy this cooperative board game. The object: Players try to collect 14 plastic cupcakes for Pete’s birthday party by working together on preschool-level challenges. Depending on where they land on the board, they may have to sing, perform an activity, or act out a word, à la charades. But if anybody lands on the dreaded Grumpy Toad space, a cupcake must be removed from the board. Eventually, all of the cupcakes are accounted for, everyone “wins” (there’s no way to lose), and the game ends with the whole group singing “Happy Birthday” to Pete. In our experience, the challenges are varied enough to keep the players engaged—when prompted, my son especially loves belting out his favorite songs. And the game tests memory skills (since you can’t repeat another player’s choices) and helps young kids associate images with words (reading is not required). More importantly, it encourages silliness.

— Barbara Kimberly Seigel

Alphabet in disguise

Lakeshore Learning Alpha-Bots

These 2-inch letters can transform into individual robots.

Letters that are robots in disguise? Meet Alpha-Bots , a set of educational transformers from Lakeshore Learning. With these 26 colorful plastic letters, kids can twist, turn, flip, and lift the moveable parts to create robots, and then maneuver them back into their letter forms. Some robots may at first take more trial and error to manipulate, but that can ultimately help a kid develop spatial and fine motor skills—and it simply adds to the fun. Each robot can be looked at as a tiny individual puzzle, though collectively the robots might inspire creative play, too. My little one got a kick out of making the robots look like they were holding hands.

Pattern play

Fat Brain Toys Bugzzle

This puzzle challenges young minds to fit colorful pieces inside a bug-shaped frame, following a series of increasingly difficult patterns.

Bugzzle is essentially a tangram (a puzzle made up of geometric pieces that can be arranged in different shapes) for toddlers. An early STEM toy that provides a soft, visual introduction to fractions, Bugzzle includes one sturdy bug frame, 18 semicircular plastic puzzle pieces, and 40 cards with increasingly difficult patterns to re-create inside the bug. Many 3-year-olds can become adept at remaking the patterns using the problem-solving skills and spatial reasoning that Bugzzle is designed to foster. For a more-traditional format, the Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards Classic Toy encourages the same critical-thinking skills as Bugzzle, using colorful wooden shapes.

Fun by the yard

Little Tikes Gas ’N Go Mower

This toy lawn mower makes an entertaining popping sound when it’s pushed.

When my then-2-year-old son got his Little Tikes Gas ’N Go Mower —long before we had a yard of our own—I don’t think he knew about actual lawnmowers, but that’s beside the point. He loved to run through the corridors of our home, pushing it and delighting in its pop-pop-popping sound. Later, his younger sister, then 3, inherited the lawnmower, and the mysterious appeal of this toy proved to be enduring. I still don’t fully understand why kids feel compelled to mimic mowing a lawn—a task many adults actively avoid. But I love this piece of plastic because there are no batteries, assembly requires no tools, and it has provided years of imaginative play for my kids. We now live in a house that has a real lawn, and my daughter will spend hours on end “grooming” it.

— Lara Rabinovitch

A tower of buggy blocks

Lakeshore Learning Don’t Let the Bugs Fall! Game

In this stacking game, players take turns removing bug-eyed blocks until the tower comes crashing down.

At age 3, my daughter loved every part of the Don’t Let the Bugs Fall! Game (a Jenga-style stacking game for kids): the die-rolling and calling out of the color rolled, the cautious removal of each block, and the dramatic collapse that signals triumph or defeat. She even loved to exhaustively rebuild the tower setup, which is objectively the worst part of actual Jenga. Admittedly, it can be difficult to play according to the exact instructions—you’re supposed to dislodge each bug-faced block one-handed, which is no easy feat. But after you develop some loose and forgiving house rules, the game is fun, fast-paced, and engaging for all ages.

Magnetic letters

Magnatab A to Z Uppercase

This magnetic writing board encourages kids to trace the letters of the alphabet, with a stylus that pulls and clicks tiny beaded magnets into place.

At age 3, some kids begin showing interest in gripping a pencil and trying to form letters or numbers. The Magnatab A to Z Uppercase magnetic writing board is an early handwriting tool that’s fun, tactile, and even semi-addictive. Kids use the thick magnetic stylus to trace letters, pulling the tiny metal beads into place. The beads are encased, so they can’t fall out or get lost. Directional arrows help budding writers visualize where to start and end each letter. There is also a Magnatab for practicing numbers and shapes . For free-form magnetic drawing and writing, try this simple slate . (And you can purchase a replacement stylus , if yours goes missing.)

Iron chef junior

Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House! Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Play Set

This sturdy set of kitchenware provides the necessary tools to prepare a make-believe culinary feast.

My kids use this eight-piece play cooking set to make chicken soup with chocolate, grape spaghetti, and countless other pretend concoctions. Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House! Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Play Set works well as a standalone gift. But it’s also a useful addition to a toy kitchen, like the IKEA Duktig Play Kitchen (featured in our guide to the best gifts for 2-year-olds ). This play cooking set includes a colander, two wooden utensils, and its own vertical storage rack; since the pots and pans are made of stainless steel, they’ve lasted through my kids’ vigorous culinary sessions. (They’re even dishwasher-safe, but you can’t use them for actual cooking.) My son and daughter especially love that this cookware comes with a lid—once their pretend bibimbap or boeuf bourguignon is ready, they can surprise diners by removing it with a dramatic flourish.

A little big top

IKEA Cirkustält

This circus-themed play tent creates a cozy space for kids to imagine, play, or snuggle.

IKEA’s colorful polyester Cirkustält offers long-lasting fun for a low price. The littlest kids may enjoy playing hide-and-seek inside or peekaboo from behind the curtains. Three-year-olds might like loading it up with mounds of stuffed animals, using it as a private place to play or rest, or turning the tent into a rocket ship. I can attest to this tent’s durability: We had one that lasted for at least five years, and there were many catastrophic rocket crashes during that time. IKEA’s Dvärgmås Play Tunnel , which we recommend in our guide to the best gifts for 2-year-olds , pairs nicely with the circus tent and was another hit with my kids. Availability at IKEA stores varies by location.

Costume kits

Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Set

Melissa & Doug’s costume sets offer an outfit and accessories for kids to fully embody their role as firefighter, construction worker, or doctor.

Kids Costumes Superhero Capes Set

When they don these satin capes and matching masks, kids can easily transform into superheros and save the day.

My child’s peer group absolutely loves dramatic play and dress-up. One minute they’re doctors, the next minute they’re firefighters, and at some point they all splinter off into different versions of Spider-Man on a group mission to destroy the house. The costume sets from Melissa & Doug—like this Fire Chief Role Play Costume Set —don’t include caped-superhero options. But they do let kids take on lots of heroic, real-world career roles , like veterinarian or pediatric nurse. Each costume comes with accessories—hard hat, hammer, and saw for the construction worker; fedora, sunglasses, and decoder lens for the spy—that help set the scene for freewheeling imaginative play. If your kid is, in fact, particularly obsessed with playing a superhero, they may also love the five-piece Kids Superhero Capes Set , with Velcro closures and matching felt masks. And if they’re more inclined toward imitating royalty, consider these sumptuous velour ones .

A creativity station

Melissa & Doug Double-Sided Tabletop Easel

This compact easel doubles as a chalkboard and a magnetic dry-erase board, and it can be folded up for easy storage.

Melissa & Doug’s Deluxe Double-Sided Tabletop Easel gives toddlers dozens of creative options for when they’re seated at the table or on the floor. On one side, there’s a chalkboard; flip the whole thing over and you’ll find a magnetic dry-erase board. The sturdy set includes a 50-foot roll of paper for painting and drawing, five sticks of colored chalk, a dry-erase marker and felt eraser, and 36 letter and number magnets that can be stored in the wooden base tray. It all packs down easily, so you can stow it anywhere or take it on a trip. (My toddler loves to sit outside on the ground with it and paint.) If you’re looking for a full-size easel, we like the KidKraft Storage Easel or the Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wooden Standing Art Easel , both of which we recommend in our guide to the best gifts for 4-year-olds .

Plush puppets

Folkmanis Snowy Owl Hand Puppet

Folkmanis puppets, including this snowy owl, are soft and well made, and they inspire endless storytelling and imaginative play.

Puppets can be a great outlet for preschoolers to explore storytelling. When they were younger, my kids had a dedicated puppet basket, as well as this puppet theater . Yet I found that the individual puppets got way more use than the theater itself—my kids were more interested in private, imaginative play than in performing for an audience. Folkmanis makes a range of plush animal puppets: We were given a tiny praying mantis and a scaly three-headed dragon. But I think the Snowy Owl Hand Puppet was the most special one in our bin. It’s extra-soft and structured, with a head you can rotate using a plastic knob inside. After my older son got dive-bombed by a nesting owl—for real, and he was fine—we were able to embark on some extra-dramatic play with this thing.

Instructive instruments

Eastar Kids Accordion

This kid-size accordion includes enough working buttons to play tunes like “Mary Had a Little Lamb.”

Liza Wilson, owner of the Toybrary Austin lending library in Texas, said that playing musical instruments—or even just playing with them—will help preschoolers explore sensory input in a way that’s creative and self-directed. The resulting sounds may be chaotic, but 3-year-olds can learn much more from real instruments than from simply pushing buttons or tapping screens to play pre-recorded songs. For 3-year-olds, small pianos and drums might be good choices. But Wilson said Toybrary’s Eastar Kids Accordion gets the most play. Kids love pulling on the bellows and pushing the vocal keys and buttons for harmony and bass. It’s a toy that can grow with a child as they progress from making creative sounds to learning actual songs—and, heck, even adults can have some fun fiddling with it.

We scream for ice cream

Melissa & Doug Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset

Built-in magnets make it easy to scoop and serve these pretend ice cream cones.

According to the International Dairy Foods Association , the average American devours 20 pounds of ice cream a year. Love for the stuff starts early, as illustrated by Melissa & Doug’s Scoop & Stack Ice Cream Cone Playset . Kids can spoon and serve with two magnetized scoopers, which have a satisfyingly realistic feel when you are doling out one of the four scoops of ice cream (vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and mint chocolate chip) to top off the two wooden cones. The flavors may be well edited, but the playful possibilities are nearly endless.

Bath-time builders

Lakeshore Learning Design & Build Water Blocks

This bath-time set comes with 30 foam blocks of multiple shapes, sizes, and colors. And they easily stick together in water to create a floating city.

Move over, rubber ducky. These sturdy foam Design & Build Water Blocks cling together and float in water, so kids can build imaginative cityscapes in the tub, pool, or water table. The 30-piece set comes with a 7½-inch-square floating platform that provides a stable base for play. (Also included: a drawstring bag for storage between uses.) My 3½-year-old loves to create a town out of the blocks, position her favorite plastic figurines atop the foam towers, and then introduce a storm surge to the bathtub to see who and what can survive her relentless tsunami. She’ll stay in there constructing and reconstructing this scenario until the water grows cold—not too shabby for a kid who claims to hate bathing.

Creepy-crawly competition

Snug as a Bug in a Rug!

Players practice counting and identifying shapes and colors as they work together to help all the bugs hide from three stink bugs.

This cooperative board game was my kiddo’s favorite at 3½, since it paired her two most beloved elements of play—matching and talking about stinky things. The object of the game is always the same: Help an assortment of bright, friendly faced bugs get tucked safely beneath the rug (the game board) before they’re encroached upon by three invading stink bugs. Snug as a Bug in a Rug! has three levels of play to choose from, with escalating degrees of difficulty (we usually played the middle version), so it can grow with the player. The whole game takes only about 15 minutes to complete, unless (as we did) you feel compelled to lovingly tuck each bug in with gentle words of reassurance about how safe and protected they’ll now be under the rug. We also liked to feign outsize horror in response to the stink bugs’ hideousness and odor ... which takes some of the sting out of the fact that we lost to them so often.

A doll for all

Miniland Dolls

These award-winning dolls come in several skin and hair colors, as well as with inclusive features, such as a hearing aid.

For preschoolers, dolls can be an important tool for early social and emotional learning. The right doll can also help children build self-esteem and empathy by mirroring identity differences back to them in a positive light. Miniland (an award-winning toy and doll maker based in Spain, and a favorite among preschool educators) has made inclusivity a priority, and its dolls are a pick in our guide to the best dolls . The collection includes infant and toddler dolls with a range of skin colors and features, including dolls with glasses , with a hearing aid , and an award-winning doll with facial features common in children with Down syndrome . My preschooler loves this Miniland doll , which has Asian features; with a bob and blunt bangs, the doll even resembles her.

The anatomically correct dolls come dressed in simple one- or two-piece white cotton undies. To add to their wardrobe, you can choose from accessories including shoes, sweaters and overalls.

Pedal bike perfection

Woom 2 Pedal Bike 14"

This lightweight pedal bike is proportioned just right for new, young bike riders.

After mastering the art of gliding on a Woom 1 balance bike (the upgrade pick in our guide to the best balance bikes , and a recommendation in our gift guide for 1-year-olds ), my 3½-year-old leveled up to this model—a real bike with pedals! It was the perfect entryway. Like all of the Austin, Texas–based company’s bikes, the Woom 2 Pedal Bike is thoughtfully designed for the needs of the youngest riders. This bike has a low standover height and weighs just over 12 pounds, so a small human can easily mount and operate it. The BMX -style riser handlebar puts kids in a comfortable upright position, so they can look around while cruising the neighborhood streets. Two hand brakes are suitably sized for little fingers. When my daughter was first getting started on the Woom 2, we removed the pedals and let her continue to push off with her feet and glide on the bike until she got used to steering and braking. Then we raised the quick-release adjustable saddle an inch or so and added the pedals. She soon had the basics down. It’s cool to see what kids can do when they have a bike that’s designed for them.

Note: In July 2023, Woom bikes announced a recall following 77 incidents of handlebar stems malfunctioning, causing cuts, bruising, and abrasions. New Woom bikes, and those made after 2021, are not affected. Do not use an older bike until you’ve checked to see whether it was part of the recall. If so, it can be repaired with a free kit provided by Woom.

Tools for toddlers

Black+Decker Junior Power Tool Workshop

This kid-size workbench introduces children to the joy of power tools, including a hand saw.

Play kitchens are all the rage due to their encouragement of imaginative play and social-development skills. (See our guide to the best gifts for 2-year-olds for our favorite one.) But play workbenches deserve the same amount of love. A friend has the Black+Decker Junior Power Tool Workshop , and my daughter can’t get enough of it. She collects all of the small accessories, such as nuts, screws, and bolts, and loads them into the toolbox. But the coolest part is the attention to detail on the power tools: In addition to a working vise, the workshop comes with a miter saw and a drill, which function realistically and emit battery-powered sounds. The entire thing has more than 50 parts, including a flashlight, a phone, and everything else a kid needs to fall in love with home repair.

A modern dollhouse

Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse

This modern-looking, multilevel dollhouse has six rooms and plenty of space for imaginary play.

Hape’s three-story All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse is bright, gender-neutral, and open on all sides. My daughter loved that she could reach into any room from almost any spot to adjust the furniture and play with the wooden people (sold separately). I liked the extra furniture sets and accessories we could buy (including these pets ). This was a staple toy during her toddler and preschool years—until we got a puppy, who eventually devoured everything in the dollhouse, including the two families who lived there. (Note: The price of this dollhouse can jump as high as $200; you may want to look on Facebook Marketplace or in a local online parents’ group to see whether anyone in your area is selling a lightly used, pre-owned dollhouse.)

—Jackie Reeve

The swiftest scooter

Micro Kickboard Micro Mini Deluxe

This introductory scooter provides a stable, smooth ride, and it has an adjustable-height handlebar so it can grow with a child.

When she was 3, my second daughter received Micro Kickboard’s Micro Mini Deluxe  for Hanukkah. It’s Wirecutter’s pick for the best scooter for kids under 5 . And any doubts I had about giving such a pricey scooter to a preschooler were blown away once I saw how my daughter handled this one, compared with the cheaper models she’d borrowed from friends at the park. Other scooters were wobbly, clanky, difficult to steer, and laborious to propel. On this scooter, my daughter could zip and glide around with ease, deftly navigating turns by shifting her weight, and using the foot brake on the back wheel to slow down and stop. It comfortably fits kids up to age 5, so multiple kids can use it. (Tip: Extending the scooter’s handlebar to full height makes it convenient for an adult towing a tuckered-out kid home.) When the time does come to graduate to the next size up, we recommend the Micro Maxi Deluxe , as described in this ode .

—Courtney Schley

A classic red trike

Schwinn Roadster Tricycle 12-Inch

This low-to-the-ground tricycle has air-filled tires that make it fast and fun to ride.

The Schwinn Roadster Tricycle , Wirecutter’s recommendation for the best low-rider tricycle , is built for confident pedalers who are ready to tear up some ground. Unlike other trikes’ plastic or foam tires, the Roadster Tricycle’s tires are air-filled, like a bicycle’s, making this a grippier and faster ride. The heftier build and low center of gravity (a riff on the classic Big Wheel ) give this tricycle the stability needed to handle faster, tighter turns, so it’s a thrilling ride for a 3-year-old. And with its shiny metal body, tassels on the handlebars, a bell, and a wooden deck in back (where a friend can hitch a ride), the Roadster Tricycle cannot be beaten for style.

—Kate Gammon

Adoptable animals

World Wildlife Fund Symbolic Species Adoptions

Through a donation to the World Wildlife Fund, you can “adopt” one of 135 animals, from an orangutan to a hippopotamus. The adoption kit includes a soft, plush stuffed animal.

Like many kids, my second daughter developed a full-blown fascination with animals at around age 3. In her case, it was monkeys, monkeys, and more monkeys. After amassing a sizable collection of monkey stuffed animals, a monkey necklace, and other monkey swag, she informed me that she was ready for a real, live one. Instead, with a $60 sponsorship, we “adopted” a squirrel monkey named Chestnut at our local zoo in Philadelphia . We printed and framed the accompanying adoption certificate, which states that my daughter is now Chestnut’s “zoo parent.” And we paired it with a stuffed squirrel monkey from Wild Republic , which offers dozens of stuffed creatures in both small and extra-large sizes. (It also has these beautiful birds , which make authentic bird calls and were produced in partnership with the National Audubon Society.) If you don’t have a similar program at your local zoo, the World Wildlife Fund’s Symbolic Species Adoptions kit provides adoptions for more than a hundred species. So it’s likely you’ll find whatever animal your kid adores, whether it’s a three-toed sloth or a pangolin . Each adoption comes with a stuffed animal, an adoption certificate, a photo, an information card about the species, and a reusable WWF tote bag.

We love finding gifts that are unusual, thoughtful, and well vetted. See even more gift ideas we recommend .

Additional reporting by Julie Kim. This article was edited by Ellen Lee and Kalee Thompson.

Meet your guides

Caitlin Giddings

Caitlin Giddings is a freelance writer based in Austin, Texas. Her work has appeared in Bicycling, Runner’s World, Lonely Planet, Outside magazine, and more.

Wirecutter Staff

Mentioned above

• We spent 20 hours researching nearly 50 board games for kids. Read on to find out our favorite games for preschoolers, elementary-school kids, and families. Board Games We Love for Kids and Families  
• For some children, a doll will be the most treasured toy they own. We tested 25 dolls to help you find one that feels just right for the kid in your life. The Best Dolls  
• We subjected a fleet of balance bikes to cadres of kids and found the best bikes for different budgets and ages. The Best Balance Bikes  
• We’ve compared 16 kids scooters over the past five years, and we are confident that the popular Micro Maxi Deluxe is a worthwhile investment in longtime fun. The Best Kids Scooters  
• The Micro Maxi Deluxe provides a smoother, faster, and more satisfying ride than any other kids scooter. The Micro Maxi Deluxe Scooter is More Than a Toy. It’s Smooth, Efficient Transportation for Kids.  
• Over the past six years, we’ve enlisted dozens of kids to try out 21 three-wheelers, and we have four top trikes to recommend. The Best Tricycles  

Further reading

The 100 Most Popular Wirecutter-Approved Gifts for Kids

by Wirecutter Staff

Here are the most-purchased Wirecutter-recommended gifts for kids so far this year.

The 30 Best Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

by Kelly Glass, Caitlin Giddings, and Wirecutter Staff

Toys that encourage building, puzzling, role-playing, and creating will engage curious 4-year-olds.

The 28 Best Gifts for 1-Year-Olds

by Caitlin Giddings and Wirecutter Staff

Some of the best gifts for 1-year-olds are those that engage kids’ rapidly developing motor skills, sensory exploration, and boundless curiosity.

The 31 Best Gifts for 5-Year-Olds

Gifts that tap into art, science, sports, or construction are often great choices for 5-year-olds, since many of them are developing personal interests.

To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then   View saved stories .

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Simon Hill Gear Team

28 Smart STEM Toys for the Techie Kids in Your Life

If you buy something using links in our stories, we may earn a commission. This helps support our journalism. Learn more . Please also consider subscribing to WIRED

Colorful Construction Clixo Rainbow Pack Read more

Marble-Powered Computer Turing Tumble Read more

Coding Car QUBS Cody Block Read more

Lego Robots Lego Spike Prime Robot Read more

Anyone who has ever watched a toddler methodically take apart a Tupperware drawer should know that many children are natural-born engineers. Your only job as a parent is to nurture their creativity … and clean up the mess afterward. Between us—product reviewer Scott Gilbertson, editor Adrienne So, and I—we have seven kids. This, honestly, is the most fun part of my job—calling in STEM toys for my kids and I to test together and recommend to you. It hardly feels like work at all.

Wrap up a few of these STEM toys (also called STEAM toys; we love you too, Arts!) and books for your future scientist to blow up, burn up, or dismantle. Hopefully, they'll thank you for the early encouragement when they're older. Be sure to check out our many other buying guides , including Our Favorite Subscription Boxes for Kids and How to Build the Lego Collection of Your Dreams .

Updated November 2023: We added Clixo Kits and Kanoodle Pyramid, and updated prices throughout.

Special offer for Gear readers: Get WIRED for just $5 ($25 off) . This includes unlimited access to WIRED.com , full Gear coverage, and subscriber-only newsletters. Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day.

Colorful Construction

Construction kits are compelling no matter your age, and my entire family found Clixo’s colorful, versatile, snap-together magnetic pieces irresistible. You can build three-dimensional shapes from these flexible pieces by connecting the magnetic ends and bending them the way you want (my youngest made a cat, my teen made a crown). These durable and washable pieces stack neatly to pack away. We love that you don’t need a flat surface to build because it means you can play with these kits anywhere. If you prefer a themed pack, we also liked the Mars Rover Pack ($45) and the Ocean Creatures Pack ($45) , and both sets feature glow-in-the-dark pieces. The kits are recommended for kids aged 4 and up. —Simon Hill

Marble-Powered Computer

Turing Tumble is a wonderful way to teach kids coding fundamentals. It combines the simple pleasure of marble runs with a beautifully illustrated sci-fi comic book packed with challenging puzzles. The board resembles a pachinko game, and you have to slot in different pieces to divert the blue and red balls and get the required pattern at the bottom. My 9-year-old spent hours working through the puzzles, reconfiguring this marble-powered computer. As the challenges grew tougher, the whole family joined in to find solutions. Well-designed, satisfying, and rewarding, this is a good pick for kids 8 and up. —Simon Hill

Teaching basic coding concepts to young kids is a challenge. To do it without a screen is even tougher. But QUBS has come up with an elegant solution. These beech wood blocks look like buildings, but each has a symbol relating to a command (turn left, turn right, U-turn, repeat the last command, stop, record path, play path). When kids put the magnetic top on the red car, it begins to drive. Using radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, the car reads the commands on the blocks. There’s a lovely guidebook that includes stories and activities, but the best thing about this Montessori-inspired wooden toy is that kids can dive in and learn how it works through play. —Simon Hill

Lego Robots

Lego Education's Spike Prime building set is a complete DIY robot-building classroom in a box. Literally. Prior to the abrupt rise in distance learning several years ago, Lego marketed this primarily to schools. It comes with its own lesson plans, but don't let the seriousness fool you—my kids love this set and went from never having used it to programming their own robots (using the drag-and-drop Scratch programming language) in a couple of afternoons.

Lego keeps updating Spike Prime too. Recently it released a new series of plans for bots that track exercise and help kids learn about motion and energy transfer. —Scott Gilbertson

Nena Farrell

Julian Chokkattu

Adrienne So

Make Music From Colors

Sphero acquired STEAM toy company LittleBits in 2019. Sphero's toys are always so cute, I want to eat them whole; I particularly liked the Sphero RVR ($279) . But for sheer aesthetic pleasure, it's hard to compete with the Specdrums.

These tiny, pocketable rings turn all the colored surfaces around you into a potential musical instrument, and turn anyone into an amateur DJ. Use the app to assign sounds to colors or vice versa. When you tap on different colors, you can hear the different tones. Anyone from toddlers on up can play with these and find them vastly entertaining. You can also buy a one-ring set for $25 . —Adrienne So

Coding Ball

The Sphero Edu app is packed with computer science lessons and activities for different age groups. Bolt has an 8 x 8 LED board on top, various sensors inside (compass, light sensor, gyroscope, accelerometer), and supports infrared communication. My wife is a teacher and uses this in the classroom to teach basic coding skills, giving students (9 year old and up) challenges like navigating a maze. She says many kids grasp the concepts much faster than they might with a book or screen, because they can see the Bolt moving in physical space. —Simon Hill

Endless Building Fun

The return on investment with Magna-Tiles staggers me. It's been years , and at 6 and 8 years old, my children can still occupy themselves with these for hours. Translucent Magna-Tiles click together to form both two-dimensional shapes and three-dimensional objects. Younger kids can make a house with a backyard and fences, or ice cream cones. With an older kid, the sky is the limit—or, rather, your credit card is, since there are wheelbarrows full of expansion sets you can buy. My daughter can currently build a full village in an afternoon for her stuffed animals.

If these are too pricey, there are alternatives that work just as well, like Picasso Tiles, which are $20 for 60 pieces . —Adrienne So

Tacto uses physical pieces to turn your iPad, Android, or Fire tablet into a game board. Tacto Chess teaches the basics, from how the pieces move to strategies for victory. The animated app boasts friendly voice acting and stories to draw kids in. There are also chess puzzles to solve and a move predictor, and your child can play against AI or another person. Both my kids (9 and 12) have enjoyed some time with this, so it works well for different ages and abilities, but it was a little fiddly to get pieces to register on the iPad Mini, so a larger tablet is advisable. Other Tacto packs cover dinosaurs , classic board games , coding , lasers , and electronics . —Simon Hill

Underwater Vistas

Chronicle Books' gorgeous picture book tells the story of Ken Nedimyer, an environmental scientist, live rock farmer, and fish collector who founded the Coral Restoration Foundation .

The book weaves together details of Nedimyer's biography with facts about coral reefs—I did not know that corals spawn like fish do—and luminous underwater landscapes and depictions of scuba diving. It makes environmental preservation and following your passions look both doable and fun. —Adrienne So

Table Tiles

The Osmo tablet accessory and gaming platform for kids merges the physical and digital worlds in a way few toys manage. Your kids can tackle solving puzzles and playing word games with blocks and tiles you move around on the table in front of them. The Osmo hardware captures what they're doing and translates it into actions on the screen.

Osmo recently launched several new titles, including a math-related dragon game that's been a hit in our house. Give the hardware requirements a close look to be sure your iPad or Fire tablet is compatible. —Scott Gilbertson

Construction Capers

My entire household found this magnetic construction set irresistible, and there has been a new 3D structure on the coffee table every morning. The kit comprises glow-in-the-dark magnetic rods (crafted from recycled plastic), steel spheres, and plastic bases in different shapes. You also get storage boxes to put everything away in. There’s a guide in the box with a few suggested structures, but creating your own is a big part of the appeal. There are sets of various sizes suitable for kids 3 and up. —Simon Hill

Women in STEM

These beautifully illustrated cards depict legendary women who made significant contributions to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. There’s a focus on Black and Indigenous women of color, because they are woefully underrepresented in most STEM discussions. Stylized portraits are combined with interesting brief biographies that recount their journeys and highlight their achievements. There are also thoughtful questions to provoke conversation and debate, which makes the deck a useful teaching resource for teens. But it is on the pricey side.

The makers, the Represented Collective, also offer puzzles for younger kids. We tried Nakira’s World Nature Hike ($24) , a jigsaw with two pairs of decoder glasses and a puzzle book. Youngsters will enjoy examining the nature scene, and the booklet has links to culturally relevant reading and offers an introduction to Ojibwe vocabulary. —Simon Hill

Color Chemistry

Everyone who has come across a Crayola crayon has probably melted one, whether accidentally or on purpose. Crayola's Color Chemistry set includes enough brightly colored Crayola ingredients for 16 activities out of the box, and up to 50 with common household ingredients. Exploding volcanoes and colorful quicksand are just a few of the eye-catching experiments that you can look forward to trying. —Adrienne So

Remote-Controlled Robot

This super-cute robot looks like it rolled straight out of a Pixar movie. With a big, expressive eye atop three balls, it zips around with real personality, which helps it successfully combine play and learning in a way that every STEM toy aims for but many fall short of. Dash has lived with us for several years now. It’s a durable toy that works on a simple level like a remote-controlled car, but it also ties in with various apps to play games, solve puzzles, and create programs. Lego connectors for Dash’s head add to the creative possibilities. Wonder Workshop also offers some optional accessories. —Simon Hill

A Twist on a Classic

No one needs a Bluetooth-enabled Rubik's Cube, but once you get your hands on a GoCube you probably won't be able to put it down. Smart sensors inside the beautiful, glowing cube connect to a companion app on your phone and sense where each block is positioned. You can learn algorithms and strategies that will help you get your solve-time down. And if you give everyone you know a GoCube, you can also stage live competitions with friends and family! —Adrienne So

Sand Castles

My kids love this moldable sand and have happily spent countless hours over the years making tabletop structures. It behaves like wet sand and never dries out, so you can shape it with your hands or use tools and molds to make castles. It comes in many colors and clumps together easily but doesn’t stick to your hands or surfaces. While it’s generally easy to clean up, it’s a good idea to confine play to a tray or table and supervise your kids, or you may end up picking tiny bits of pink sand out of your carpet. —Simon Hill

Unlimited Books

No parent has ever complained that their child was reading too much. You might think that Amazon's Kindle Kids a regular Kindle Paperwhite , but it includes a year's subscription to Amazon Kids+ (formerly FreeTime Unlimited), a two-year replacement guarantee, and, yes, a cute cover.

Not only does Amazon Kids+ give your child access to more than a thousand kid-friendly books in both English and Spanish, as well as Audible titles, I found it easy to whitelist even more free titles (free books!) from my local library using Amazon's parent dashboard. You can also highlight or look up difficult words, or add them to a Vocabulary Builder tool. Testing this Kindle is the first time I've gotten my 5-year-old interested in longer chapter books, so I'd give it a ringing endorsement based on that alone. —Adrienne So

Real Coding

Many STEM toys dumb down programming tasks, and that can limit their usefulness. The kits from Let’s Start Coding reject that approach, offering hands-on time with electronic components and challenging kids to dive straight in and create programs in C++. The Ultimate Kit includes 23 separate parts, including an LCD screen, speaker, LED strip, various sensors, and more. There are more than 100 projects to embark on, with example code that kids can tweak and helpful, if somewhat dry, walkthrough videos.

My kids required some encouragement and supervision with this, and I think the suggested age of 8 years and up is low. Perhaps more important than age is a genuine interest in hardware and coding. But there’s satisfaction in successfully controlling hardware components. A Windows, Mac, or Chromebook desktop or laptop is required to use the free software. Younger kids may be better starting with a smaller, more focused kit like Code Rocket ($70) . —Simon Hill

Unlock the Rocks

The best toys are the ones that aren't toys at all. This year, my children became extremely interested in fossils and geology. We've been taking walks in the woods or at the beach, putting promising specimens in our pockets. We often keep the rock tumbler running for weeks (outside, because it's a little noisy), changing out the grit and watching as rough rubble eventually reveals itself as sparkly quartz or agate. If you're feeling ambitious, you can also throw in a rock guide and plan a rock-hunting trip. —Adrienne So

Colorful Clay

Part of exploring the world is feeling the world, digging in the dirt as it were, but if you don't have a yard or live near a park, you can bring some of that same spirit of exploration inside with polymer clay.

This is the mold-and-bake clay you might have used growing up. It just has a fancy new name. The things your kids create might not always hold up, but that too is a learning process—after her doll's table fell apart several times, my daughter asked if I could reinforce the legs with wire.

Other fun sculpting options include modeling clay ($10) and good old-fashioned Play-Doh ($21) . —Scott Gilbertson

Odds and Ends

Most kids love construction kits, and the OffBits combine special components with standard hardware bits you might have lying around the house, like nuts and screws. Each kit boasts a special assembly tool and a robot, creature, or vehicle to build. My daughter enjoyed putting the UnicornBit together, and kids are encouraged to get creative in their approach and adapt designs to suit them. The only roadblock we ran into was that some pieces were tough to connect, requiring some adult muscle, and others felt loose, but the end result was charming. OffBits offers various kits (mostly for kids ages 6 and up), but with small pieces and tricky assembly, we advise adult supervision. —Simon Hill

Fantastic Stickers

I know what you're thinking: Painting with stickers sounds kind of lame. But trust me, kids love these books. There's something about the balance of fun and meticulous concentration that draws children in. These are also a fun and mess-free activity for traveling with younger children. If your child isn't a dinosaur fan, there are plenty of other options, including unicorns , undersea animals , bugs , and more. —Adrienne So

Creative Cardboard

If you already have a Nintendo Switch, you must try Nintendo Labo ( 9/10, WIRED Recommends ). These clever kits composed of corrugated cardboard sheets and stickers must be assembled so you can play related games with your creations on the Switch console. Beyond the challenges and mini-games, you can dip into the software and learn how each kit works. You can even set up your own rules, reprogramming your creations in the Toy-Con Garage by dragging and dropping blocks to create simple inputs and outputs. We like the Vehicle Kit best, but there are several alternatives. —Simon Hill

Yeasty Goodness

We've tested many gift subscription kits , but my 5-year-old declared this baking kit to be the most fun of all. We've talked about yeast, watched carbon dioxide fill up balloons ("We're eating fungi farts!"), talked about the different states of matter while making butter, kneaded dough, and finally, had cinnamon toast for a snack. It requires a lot of parental supervision over a lengthy period of time, but I also liked that she now has her own separate measuring cups and tools and can quit stealing mine. —Adrienne So

Tetris-Style Teaser

Can you fit these Tetris-pieces into a three-dimensional puzzle board? My 11-year-old loved this logic puzzle, though she found the 2D puzzles too easy. Luckily, there are 100 3D puzzles that require spatial reasoning and problem-solving skills to beat. They get tougher as you progress, but never too hard. This puzzle kit is recommended for kids aged 8 and up, but some younger kids could have fun with it, too. Kanoodle does also offer a bunch of other brain teasing puzzles specifically for younger kids. —Simon Hill

A Crayon Replacement

Tempera paint sticks are like oversized crayons, but instead of wax, your kids smear tempera paint around. Don't worry, it dries quickly (in about a minute and a half), and it's easy to clean off most surfaces. It's all the fun of painting, but there are no brushes or other mess to clean when your kids are done. There are sets of all sizes. We started with this 12-piece set but have since expanded to a 32-color set ($28) . —Scott Gilbertson

World of Learning

Budding adventurers can learn about countries around the world with this interactive globe. Using a companion app on a tablet, your child can scan the included globe and get augmented reality pop-ups that trigger fact files on famous monuments, animals, cuisines, and more. My 9-year-old had some fun with this but felt the goofy voices were more suitable for younger kids. (PlayShifu recommends it for ages 4 to 10.) The globe feels cheap, and the AR pop-ups tend to clip through it, but this is a novel way to learn more about the world. Shifu offers two alternative globes covering dinosaurs and the planet Mars . —Simon Hill

Coding Cutie

It’s amazing how bleeps and bloops, colored LEDs, and cute animations lend personality to a tiny robot. The Ozobot Evo is like a mini R2D2 your kids can control. There are a couple of ways to program the Ozobot Evo. It follows black lines drawn on paper and changes the color of its lights to match the colors drawn. Blocks of varied colors also act as codes to trigger animations, change speed, or perform another action (a workbook explains). Ozobot is an easy, screen-free introduction to coding principles for younger kids. Older kids can try Ozobot Blockly, a typical drag-and-drop coding language that lets them build simple programs quickly.

My 10-year-old enjoyed playing with this for a while, but I agree with  our original review that the Ozobot Evo would work best in the classroom. Ozobot offers handy teaching resources, and the Evo makes for an engaging problem-solving activity for small groups. —Simon Hill

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The 14 Best Educational Toys For 3-Year-Olds & 7 Factors To Help You Choose

What Kind Of Toys Should A 3-Year-Old Have?

Plenty of 3-year-olds love to socialize and play with new friends, but don’t be surprised if your little one prefers to play on their own. Kids develop at different rates and have varied personalities.

According to child development experts, preschoolers (3-4-year-olds) begin to develop their social skills at this age. When they notice other children playing, most are likely to readily join these other kids even if they don’t know them. (1)(2)

Toys for this age group are ideally those that can be shared and played with other children, such as jumbo building toys for little hands, simple board games, interactive toys for pretend play, and age-appropriate learning activities.

You might also notice that many developmentally friendly toys for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds are still great for 3-year-olds.

These toys can grow with your child, and you might be surprised that they’ll find new ways to play with these old toys. Older kids (5-7-year-olds) might even find these toys interesting, especially educational toys that continue to challenge their problem-solving and critical-thinking skills.

Why Should You Choose Learning Toys For 3-Year-Olds?

Your child is getting ready for preschool or might already be in school at three years old. One way of encouraging them to learn is to make the experience fun.

The best learning toys can be used to develop their cognitive skills and learn basic math, science, and language concepts.

That’s why STEM toys (science, technology, engineering, and math) are among the best learning resources and toys you can pick for your child.

These will introduce them to the basic concepts and let them develop hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills as they prepare for preschool.

Our Top 14 Picks For The Best Educational Toys For Three-Year-Olds

You can find our top 14 recommendations for the best learning toys for three-year-olds and other young children, grouped based on:

• STEM & Montessori -inspired toys
• Educational building sets & blocks
• Words, ABCs, numbers, & colors
• Puzzles & matching toys
• Imaginative play & role play
• Musical toys
• Toys for learning life skills
• Creative & sensory toys for learning new skills

Continue reading to learn more about each toy below.

STEM & Montessori-inspired Toys

Melissa & doug my first daily magnetic calendar.

• Pros & best features: Magnetic calendar with 80 magnetic pieces to teach kids the basic concepts of date, weeks, months, special events, and weather
• Materials: Not disclosed on the company product page
• Type of toy: Learning materials
• Educational value: Basic math and time concepts,
• Recommended age range: 3+ years (still ideal for up to 8-year-olds or even older)
• Extra features: Fabric-hinged (sturdy cord), dry-erase boards (for the calendar template and magnet storage
• Certification: FSC, US, and EU (European Union) conformity certificates
• Product recall: None
• Cons: Some complaints on Amazon about the magnets being too weak and the pieces easily falling off the board

Skillmatics Educational Game: Search & Find

• Pros & best features: Set of learning materials (write and wipe activity mats) for different learning concepts
• Product safety: Passed US child safety tests
• Materials: Certified child-safe
• Educational value: Reflective thinking, problem-solving , reading and comprehension, writing skills, focus, and attention
• Recommended age range: 3-6 years
• Extra features: Includes duster cloth and pens
• Certification: ASTM and CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act)
• Cons: Some complaints over the product being too pricey 

Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit + Early Math Adventure

• Pros & best features: Introduces core kindergarten subjects (including shapes, counting, early literacy, language, and communication) with fun games for kids
• Materials: Silicone, plastic
• Type of toy: Learning material set designed for use with a compatible device (iPad or Fire)
• Educational value: Fine motor skills, cognitive development, social-emotional skills, and early literacy
• Recommended age range: 3-5-year-olds
• Extra features: Learn 300+ words
• Cons: The set can be pricey and requires a compatible electronic device.

Educational Building Sets & Blocks

Dado fat cube toys.

• Pros & best features: Hollow building blocks that can be connected using slits along the sides
• Materials: BPA-free plastic
• Type of toy: Building blocks set
• Educational value: Planning, engineering, visual-spatial skills, fine motor skills, creativity, experimentation, and self-esteem
• Recommended age range: 3+ years old
• Extra features: Deluxe pieces that add a twist to the classic building blocks
• Cons: Some complaints about sharp edges. It’s made of plastic.

Soyee Magnetic Blocks (100pcs)

• Pros & best features: 100 magnetic block pieces with different shapes, number blocks, and alphabet blocks
• Materials: ABS plastic
• Educational value: Architecture, STEM toys, hand-eye coordination, and physics spatial reasoning
• Recommended age range: 3-6 year-olds or even older kids
• Extra features: Ferris wheel components
• Cons: Some complaints about weak magnets and missing pieces. It’s made of plastic.

Gigi Bloks 100 XXL Building Blocks

• Pros & best features: Jumbo building blocks to create child-sized forts, castles, etc.
• Materials: Strong, durable, and finished cardboard made of unbleached softwood pulp
• Educational value: Imaginative play, architecture, engineering, gross motor skills, and spatial awareness
• Extra features: Paper-based materials that your child can draw or paint on Certification: Certified food-safe
• Cons: The blocks need adult assembly

Words, ABCs, Numbers, & Colors

Lego duplo my first alphabet truck.

• Pros & best features: Building blocks set with 36 block pieces, a toy truck, and small people
• Materials: ABS plastic (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene)
• Educational value: Role play, cognitive skills, and learning ABCs
• Recommended age range: 1½ years old and over
• Extra features: Small people and a bear are included in the set
• Certification: US and EU standards
• Cons: Some complaints about duplicates or missing letters. It’s made of plastic.

Inchimals by Fat Brain Toys

• Pros & best features: Blocks with 12 pieces that have exact inch segments and cute prints for the representative animals
• Materials: Wood
• Type of toy: Wooden blocks and STEM toys
• Educational value: Math and pre-algebra skills
• Extra features: Comes with a write-on-wipe-off puzzle book with 100 puzzles
• Cons: Some complaints about the wooden blocks arriving with some paint already chipping

Puzzles & Matching Toys

Thames & kosmos robot engineer (level 1) by kids first.

• Pros & best features: Multi-award toy set with 53 pieces designed for STEM learning by making non-motorized but movable robots (with a matching storybook)
• Product safety: With safety warning for choking hazards for kids under three years old
• Materials: Plastic
• Type of toy: Building set
• Educational value: Fine motor skills, visual-spatial skills, science and math skills, and reasoning and concept development skills
• Recommended age range: 3+ years old (can also be ideal for 6-year-olds or older children)
• Extra features: Storybook
• Cons: Some complaints about the pieces not staying together like they’re supposed to. It’s made of plastic.

Educational Insights Design & Drill Take-Along Toolkit

• Pros & best features: 60 big, colorful bolt pieces with three screwdriver bits to create different patterns on the board
• Product safety: With safety warning as a choking hazard for children under three years old
• Type of toy: STEM toy
• Educational value: Fine motor skills and creativity
• Extra features: The screwdriver bits have different designs (flat head, Phillips, and socket)
• Cons: The screwdriver piece requires batteries, but some parents complain on Amazon about the toy not working even with fresh batteries. It’s made of plastic.

Imaginative Play & Role Play Toys

Lovevery the storyteller play kit.

• Pros & best features: Montessori-based materials to introduce different learning concepts
• Materials: Sustainably harvested FSC-certified wood, water-based paint, and finishes
• Educational value: Engineering, problem-solving skills, imaginative play, and real-life skills
• Recommended age range: 40-42 months
• Extra features: Puppet theater set and child-sized squeeze & spray mop
• Certification: FSC
• Cons: It can be pricey.

Musical Toys

Hape learn with lights electronic ukulele.

• Pros & best features: Playable ukulele with flashing lights as a guide to teach your child how to play music
• Product safety: Passed all toy safety tests (sharp point, bite force, tensile, small parts, drop, and chemical tests)
• Materials: Solid wood, plastic toy finishes are non-toxic according to the brand’s product page
• Type of toy: Musical toy
• Educational value: Pretend play and musical learning
• Extra features: With instruction sticker, booklet, and handle for easy carrying
• Certification: ASTM
• Cons: Requires batteries

Toys For Learning Life Skills

The big dig sandbox digger excavator crane.

• Pros & best features: Working crane designed for little hands to shovel and move dirt, sand, snow, etc.
• Materials: Metal, base with capped ends
• Type of toy: Pretend play
• Educational value: Logical thinking, reasoning, imaginative play, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills
• Extra features: Seat for your little worker
• Cons: Some complaints about the metal being too soft and easily bending

Creative & Sensory Toys For Learning New Skills

Step2 flip and doodle desk with stool & easel.

• Pros & best features: Activity center with medium and large-sized bins for art supplies
• Product safety: Free from heavy metals and phthalates
• Materials: Polypropylene and/or polyethylene plastics
• Educational value: Fine motor skills, creativity and visualization, self-expression, and coordination
• Recommended age range: 2+ years but also ideal for 3-6-year-olds
• Extra features: Easel flips down to turn into a desk
• Cons: Requires assembly, made of plastic

How To Choose The Right Educational Toys For Three-Year-Olds?

Here are seven factors to consider in choosing your little one’s toys:

Recommended Age: What Does A 3-Year-Old Need?

Although kids develop at different rates, most toys tend to be ideal for different ages. Three-year-olds (or around the same age) need education toys and learning materials to introduce them to basic learning concepts while they’re having fun.

Child development experts acknowledge that kids can learn a lot through play. Your child can develop any or a combination of the following: (3)

• Social skills
• New vocabulary
• Cognitive skills
• Literacy skills
• Physical abilities

Learning Ability, Interests, & Skills

It’s good to pick toys that fit their developmental milestones, learning abilities, skills, and interests.

Developmental milestones for 3-year-olds include the following: (1)(2)

• Running and jumping easily
• Stacking 10+ blocks
• Walking upstairs unassisted
• Easily drawing straight lines or copying circles
• Concentrates on tasks for 8-9 minutes
• Say around 500-900 words
• Makes two or three-word sentences
• Names colors
• Knows some numbers and letters
• Joins other kids in play

Kids also have different interests, sometimes depending on their gender. For example, some toys for 3-year-old girls might not seem interesting to boys of the same age.

Skills Development & Benefits

Kids this age might already recognize colors, shapes, numbers, and letters more quickly than younger ones. These new skills can make them more interested in educational toys.

Note that many educational toys for 2-year-olds can still be a great option for 3-year-olds and older kids.

Safe To Play

Although most toys with small parts have warnings that indicate they’re unsafe for children under three, avoid choosing them if your child still loves to put things in their mouth even at 3+.

Choosing toys made of child-safe materials free from toxic chemicals like lead and other heavy metals, phthalates, and BPA is also good.

Engagement & Fun

It’s tempting to give “advanced” toys to help your kids learn more. However, toys that offer too much information or have many different things going on might seem too complex for your child.

They could lose interest if they don’t grasp the essential elements of a certain activity. 

Sometimes, it’s best to pick a fun and engaging toys that are simple and fit for their age but let them use their imagination.

Educational Value

Consider offering your child toys with different educational values so they can develop various learning aspects and find new ways to have fun.

Building toys, musical instruments, crafting kits, and other learning materials can let them learn without sacrificing entertainment.

Value For Your Money

Will your kids outgrow the toys after just a few months? Thankfully, that might be true for some toys for 1-year-olds , but many educational toys for older children might still be interesting as they grow older.

It’s also good to check for the toy’s quality because some toys might be cheaper but can be unsafe or easily break and get damaged.

What Can I Buy My 3-Year-Old Daughter?

Dolls and toys for imaginative play are popular for 3-year-old girls, but you can also pick building blocks, musical instruments, learning sets, cooking sets, and other unisex toys.

If unsure, you can always ask them to pick the ones they like before you checkout.

What’s The Best Gift For A 3-Year-Old Baby Girl?

The answer will usually depend on the child’s interests. But because kids this age are getting ready for preschool, you can never go wrong with picking educational toys.

Is A 3-Year-Old A Toddler Or Preschooler?

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), 3-year-olds are preschoolers. Toddlers are kids starting from 1-year-old until they turn three. (4)

Can 3-Year-Olds Write?

Although some can already write a few letters or numbers, most 3-year-olds can’t do that yet. However, many might show interest in holding a pencil or any writing material to create lines. (5)

How Far Should A 3-Year-Old Count?

Most 3-year-olds can count up to four objects, while some can reach up to 10. (2)

What Should A 3-Year-Old Draw?

Kids this age can draw straight lines and copy circles. (2)

How Do Educational Toys For 3-Year-Olds Differ From Those For 2-Year-Olds?

Many learning toys for 3-year-olds can have more numbers, letters, or features than educational toys for 2-year-olds .

Toymakers might also design these toys for sharing and socialization because 3-year-olds are developmentally ready to improve their social skills by sharing and playing with others. (1)(2)

Other Learning Toys For Different Age Groups

• Best educational toys
• DIY Montessori toys
• Educational toys
• Educational baby toys
• Educational toys for toddlers
• Educational toys for 2-year-olds
• Educational toys for 4-year-olds
• Educational toys for 5-year-olds
• Educational toys for 6-year-olds
• Educational toys for 7- year-olds
• Educational toys for 8-year-olds
• Montessori baby toys
• Montessori climbing toys
• Montessori toys
• Montessori toys for toddlers
• Montessori toys for 1-year-olds
• Montessori toys for 3-year-olds
• Montessori toys for 4-year-olds
• Montessori wooden toys
• Outdoor toys for 1-year-olds
• Toys for 1-year-olds
• Toys for 2-year-olds
• Toys for 6-year-old boys
• Wooden educational toys

Toy Recalls To Monitor

• Calico Critters recall (2023)
• Kids Preferred recall (2023)
• Target Toy recall (2022)
• Haba recall (2022)
• Kidoozie Play Tent recall (2022)
• Monti Kids recall (2022)

REFERENCES:

(1) https://www.understood.org/en/articles/developmental-milestones-for-typical-3-year-olds

(2) https://www.choc.org/primary-care/ages-stages/3-years/

(3) https://www.unicef.org/sites/default/files/2018-12/UNICEF-Lego-Foundation-Learning-through-Play.pdf

(4) https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/childdevelopment/positiveparenting/preschoolers.html

(5) https://www.pbs.org/parents/learn-grow/age-3/literacy/writing

– Motherhood Community is reader supported. When you buy through links on our site we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn More

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The Best Toys for 3 Year Olds – 27 Spectacular Picks for 2023

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What are 3-year-olds into? Bluey, snacks, and saying no—often with more gusto than a diva refusing to perform. As a mother of six (yes, you read that right!), I’ve been through the toy trenches more times than I’d like to count. I’ve witnessed the best, the worst, and the utterly baffling in the world of toddler toys. So, if you’re on the hunt for the next best thing to captivate your little one, or simply something that won’t end up as junk in a week, read on! Because, let’s face it, the only thing tougher than a 3-year-old’s negotiating skills is their discerning toy taste.

Finding the best toys for 3 year olds can be overwhelming because of the vast amount of choices out there, so we have narrowed it down for you. The following are 20 of the best toys to keep your little one entertained and help them develop new skills!

You will find the list is divided into my top picks, the best educational toys, and the best creative toys. Here are my favorites in every category for easy shopping!

If you’re looking for gift ideas in other age groups, we have guides for 1 year olds , 2 year olds , 4 year olds , 5 year olds , and more straight from mamas who have been there and done that!

Best Toys for 3-Year-Olds – My Picks!

Indoor wall playground.

This indoor playground is tons of fun and will entertain your little ones for years to come.

When our toddler started to climb on everything in the house, we knew we needed to come up with a safe solution ASAP. We added one of these climbing play gyms to our playroom so that every time she wants to climb we can direct her to the play gym where it is safe.

There are many different options, we just prefer this style as it does not take up too much space in a room.

Find the perfect indoor playground for your space!

Talking Bluey Plush Toy

Ever catch yourself watching Bluey even after your toddler has moved on to doing something else? Yeah, me too! I guess you could say we both have a lot of love for the show. I was excited to see this new plush toy come out and I think it is going to be one of the hottest toys this year.

Bluey recites one of 9 memorable phrases from the series when you press her belly. She will also invite your little one to sing along to her signature theme song. On top of that, this plush is perfectly cuddly.

Kinetic Sand Kit

We probably already lost you when you saw that the first thing we are recommending is a Sand Kit. But hold on for a second. This is not your ordinary sand. Kinetic Sand does not make a mess like regular sand, in fact, it clumps nicely together.

This is one of the best toys for sensory development and for fine motor strengthening. Plus, it is surprisingly good fun for us adults too, so you can enjoy playing this with your little toddler.

Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot

The Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Learning Bot is the ultimate sidekick for kids. It’s not just a toy – it’s a whole adventure. This thing grows with your kid, which is pretty cool. First, it’s all about colors and textures, helping babies figure out the world. Then, it gets into counting and numbers – early math whiz, here we come!

But wait, there’s more! Next up, it’s all about letters and words. Who knew learning ABCs could be so much fun? And guess what? This bot isn’t just brainy; it’s a problem-solving guru too. It’s like having a buddy to play interactive games that sneakily make you smarter. Plus, it’s got lights, sounds, and textures to keep your baby’s senses engaged.

Crayola Color and Erase Mat

The Crayola Color and Erase Mat is a Toy of the Year Awards 2022 winner! It is basically a giant, reusable drawing space that allows your little one’s creativity to blossom. When your artist is done with their masterpiece, you simply wipe the mat down with a wet cloth and it will once again be a blank slate. It actually wipes all the way down and doesn’t leave smudges like some of the other doodle mats we’ve tried out. 

The set comes with a 32″x 23″ Reusable Drawing Mat, 6 Washable Markers, and 1 Wipe Cloth. Best of all, the mat rolls up easily and has a spot for each marker making it easy to store or take on the go.

Balance Bike

Training your little one to ride a bike can be a harrowing adventure. After several kids, I can say this with absolute confidence. All my kids who had a balance bike first learned to ride a bike much easier. It’s a metal-framed balance bike without pedals so your little one can scoot with his feet and then balance as they ride.

Balanced bikes are one of the perfect toys for little ones who are adventurous, who are active, and ready to feel a tiny bit more independent. This toy is a significant hit with children and parents simply because it teaches them coordination and kids absolutely love it. 

Personalized Name Crayons

You’ve probably seen the personalized name puzzles, but have you seen these personalized crayon name sets yet? This year, they are all the rage and make for a vibrant stocking stuffer! Because of their oversized shape, they are perfect for little hands. Best of all, they come in a box with the name printed on the front and a yarn bow so this is one gift you won’t have to wrap. 

This Etsy shop is the original creator of crayon name sets and quality is of utmost importance to them. They have been featured in Forbes, Buzzfeed, and they were an Etsy Design Awards Finalist in the Kids Category.

Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster Ride On

This is another toy my nephew has that we all love and think is super cool! It is quite literally their own little roller coaster. It is 10 ft long with a little car on top. The car stays in place while your little one climbs onto it, which is great for safety!

Once the track is set up, it is completely safe and easy for your 3-year-old to play without needing extra help. 

Toy Vacuum- Dyson Ball Vacuum With Real Suction and Sounds

Despite your little one demanding independence, they still love it when they can act just like mom or dad. This mini Dyson Vacuum lets them do just that. It’s a scaled-down replica of the Dyson Ball Cleaner with sound effects. The sucking and cyclone action makes the beads inside it SPIN. And, it twists and turns motions like the real thing. There is also a removal dustbin at the back to clear debris – yes, it vacuums actually! It stands 63cm tall and works on 4C batteries.

Sure it doesn’t do any actual vacuuming, but it does let your 3-year-old suck things up. It also has a removable bin and offers real fun. It might even someday convince them that real-life chores are actually fun (we can dream, right?). For once, we can only live in hope.

Best Educational and Developmental Toys for 3 Year Olds

Let’s keep it real here. 3-year-olds can be exhausting at times. As much as they bring so much joy to your life, their endless energy can drain us parents. Here are our favorite toys to keep a 3-year-old busy. 

Lovevery Play Kits

During the holiday season, our kids often end up with a whole slew of random toys that they will hardly touch. Finding really good toys is hard, which is why I have fallen in love with Lovevery Play Kits. They take all the guesswork out and deliver a box of toys perfect for your child’s developmental stage.

Skip Hop Zoo Crew Toddler Memory Game

Crafted especially for little hands, these large, sturdy cards showcase 24 endearing Skip Hop Zoo characters. This game is made for 1 to 4 players. It invites kids to pair up colorful critters, honing their memory, matching, and turn-taking skills in the process. Memory games are so great at this age!

With 48 vivid and durable cards to shuffle and match, children not only enhance their memory and hand-eye coordination but also delight in the fun of discovering their favorite Zoo characters.

Magnetic Blocks

Magnetic Blocks are one of my absolute favorite toys for my 3-year-old. I love it because not only does it entertain the little guy for quite a while, all my kids enjoy playing with them. Even I find myself sitting down with my little one for a long time playing with these magnetic blocks. You can check out our full review here !

They are a ton of fun. In addition, it is a great way to teach your little one about shapes and colors.

Blockaroo Magnetic Foam Building Blocks

Looking for a fun, cutting-edge STEM gift for your little one? These new magnetic foam blocks are quite popular. Stacking them is simple because of the way they click together. I swear it is almost magical! With these blocks, your child will be able to construct magnificent structures while also learning about shapes and colors.

Are you ready for the best part of all? They can be used as bath toys also!

Pinkfong Baby Shark Melody Pad

Sorry parents, but Baby Shark is not going anywhere and we just have to accept it. Kids love this song and this toy will be taken everywhere by your little one. It is lightweight and ours has been used extensively. Your child will truly love this toy.

Wiwiurka Climbing Foldable Triangle – Rookie Mom Tested by Karissa!

This Foldable Climbing Triangle from Wiwiurka is perfect for your curious little explorer. Not only is it fun, but it promotes gross motor development and purposeful play. It is a great way to help get your little one’s energy out, and when we tested it out these boys could not get enough! They got hours of playtime out of their triangle.

It is also super easy to assemble, so once it arrives you will be playing in no time.

Count Your Chickens Board Game

Dive into a feathery adventure where players unite to help the mother hen round up her runaway chicks and return them to the safety of the coop. As you spin and move, you’ll count spaces and gather the corresponding number of chicks—a delightful way for kids to hone their counting skills!

But here’s the twist: In “Count Your Chickens!”, everyone works together. There’s no competition; instead, the goal is collective success. By collecting all the chicks as a team, players win together, promoting a sense of cooperation and shared achievement.

Beyond counting, children learn the invaluable lesson of cooperation which is why I love this game. so much.

Leapfrog My Own Laptop

Leapfrog is one of my favorite brands because they make teaching my kiddos the basics like letters and numbers. With all the buttons and different noises this little play laptop can make, your child will have so much fun. In fact, they won’t even realize they are actually learning something. They also get excited thinking they are getting a “laptop,” just like mom and dad.

This is one of my little girl’s favorite toys! It’s like Play-Doh’s crazy cousin; stretchy, squishy, and oh-so-moldable. You can twist, shape, and sculpt this magical dough into all sorts of crazy creations.

It is much better than Kinetic sand and NEVER DRIES OUT. This is a great sensory toy and our kids absolutely love it.

Rainbow Counting Bears and Sorting Cups

3-year-olds don’t actually need something too extravagant to keep them entertained. This bears and sorting cup set will keep them busy for a while and will help to teach them basic math and sorting skills.

Rookie Mom Tip: Keep them around because they will come in handy again for elementary school math homework. Giving kids something to physically hold is super helpful for their addition and subtraction skills.

Best Creative and Artistic Toys for 3 Year Olds

Kidkraft ultimate corner play kitchen set.

If there is one toy that gets used over and over and over by toddlers, it’s a play kitchen. All of our boys and girls have loved playing kitchen in the house. Serving us fake pizza, apples, or even coffee. Toddlers simply love this toy and will use it for a few years without fail.

This KidKraft model is definitely one of the better models out there and is simply adorable (I mean check out the kitchen backsplash)! Here is a list of some other great play kitchens !

Barbie Dreamhouse

I can think of no better gift, it is the year of Barbie after all! With this house, your little one’s imagination will have their Barbies diving into pool parties, flying down the slide, hosting magical sleepovers – you name it. With over 75 accessories, kids can endlessly customize and interact, ensuring the narrative is fresh with every play.

I especially love that it has tons of pet features and even comes with a puppy! Plus, with inclusive features like a wheelchair-accessible elevator, it subtly instills values of inclusivity.

This ultimate Barbie Dreamhouse is made for ages 3+.

LCD Writing Tablet 10 Inch Doodle Board

If you need a toy to entertain your little one while traveling, dining in a restaurant, or just to give Mama a break for a minute, this LCD Writing Tablet Doodle Board is a great option. It looks like an iPad, but rather than your child going from app to app or watching loud Youtube videos this toy will encourage them to exercise their creativity. It’s a whole lot easier to take on the go than paper and crayons and markers as well! 

If you take a quick glance at the reviews you will see that parents absolutely love this thing! Tons of them claim their child uses it way more than they ever could have imagined.

Play-Doh Kitchen Creations

You can’t really go wrong with Play-Doh. The Play-Doh ‘baking’ toy set comes with a cake stand, cutters, stampers, plates, cutlery, and a special icing tool.

Why we love it? You can roll out crazy treats with the mini rolling pin, and use the molds to create tiny Play-Doh cookies and other sweet stuff. It’s like being a master chef but with squishy, colorful ingredients. And guess what? No baking required! Just a sprinkle of imagination and a whole lot of Play-Doh fun.

Kaloo Rouge Rabbit Plush, Pink, Large

Let’s not forget baby dolls and stuffed animals, which kids love because they can use their imagination with them. Pretend play is important for our children’s development. When they play, pretend they’re putting themselves into someone else’s shoes, mommy or daddy or anything.

What an incredible thing for a child to imagine an alternate reality! This means they are no longer locked to the here and now. And, this also means that they can come to understand abstract ideas. Plus, they are just soooo cute.

Rookie Mom Tip:

No matter what you choose for your 3-year-old the most important thing to remember is to sit down and enjoy playing these toys with them. So, make sure to take some time out of your day and have fun with the little one.

Are you planning your next trip? Before you go, we want you to take a look at this ultimate list of travel toys you can carry on your next journey to keep your kids engaged and happy. Anything to keep your kiddo entertained on that long journey, wherever you are going!

STEP2 ADVENTURE CAMPER PLAYHOUSE  

The Step2 Adventure Camper is so much fun! My two and four-year-old children like using their very own grill to prepare loaded hotdogs and hamburgers.

Step 2 really gets the little touches right, from the skylight to the food with all the toppings. There is even a functional doorbell!

Additionally, like all the Step2 products we have used in my home, it is made of high-quality materials so your children can play with it nonstop without it showing any signs of wear.

Crayola Color Bath Dropz

It is hard to believe that something as fun as a bath bomb actually contributes to STEM learning! Yes, you heard us right. Watching these color drops dissolve into the water teaches your little one about science.

These actually turn the bath really bright colors, which is helpful in catching a 3-year-old’s attention. Not to mention, these just make bathtime a whole lot more fun.

Melissa & Doug’s Catch and Count Wooden Fishing Game

My little nephew has these and they are his absolute favorite. For starters, he feels so proud of himself when he is able to magnetically hook one of the fish. They have also helped out with his vocabulary of sea creatures and colors.

Along with all that, this game is great for fine motor skill development and hand-eye coordination. This game can be played solo, but is also really fun to play as a duo.

Water Drawing Mat

It’s okay to let your kiddo make a big old mess on occasion in the name of expressing themselves, but sometimes you might just not want to deal with that. This is when a water drawing mat comes in clutch. You just place the soft mat on the ground and fill the pen with water.

The marks take 3-10 minutes to appear so it’s like creating a fun surprise! It also comes with stencils and cutouts making it easy to create even for little ones. 

Remember, while the world of toddler toys might seem infinite, with the right pointers, you can find those treasures that won’t just end up in the back of a closet.

Be it for education, creativity, or sheer fun, these top picks are bound to hold the interest of even the pickiest 3 year old. After all, as a mom of six, I’ve seen it all—and these toys have passed the ultimate toddler test!

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best toys for a 3 year old boy?

Wallbars Nets Indoor Playground KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen Set Kinetic Sand Kit Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster Ride On Lovevery Play Kits

What to buy a 3 year old boy who has everything?

Here are some unique options for 3 years olds who seem to have everything! 1. Wallbars Nets Indoor Playground 2. Kidkraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen Set 3. Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster Ride On

What is the best gift for 3 years old girl?

1. Melissa & Doug Take-Along Show-Horse Stable Play Set 2. Doll Puppy Set and Accessories 3. Crate & Kids Treehouse Play Set

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Top 10 Educational Toys for 3 Year Olds

How do you choose a toy for your child? I always like to pick open-ended toys which will grow with kids and toys which have a learning element are always on the top of the list! After putting together a list of our favorite toys for 1-year-olds and 2-year-olds , we grew a little and now we are ready for best educational toys for 3-year-olds !

Check our list of the best learning toys for 3 year old kids ! All the toys we picked are gender neutral and they will be the perfect birthday or Christmas gifts for little girls and boys! Plus, all of these educational toys for 3 year olds are either toys we tried and tested or they are on our shopping list!

#1 –  Educational Insights Design & Drill Take-Along Toolkit 

Power up your child’s imagination with this Design & Drill Toolkit from Educational Insights. This award-winning activity toy for your 3-year-olds come with all the equipment needed to build on your child’s co-ordination, fine motor and creative thinking skills, all in a fun and engaging manner. Snap on one of the 3 different drill bits to the reversible power drill or screwdriver, grab a handful of the brightly colored bolts and off you go. Your child can start off by following one of the 20 activity cards, which include designs of trains, boats, flowers, fish and many more. Then when they are comfortable with the equipment, they can have even more fun creating their own designs. As a bonus, this toy comes with a handy suitcase and kids can take it with them when you travel! Only downside is that you will need to buy separately batteries for drill. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

#2 – Lauri Tall-Stacker Pegs Building Set

The Lauri Tall-Stacker Pegs Building Set makes for an ideal first construction toy for your 3-year-old. Your child will be too busy having fun with the set to realize that they are actually learning and building on so many important skills, as they build up their tall 3-D structures. Manipulating the small pegs into the different shaped and colored peg boards, provides an excellent workout for their fine motor skills and is great for working on their hand-eye coordination. They will need to put their logical thinking skills and creative problem-solving skills to good use, as they work out how to make their tower stay up. This set will grow up with your child and the will enjoy creating more elaborate structures as they get older. Set comes with 100 pegs (20 in each color), rubber pegboard with 100 holes, 17 tower pegboards and activity guide. Available for purchase here: United States

#3 – 3D Feel & Find By Guide Craft 

This wooden shape and tile matching game is an excellent sensory shape game, which works on reinforcing your child’s cognitive development skills. Wooden puzzles are such a good investment, as they can be enjoyed by lots of children over many years. Load up the wooden shapes into the canvas drawstring (this is very handy for storage after you have finished playing as well) and place one of the 20 tiles in front of your child. Ask them to put their hand into the bag and feel around the different shapes until they find the one which matches their tile. Once they have completed this, then move on to the next tile until they are all completed. You can also use wooden elements in variety of sensory bins or open ended play with building or pretend play. Available for purchase here: United States

#4 – LEGO DUPLO 10572 Creative Play All-in-One-Box-of-Fun

As one of the all-time classic educational toys for 3 year olds and older kids, playing and learning with LEGO DUPLO will never go out of fashion and is a must-have building toy for every 3-year-old. This sets comes in a handy LEGO brick-shaped storage box making it easy to store. It includes a wagon base, 2 window elements and a dog as well as a wide selection of other DUPLO bricks for your child to build and create with. There is also an added educational element to some of the bricks inside this set. The set includes numbered bricks, which can be connected up with their matching corresponding pictured bricks. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada |  United Kingdom

#5 – Wikki Stix Numbers and Counting Fun Cards for Learning

Mess-free teaching tool is a fun manipulative to work on letter and number formation with your child. Wikki Stix are colorful, non-toxic wax and yarn strings can easily be stuck onto the individual letter and number cards using just the pressure of your child’s fingertips. They can also be removed and replaced many times over, as your child develops in confidence forming the different letters and numbers. As your child gets bigger, the cards then be used together to spell out small words, as they begin to develop early reading skills. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada |  United Kingdom

#6 – Wooden Magnetic Dress-Up Dolls

How adorable are these Wooden Magnetic Dress-Up Dolls ! There are hours of imaginative pretend play fun to be had for your little one here, as they dress up the dolls with the many different magnetic outfit pieces, including daytime and nap time outfits. It is an ideal toy to bring out and about when you are going to a restaurant or a friends house, as it comes neatly packaged in it’s own clear carry bag with secure snap closure pockets. Available for purchase here: United States | United Kingdom | Canada

#7 – Hape – Eggspressions – Game of Feeling

Help your child to explore and express their feelings on a role-play “egg-ventrue”! Kids will enjoy playing with 6 toy wooden eggs, matching egg cups and storybook in this Eggspressions – Game of Feelings . Role-play is an excellent way to encourage your child to talk about and then understand their feelings. They can find it hard to distinguish when they are afraid, angry, excited, happy, sad or shy, which can lead to anger and frustrations. This light-hearted story of Humpty Dumpty and his cousins is a gentle way to introduce and talk about these different emotions with your child. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

#8 –  HABA Number Maze Magnetic Game

Using HABA Number Maze Magnetic Game   provides a great way to explore numbers with your child. Using the magnetic wand to move the colorful balls around the sturdy hardwood maze into their spots helps to give your child’s fine motor skills a boost. Whilst they play they are also working on number recognition, counting and basic sorting skills. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada (similar) | United Kingdom

#9 – Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards

Using this Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards set provides a fun and engaging way to work on shape recognition and spatial relations with your child. It comes with 10 simple colorful patterns for your child to follow, with over 100 pattern blocks, which come in 6 different shapes and colors. They can they work away at designing their very own patterns as they get older and more confident. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada |  United Kingdom

#10 – Melissa & Doug My First Daily Magnetic Calendar

Another great educational toy for 3 year olds comes from Melissa & Doug. My First Daily Magnetic Calendar provides an excellent way to introduce the concept of days of the week and the date.  It comes with 80 magnets including years, months, numerals for dates, days of the week, holidays, emotions and special events. It is also a useful tool to encourage communication with your child. It can be used in the lead up to special events such as birthdays and trips. Available for purchase here: United States | Canada | United Kingdom

Other toys we recommend for 3-year-old boys and girls

Your child can develop many skills using different toys. Some toys aim to promote fine motor skill development . Other toys help them to burn out an extra amount of energy and are awesome toys for active kids . Most 3 year olds enjoy sensory play so you can opt-in to gift them a sensory toy for their birthday! We have a wide range of additional toy gift ideas for 3 year old boys and girls to choose from. Happy playing!

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The Best Educational Toys for Toddlers to Combine Fun and Learning

Inspire little minds with building, reading, matching, and more educational toys

We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more .

Verywell Family / Amelia Manley

Educational toys are great for toddlers because they help stimulate learning , whether it’s through stacking blocks or simply reading a book, as young children reach developmental milestones. Look for toys that will add educational value to your child’s playtime and hone in on any of their interests to keep it entertaining. 

To begin our research, we surveyed 875 parents about what toys their children love to play with, how they play with them, and why they love to continuously use them. We also spoke with a pediatrician and reviewed guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) on how to buy safe toys and what to expect during the toddler years (ages 1 to 3). Moreover, we reviewed developmental milestones for toddlers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). When reviewing products, we carefully considered age recommendations, toy safety, milestones, design, ease of use, and value . Lastly, a board-certified pediatrician from our Review Board reviewed this article for accuracy on how to evaluate safe and age-appropriate educational toys for toddlers.

• How We Selected and Tested
• What to Look For

Why Trust Verywell Family

More toys for kids, best overall, melissa & doug grocery cart push toy and puzzles.

Versatile (several activities in one design)

Wood material is durable and high quality

Push handle isn't adjustable

Why We Recommend It

Melissa & Doug is a well-loved brand among parents we surveyed because of the company’s high-quality materials and educational toys—and this toddler grocery cart is no different. One of our writers received a free sample of the company’s Wooden Shape Sorting Grocery Cart and says the toy is even cuter in person. The cart arrives nearly fully assembled, minus attaching the handle with a screwdriver, which is a piece of cake. 

This toddler grocery cart is all about learning; it features a built-in matching game , two puzzle boards, 12 shape-sorting pieces that double as puzzle pieces, and a play coffee cup with a lid for imaginative play. Whether littles—ages 1 and up—play with the puzzles or sort shapes, the Melissa & Doug grocery cart encourages fine and gross motor skills , color and shape recognition, counting, problem-solving, and more. 

While the handle doesn’t adjust, kids can push the grocery cart thanks to moving wheels that glide on carpet and tile. The beautiful and durable wood is just the cherry on top.

Best Building

Mega bloks 80-piece big building bag.

Budget-friendly

Practices problem-solving and fine motor skills

80 blocks included

Only blocks in storage bag

The Mega Bloks First Builders Bag is our top pick because this set of blocks provides endless playtime possibilities . Blocks provide an opportunity for you and your little one to practice problem-solving and fine motor skills , as well as a great base for non-stop pretend play. 

The top criteria for a good set of blocks are durability, a safe and fun size, and disinfecting ability. The Mega Bloks are a parent favorite because they come with 80 colorful building blocks , including special shapes for under $20. They click into each other nicely without too much pressure (good for little hands) and can be stored easily in the zip bag they come in.

Best Matching

Kidzlane egg toy for kids and toddlers.

Durable case included

Teaches color matching

Easy to grab for little hands

Some eggs don't stay together

May be hard to open for some toddlers

Whether it be with colors, shapes, or even animals, matching is a great skill to work on with toddlers. This affordable egg toy is designed to help your toddler learn to count, sort, and match . The set includes 12 plastic eggs, each of which has a different color and a number of small pegs that match up with another half with the same layout. 

Kids love to click and pull apart these eggs, and they are easy to grab for little hands . They come in a durable plastic egg carton, which also acts as a carrying and storage case. You can even use these eggs with pretend play for a fun learning experience in the play kitchen.

Best for Sensory Learning

Democa quiet book for toddlers.

Nine engaging activities

Machine-washable

Some pages not as engaging

Keeping a toddler busy and entertained is a full-time job. The deMoca Quiet Book makes things a lot easier with nine engaging activities built into a brightly colored fabric, machine-washable book. 

The activities include matching velcro-colored shapes, learning to tie shoes and button buttons, and a clock to tell time. The book is perfect for sensory development and encourages dexterity and spatial awareness . This travel-friendly activity book will keep your toddler busy, and there aren’t any pieces or parts to lose.

Best Flashcards

Learnworx flashcards for toddlers.

101 flash cards included

Large print

No shapes, colors, or numbers

Flashcards are a little bit of an old-school learning method but are much loved by parents, teachers, and toddlers because they’re easy, fun, and great for on the go. We love this flashcard set from Learnworx. The set comes with 101 large-print, extra-thick cards that feature cute and bright pictures of objects and scenes like animals, foods, and household items.

On the back of the cards, prompt questions encourage counting, spelling, and more, like “How many lions do you see?” The cards wipe clean and store easily in a toddler-friendly box.

Best Puzzle

Melissa & doug farm animals sound puzzle.

Realistic animal sounds

Puzzle pieces have peg for easy grasping

Wood is sturdy

Batteries not included

Another solid educational toy for toddlers is this Melissa & Doug Sound Puzzle. Parents we surveyed recommend this educational toddler toy because it promotes fine motor skills , and kids can play with it independently. Each puzzle piece includes an easy-to-grasp peg for little hands. Once children place the puzzle piece into the correct spot, they’ll hear realistic animal sounds . While we love the farm animals theme, it also comes in musical instruments, vehicles, pets, and zoo animals.

ToyVelt Dinosaur Take Apart Toys

Helps with hand-eye coordination

Not recommended for children under 3 years old

Even though the concept of STEM might seem a little advanced for your toddler, encouraging exploration and play that involves invention and problem-solving are all part of it. This colorful set includes three or six dinosaurs and tools .

The idea is for your toddler to take apart and reassemble the dinosaurs using kid-friendly tools. Although this toy may not be right for a 1-year-old, a 3-year-old child will love the process of taking apart and fixing the dinosaurs. They will work on their hand-eye coordination, creative problem-solving, and patience , all while having fun.

Best for Fine Motor Skills

Learning resources spike the fine motor hedgehog.

Quills fit into hedgehog for easy storage

Works on fine motor skills

Does not make sounds/noises

Want to know how to work on your toddler’s fine motor skills? Find a toy that keeps their attention! Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog gets rave reviews because kids love it just as much as parents and grandparents. The brightly colored peg-shaped pieces can be placed in and out of the friendly hedgehog and are easy for kids to grasp. 

With this cute toy, you can also work on color recognition, sorting, and counting skills, then simply store it away as one piece. Good for a young toddler and your budget, and your toddler will love this fun little hedgehog.

Best for Memory

Banana panda suuuper size memory game.

Practice matching, focus, and sorting

Easy to learn

Only animals or vehicles offered

Best for ages 2 and up, this giant Banana Panda memory game is a good way to practice matching, focus, and sorting . The game itself is easy to learn and fun to play. You can also use the cards as flashcards to introduce new words. 

The Banana Panda game has adorable colorful animal illustrations and the pieces are made of thick cardboard and are large enough for a toddler to see and grab. These easily store and are portable for travel or play on the go.

Best for Reading

Leapfrog learning friends 100 words book.

Introduces toddlers to 100 vocabulary words

English or Spanish offered

Batteries required

Touch can be sensitive

You can count on LeapFrog to make an interactive educational toy that both you and your toddler will love. With the Learning Friends Interactive book, your toddler will be introduced to 100 vocabulary words and be able to touch the words and pictures on each page. The book also has fun facts, music, and sounds and can be turned to Spanish for language learning. 

The word categories in the Learning Friends Book include pets, animals, food, mealtime, colors, activities, opposites, outside, and more . Take this book with you in the car or while you grocery shop, and your toddler will be happily entertained.

Best for Art

Betheaces aqua doodle magic drawing mat.

Six drawing templates

No toxic ingredients

Pens may leak

As any parent will tell you, any toddler art activity that doesn’t involve mess is a sure winner. With the Aqua Doodle Magic Drawing Mat, there is no mess, no toxic ingredients, and no ink . The magical pen transforms water into a mess-free color and disappears after a few minutes, so the fun doesn't have to end,

The Aqua Doodle also includes four drawing templates, four pens, and four shape stencils . The water drawing mat itself has a bright and colorful border and is large enough to be shared and played with outdoors (but it also folds up and is easy to take with you).

How We Selected and Tested Educational Toys for Toddlers

• Expert Input: We spoke with Whitney Casares, MD, MPH , pediatrician, author of “Doing It All: Stop Over-Functioning, and Become the Mom and Person You’re Meant to Be” (releasing January 23, 2024), and founder of Modern Mommy Doc, to find out what to look for in educational toys for toddlers. We reviewed guidance from the AAP on how to buy safe toys and what parents and caregivers can expect during the toddler years, ages 1 to 3. Moreover, we reviewed CDC guidance on developmental milestones for toddlers.
• Parent Survey: We surveyed 875 parents to learn more about what toys their children play with, how they play with them, and why they love them. Additionally, we asked parents and caregivers about their favorite brands and what makes them well-loved among their families.
• Design and Features Research: After reviewing guidance and insights from our expert, the AAP and CDC, and parents, we studied the design and features of more than 30 educational toys for toddlers on the market.
• Safety and Convenience Assessment: We considered toy safety, age recommendations, ease of use, developmental milestones, and value when reviewing products.

What to Look for in Educational Toys for Toddlers

The good news with toddlers is that they are naturally curious, so they can find interest in just about any toy. Also, little ones this age just love to play in general, and since there are so many opportunities to learn through play, that leaves a huge selection of educational toys to choose from.

According to Dr. Casares, toys that facilitate problem-solving, like shape sorters, are a great option for toddlers because of their natural interest in exploring the world around them. Additionally, consider interactive toys and toys that teach natural associations, like a horse in a barn, or a fish in the ocean.

Development is still a major consideration when shopping for toys for toddlers because they’re still working on mastering many skills. Dr. Casares says play helps with every aspect of development, including gross motor, fine motor, social-emotional, and cognitive skills. In order to find the best toys for toddlers, it helps to keep some common milestones in mind when you’re shopping.

• Cognitive Development : The Kidzlane Color Matching Egg Set is an educational toy for 1- and 2-year-olds that encourages problem-solving. 
• Fine Motor Skills : Spike the Hedgehog helps toddlers strengthen their fine motor skills, like grasping.
• Language Development : Naming objects is a milestone for toddlers between 1 and 2 years old, and LearnWorx Flashcards are great for helping little ones learn and identify new objects and expand their vocabulary.

Entertainment Value

While toddlers have a wide range of interests, their attention spans are typically short, so looking for entertaining and engaging toys is essential. It’s important to provide a wide range of activities for toddlers, according to Dr. Casares, so a toy that can be played with in multiple ways is more likely to keep a toddler’s attention.

Additionally, she suggests looking for toys that offer some kind of sensory or imaginative play because they’re not only entertaining for toddlers but also really great for supporting their development.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes! During the toddler years , children grow and change rapidly in the areas of cognitive, physical, and social development, and educational toys can help them learn and grow. Toys that encourage building, matching, and moving pieces around help kiddos improve their hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and problem-solving skills, while those that encourage creative or imaginative play will help them learn and identify new objects and build their language and social/emotional skills.

Children start to learn and refine many skills between 1 and 3 years old. These include cognitive skills like reasoning and thinking things through and social skills like asking for help, building independence, and playing appropriately with others. Language skills also take a big step forward during this phase, as kids go from using just a handful of words to connecting words with images, speaking in complete sentences and communicating more complex thoughts.

While it's smart to have a variety of toys that will encourage the development of different skills (such as blocks for motor skills and books for language skills), too many toys can actually lead to overwhelm—and research shows children who have fewer toys played with each longer and played more creatively.

To keep your playroom from getting overloaded , store or give away toys that your child has outgrown, put toys on display (and encourage little ones to put them away at the end of playtime), and make books and educational toys the most accessible.

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and creative consultant based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She enjoys working with start-ups and regularly covers product launches in the lifestyle, beauty, and motherhood space. A self-proclaimed expert at baby registries and gift ideas, Deanna has two kids and is the co-founder of Loonie Kid, a Canadian clothing company for kids and toddlers.

Additional reporting by  Ashley Ziegler and Katrina Cossey .

When it comes to toys for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top toy picks for every developmental stage and personality phase here:

• The Best Christmas Gifts for Kids
• The Best Developmental Toys for Babies
• The Best Tummy Time Toys
• The Best Active Toys for Toddlers
• The Best Outdoor Toys for Toddlers
• The Best Toys for Toddlers
• The Best Phonics Toys for Preschoolers
• The Best Toys for Learning Letters and Numbers
• The Best Musical Toys for Children of All Ages
• The Best Montessori Toys to Encourage Thoughtful Play
• The Best Sesame Street Toys
• The Best Outdoor Toys for Kids of All Ages
• The Best Dinosaur Toys
• The Best Toys for Fine Motor Skills Development
• The Best Toys for Independent Play
• The Best Snow Toys for Kids
• The Best STEM Toys for Kids
• Best Laptop Toys for Kids
• The Best Social Emotional Learning Toys
• The Best Robot Toys
• The Best Ride-On Toys
• The Best Cleaning Toy Sets
• The Black-Owned Gift Guide

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important milestones: Your child by 2 years .

American Academy of Pediatrics. How to buy safe toys.

American Academy of Pediatrics. Ages & stages.

Dauch C, Imwalle M, Ocasio B, Metz AE. The influence of the number of toys in the environment on toddlers’ play .  Infant Behav Dev . 2018;50:78-87.

By Deanna McCormack Deanna McCormack is a beauty, parenting, and lifestyle writer who has written for Bustle, Byrdie, TheEverymom.com, and more.

25 of the Best Toys for 2-Year-Olds

W hen it comes to selecting toys for 2-year-olds, you might find yourself wondering what will keep a kiddo who is in the prime of their toddlerhood engaged and interested. Narrowing down the best of the best toys for ever-curious, constantly-growing tiny humans can be daunting. Especially when those little humans tend to be interested in anything and everything. To simplify your search, we’re sharing 25 of our favorite toys for 2-year-olds. We think these are some of the best toddler toys out there.

5 Montessori Toys for 2-Year-Olds

Montessori toys are designed with open-ended, independent play in mind. They’re an excellent tool for encouraging 2-year-olds to build real-life skills while promoting creative thinking and problem-solving. Here are our favorite Montessori toys for 2-year-olds.

1. Lovevery Block Set

This beautiful, high-quality block set has everything your 2-year-old could need to build, sort, and thread, among other possibilities. Featuring a solid wood design and vibrant rainbow colors, it comes with 70 blocks plus additional tools, a storage bag and storage box, and an activity guide. Perfect for building spatial, language, and problem-solving skills .

2. Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House Dust! Sweep! Mop! Toy Cleaning Set

There’s no doubt that 2-year-olds love to help and be involved in important tasks. This realistic pretend play cleaning set includes a wooden broom, mop, and duster, as well as a dustpan, brush, and organizing stand. It’ll build toddlers’ confidence and sense of responsibility as they practice coordination, fine motor skills, and everyday chores .

3. Wobble/Balance Board

A wobble balance board is an irresistible, multipurpose toy for 2-year-olds. It stimulates the vestibular system, promotes balance and coordination, and can be used for wobbling, lounging, climbing, etc. This one is made from heirloom quality wood and supports up to 480 pounds, making it possible for everyone in the family to enjoy the fun.

4. Ramp Race Track

A car ramp racer allows kiddos to explore motion, direction, and cause and effect while practicing focusing and enjoying imaginative play . This ramp racer features five levels and comes with four wooden cars and two balls in primary colors. It’s made from durable, child-friendly wood, so it’s practical and aesthetically pleasing.

5. Hape Counting Stacker

This counting stacker allows children to practice counting to 10, basic color recognition, and fine motor development through stacking. It includes red, yellow, orange, blue, and green wooden stacking blocks and a stacking stand — all made from child-safe, non-toxic materials. An excellent activity for your 2-year-old’s playroom or the kitchen table.

4 Climbing Toys for 2-Year-Olds

Toddlers are busy people. They’re constantly on the go, exploring their surroundings and testing physical limits and boundaries. If you have a 2-year-old at home, you’ll want to invest in safe, toddler-approved climbing toys made to support gross motor development and foster independence . Here are some of our favorites.

1. Lily & River Little Climber XL

This top-rated Pikler Triangle is built for ages 2-8. It’s perfect for strengthening your little climber’s self-confidence, balance, gross motor skills, muscle growth, and creative /strategy play. This climber is made from natural birch and premium bamboo, durable enough for years. For added climbing fun, you can choose to add on a reversible ladder/slide or reversible rockwall/slide.

2. Lily & River Little Dome

Another beautifully-made toy from Lily & River, this climbing dome allows kiddos to climb, hang, and play to their heart’s desire. With a bit of imagination , it can become a mountain, cave, or monkey bar set. Choose from natural, white-sealed, rainbow-sealed, or other bold color finishes. For additional peace of mind, you can add on beautiful safety mat sets.

3. Avenlur Magnolia Indoor Playground

If you really want to take your playroom up a notch for your 2-year-old, an indoor playground is the way to go. Avenlur’s Magnolia Indoor Playground is a seven-in-one jungle gym featuring a slide, a climbing wall, a rope wall climber, monkey bars, a swing, and ladder climbers. It will provide hours of fun while seamlessly supporting gross motor development.

4. The Original Nugget Play Couch

A fan favorite for many reasons! The Nugget consists of four foam pieces (a base, a cushion, and two triangles) and can be set up in many configurations. The options for play, climbing, crashing, and lounging are endless here. It comes in various appealing colors and fabrics, including microsuede, double-brushed, and corduroy, and it is Greenguard Gold Certified to ensure all materials are child-safe. We think it’s worth the investment over competing play couches.

5 Outdoor Toys for 2-Year-Olds

What 2-year-old doesn’t love being outside ? When given the choice, we’re willing to bet most toddlers would gladly choose the outdoors over being cooped up inside. Sometimes, you just need a toddler-approved outdoor toy or two to make backyard playtime favorable for everyone in the family. Here are some of our favorites.

1. Step2 Rain Showers Splash Pond Water Table

A little bit of water play can reset almost any toddler’s day. That’s why a water table is a must for every 2-year-old. This one boasts 13 fun accessories, including maze-like spinners, ramps, and buckets, as well as a waterfall tray for a fun rainfall effect. Age-appropriate STEM play has never been easier to come by.

2. Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set

Group sports like soccer are an excellent way to build social skills , cooperation, and focus. Not to mention gross motor skills. Whether or not your tiny tot is on a team, this soccer set will quickly become a family favorite. It includes an easy-to-assemble kid-sized net, ball, and air pump.

3. Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball Set

Another must-have Little Tikes outdoor (or indoor) toy, this basketball set includes an adjustable basketball hoop and stand and three small soft basketballs. It features an oversized rim for simpler scoring (and increased confidence). Plus, you can choose from six heights — so it’ll grow with your kiddo.

4. Little Tikes First Slide

A go-to beginner’s slide! This one is suitable for use inside or out, folds up for easy storage, and doesn’t require any tools for setup. It promotes balance, fitness, and coordination — not to mention fun for your 2-year-old (or any child up to 60 pounds).

5. Step2 Naturally Playful Sand Table

Digging in sand (and dirt) is a rite of passage for toddlers, right? With a solid sand table, your kiddo can enjoy hours of structured sensory play — without all the mess. This one is raised to a height just right for standing and can hold up to 80 pounds of sand, soil, or any other sensory material. It comes with five accessories. It also features molded-in roadways on the lid, which can be used as a race track when covered.

3 Ride-On Toys for 2-Year-Olds

Being a toddler means constantly being on the move. In particular, 2-year-olds never seem to slow down. Because of this, ride-on toys are a must at this age. Here are some we think your child will love to take a spin on.

1. Step2 Up and Down Roller Coaster Toy for Kids

This kid’s roller coaster will bring the action into your home (or yard) with its 9-foot track and ATV-inspired car. It features a high back, a handrail, and footrests for maximum comfort and easily comes apart for convenient storage. While the included steps are helpful for the youngest riders, the coaster holds children up to 50 pounds.

2. Disney My First Minnie Plane

This ride-on plane is for toddlers 1-3 years old, so it’s just right for 2-year-olds. It features rotating propellers with alternating light-up patterns, 360-degree steering ability, realistic lift-off and landing sounds, and a steering wheel and honking horn. It doesn’t get much more adorable.

3. Little Tikes Cozy Coupe Ice Cream Truck

A reimagined take on the iconic Little Tikes Cozy Coupe! Mom or Dad can push this ice cream truck ride-on car, or your toddler can do it themselves with its detachable floorboard. It comes loaded with fun accessories and specs, including play ice cream cones, a credit card reader, and even an ice cream cone speaker that plays modern ice cream truck music.

5 Educational Toys for 2-Year-Olds

Toddler toys come in all forms. When they’re intended to be equal parts fun and educational, you can’t lose. Check out our favorite learning-inspired toys for 2-year-olds.

1. Learning Resources Farmer’s Market Color Sorting Set

This 30-piece color sorting set aims to develop color recognition and sorting skills. It offers realistic-looking red, orange, yellow, purple, and green fruits and vegetables, as well as five sorting baskets with labels and an activity guide. It’s an excellent toy for pretend play, language development , and vocabulary acquisition .

2. VTech Alphabet Apple

This learning toy introduces not only the alphabet but phonics, words, time concepts, music, and more — so it’ll easily grow with your child as they develop new skills. Apart from featuring the obvious (all 26 letters and sounds), it boasts 29 songs and melodies. We also love this pick’s carry handle.

3. Melissa & Doug Shapes Wooden Chunky Puzzle

Melissa & Doug offers a wide choice of wooden puzzles for toddlers. When it comes to learning shapes, this one is a must. With its eight chunky, easy-to-manipulate pieces (circle, square, diamond, rectangle, triangle, heart, star, and oval) and bright colors, your kiddo won’t even realize they’re learning.

4. Melissa & Doug Rainbow Caterpillar Gear Toy

Color recognition is an important skill for children to work toward in toddlerhood. This gear toy offers plenty of opportunities for color learning and reinforcement. It also promotes hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. It’s a simple pick to occupy and engage your 2-year-old.

5. Learning Resources Primary Science Sensory Tubes

These sensory tubes are highly versatile and made to encourage science exploration, curiosity, and development of the senses. The four durable tubes have dual openings with two solid lids for each, and you can fill and refill them with your choice of objects. The kit includes four vented lids for exploring smells.

3 Other Toys for 2-Year-Olds

Whether you’re shopping for toys for toddler boys or girls, we could go on and on with exceptional options for 2-year-olds. Here are a few more of our favorite picks for this age. You won’t want to miss out on any of them.

1. Turtle Balance Stepping Stones

Honing coordination and balance is an important everyday task for 2-year-olds. These bright-colored, non-slip stepping stones are an incredible tool for doing just that. They’re durable (supporting up to 265 pounds each), stackable for quick storage, and perfect for creating endless obstacle courses. Plus, your toddler can use them indoors or outside. These will be an instant hit for your kiddo.

2. Hape Play Kitchen

A play kitchen is a wonderful addition to any child’s room. This one will surely promote creative thinking , imagination , and real-life skills practice all at once. It features a realistic-looking sink, stove, oven, cabinet, and spice shelf, as well as clickable, turnable knobs.

3. Green Toys Construction Trucks

This set of three toddler-sized construction trucks is an excellent pick for any car-, truck-, or construction-loving 2-year-old. The trucks are made from 100% recycled plastic and meet all international safety standards. You can’t go wrong with anything from Green Toys, as these items are ideal for indoor or outdoor use and can help develop imagination, motor skills, pretend play, language, and cause-and-effect reasoning. They’re even dishwasher-safe.

Toddlers aren’t always picky with their toys, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be. If you’re not selective, toddler toys can end up taking up a lot of space and sitting idle. Quality and longevity are essential when shopping for toys for a 2-year-old. We think you’ll love the items we’ve recommended here!

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35 Best Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys, From the Useful to the Unique and Unusual

Including toys, STEM sets and cool sports gear.

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Still, you want to buy something that's of a high quality, that's safe to play with and that kids like and will come back to again and again. That's where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in. It evaluates toys all year long, first with experts who look at the safety and construction, then with actual kids who assess the fun factor. (The best of the best become Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners.) The kids tell the Good Housekeeping Institute what's hot, what they liked and what they gave up on after five minutes. To their picks, we added in some best-sellers and editor's selects to come up with the best toys and gifts for 9-year-old boys in 2024 . (We have suggestions for gifts for 9-year-old girls , too.)

This year, they love toys and gifts that let them put things together and take them apart again. Fidget toys are still big, as are games or anything Nintendo-related. But, no matter what they're into, there's sure to be something on this list for them.

Star Wars Force N Telling Vader

Vader gets a bad rap, but maybe he had some good insights? He won't be ignored this time: Ask this Sith a yes-or-no question and he'll predict the future. It comes with 40 distinct responses, and its eyes are also animated when he delivers the answer. (He's also kind of cute.) Ages 4+

RELATED: The Best Star Wars Gifts

Pindaloo Game

Launch the ball out one side of the tube. Catch it on the other. So simple, and yet so satisfying. Kids might get so into it, they won't even notice that they're working on their motor coordination. Ages 9+

Electronic Bank

Traditional piggy banks aren't an option at this age because they just aren't "cool." But an electronic version, that can hold all of their money and keep it safe with a special code , will do the trick to help teach them about the importance of money.

Gravitrax Marble Run Starter Set

GraviTrax sets are famous for building mind-bending marble runs with lots of tricks and features. Kids use their STEM skills to engineer the courses and account for the effects of gravity. Once you get then rolling, you can also get expansion sets and accessories that let them add in things like marble bridges and zip lines. Ages 8+

BrainBolt Genius

How good is their memory? How fast are their fingers? This game tests both recall and reflexes in one, fun package. The game lights up a series of colored lights, and players have to try to repeat the sequence. One Good Housekeeping Institute parent tester loved how it encouraged her kids to do independent play. Ages 7+

Snap Circuits Jr. SC-100 Electronics Exploration Kit

There's no soldering needed for this electronics kit, which has pieces that just snap together to make anything from a musical doorbell to a voice-controlled lamp. There are enough parts and pieces to make 100 projects, but the UFO was a clear favorite of the Good Housekeeping Institute testers. Ages 8+

Sphero Mini

With this robot the size of a ping pong ball, kids can play games, learn to code and drive around your house . He can also use the Sphero app and the included cones and bowling pins to build an obstacle course for his robot. There's also the option to purchase the Sphero Mini Activity Kit , which comes with a 28-piece construction set in addition to the robot. They come in a variety of different colors, but the shells are all interchangeable, so you can purchase new shell colors separately. Ages 8+

Air Hogs Zero Gravity Light-Guided Wall Racer

Any remote-controlled car can tear down the sidewalk, but this one can actually drive up walls and even onto the ceiling ! Point the laser anywhere and the car will follow, even if it seems to defy gravity. Ages 8+

Walkie-Talkies Set

At this age, walkie-talkies offer kids a little independence while still allowing you to know where they are . There are two in a set here, so you can hold onto one while they have the other. Ages 4+

PowerUp Smartphone Controlled Paper Airplanes Conversion Kit

Regular paper airplanes might be fun to make, but kids can take it to the next level with this kit, which makes paper planes fly by using an app-controlled device. It's easy for kids to build and connect via Bluetooth. It'll help promote STEM learning by teaching your 9-year-old the basics of flight, lift and aerodynamics. Ages 8+

Dorm Bean Bag Chair

We've come a long way since bean bag chairs were just blobs that just sat there on the floor. He'll love lounging in this one, which comes with a back and arms, plus a handle so he can drag it around his room. Best yet: It even has a drink holder and a pocket where he can stash his books or devices! It also comes in a few different colors. No age recommendation given

GlowCity Light-Up Football

He'll be able to practice his touchdown passes long after sundown with this football, which uses two LED lights to stay illuminated. Just tap the football to watch it glow, and the lights shut off automatically when not in use. You can also get him a soccer ball , volleyball , tetherball or basketball , among others. Ages 3+

Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad

If he likes to draw, this is just what he'll need to make pictures with more depth. First, he can layer and arrange the included images on top of each other and trace them, then he can color in his design. It comes with more than 100 tracing sheets, plus a graphite pencil for tracing, colored pencils for filling in the image and a board that lights up so he can see what he's tracing better. Ages 6+

Flickin Chicken

True, it's a game of skill — but the real talent is trying to stifle your laughter as you fling your fowl toward the target. Be warned: The chickens bounce and roll , making hitting the bullseye more of a challenge than you may think! Ages 6+

Force1 Scoot Cosmo Hand-Operated Drone

This UFO-shaped drone certainly looks cool, with LED lights illuminating it as it flies. But operating it is even cooler, because you don't need a remote control — you just use your hands. It also projects lights onto the ceiling. Ages 8+

RELATED: The Best Drones for Kids

Bill Nye's VR Science Kit

The classic science kit moves to the 21st century with this STEM set, which has augmented reality capabilities. Step-by-step instructional videos, narrated by science celeb Bill Nye, and on-page pictures come to life when you use it in conjunction with a phone or tablet; the kit comes with enough material to make 30 projects (though some household items are required). Ages 8+

theFube Fidget Cube

This is the ultimate fidget toy in one small package. Its six sides have buttons to push, gears to spin, a joystick to swirl and surfaces to knead, plus you can turn on or off the clicking sound. It's a great one to keep at his desk while he's trying to concentrate! No age recommendation given

Over-Ear Bluetooth Headphones

Honestly, this is a gift for the whole family. He can play his music, games or tablet as loud as he likes with these headphones. They also connect to devices wirelessly, and fold up into a small carrying case. No age recommendation given

Hexbug Robotic Scorpion,

This autonomous crawling scorpion is small enough to fit right in your child's hand. Its see-through body allows kids to see the inner workings of a robot to help promote STEM skills and interest. During past toy testing, kids definitely preferred playing with multiple Hexbugs at the same time — the more the merrier. And in case this wasn't creepy-crawly enougn, it can also shoot its claws! Ages 8+

Pokémon Battle Academy

If your 9-year-old is a Pokémon card collector and wants to learn how to play the game, this board game is the best trainer. It walks players through the first few turns until they get the hang of it, then gives them three decks to use and test out their new strategies. Ages 6+

RELATED: The Best Pokémon Gifts for Fans of All Ages

Marisa (she/her) has covered all things parenting, from the postpartum period through the empty nest, for Good Housekeeping since 2018; she previously wrote about parents and families at Parents and Working Mother . She lives with her husband and daughter in Brooklyn, where she can be found dominating the audio round at her local bar trivia night or tweeting about movies.

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Farm Animals Round Jigsaw Puzzles,72 Piece Round Large Floor Puzzles for Toddler Ages 3-5,Children Learning Preschool Educational Toys,Birthday Gift for 4-8 Years Old Boy Girl

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• 72-Piece Circular Farm Animals Puzzle：This children's puzzle features 72 pieces adorned with vibrant and engaging illustrations, creating a captivating blend of colors.The vibrant colors and attention to detail make it an engaging and educational circular farm animals puzzle for kids.As your kids put the pieces together, they'll be captivated by the fun and variety of farm animals.
• Educational Puzzle Game：This puzzle serves as an ideal preschool educational game that promotes cognitive development, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination among children aged 3-8. Upon completion, they attain a sense of Excellent Gift Idea When fully assembled, the puzzle measures 23.6 inches in diameter (60 centimeters), making it an optimal size for collaborative play with friends and family accomplishment that significantly contributes to their intelligence and self-confidence.
• Durable and Safe Materials：This Farm Animals floor puzzle for kids ages 3-8 is made from high-quality materials that are safe and non-toxic for kids. The puzzle pieces are sturdy and durable, ensuring that they can withstand the enthusiastic handling of young children. Parents can have peace of mind knowing that this puzzle is free from any harmful substances and is safe for their little ones to play with.
• Amazing Gifts for Kids：This Farm puzzles comes in a perfect gift box for convenient carrying and easy storage. Perfect preschool learning gift for Holidays, Birthday, Children's Day, Easter, Christmas, Halloween,Thanksgiving, New Year.Great puzzle toy.
• Quality Assurance Instructions：The puzzle has undergone thorough safety testing and provides 90 days of worry-free after-sales service. If you have any questions, please let us know and we will provide you with a satisfactory answer.

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Durable and Safe Materials： Crafted from extra-thick, durable cardboard, the puzzle pieces are designed to withstand frequent handling and usage. The non-toxic ink used in printing imparts a glossy and wear-resistant finish, ensuring the puzzle's visual appeal remains intact even after repeated use. Furthermore, the puzzle is easy to clean, facilitating long-term storage.

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