With Christmas fast approaching, it can be hard to know what to buy for 3+ year olds – do not fret, we’ve got you covered with 12 Christmas gift ideas for 3 year olds +.
Tonie box
Top of the list is the Tonie Box. A fantastic alternative to screen time, the Tonie box reads your little ones favorite audio books aloud. It is a durable and user friendly device that comes with a charging port and optional shelving to display the Tonies (audio books) on.
A bit on the expensive end, but our children love their Tonie box. Its great for long car journey’s as well as relaxing screen free play time at home.
Books
Let’s face it, books are a great gift for any age. Rhyming picture books, interactive lift the flap books and more substantial picture books are a great gift for any 3 year old +. Read out post on the Benefits of Reading, for more information about different types of books.
Activity books
From 3 years onwards, your little one is becoming more capable and may enjoy activity books. There are many different types of activity books: sticker books, coloring books and activity books which have a bit of everything including pop out characters to build with the help of a grown up.
Activity books are a great alternative to screens when you are on the go. We use them in restaurants, on planes, long car journeys, waiting rooms etc. Holiday themed activity books are also great for getting in the festive spirit.
Magazine subscriptions
A cross between the last two items, Once your little one is 3, they unlock a wide variety of toys and subscriptions. Magazine subscriptions are another great screen free option for educational entertainment. Nat Geo Kids is a good place to start when looking for an educational kids magazine.
Drawing pen control books
Pen control practice books are a good aid to learning if you want to add a little education into your day. Learning to draw lines, shapes, letters and numbers is a good way to practice pen control at this age.
Balance bike/pedal bike
If you haven’t got one already, a balance bike is a great idea for a 3 year old, or if they’ve had a balance bike for a while and are ready for a proper pedal bike, a pedal bike is a great Christmas gift too. Read our post about How to use a Balance Bike for more information.
Duplo
Duplo is the step before Lego. It is made by Lego and is a firm favorite in our house. Great for creativity and imagination. There are countless Duplo sets to choose from or if you just want a mixture, you can find bundles of Duplo blocks in perfect condition on eBay.
Magnetic building tiles
Another toy that is great for imaginative building is Magnetic Building Tiles. These tiles click together using magnets (as the name suggests) and similar to Duplo, encourage creativity.
Magnetic fishing games
One thing that is on our list this year after using these on play dates is magnetic fishing games. Now that your little ones fine motor skills are more developed, they should be able to ‘fish’ using little magnets. It doesn’t need to be fish though, these games come in many different designs, click here to start browsing.
Plain doll house
Dolls houses are unisex. Although it might take a bit of convincing for some, doll houses are in fact a unisex toy if you get one in neutral colors. We have a white one similar to the Ikea doll house, but it is rarely a doll house – it is a fire station, a hospital, a nursery, a police station. Given the neutral appearance, it lends itself to almost any imaginative play setting, a great Christmas gift for any 3 year old.
Games and Jigsaws
Orchard games have a great selection of table top games for 3+ years. These games are great for learning turn taking as well as numbers or letters depending on the type of game. We have a selection and enjoy playing them when the weather is undesirable.
Train track
Wooden train tracks with battery powered trains are another Christmas gift that is great for developing creativity and problem solving. Boxes of train track can be picked up second hand for a fraction of the new price. Train track is often associated with little boys but girls can enjoy trains just as much if they are interested.
