The ages between 3 and 4 are an especially important time for little boys. Not only are they past their “terrible twos” (to the relief of parents everywhere), they are also growing by leaps and bounds in terms of cognitive, social, physical, and emotional skills.
If you’re looking for Christmas gifts or birthday gifts for a three year old, a good rule of thumb is to give age- and developmentally-appropriate gifts for the little guy. Here are some helpful ideas to help you narrow your search.
Gifts for Cognitive Development
Educational toys make especially good gifts for 3-year-olds, since these help them hit their cognitive milestones, such as recognizing and identifying shapes and colors, saying their ABC’s, and even trying to read a book on their own.
The Vtech Kidibeats Drum Set, for example, lets kids to drum to the beat with their little hands while teaching them the alphabet and numbers at the same time.
Pretend-play is another favorite pastime of preschool-age children. Giving them cartoon capes or the Batman Voice Changer helmet will let them play out their superhero fantasy.
Other educational toys for three year olds that encourage imaginitive play and problem solving are Magnetic Building Blocks, Sturdy Building Sets, STEM Toys, and Kidtastic Take Apart Toys.
Gifts for Physical Development
It’s no secret that little boys love to test their physical limits. Get them something that will develop their motor skills. A beginner trike (one that either comes with a set of training wheels or just a handlebar and no pedals) or a kick scooter are perennial favorites.
You can also teach the love of sports early by giving them a tee ball set.
Gifts for Social Development
Around the age of three is when kids evolve from playing solo to learning to play with others. That said, another great gift idea are toys that help kids interact with people around them.
- The Crocodile Dentist Game is a popular game that’s best played in a group of two or more.
- The Piano Mat is also big enough to accommodate two or more players.
- Toys like the Whack A Frog Game allows kids to learn and practice cooperation and turn-taking.
Still searching for gift ideas for 3-year-old boys? Have a look at our complete gift guide to help you decide which ones will make the most appropriate toys for your beloved 3-year-old. Have a question? Leave us a message in the comments section!
Table of Contents
30Schwinn Boy’s Bike
This trike in electric blue will help your little guy transition from training wheels to two wheel bikes.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
29Lincoln Logs
A LINCOLN LOGS CLASSIC, JUST THE WAY YOU REMEMBER IT – Inspired by one of the original LINCOLN LOGS wooden blocks, the “Meeting House,” this 100th Anniversary Tin will evoke nostalgia in older generations and bring happiness to children. The manual offers three building ideas: a tall tower, two small houses with a bonfire, and a large cabin.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
28Vtech Kidibeats Drum Set
Toddlers can play along to 9 melodies in styles including rock, dance and pop. This musical toy teaches little tikes letters, numbers, and music.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
27Flying Ball Drone
Flying toy ball – Holding the ball vertically at the bottom, slide the power switch to the on position. After about 3 seconds, the propellers will begin to spin. Release the ball and allow it to ascend. The sensors underneath the ball control the power.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
26Pull Back Dinosaur Cars
Dino pull back cars combine two favorites of little boys – dinosaur heads and cars. These toys never run out of battery since they are mechanically powered to zoom across the room.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
25Crocodile Dentist Game
Get ready to have loads of fun playing this Elefun and Friends Crocodile Dentist kids game. Gather friends and family for fun and frenzy as players pretend they’re the crocodile “doctor” and check the teeth in the croc’s mouth. But don’t get “chomped!”
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
24Construction Vehicle Set
EXERCISE N PLAY Mini Construction Vehicle Play Set with a Kid Play Car Rug is a perfect present for kids. Let their imaginations run wild controlling traffic with fire trucks, construction cranes, cement trucks and more. And when they are all done, the rug stays on the floor.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
23Leapfrog My Own Leaptop
LeapFrog and Amazon.com have teamed up to offer this item in Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging; a recyclable, easy-to-open alternative to traditional packaging. Personalize pretend computer play with My Own Leaptop. Choose and download songs for a custom playlist, explore 6 learning activity stations and personalize emails for your child to enjoy.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
22Magnetic Blocks
Soyee magnetic blocks are a STEM educational toy that helps foster brain development and creative thinking by giving kids and teens constructive ways to express themselves. Encourage imagination and help kids learn how to solve complex problems as they play.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
21101 Piece Educational Construction Set
Lil’ Engineers Engineering blocks let kids build easy mechanical vehicles.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
20Keyboard Play Mat
Musical play impacts children in a big way. It teaches self-expression and sparks all areas of child development, including intellectual, social, emotional, motor and language skills. help with child development, brain power, memory, confidence, patience, socially and fosters creativity!
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
19Whack A Frog Game
The Whack-A-Frog can help develop fine motor skill, encourage the development of your toddler’s hand-eye coordination and attention span. Also, encourages toddlers to cooperate and take turns to play whack a frog game, develop communication skills.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
18My First Cartoon R/C Race Car
This remote control race car is bright, colorful and perfect for young children learning to play with remote control toys for the first time. It is lightning fast and can drive forward and backwards.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
17Toy Workbench
This hundred piece set kids workbench will let your little tike have fun role playing fixing things.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
16Kick Scooter
These simple kick scooters are all the rage for kicks learning to scoot around the block. Practical, safe, and fun, it helps develop their sense of balance and need for speed!
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
15I Spy – Everything!
Discover this fun game, I Spy – Everything! Each puzzle focuses on different letters of the alphabet – all you need to do is find the item that matches each letter, then turn the page and see whether you’ve chosen correctly! Perfect for preschoolers.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
14Tee Ball Set
Beginning T-ball set includes an easy-to-use oversize bat, 5 oversize baseballs and tee. Adjustable height “T” adapts to a child’s developing skills. Special “hang-on-the-wall” design for easy small-space storage.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
13Walkie Talkies
These walkie talkies have cool call alert function, crisp and smooth sound quality with adjustable volume level. Equipped with high Anti-interference function to reduce noise to enhance the fun of parent-child interaction.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
12Educational Building Toy Set
A 164 piece set to help kids practice their creativity and build functional designs like carousels, a toy car, a helicopter and more.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
11Aquadoodle Drawing Mat
Large Size Dinosaurs World Pattern Water Drawing Mat – Best Gift Toys For Toddlers, Never make a mess – Just add water – No Ink-No paint-No toxic-Non chemical, Drawings disappear on their own.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
10Kidtastic Take Apart Toys
This pack of take apart toys with tools includes Train, Helicopter, Truck, Motorcycle and 3 Dinosaurs. It also includes 7 screwdrivers to encourage kids to play together. No more fighting over whose turn it is. Perfect for twins, playdates or families.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
9Cartoon Capes
Almost all Children love their superheroes and nothing excites a kid more than pretending to fly through the air like Superhero. Whether it’s play time or trick-or-treat time, your kids will love the feeling of this wonderful cape blowing in the wind.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
8Batman Voice Changer
Celebrate the new Batman v Superman: Dawn Of Justice movie and The Greatest Superhero Battle of All Time with this true to movie deluxe Lights and & Sounds Batman Helmet with exciting voice changing technology.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
7The Hulk
Hulk is a mountain of sheer destructive force with strength beyond anything the world has ever seen! Towering in at 12 inches tall, this Hulk figure is a bulked-up, gamma-powered force to be reckoned with! Create giant-sized action figure battles with the Marvel Titan Hero Series!
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
6Paw Patrol Launch’N Haul
Launch and race to the rescue with the Paw Patrol launched haul paw Patroller! This fan favorite team vehicle opens up, transforming into an action-packed track set for the Paw Patrol true metal vehicles (Each sold separately)! with storage room inside for up to seven true metal collectible vehicles.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
5Thomas & Percy’S Railway Race Set
Get ready for an exciting race around the railway as Thomas and Percy compete for first place! Inspired by the Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends DVD, The Great Race, the TrackMaster Railway Race Set from Fisher-Price delivers fun, fast thrills with cool motorized action! Children will love watching two of their favorite characters head for the bridge.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
4Wooden Train Set
Learning is fun with the KidKraft waterfall mountain train set and table. The wide, generous children’s play table is kid-sized, for hours of creative play for young minds.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
3Lego Duplo Cargo Train
The LEGO DUPLO Cargo Train is now even easier for your toddler to control and interact with in multiple ways. Young children will love this fun toy as they become the DUPLO locomotive driver with the Push & Go motor — a gentle push either forwards or backwards sends the train on its way and a firm hold or lift off the tracks will make it stop.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
2Razor Jr. Lil’ Kick Scooter
Designed for first-time riders, the Razor Jr. Lil’ Kick scooter features an extra-wide, slip-resistant deck and a three-wheeled construction for optimal stability. Large wheels add to the balanced ride.
➡️ Buy from Amazon.com
1Balance Bike
Encourage your child to ride with a Strider Bike. When learning to ride, a child must be allowed to experience the feel of leaning and how steering affects the balance of the bike. When a child learns to ride without leaning, such as on a tricycle or bike with training wheels, they aren’t really learning to ride at all.
