Oh, what an age three is — especially for boys. By the time your toddler reaches this stage, he’s likely not just talking but carrying on full conversations with you. He’s constantly developing new skills and is eager to show them off. As he engages with the world around him, encourage him to lean into what he loves most: play.
The only problem? (Well, maybe not the only one — if you thought the terrible twos were tough, prepare for the “threenager” phase.) There are so many options for him to explore (and so many toys for you to buy). How will you choose the right gift for your 3-year-old boy? After all, kids can be quite finicky. Not to mention that Christmas is here, so the pressure to find the right gifts to plop under the tree is at an all-time high.
Of course, not all 3-year-olds are the same. Some will gravitate toward educational activities like learning the alphabet and counting, while others will be drawn to sports, race cars, or interactive games. There’s plenty to choose from, and we’ve rounded up some of our favorites to help you make the best choice for the little one in your life.
Your kiddo will know you’ve spared no expense in this awesome dinosaur park! Complete with nine different dinosaurs, a detailed play mat, and its own carrying case, this toy will provide hours of imaginative fun, perfect for sharing on playdates.
Helping develop hand-eye coordination, the 3-year-old in your life will get a kick out of this game. Let’s face it: That toddler of yours will whack other things anyway, but now you can make it a fun competition between you and him.
Choose the speed that suits the child best, and go to town with the two provided hammers that are as soft as can be.
Remote control cars are undeniably awesome, but sometimes the ones meant for bigger kids can be challenging for preschoolers to figure out. This leads to frustration, which leads to a bad time for everyone involved.
These cool cars are perfect for smaller hands. Best of all, this set comes with two cars, making them ideal for sharing.
More: Best Toys of the Year
Prepare for liftoff! Some toys are just fun to play with for reasons we can’t quite articulate, and, undoubtedly, toy rockets are at the top of that list. They’re just so much fun to swoosh around — and your little guy will have loads of fun playing it.
Completes with lights, sounds, songs, a pilot, and a passenger, this airplane encourages make believe play and is perfectly sized for toddler hands. And just look at the smily face on the front!
There are race car sets, and then there are dinosaur-themed race car sets. Any young one with a love for T-Rex’s will get a kick out of this green, safari-like track with dino-heads for cars.
By age three, he’ll be ready to scoot. Unlike your typical basic scooter, this Micro Kickboard can be steered by leaning. Its adjustable height means your 3-year-old can also use it for a handful of years to come.
Its innovative design and wheels promise a smooth ride every time — perfect for a little rider who’s still learning.
Whether in rage, excitement, or glee, 3-year-olds are big into stomping their feet. Put that instinct to fun use with the Stomp Rocket. Just put the foam “rockets” on the launcher, countdown, stomp, and watch them sail up to 200 feet in the air. (It’s fun for adults sometimes, too.)
These days, you won’t be able to find a toddler (or parents) who are not huge Bluey fans; this lovable, spunky dog has instantly won the hearts of all.
A Bluey gift is just what the 3-year-old in your life would be into. This battery-operated find scoots around like a remote-controlled car. Press its buttons to play dancey tunes or a fun copycat game.
Just because your young Picasso wants to create doesn’t mean he’s ready for messy paint. This Color Wonder Mess Free Coloring Set comes with scented markers, stamps, a scented ink pad, and a blank coloring book.
Though nontoxic, it’s a good idea to remind your little one not to be fooled by the yummy scents; they’re not for licking or eating!
More: Indoor Kids Activities
If your 3-year-old loves puzzles, this dinosaur stacking game makes for a fun new challenge: Not only will it help develop his concentration, but he will also learn a little logic and patience in the process.
When the dinosaurs drop, watch him squeal with joy. And don’t worry — the pieces are big enough that this toy is not a choking hazard for the younger set.
There is no greater joy for the 3-year-old than bubbles. Up his bubble game by gifting him this Gazillion Bubbles Hurricane Machine, which comes with an automatic blower that pumps out thousands of bubbles in a short amount of time.
Pour the quality bubble solution it comes with easily into the device, and watch it launch a fun bubble storm.
We’re not going to lie: This drum set is for the kids, but not for the parents. That said, this five-piece set will encourage him to get ready for his future band and work on his music skills.
Designed for kids ages 3 to 7 years old, he can grow with this set, which comes with a bass drum, four snare drums, one pedal, one cymbal, two drumsticks, and one stool. Lessons not included.
Teamson Kids 2-Piece Urban Adventure Play Kitchen Set
Your little chef will love keeping busy in this adorable play kitchen, complete with oven, refrigerator, cabinets and sink. And because it comes in 2 pieces you have better flexibility as to where it can go. Dare we dream this will help train them to be self-sufficient young men who can cook for themselves…?
For 20 years, Mo Willems’s Pigeon has made kids and parents giggle at bed time (or story time, or any time you need a sassy bird in your life). This collection of the first seven Pigeon books will provide hours, maybe even years, of entertainment: a perfect gift for 3-year-old boys… and don’t worry, parents: they don’t take too long to read!
Costway Pop-Up Play Tent
Everybody, regardless of age, needs a quiet place to be by themselves, and your 3-year-old boy will love this quaint tent, which is perfect for snuggling with stuffed animals, looking through books, taking a nap, or playing make-believe.
Have you ever noticed that toddlers’ favorite toys often aren’t toys at all? They’re just items they can use to mimic us? It’s adorable, and one tried and true favorite is a 3-year-old boy sized shopping cart. This one comes complete with groceries, so he can pretend to be you running errands all day long.
Little Tikes TotSports Easy Score Toy Basketball Hoop
We’ll be honest: your 3-year-old boy’s jump shot sucks. But that’s why we start practicing now. This hoop is adjustable, so it will grow right along with him and it even comes with a kid-sized ball, perfect for little hands.
Contributor Jamie Kenney says: “We didn’t know how we were going to teach our son to ride a bike, and my sister-in-law suggested this. The Strider bike has no pedals, so it encourages your toddler to learn the fundamentals of coordination and balancing, which will help him learn to ride later. We loved the sturdy, adjustable design and the fact that it made it through TWO toddlers and is still going strong with a neighbor.”
Hot Wheels 9-Car Set
We’ve yet to meet a 3-year-old boy who doesn’t have at least an enthusiastic interest in toy cars, and most we know are downright fanatics. This set comes with nine shiny new cars that he’ll love zooming to and fro.
