I’m looking for some gift ideas for my almost three year old boy for family who are asking. We’re not big on toy clutter and large loud toys. He likes cars/trucks/vehicles but he has a lot of those already. Is there anything smallish/inexpensive yours love?
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My son also loved trucks and we had/have so many and they are huge!
My kids love and use the ikea little tent. It takes up a lot of room but gets a lot of use.
Outdoor toys? My kids are obsessed with their sandbox and have been for 2 years.
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My son is obsessed with Rescue Bot Transformers. He can play with them for hours.
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For my nieces and nephews that age, they LOVE candy. And they don't get it regularly so it's a treat to get it for their birthday/christmas. And my SIL loves that's consumable.
Or bubble guns/bubbles, bouncy balls for outside (the bigger the better)
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Scooter!
Micro Mini Scooter (Red) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004D93VKK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_zh-kBb7C8K5WX
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My boys (2+4) love duplos, especially the vehicles that we have (digger, dump truck, car parts). I don't mind that it's bunch of little pieces because I can dump them all in one container. It's easy for relatives to add to their collection and I don't have to find another place to store more toys, just add them to the existing basket.
ETA- even my 2 year old can put them away because there is no sorting involved. -
My 3 year old mostly loves to play with shoelaces (wrapping them around random stuff) and various bags/containers. Perhaps a small backpack or this: https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Lace-Trace-Activity/dp/B000O7ISY4
Also, this has been a huge success in conjunction with his other toys. He loves picking up things with the orange tongs or the bubble scissors and he can literally use these with any toy he already has: https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Resources-Helping-Hands-Pieces/dp/B00I0CEAZG/
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How about books or art supplies?
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@MaryM: Those have been by go -to suggestions for his whole life pretty much so now we’re overrun with books and paints etc haha. That’s why I need new ideas!
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@misolee: That looks fun but way more pricey than a gift I’d suggest to others. I’ll keep it on my list for Christmas, thanks!
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My son is almost 3, also obsessed with trucks but we have tons of trucks. He is really into "fixing things" with Daddy's tools. He would love some play tools that he could "fix" his toys with. He has also recently started some simple pretend play, I think he would really like some dress-up stuff like a firefighter hat and coat, police officer, etc.
For simple stuff, he loves bubbles - you can get a cheap bubble machine for $10, tons of fun outside. He also loves those battery-powered mister fans to play with outside. He thinks walking around and spraying himself, the yard, mommy and daddy, etc. is hilarious and the best thing ever. I think those are like $5 at Walmart.
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Yes to rescue bots! They come in different sizes and such for various price points. They are well loved 6 months past bday. Also my son really loved kinetic rocks ... kind of like kinetic sand but way less messy! He uses small trucks and diggers we already have with them.
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Duplos or legos
Magnatiles
Puzzles
Art supplies -
Melissa and Doug cleaning set (with a mini broom and mop) and play tools, bubbles, play food set like ice cream or sandwiches that’s different from the regular set.
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One of those boxes of genetic Duplos (as opposed to a kit) has been high with my guys. My kids also really love animals so they’re obsessed with the Schleich animal figurines, they’re the most popular toy in our house right now.
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@muffinsmuffins: My son has the play cleaning set (broom, mop, duster, wisk and dust pan) and he actually cleans with it! Bonus for mom
except for the time he dipped the mop in the dog water bowl to mop the floor with 
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Age 3 is when I started playing board games with my son, things like Zingo and Chutes and Ladders were a big hit. My son also did really well with Spot It, and I keep a tin in my purse for those boredom moments.
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My 3 yo is getting an insect box for his bday to catch lightning bugs. He also loves playdoh, water wow books and has started to get into games (he’s obsessed with don’t break the ice).
Personally I love when he’s gifted tickets or gift certificates like to the zoo or children’s museum or to places he likes to eat.
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@LadyDi: Great idea! Last year I did ice cream giftcards!
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@bhbee: I’ve never heard of kinetic rocks, that sounds fun!
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@Jennibenni: this is the one we have - I happened upon it during TRU closing sale. You could definitely get extra rocks too but he was happy enough with this.
https://www.amazon.com/Kinetic-Rock-Vehicle-Paver-5oz/dp/B01MQOKT1T/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1529607385&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=kinetic+rock&dpPl=1&dpID=61ccdLd%2BRcL&ref=plSrchETA I only let them play at the table and have kept them on a plastic bin lid so minimal escape - they’re annoying on carpet if they end up there!
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https://www.target.com/p/fat-brain-174-toys-vroom-blox-transforming-blocks/-/A-52442436
These are great and easy to take places which I like.
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@Jennibenni: my son will be 3 soon and he wants this:
https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Nesting-Graduated-Stackable/dp/B00EX5J9DM?crid=35XYVNSH9HNBL&keywords=melissa+and+doug+nesting+sorting+garages+and+cars&qid=1529637560&sprefix=melissa+and+doug+nesti&sr=8-3&ref=mp_s_a_1_3We have plenty of cars but I think this will get lots of use, it is able to be stored in a smaller area and it is not battery powered. We are planning to get it from us because he can’t stop talking about it!
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For my son’s 3rd birthday I suggested additions to his wooden train set. I think because it was a train themed party people pretty much stuck to that suggestion. He got a tunnel, bridge, stoplight, and some new cars. It really didn’t add much to the clutter and he’s spending so much time with the the train set.
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Mine love this game! And I am another vote for kinetic rock. Also, these have been loved and used daily for years at our house:
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@MamaCate: @MrsSRS: Those all look fun, thanks!
@Corduroy: For whatever reason he’s just not into trains. My sister gave him a few for Christmas and he’s never played with them much.
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Does he have things to drive the cars in/on?
Hot wheels makes a garage that folds flat. I love it because it’s easy to store away. Melissa and Doug makes a rug with streets. Prince Lionheart makes a playmat too (wipeable kind). Both fold/rollup.
At 3 my son finally started getting into the duplos that have a theme. Like an airplane. And they are relatively small/can keep in a small box.Oh! 3 is when they make a lot of board games to start playing! Hi-Ho Cherry-O, candy land, chutes and ladders. And there’s a game called Shopping List by orchard toys on amazon that my 3yo loves and I really don’t mind playing.
Oh memory games too.Also fine motor skill “tools” are a big hit. Learning resources makes fine motor tool kit like different types of tweezers. My son could use those with pompoms all day long.
They have a bug game where you pick up rubber bugs with tweezers (also learning resources).
Lacing beads and cards. -
Oh if you don’t mind the occasional mess.. experiment kits have been fun for my son. Messy though
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What about a car/road rug? We have one from amazon and another from Ikea and my son drives his cars on the roads. He’s 6 and has been using his since he was 2. They roll up and slide under our couch for storage.
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@SweetiePie: @Shantuck: That’s a good idea! I’ll add it to my list!
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Compared to friends, we are pretty minimal on toys, and we have nothing that is battery operated/lights/noise.
We made DS' 3rd birthday last year all about outdoor play: he got a balance bike, a tree swing, the Gonge hilltops, a bug hunting kit, chalk, bubbles.... With this list, the prices ranged from $5 to $100 and everything was a huge hit. At 3.75 now, he still uses all of it!
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@MrsLonghorn: Amazing idea!
@Jennibenni: Yup us too. Street / City rug from Melissa and Doug get use every single day.
except for the time he dipped the mop in the dog water bowl to mop the floor with 
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