Our best gift ideas for a 3 year old child

How to choose a gift for a 3 year old child? We are sometimes a little lost with all the games offered in the children's section. Whether it's Christmas or a birthday, there is no shortage of offers! At this age, they are still too small for some games, and too big for others. Here is our selection to guide you …

What imitation games for a 3 year old child?

Imitation, construction, social, cooperation games or even outdoor activities: there are plenty of possibilities to please a 3-year-old boy or girl. Here is a list of gift ideas to help you make your choice according to his personality!

The traditional dinette, like this JoyGrow box of cut foods, is still popular with children. It remains a "must have" for any child, boy or girl from 3 years old. This JoyGrow box contains 40 pieces to mimic meals and elaborate recipes worthy of restaurants. Dinettes stimulate creativity and encourage role play and imagination. They also allow you to learn to name foods, while having fun!

Many brands now offer items in felt or wood, sometimes magnetic, to be able to "pretend" to cut and without risk. This is the case with this Melissa & Doug Salad à la carte pack. The goal: to concoct complete salads using the leafy vegetables and felt fillings from the kit, which can be easily "cut" with the small knife!

The dinette sets can be accompanied by a mini kitchen, a toy for both girls and boys, from 3 years old! Today, it is possible to find it at all prices. From the simplest to the most equipped, in wood or plastic, you will be spoiled for choice. As for durable and complete multi-function kitchens, there is the KidCraft Kitchen including accessories, ice cube dispenser and removable sink. .

Imitation toys don't stop at the dinette. A wide range of activities are available today, such as Melissa & Doug's cleaning kit for little housekeeping volunteers. At 3 years old, it is the age of desires to "do like". Sized to fit little ones and durable in construction, the kit contains a comfortable to use and easy to store broom, mop, furniture wiper, dust pan and hand brush. You just have to hang them using the cords next to mom and dad's brooms.

Still for mime games, this set will appeal to future doctors! Doctor games are timeless: ToyVan Doctor Case. Then again, with these freebies, hours of play will turn into years of fun. This vintage doctor's case in reinforced fabric and red and blue wood, contains 9 essential accessories for any doctor: stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, blood pressure monitor, otoscope, reflex hammer, a pair of scissors and two vials. This set received the award for best toy in the Classic Toy category in 2016 and was recommended by experts in child psychology!

What games to develop the creativity and imagination of a 3 year old child?

The disguise is the toy par excellence to develop the imagination. With such a gift, a 3 year old boy or girl can remain in imitation with a realistic disguise, like that of Fire Chief Melissa & Doug. A disguise that includes everything your firefighter needs in an emergency: A bright red jacket (machine washable), a fire chief's helmet, an "extinguisher", a megaphone with sound effects , a shiny badge and a customizable name tag.

To leave room for imagination and creativity, a fairy or magical costume will be ideal, such as this unisex pixie outfit. Remember that playing is a springboard to trigger wonder! Who hasn't dreamed of turning into a mischievous elf? This costume is available in 2 versions: girl and boy. For their greatest pleasure! (And machine washable)

To develop the creativity of a 3 year old child, manual work is a must. Unsurprisingly, plasticine remains a fun game and offers endless possibilities. Play-Doh, the favorite brand of many parents, offers plasticine jar sets to give free rein to children's imaginations and have a wide choice of colors. This ultra colorful assortment is made up of 24 small colored jars, each of 84g.

Along the same lines, and to complete the boxes, Play-Doh also offers themed accessories, such as The Ice Kingdom or the Special Holiday Box ! With this Play-Doh Ice Kingdom box, children will experience all the magic of a creative and colorful world to make the craziest ice creams imaginable. Kids can choose from 6 disks and insert them into the central tower to squeeze swirls of ice cream in different shapes. The tower has an easy-to-handle handle for little hands. The vermicelli press and icing tool are removable and a jar of confetti modeling clay is included for even more treats!

For a successful party, Play-Doh has released the ultimate box set! This set includes a play mat with different themes, including a Play-Doh picnic, colorful animals and facial expressions. With more than 40 modeling tools and 10 pots of colored modeling clay, the imagination will be at its peak!

What educational games for a 3 year old child?

Adults sometimes do not dare to give educational gifts to a child, because in the collective mind, educational games mean boring games … This is totally wrong! You might be surprised to see your boy or girl spending hours on a learning game, such as this Montessori Closures Box. At 3 years old, a child seeks to develop his autonomy and learning to zip, button and unbutton will soon allow him to dress alone and in a playful way! This closures kit is a must-have for Montessori games: it promotes child coordination and develops their autonomy and self-confidence. The box contains 4 frames of closures: straps, press studs, zipper, buttoning. A fun way to learn to dress on your own, kids love it! Frame designed in hevea wood.

Still in the same logic of autonomous learning, a calendar is an excellent way to introduce children to the notion of temporality in an educational way. This Ludi fabric calendar brings together days, weeks, months, years and seasons. It is a tool that will fascinate your child, delighted to learn to find his way through time. This pretty fabric calendar brings together days, months, seasons, years and weather. Thanks to the gripping bands, the child positions the various elements on a daily basis. No need to know how to read to prepare for the day, this little ritual to be introduced every morning or every evening allows both to reassure the child while having fun. To situate oneself in time, to understand the concepts of days and weeks …

The discovery and understanding of numbers and letters is done from 3 years old, and many games allow to develop thinking skills in the matter. With the entry into kindergarten, the drawing boards delight children. To combine learning and fun, this Leomark magnetic multi-function board is indicated! Dimensions of the painting: 45 x 35 x 85 cm. What to imagine a teacher!

Other gift ideas for a 3 year old boy or girl: books. It is at this age that the taste for reading begins to appear. For one-to-one moments with the child, tales and stories are a good way to introduce them to books, as the book can of course offer stories, like the book Histoires de Marchand de Sable by Ghislaine Bondi. This little illustrated book contains 3 short stories about the sandman. Perfect for evening reading with parents to mime and bring stories to life for the child.

For independent reading that allows children to discover books on their own, colorful, sound and image-filled books allow children from 3 years old to enter the world of stories. A good example would be this audio book Les bruits de la jungle, priced at € 13.50 on Amazon. A walk in the jungle, in pictures, in music and at your fingertips.

How to choose construction and board games for a 3 year old?

From the age of 3, your child has sufficient intellectual development to follow basic instructions for listening with other play participants. Building and board games therefore allow them to reinforce their thinking skills in a calm environment. At this age, children's concentration is about 15 minutes, so simple games that are limited in time should be preferred. The game of Nathan's Wolf is simple, easy to understand and very fun!

This board game is suitable for toddlers and has as its theme the famous "let's take a walk in the woods". The basic rule: go foraging in the woods, and collect everything before the wolf is dressed! "Wolf are you there? No, I'll put on my shirt, etc." It contains a game board, the magnetic dress-up wolf, 5 magnetic clothes and accessories, 30 small tokens (5 strawberries, 5 blackberries, 5 flowers, 5 mushrooms, 5 snails, 5 butterflies), 16 round tokens, 4 game sheets individual "picking", a cloth bag, and instructions!

In the timeless basics, there is also the battle of the animals, to introduce children to games of speed and understanding orders of magnitude. Butterfly-sorcerer versus super-chick? Croco-banana versus fox-pirate? This first funny animal battle is suitable for children from 3 years old. No need to know how to read, only to identify the rules of size that allow animals to be the strongest! The battle game is played by 2 to 4 players.

In terms of board games suitable for the little ones, the Jeujura Classic Wooden Game Box contains 6 board games and 50 different rules! Enough to introduce children to the famous game of goose, YAMS, checkers, little horses and 421. This very complete set contains the most famous board games, suitable for children from 3 years old. With 50 different rules and adjustable to the age of the child, discover the joys of small horses, goose, checkers, hopscotch, YAMS and 421. Dimensions of the wooden box : 33 x 33 x 5 cm, made in France, validated and approved!

Construction games are also based on accepting the rules: the 3-year-old will quickly understand that he has to follow a certain logic if he wants to build something. With this Brio farm train circuit set , many possibilities are available to him! This tour is complete and includes a manual locomotive and a tractor, both capable of pulling a wagon or trailer. By turning the knob, the hay rises thanks to the magnetic crane, and stays warm for the winter. One of the wagons is specially designed for the transport of the cow. Thanks to the coupled magnets, the wagon connects to trains and other Brio boxes, in order to be able to imagine circuits and stories. FSC certified wood, Swedish manufacture!

Always on the side of construction games, this box of 200 Kapla boards remains a timeless favorite for young and old. This game has surely seen you grow up, and it's your kids' turn to enjoy it! Undeniable quality, 200 smooth wooden boards, for hours of creativity! The eternal wooden construction game that has seen the development of several generations … Let's face it, this timeless gift continues to please and arouse the pleasure of young and old alike! A box containing 200 small boards in Landes pine, all identical. No fasteners, glue, screws or nails. Zero danger, and maximum creativity!

Which outdoor games to choose for a 3 year old child?

At this age, carriers, balance bikes and tricycles are popular. The simplest models, like this Balance scooter, allow 3-year-olds to work on their balance and exercise their legs in complete safety. The rubber tires and grips ensure an ultra comfortable ride. The saddle adjustable in height from 37 to 43 cm allows the bike to grow with the child and adapt to his size. These outdoor games contribute to the development of balance, responsiveness and coordination without support wheels.

Electric models, such as the Feber Rider Cross electric motorcycle, can make children feel like they can imitate adults! In a completely secure way, electric vehicles to drive are always appreciated. This small electric motorcycle Rider Cross, suitable for small riders from the age of 3, has an accelerator pedal, an electric brake and drive wheels for more stability. It can reach a maximum speed of 5km / h and will support a weight of up to 30kg. The battery and charger are included and the motorcycle can run independently for 90 minutes. A real outdoor game for the daring, in complete safety.

For parents who have space and a garden, outdoor cabins are still THE hit game for little ones, like the Pretty Garden House with Kitchen by Smoby, are perfect for imagining child-sized stories! Complete and design, the Pretty house / kitchen offers your children a large space to play alone or with friends in the garden! Something to imitate the grown-ups and prepare grills and snacks! This pretty practical and robust cabin will last over time, thanks to its anti-UV treatment.

Toboggans and other outdoor constructions always work for children of age to trudge and climb. This Smoby adventure car has the advantage of combining a cockpit, slide and sandbox! This new Smoby playground for the little ones combines 3 great activities: A driving position at the wheel (with key and electronic horn and 2 doors), a 1.50m slide with non-slip steps, and a removable sandbox with cover protection ! Durable, this game made in France has undergone an anti-UV treatment.

Read also :

How to choose an educational game for a 3 year old child?
From 3 years old, it is quite possible to combine learning and play. Although their duration of concentration is limited to 15 minutes, there are many simple games which allow to introduce the child to orders of magnitude (such as battle), pattern recognition (the Memory) or even letters, numbers and perception over time (drawing boards, fabric calendars, etc.)

What are the best imitation toys for a 3 year old?
At the age of 3, children are discovering the world around them. Relatives are obviously their first examples, and they have the natural tendency to seek to imitate the attitudes, gestures and behaviors they observe. Logically, imitation games are a great source of inspiration to stimulate the creativity of children! The essentials: dinettes, doctor's cases, all the toys imitating trades, …

What are the best outdoor games for a 3 year old?
The games that are played outside are perfect for avoiding jostling around the house, and allowing the child to let off steam! At 3 years old, there are models of slides and miniature huts resistant and safe to install in the garden. For walks, it is also possible to opt for a balance bike, to introduce the child to the mastery of balance.