Toys for 3 year old children are more than just fun—they’re tools for learning, exploring, and expressing creativity. At this stage, preschoolers are bursting with imagination, eager to try new things, and rapidly developing their social, emotional, and physical skills.
My granddaughter just turned 3 and she is all about being independent. Whether it’s getting dressed or playing or getting food, she says, “I do it! I do it!” Hearing her say that makes me smile because my grandmother told me years ago that I used to say that all the time at her age. My point is, the right toys can nurture curiosity, strengthen growing bodies and minds, encourage independence and confidence, and provide endless opportunities for imaginative play.
Whether you’re shopping for a birthday, a holiday, or simply looking to keep a little one engaged, choosing age-appropriate toys makes all the difference. In this guide, you’ll find toys for 3 year old girls and boys that encourage pretend play, creativity, active movement, and hands-on learning—because playtime is the best way for kids to grow.
If you like, you can skip the chit-chat and hop straight to our picks of the best toys for 3-year-old girls and boys, or choose from the table of contents below. Otherwise, read on for more information about the 3-year-old stage and what types of toys are most beneficial and engaging to them.
🧠Understanding 3-Year-Old Development
By age three, children are bursting with curiosity and energy. They’re moving out of the toddler stage and into early preschool years, where play takes on a whole new level of imagination and purpose. At this age, kids love to test their independence while still seeking comfort and reassurance from caregivers. As child development expert Kathy Hirsh-Pasek puts it: “Play helps us learn. Play helps us cope. Play helps us socialize.” The right play toys for 3-year-olds can nurture their confidence, encourage creativity, and support important developmental milestones.
đź’ˇWhat 3-Year-Olds Are Learning
By the time children reach age three, they are busy building new skills across every area of development—all while exploring the world with growing independence.
💬Language Growth: Vocabulary is expanding rapidly, and children love to chat, ask “why” questions, and tell simple stories. Toys that encourage conversation, role play, or singing can fuel this growth.
👩‍👧‍👦Social Skills: Sharing, turn-taking, and playing with friends become more common. Pretend play toys help children act out real-life scenarios, practice empathy, and cooperate with others.
🧩Fine Motor Skills: From holding crayons to snapping puzzle pieces together, their small hand muscles are getting stronger. Toys that involve building, drawing, or manipulating small parts are a big hit.
🛝Gross Motor Skills: Running, jumping, climbing, and dancing are everyday joys at this age. Active play toys encourage movement and help refine balance and coordination.
đź’Problem-Solving & Early Learning: Preschoolers are ready for basic puzzles, sorting games, and beginner STEM activities that make them think and experiment.
With all these new abilities emerging, play becomes the perfect way for 3-year-olds to practice their skills, explore their interests, and express who they are becoming
What Interests 3-Year-Olds
Every child is unique, but common themes of interest at this age include the following types of toys:
🧸Pretend Play: Dressing up, cooking in a play kitchen, caring for dolls, or pretending to be a firefighter or doctor. Sidenote: My 3-year-old granddaughter insists on wearing one of her princess costumes every. single. day. And it must match, with the shoes and crown, and princess sidekick.
🎨Creative Expression: Drawing, painting, and music-making become favorite ways to explore ideas and emotions. We are always stocked up on crayons and paint. One of our favorite activities is to sit inside a cardboard box and draw on it—cheap and fun!
🏗️Building & Construction: Stacking blocks, connecting magnetic tiles, or experimenting with train sets. Don’t get me started on magnetic tiles—those things are so cool, and my granddaughter LOVES them!
🌳Exploring Outdoors: Riding trikes, digging in the sandbox, or discovering nature in the backyard. In the summer, it’s water tables and kiddie pool toys, and in cooler months, nana pulls out her ring toss, corn hole game, or we set up a play tent.
🤖Cause and Effect: Toys that “do something” — light up, pop, roll, or transform — fascinate three-year-olds and encourage exploration. A favorite electronic pet, or talking princess doll is always a winner. Early STEM toys that 3-year-olds can “program” to obey commands are engaging and educational as well.
You don’t need tons of toys for a 3-year-old—just enough variety to capture their attention, spark their imagination and allow them to explore these play avenues.
🎠Why the Right Toys Matter
Choosing toys for 3-year-olds isn’t just about keeping kids busy. The right playthings spark imagination, strengthen growing bodies and minds, and support emotional and social development. A well-chosen toy can help a child feel proud of their abilities, give them a safe way to practice real-world skills, and, most importantly, make learning fun.
🍓Toysenberry Picks—Toys for 3-Year-Old Girls & Boys
With all that in mind, here are some of what we feel are the best toys for 3-year-old girls and boys that inspire imaginative and engaging play. Our suggestions below are a combination of classic favorites, toys my own 3-year-old granddaughters love, a few newer, popular toys worth checking out, and a couple finds I spotted and are on my list to try out with my grandkids.
🍓A berry quick note: The links below take you to Amazon and as an Amazon affiliate, I earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. you can read more about that here.
MAGNA-TILES Building Toys for 3-Year-Olds
MAGNA-TILES are the original magnetic blocks, released in 1997 by an educator. They have become one of the most popular building toys on the market, for good reason. When I first played with MAGNA-TILES with my granddaughter (just recently, actually), I was hooked! She picks a structure from the insert that comes with it, and we build it together. We are both so delighted when we recreate a castle with a moat or a house she can stick her Chelsea doll in. Of course, kids can free-build with them too—the possibilities are endless. I’ve linked the small set above, but there are larger sets and even themed sets with little figures, like this adorable new MAGNA-TILES Pet Playhouse.
MAGNA-TILES are great for a little one’s dexterity and problem solving skills and should be a toy in every 3-year-olds play rotation.
Age 3+
Play-Doh Sets are Fun Creative Toys for 3-Year-Olds
A few years ago, I was visiting my 3 and 4 year-old niece and nephew in New Mexico, and I spent a couple hours sitting outside, playing with Play-Doh with them. We had the most fun! Does it make a little bit of a mess? Yes. Yes, it does. But it inspires so much creativity in little ones, it’s worth it. There are many Play-Doh sets to pick from, or you can just get a few cans and some tools and just let the Littles create what they want. Below is the latest addition to the Play-Doh line—The Super Slice Cake Playset. The little oven pops out perfect triangular “cake” slices that kids can stack, then frost with the shaped “frosting”. There’s fun “cake” decorating tools for little chefs to make their dream birthday cake that looks so good, they’ll want to eat it! But don’t eat it…that would not be good. For more variety, I like the tub of all kinds of shapes for kids to make unique little creations all their own. Both are linked below.
Play-Doh Super Slice Cake Playset
Play-Doh Fun Tub Set
Age 3+
Tiny Land Doll House
One of the best pretend play toys for 3-year-old girls and boys is a dollhouse. They can make all kinds of stories about their dolls and their everyday little lives, working out scenarios and imaginative adventures for them. Tiny Land is known for quality wooden toys, and this dollhouse is just adorable. It comes with over 50 pieces of furniture and accessories, plus a 4 piece wooden doll family, including a dog. I love that the set comes with an outdoor grill and picnic table too. The house is over 2 feet tall and 2 feet wide, so there is plenty of room for 2 or more kids to play together, which is nice. And the neutral color scheme is perfect for both girls and boys.
Age 3+
Tiny Land Wooden Train Set
Tiny Land 110PCS Wooden Trains
Another wonderful toy for 3 year-olds is a wooden train set. This one, by Tiny Land, has over 4,000 nearly 5 star reviews from consumers and parents. It comes with 110 pieces, plus buildings and play figures, and the tracks are compatible with other major brands of similar sized trains. I love that there are a variety of ways to lay the tracks, so kids can use both creative and critical thinking as they set it up, and can play out sooo many stories with the pieces. As kids get past the pre-school years, they can do more complex layouts, so it can really grow with your child. An added bonus is the pond is actually a puzzle and kids can “fish” in it with magnetic poles!
Age 3-7
Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks
These various shaped pattern blocks and boards challenge kids to match the right shape to the board and complete the picture. This activity is great for manual dexterity, problem solving, and matching skills. Parents and kids love it, with parents only complaint being that the lid only sits on top of the box and doesn’t really secure it. Despite that, this toy for 3-year-olds has over 9,000 nearly 5-star reviews.
Age 3-6
Big Mo’s Toys Transport & Cars Plus a Roll-up Track
Most 3-year-olds love things that go, go, go because well…so do they! Toy cars are fun pretend play toys for 3-year-olds, plus they help little ones with fine and gross motor skills, as they zoom their cars around the house. The Big Mo’s Transport is highly rated and comes with 6 cars, each about 2.7″ long, so they fit well into a 3-year-olds little hands. It transports the cars, stores them, and has a handle for young ones to carry it around. It’s not huge either, so storing it isn’t cumbersome.
Also pictured below are flexible tracks for kids to use their cars on. These are cool because they can be placed in all sorts of spots, making creative roadways for their cars. They work with most cars about the size of the ones that come with Big Mo’s Transport, and Matchbox or Hot Wheels cars. The track sticks to a variety of surfaces and can be formed into loops and curves for extra car racing pretend play fun.
Big Mo’s Toys Transport and CarsBlu Track Classic 15 Ft Starter Set
Age 3+
A Toniebox is an Engaging Toy for 3-Year-Olds
Toniebox Audio Player Starter Set
I had no idea what a Toniebox was until I updated this article. I’d heard of them, but what they did was vague. After researching them, I think they are a pretty cool gadget for kids and apparently, have been around in the U.S. since about 2020. They are a square box with a speaker (outgoing sound only, so NO microphone) and a sensor on top to place a Tonie character, like Cinderella, Elsa from Frozen, or a huge variety of other characters. Depending on which one you place on it, the Toniebox plays stories and songs around that character. Parents say it’s a wonderful tool to help kids wind down at bedtime, by playing lullabys and bedtime stories on it. Or it can get kids moving with exciting stories and songs to dance to.
The one pictured above is just one of a whole variety of bundles to pick from. Or you can buy the Toniebox alone, with one character (the little dog) and add others over time. Parents say their kids as young as 2, know how to operate it and love it and parents love that it’s a screen-free toy and encourages their kids to use their imaginations as they listen to the stories.
Here’s the whole selection of Tonieboxes on Amazon, so you can check them out for yourself. The individual Tonies run a little under $20 each. There are carrying bags for the Toniebox and characters, to take them on-the-go, or for convenient storage in your home, which is nice too.
Age 3+
A Trampoline or a Beanbag Toss are Fun Toys for 3-Year-Olds
The other night, I was visiting my daughter and it was getting increasingly difficult to chat because my granddaughter was all over us. I told her we were going to play a trampoline game and she jumped on her trampoline while I threw plastic rings at her to catch. She caught nearly all of them, while she bounced up and down, and her mom and I were able to finish our conversation. That kid has got more coordination than me. Anyway, my point is that a trampoline is a great toy for 3-year-olds to get some energy out and build coordination. The one pictured below by Little Tikes is a huge seller, with over 33K excellent reviews.
I love this recent Amazon find—a beanbag toss and stickie bullseye all-in-one game. One side is a beanbag toss and flip it around and it’s a stickie bullseye little ones can throw balls at. I love that it all folds up into a little bag, so it can be taken on trips or to grandma’s house, and it can be used indoors or out. This one is great for gross motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and helping kids stay active and off screens.
Little Tikes 3’ TrampolineBean Bag & Stickie Bullseye Game
3+
đź“–Related Reading: Best Indoor Toys for Active Kids
LEGO Duplo 3 in 1 Family House
LEGO DUPLO Town 3 in 1 Family House
I love the LEGO Duplo sets for preschoolers. The blocks are just the right size for little hands, and kids can work on their dexterity, problem solving, and creativity skills as they create their little worlds. The 3 in 1 Family House is a beautiful set of 218 pieces to build a 3-story house, and outdoor garden area. The best thing about these sets is your little architects don’t have to build what is pictured on the box—they can make anything they want. They can recreate nana’s house, the doctor’s office, a toy store—or anything else their imaginations can dream up. And I love the 2 types of play that happen, both pretend play and constructing. You can check out all of the Duplo sets for preschoolers here.
Age 3+
Melissa & Doug Tabletop Easel
M&DDouble-Sided Tabletop Easel
The tabletop easel by Melissa & Doug is an excellent gift for 3-year-olds that provides hours of creative fun. It’s a magnetic whiteboard on one side and a chalkboard on the other, plus has a roll of paper for more artistic creations. It comes with letter magnets, chalk and dry erase pen and eraser to start your little artist off. You may want to try these cool paint sticks to use with it—these are better than crayons, less messy than paint, and just super fun to use.
Age 3+
Puppets are Fun Pretend Play Toys for 3-year-Olds
Folkmanis ® Puppets are beautiful animal-themed puppets created by the Folkmanis family for over 40 years. They are excellent quality and there is a large variety of animals to choose from, plus they have a line of adorable finger puppets as well. Their puppets are designed to encourage imagination in children’s play and they certainly do that. They are large enough for an adult hand to operate them so they are wonderful to use at story time to really engage little ones. The owl pictured above can turn his head all the way around, and the wings spread open.
Age 3+
Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen
Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s Play Kitchen
Play kitchens are one of the best pretend play toys for a 3-year-old. They engage the imagination, and build fine motor and social skills. There are many wonderful play kitchens on the market, and which one is best for your child depends on what features would most engage them, the available space you have, and what style you like (retro, cottage, modern, etc). Overall, the one we recommend is the Melissa & Doug Wooden Chef’s play kitchen because of it’s durability, storage space, and gender neutral color that fits in any decor. It doesn’t come with accessories, but this Melissa & Doug Play Kitchen accessory set has some nice pieces to get your little chef started.
Age 3+
đź“–Related Reading: Ultimate Guide to Choosing the Best Play Kitchen
Toy Cash Register
Toy cash registers are great pretend play toys for 3-year-olds and they teach counting and money concepts too. I like this FS play cash register because it’s most like what kids see at the grocery store, with the scanner, scale, and microphone. When you push a button on the scanner, it beeps, just like the real ones, and the buttons make noise when they are pushed too. There are a few different colors to choose from in the listing, and you’ll notice that each one comes with slightly differing accessories. I like this set because it has some grocery items, and some fast food items, so kids can play a scenario of a pretend burger drive-thru or a grocery store. It pairs well with a play kitchen to add even more pretend play opportunities for your 3-year-old. This little cash register has over 2,500 nearly 5-star reviews too, and parents and kids are loving it.
Ages 3+
PlasmaCar or Tricycle
A bike or PlasmaCar is the perfect toy for 3-year-olds to engage their muscles, gross motor skills, and coordination. If you aren’t familiar with PlasmaCars, they are battery and pedal-free, and are propelled by the steering wheel. Parents and kids love them, as shown by their nearly 5-star reviews. They support up to 220 pounds, so bigger kids can use them too, although the recommended age is 3-8 years old. Don’t be fooled by the Wiggle Car, which is similar, but reportedly not as sturdy as the PlasmaCar. Also, be aware that the PlasmaCar can be used indoor our out, but can damage real wood floors.
The Radio Flyer Red Rider Trike is the classic ride-on toy for 3-year-olds. It has a cute covered storage area in the back for little ones to stash their favorite toys or a snack while their cruising the streets. The seat is adjustable so it grows with your child which is so convenient and a money-saver. It’s rated for kids ages 2.5 – 5-years-old.
PlasmaCar The Original by PlaSmartRadio Flyer Red Rider Trike
đź“–Related Reading: Best Outdoor Toys for Kids
Board Game Toys for 3-Year-Olds
Board games are fun for 3-year-olds, as long as they grab their attention. The three pictured below are very popular, with nearly 5-star reviews. my granddaughter is just now getting into board games—we have Candyland which she likes, but I’ll be putting these into my cart to try out with her.
The Marvel I Can Do It! game is really fun because it challenges kids to do physical tasks like limbo-ing and jumping. It comes with props and is a great way to get kids active indoors without breaking something.
The Pete the Cat game is based on one of the Pete the Cat stories, but kids don’t need to have read the stories to love this game. Kids sing silly songs and make silly moves as they gather up cupcakes to win the game. It tests their memory, social, and cooperation skills and is fun for everyone in the family to play.
The Snug as a Bug in a Rug game is a simple, quick game that tests preschooler’s matching skills as they try to keep the bugs safe from the stinkbugs. It teaches counting, color recognition, and cooperation skills and is good for kids with short attention spans, as you can complete a game in 15 minutes.
Marvel I Can Do That!Pete the Cat Missing CupcakesSnug as a Bug in a Rug
Age 3+
Gears! Gears! Gears! Stem Toy for 3-Year-Olds
Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears!
STEM toys that encourage creativity, fine motor, and cognitive skills are important to have in the toy rotation for 3-year-olds. Gears! Gears! Gears! is the award winning building set that inspires early engineering skills in young ones. Kids figure out how to link the gears and make them turn together when the crank is moved. They are sized right for preschooler hands and aren’t too small to be a choking hazard. Parents and kids love these, as you’ll see from the thousands of nearly 5-star reviews.
Ages 3+
Princess Castle Play Tent with Glow in the Dark Stars
Princess Tent with Glow in The Dark Stars
This wildly popular and highly rated Princess Castle Play Tent was on our list of the best toys for preschool girls last year (and the year before!) and it ain’t going anywhere!
I mean, what’s cooler for a 3-year-old than her very own princess tent?
To quote Cameron Diaz in the movie The Holiday, this tent is “seriously cool.” English accents or not, little girls will love camping out in this thing, indoors or out. I mean, it has glow in the dark stars!
I want one.
Age 3-8
Pictured below is another cute play castle, with more of an open-air feel. It’s also rated for indoor or outdoor. Add some twinkly lights and it’s a cozy, magical throne room for your little princess!
And speaking of princesses, the fairy princess dress-up set below is an adorable gift for a 3 year old or preschool age girl!
Chicken Farmer Barbie
Being the Barbie fan that I am, I can’t not recommend a Barbie playset toy for 3-year-olds, and there are several I love. However, my granddaughter loves Barbies and has several, but will sometimes put small things in her mouth so her mom is careful about letting her play with tiny accessories. Every 3-year-old is different, but it can be challenging to keep the small pieces from getting lost at that age. I’m recommending this adorable Barbie Chicken Farmer set because the pieces aren’t too tiny. I adore Barbie playsets with animals or babies in them because it adds another level of pretend play scenarios for a little dreamer to act out. One thing to note—the Barbie pictures has freckles but numerous reviewers report that the one they got does not. Still…it’s an adorable playset that 3-year-olds who like Barbies will love.
Age 3+
Fun Bath Toys are Favorites for 3-Year-Olds
My granddaughter loves playing in the tub and usually grabs pots and bowls from her play kitchen and throws them in the tub to make “soup” at bath time. But I’m going to have to up my bath game and try the Nuby Wacky Waterworks toy. Kids can divert the flow of water by turning the knobs on or off, depending on where they want the water to go. Even tub time can be a learning experience as they problem solve and figure out which knobs to turn to get the water to flow where they want.
Another fun bath toy for 3-year-olds and up are BathBlocks—they float in the water!. The set pictured below can be stacked various ways and has a waterfall feature. There’s also a really cute BathBlocks Castle set, which can float in the water or stick to the tile.
Ages 3+
Nuby Wacky WaterworksBathBlocks Ball Run & Waterfall
Kinetic Sand Toy for 3-Year-Olds
My granddaughter loves her Kinetic Sand so I had to include it on my list of toys for 3-year-olds. It has the most unusual texture—it’s softer and more liquid-like than Play Doh, yet it’s not wet. It feels sandy, yet it doesn’t spill everywhere. It’s quite fun to play with. This ice cream making set is so fun and kids can get creative and make all kinds of treats, like their own mini ice cream shop. Your little chefs can pair this with their play kitchen and it becomes a Dairy Queen. It’s both a creative and pretend play toy, which I love about it.
Age 3+
Paw Patrol are Loved Toys for Preschoolers
Paw Patrol toys are always popular with 3-year-olds. The classic Team Cruiser has all the little canine heroes in their rescue car, ready for whatever adventures little ones want to take them on. It even has the tow pulley in the front to pull another toy vehicle to safety. The projectile launching Elephant Fire Truck is my favorite though—what’s not to love about balls of water launched into the imaginary jungle to put out the imaginary fire? Don’t worry, they aren’t actually filled with water, but they are sure fun to launch at pretend fires (or maybe a sibling). This little fire truck comes with pup Marshall to oversee the ball launching operations.
Ages 3+
Paw Patrol Firetruck with LauncherPAW Patrol Team Cruiser
KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage
I’m adding another dollhouse to our list because a) I love dollhouses and b) this KidKraft Chelsea Doll Cottage is so utterly charming! It’s a little more cottage and traditional style than the more modern Tiny Land dollhouse I mentioned earlier. It fits 5-inch dolls which are not included, but it does come with furniture, including a grand piano. Here is a KidKraft wooden doll family that would fit it.
Dollhouses are wonderful toys for 3-year-old girls and boys to nurture empathy and story telling and to help them work out feelings. My daughter told me the other day that my granddaughter reenacts things from her day with her dolls and “makes the kids and parents boss each other around.” I guess from a 3-year-olds perspective, that’s what their day is like, and it’s good for them to be able to be the boss in their own little world sometimes.
Age 3-7
Role-Play & Dress Up Costumes
3-year-olds love to play pretend and dress up as princesses, pirates, fireman, or whatever occupation or role model they are currently into. An afternoon of dressing up and playing pretend is a preschooler’s favorite activity. Look for pretend play costumes that speak to what they like and you can probably find it on Amazon. Or, raid mom or dad’s or grandma’s closet for things they can use, like hats and scarves.
Below are a couple fun role play costumes for preschoolers. I bought the Disney Princess set for my soon-to-be granddaughter who recently turned 4 and she loved it. It’s tops and bottoms, plus jewelry and head bands. The recommended age is 4+ because the sizes are 4x – 6x but they fit 3-year-olds too, just a little bigger, depending on your little one’s size. The other set is an astronaut, fireman, doctor, and construction worker, for ages 3+.
I also really love this set of superhero capes and masks for girls or boys. The neck is adjustable so it fits kids ages 3-8. These would be so fun for a superhero themed party, as well as a little superhero crime fighting pretend play.
Disney Princess Dress Up TrunkRole Play Dress Up Clothe
Age 3+
Dinosaur Tracks
If your preschooler loves dinosaurs (or cars), this is a great gift. The tracks fit together easily, and can be arranged a variety of ways. Each car takes 2 AA batteries and they race around the track while kids can make the dinosaurs chase them. It comes with little trees and a bridge, so you can build a whole Jurassic Park with this thing, and maybe add some people figures from other playsets to act out some dinosaur drama!
Ages 3+
Melissa & Doug Play Vet Set
The Melissa & Doug Play Vet Set has been around several years, and is still one of the best toys for 3-year-olds, especially if they love animals. It encourages nurturing, empathy, and make-believe play in little ones. It comes with all the tools young vets need, a plush doggie and kitty, and a little bag to put everything in, for take-along fun. It’s really adorable and excellent quality because it comes from a quality toymaker.
Ages 3-6
Gentle Monster Balance Board
Gentle Monster Wooden Balance Board
I love this wobble balance board—it’s such a wonderful open-ended toy for 3-year-olds and up. Use it on a rug or cushioned mat to protect your floors and keep the noise down. Kids can balance on it which is great for muscle and coordination—but it’s so much more. Kids can lay on it, turn it over and use it like a bridge, play with cars on it, use it as a slide, the options are truly endless. And it supports up to 480 pounds, so mom and dad can use it too.
Ages 3+
I hope our list of the best toys for preschool girls helps you find the perfect toy for the 3-year-old and 4-year-old girls on your gift list. Be sure and check out our suggestions for the top toys for girls age 6 to 8 as well, since many toys do crossover in age ranges.
And there are many toys on our preschool boys gift guide that girls would love too. Happy Shopping!
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