The 28 Best Gift Ideas For 3-Year-Olds in 2024

Finding the perfect gift for everyone on your list is hard, especially if they're only 3 years old. But don't fret — we did it for you, scoping out the best toys , practical gifts , and unique gifts for every 3-year-old boy and girl. Whether you're looking for a birthday gift for a 3-year-old, a holiday present idea for a 3-year-old, or a gift that will delight the whole family, we have you covered.

As a mom of a 3-year old, I've been able to see what gifts get used the most and which ones end up being banished to our garage. You'll find a range of budget-friendly toys to splurge-worthy items that will pay off by capturing their attention for the next few years. From Disney-favorites to a classic train set to a bounce house, there are plenty of options for you to find the right match for the little one on your list.



Check out our favorite holiday and birthday gifts for your preschooler this year, from toys based on their favorite characters to their first pieces of technology! Find the best gifts for the babies, toddlers, and kids in your life with our gift guides, including for tweens and teens . Best Mess-Free Coloring Gift For 3-Year-Olds Crayola Bluey Color Wonder Coloring Set ($6, originally $10) Draw your cares away with this coloring set. The Color Wonder markers only show up on special paper, so they won't make a mess around the house.

It's brilliant. Best Puzzle Gift For 3-Year-Olds Melissa & Doug Construction Vehicles 4-in-1 Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles ($8, originally $16) These puzzles will ensure your kids are entertained for hours. There are four different puzzles to complete in a set and a number of categories to choose from.

From dinosaurs to construction and cars, there's a puzzle for everyone. Best Leggings Gift For 3-Year-Olds Hanna Andersson Leggings ($14, originally $25) If potty training is on the horizon, extra pants, like these smooth and stretchy leggings, are always a good idea. Best Scissors Gift For 3-Year-Olds Skillmatics Snip, Snip ($14, originally $20) This TikTok famous gift helps preschoolers learn and practice their scissor skills.

This activity set includes three levels that progress in difficulty as children learn to cut, fold, and paste. The best part? These safety scissors can't cut hair. Best Sock Gift For 3-Year-Olds Sticky be Socks Toddler 2 Pack Grip Socks ($14) If you've heard reports of a sock monster, this sock two-pack is just what they need.

They have a sticky bottom and include fun sayings like "be curious." Best Art Gift For 3-Year-Olds Ooly Rainbow Sparkle Metallic Watercolor Gel Crayons - Set of 12 ($15, originally $20) For the budding artist, these gel crayons will be their go-to. Kids will love the sparkle in the metallic hues.

Parents will love that the formulas are non-toxic and machine washable. Best Book Gift For 3-Year-Olds Lovevery Felix Goes to Preschool ($15) Make the first day of school a bit easier with this Lovevery book. The story will help children learn to manage their excitement and nerves as they make this transition.

It even has a QR code on the back for a song the child can sing when they're having a difficult time adjusting. There are a variety of other titles in this Tricky Topics series from Lovevery, including Baby Is Crawling ($15), Ready to Pee ($15), My Own Bed ($15), and Hitting Hurts ($15). 21 Beauty Advent Calendars That Will Make You Feel Like a Kid Again Best Slime Gift For 3-Year-Olds Sloomoo Institute Crushed Peacock Ore Pink and Blue Clear Slime ($16) Yes, you can make your own slime but this cotton-candy scented slime is a sensory experience in the most glam way.

Kids can stretch, squish, and smell it with plenty of options for open-ended play. Best Headphones Gift For 3-Year-Olds Belkin SoundForm Mini Kids Wired Headphones ($19, originally $25) These kid headphones were durability tested to withstand 3,000 uses, surviving spills and accidents up to 2 years. They are designed to fit comfortably and have an 85dB volume limiter to protect their ears.

Best Magnetic Tiles Gift For 3-Year-Olds Magna-Tiles microMAGS 26-Piece Travel Set ($20) Magna-Tiles encourage creativity and imagination. Their new Magna-Tiles are 75 percent smaller than traditional tiles and perfect for on-the-go. I recently tried them out with my son on a three-hour flight, and they kept him focused and entertained.

The Magna-Tiles Construction Set ($70, originally $100) is one of our most played with items in our house. Editor Quote: "When my now-7-year-old was a toddler, I purchased the Magna-Tiles Classic 100-Piece Magnetic Set ($120), hoping it would provide hours of open-ended play. Today, the set is still being dragged out by his 4-year-old brother almost every day.

It's definitely earned its title as the best toy purchase I've made by a landslide." — Angela Elias, contributing editor, Shopping Best Doll Gift For 3-Year-Olds Disney Moana 2 My Singing Friend Moana Doll by Jakks Pacific ($30) They'll say "You're Welcome" for this singing doll of the beloved Disney character, Moana. Best Pajamas Gift For 3-Year-Olds Posh Peanut Class Pajamas ($36) These soft, breathable pajamas come in a variety of cute designs and color combinations.

Best Food Toy Gift For 3-Year-Olds Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter ($34, originally $65) Melissa and Doug's immensely popular ice cream set has over 17,000 ratings on Amazon for good reason. It keeps kids entertained as they scoop out cones for all of their friends, family, and stuffed animals. Plus, it may just postpone the constant asks to go out for ice cream.

Best Shoes Gift For 3-Year-Olds Native Jefferson Shoes ($37, originally $45) These lightweight shoes are a slip-on style that are easy for young children to put on themselves. I find them simple to clean and appreciate that the EVA-blend material withstands wear. My son has worn his on endless adventures over the last 6 months, and they have held up better than any of his previous shoes.

16 Luxe Gifts Perfect For a 40th Birthday Best Bedding Gift For 3-Year-Olds Pottery Barn Kids Candlewick Trucks Comforter and Shams ($40-$209) Make sleeping more exciting with a vibrant Pottery Barn bedding collection that includes comforter and shams. Bedtime got a lot easier when I introduced this construction-themed set to my son. There are plenty of designs to choose from including rainbows and dinosaurs.

Best Ride-On Toy Gift For 3-Year-Olds Radio Flyer UPS Delivery Truck Ride-On ($40) Delivery trucks are the garbage trucks of this generation. The pure delight children get when they see a package coming to their house is unparalleled. This mini UPS truck will let them take matter into their own hands as they deliver boxes to all of their stuffed animals.

Best Camera Gift For 3-Year-Olds Kidamento Mini Hello Kitty Digital Camera ($50) For the budding photographer, this first camera, designed for 3- to 5-year-olds, will allow them to capture their favorite moments. Best Hoodie Gift For 3-Year-Olds Lola and the Boys Good Vibes Rainbow Hoodie ($52) For the fashionista, this vibrant hoodie will have them standing out in the crowd. Best Marble Track Gift For 3-Year-Olds Ravensburger GraviTrax Junior Starter-Set: My Jungle ($54, originally $60) This interactive marble track system helps children practice problem solving while they build their own tracks and redesign them again and again.

This set includes jungle elements and animals to spark their imagination. Best Slipper Gift For 3-Year-Olds Glerups Shoe Junior ($65) For cozy moments at home, Glerups 100 percent natural wool slippers will keep their toes toasty. The shape leaves space for small feet to grow.

Best Disney Gift for 3-Year-Olds Melissa & Doug Disney Snacks and Popcorn Food Counter ($70, originally $110) A winning combination of Disney and snacks, this counter will turn their living room into Disney World. 14 Nail Polish Gift Sets That Pros and Editors Recommend Best Audio Player Gift For 3-Year-Olds Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set with Playtime Puppy ($70, originally $100) The Toniebox is a portable, screen-free audio player that allows the child to play DJ. Songs can be swapped by replacing the magnetic Tonie character on top of the device.

It will be enjoyed for years to come and was a POPSUGAR Family Award winner in 2021 as a best gift for 4- to 5-year-olds. Best Train Gift For 3-Year-Olds Brio World Dinosaur Adventure Set ($80) Brio train sets are a classic gift with a timeless design. The durable wood tracks can handle years of play, and the dinosaur pieces promote imaginative storytelling.

These sets are expandable and can be used with other Brio toys. Best Lego Duplo Gift For 3-Year-Olds Lego Duplo Disney 3-in-1 Magic Castle Building Set ($80, originally $100) This Lego Duplo set is a showstopper that will be the centerpiece of their playroom. They can create a castle that's over 20.

5 inches high with plenty of room for Mickey, Minnie, and their friends. Guaranteed for hours of entertainment. Best Photo Gift For 3-Year-Olds Aura Smart HD Digital Picture Frame ($139, originally $149) A digital picture frame isn't the first gift idea that pops into mind for a 3-year-old, but it will be a surprise that will delight the whole family.

My son is obsessed with my mother-in-law's Aura frame and would be thrilled to have his own. I love that it shows photos but doesn't lead down the wormhole of browsing internet videos, which usually happens when I show my children photos on my phone. Best Dress-Up Center Gift For 3-Year-Olds ECR4Kids Dress-Up Center with Mirrors ($175, originally $200) For the independence-seeking child, this dress-up center can house everything they need to get ready for their day or a make-believe session.

It also includes a kid-safe mirror, which adds a lot of entertainment in its own right. Best Bounce House Gift For 3-Year-Olds Smol 6x6 Tumble ($319, originally $400) Every child dreams of having their own bounce house. To most parents, that sounds like a nightmare.

This neutral take from Smol, available in 6x6 and Smol 8x8 Tumble ($360, originally $450) will change parents minds. Not only is it easy to set up and take down, but it can be stored fairly compactly. Parents will marvel at how much energy their kids can get out while using it.

I consider it my holy grail activity when the weather demands we play inside. Best Bike For 3-Year-Olds Woom 2 Kids Bike ($395, originally $439) As someone who didn't learn to ride a bike as a child and only had moderate success as an adult, I'm taking teaching my kids how to ride a bike very seriously. After much research, I came across Woom.

These splurge-worthy bikes provide kids a transition from balance bike to pedal bike without training wheels. The Woom 2 weighs just over 12 pounds, making it one of the lightest pedal bikes on the market, which I found helpful with teaching my son how to balance. These Last-Minute Gifts Ship Fast — and Cost Less Than $25 —Additional reporting by India Yaffe Genevieve Farrell Roston (she/her) is an award-winning filmmaker and the director of fitness and wellness video at PS.

She oversees the Webby-nominated PS Fit video series, which makes fitness fun and accessible. She has more than 10 years of experience in the entertainment industry. A certified personal trainer, she loves running, Pilates, and rest days.

As a mom of two, she is an avid reviewer of children's gear and products. India Yaffe was an associate editor on the Shopping team at PS for five years. She focused on curating the best fitness, fashion, beauty, and home products on the market for the PS audience.

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