The 39 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Old Boys That Match Their Boundless Energy
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.
The 33 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds
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.
The 39 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Old Boys That Match Their Boundless Energy
As he starts to grow out of his toddler years, so will his new world of play.
Another year, another holiday or birthday. This time, he’s three, and what a fun age it is. By the time your toddler gets to this stage, he’ll be talking, starting to get out of diapers (if he hasn’t already, that is), and looking for a way to exercise his new skills. As he engages with the world around him, help him lean into what he loves to do: play.
The only snag? There are so many options out there for him to engage with (and toys for you to buy). How ever will you choose what he’ll love? Kids can be so finicky and all.
Before you buy, here’s one important thing to remember: not all 3-year-olds are going to act the same. Some will gravitate towards educational activities (like learning the alphabet and counting numbers), while others are going to be into sports, race cars, and interactive games. To help you accommodate your kiddos interests, we’ve rounded up the best gifts to satisfy his imagination, keep him energized, and provoke his budding independence.