Gifts for a 3-year-old — the best gift ideas

No time for the whole list? These are our four favourites for a 3-year-old: DUPLO Camping Adventure, with a little tent, a campfire and figures to go on adventures with; the pop-up book of The Very Hungry Caterpillar, the classic that comes to life even more at 3; the wooden play kitchen from Little Dutch, with a different menu every day; and HABA’s first games box, with a handful of short games without reading or counting. Four gifts you can’t go wrong with.

A small gift for a 3-year-old, for the Sinterklaas shoe, for a birthday party or as a reward. Everything below costs less than ten euros. For more ideas for the shoe, see our small gifts for the Sinterklaas shoe.

With up to 25 euros there’s plenty of choice: a puzzle, a picture book, a musical instrument or something to take outside. Everything below has been picked for a 3-year-old.

Blocks are the best open-ended toy there is: a tower today, a stable tomorrow, a marble run next year. Choose beautiful wood that can take a knock, like Grimm’s or Grapat, and it lasts for years — often even for the next child. Studio Bambacht has the full range of wooden blocks.

For indoors when it rains: a balance board to wobble and rock on, or Stapelstein to climb, stack and build an obstacle course with. They practise balance and motor skills — and for a 3-year-old they’re simply great fun.

At 3, reading aloud is a fixed moment of the day, and a toddler often wants the same book again and again. A picture book with a funny story, flaps or pop-ups is just right. Studio Bambacht and LazyLama have a lovely selection of picture books for this age. Most are in Dutch — perfect for a child picking up the language at playgroup.

A 3-year-old can do a puzzle of 12 to 24 pieces, and a box of puzzles of increasing difficulty lasts a whole year. In a magnetic book your child slides the figures into the story themselves — handy for journeys. Lotana has a large collection of puzzles for toddlers.

At 3, crafts are mostly about colouring, modelling clay and making something yourself. Chunky pencils, felt-tips that wash out of clothes, modelling clay, pompoms or a colouring book are just right. LazyLama and Pipoos have plenty more. Also see our blog on lovely drawing supplies for children.

A 3-year-old wants to run, climb and ride. A balance bike or a scooter with light-up wheels, a beach set or a ball: playing outdoors is the best thing there is at this age. Check the size of a scooter: the Mini fits perfectly now. LazyLama and Little Dutch have the full range of outdoor toys.

At 3 a child copies what they see around them: cooking, making coffee, the doctor putting on a plaster. A wooden play kitchen or a doctor’s set completes that game, and a play tent gives them their own little spot to crawl into. Little Dutch has play kitchens, separate accessories and play tents.

With DUPLO a 3-year-old builds their first houses, vehicles and zoos. The bricks are big enough for small hands and later fit onto ordinary LEGO. Browse the full range in the LEGO Shop.

A game for a 3-year-old is short, needs no reading and is ideally played together against the game rather than against each other. Cooperative games like HABA’s First Orchard are ideal for that: everyone wins or loses together. Lotana has the full range of games for toddlers.

A 3-year-old loves making noise, and an instrument of their own turns that into music. A xylophone, a drum or a sound puzzle practises rhythm and listening, and it’s great fun to do together too. Choose wood: it sounds nicer and lasts longer.

A fun day out together is a treat in itself: you experience something special and make memories to talk about for ages. A few ideas:

🐐 A children’s farm

🦁 A zoo

🎭 A toddler show at the theatre

🏊 The toddler pool together

🛝 A big playground to run wild in