We have O's birthday coming up and have no idea what to get her. She's not that into toys right now, so I hate to spend money and have other people spend money on a bunch of stuff she'll never use. Plus, we have a tiny living space right now. Ideas? What are smallish things your 3 year olds actually used?
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Magnatiles? Or maybe some games? I have a bunch of peaceable kingdom and HABA games on my DS’s wish list. He will be 3 in nov. He already likes count your chickens from PK
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My son is almost 2 1/2, but he loves magnadoodles (or any variant, I think we got ours at Target)
https://www.target.com/p/b-toys-toulouse-laptrec/-/A-14533268
but now that I see this one, it might be fun too.
https://www.target.com/p/b-h2-whoa-water-drawing-board/-/A-51333852
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@peaches1038: Ooh games, good idea. She has some generic magnatiles and is just starting to get into them more. I'll look at the PK games. They'd be good for developing her attention span and ability to sit still!
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Some smallish things DD loved at 3 or just after:
Board games (candy land especially)
Magnifying glass
Binoculars
Simple train set
Dress up clothes - even a simple pair of wings
Art supplies - crayons, water colors, play dough
Puzzles - a Melissa and Doug wooden box with four puzzles in it. Or crocodile creek ones. -
@Mrs. Turtle: this is a really fun, interactive game that is a huge hit at our house too!
Think Fun Roll and Play Game for Toddlers - Your Child's First Game! Award Winning and Fun for Parents and Kids https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0070A9OUA/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_wSDDBbG0XYESH
Oh and as the pp said-DS LOVES his binoculars too!
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I'm going to 3rd the binoculars! Our son's babysitter gave him an old cheap pair to play with, he was even asleep on the couch with them when I got home yesterday.
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For 3, we focused on outdoor things and it was a big hit. A tree swing, a bike, chalk, bubbles, and a bug hunting "kit".
We actually still use the bug hunt kit quite a bit a year later - I also got some cheap plastic bugs to go with it, so we can "hunt" for them inside. We don't have binoculars but he would LOVE those - and it also goes well with "outdoors" things. -
@MrsLonghorn: I love these ideas and she would love them too. Unfortunately her birthday is in November and we live in an area with a pretty long winter. Hmm, maybe some toddler snowshoes!
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@Sams Mom: Binoculars are definitely on the list. She loves my parents set but they are fancy expensive ones that she can't carry around.
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@peaches1038: This looks like fun! I'll add it to our list.
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@catgirl: Thanks! I'll keep this all in mind. I think kid versions of grown up things (binoculars, maybe dress up supplies) are going to be a big hit with her.
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My 3 yo received a bug box that he loves (although maybe not great for a Nov bday). He really enjoys playdoh and has gotten into games. Right now he likes hi ho cherry-o and sneaky snacky squirrel (this one is my favorite, it's aesthetically more pleasing and is less "plastic-y" than other kid games.
Avoid the game Mr. Bucket. It makes me want to pull my hair out.
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@LadyDi: haha good to know. I like the bug box idea-I might just get her one of those now. We live in the woods and that would be a great activity she could do semi-independently just outside the front door.
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I have a 3.5, almost 4 year old. Her fav gift from her 3rd birthday was probably a kid zoom camera; 2nd is the Little Tikes trampoline (we have the one that you can fold up). Smaller toys she is into are magnatiles, beginners puzzles, beading/necklace making. And arts & craft stuff esp cutting. She also likes this wipe off workbook I got for a recent road trip.
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My almost 3 year old loves the Let’s Go fishing game. I’d attach a link but my phone or the site is being wonky. I like it because she can play it with her sister or us, or she can just sit there by herself and fish, which truthfully is what she enjoys the most!
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For games , DS LOVED 'Don't Break the Ice' that he got for his 3rd birthday. He just picked out 'Let's Go Fishin' as well.
Depending on how much tv time you allow, movies (Moana and Sing were big hits).
This has been well liked also: https://www.amazon.com/Crayola-Mess-Free-Activity-Station-Colorful/dp/B00J5KVTBK/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1534454730&sr=1-1&keywords=light+up+draw
and
Poke-A-Dot books: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1601692706/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_GsDvwb16ZC68T -
if you are getting binoculars, maybe a magnifying glass and a nature guide? The "take along guides" or "fun with nature" guide books have been great for my kids.
art supplies / stickers
play silks
we love all of the peaceable kingdom board games
puzzles -
My son loves little cases to keep treasures in. Also notebooks from the dollar store to scribble in.
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I’ll echo the magnifying glass idea - I picked one up on a whim a while back, and it’s become something my three year old plays with almost daily. We read a book where a detective used one to look for clues, and she’s constantly roaming the house looking for clues now...the “mystery” she’s solving changes by the minute.
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My LO will be three in December. We introduced Go Fish about a month ago and she is NUTS for it! To save our sanity and mix things up a bit, DH and I have just started teaching her to play Uno as well. So, maybe card games would be a good companion to some of the board games others have suggested.
Also, I think you all might be out in the boonies a bit, but is there anywhere nearby that you could get a membership to/ask a relative who wants to get O a gift to buy a membership?
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