3Rd Birthday Gift

Reader devices are fine, but instead -- or in addition -- think about giving her the gift of time. I'm sure your area must have some kind of children's theatre -- take her to a kids' play, or a puppet show, or some other child-friendly outing she might never have done before! My daughter (11) adores all kinds of theatre, dance, musicals, largely because she was exposed to them starting very young, two or three. Your daughter will have fun!

Does she have a scooter?
I got my son one for his 3rd birthday and it's still in his 10 toys that he loves.

We got a LeapPad for him for Christmas, and he's just not that into it.
He's more of a play outside loving kid. So sitting quietly and playing with the computer hasn't really caught on.

If you do get it, get the LeapPad and not the Leapster.

Why not get her regular books and read to her? My DD got one of those reading things from Nana, played with it a few times, got frustrated and gave up. I have spent more time reading the stories myself than she has reading them via the electronic thing.

On the flip side, she does have and use (though much less now) a V-tech laptop that plays games. We often take it in the car.

DD also likes her craft supplies, play dough (do NOT get Moon Dough - it's a mess) and dress up outfits. Oh, and for Christmas at 3.5 yrs old, she got a Lego brand kid camera.

If your DD likes to pretend to cook, if you can go to IKEA, they have some great food and play items. Very fun and DD loved the lettuce that she could "peel" for a salad. She likes to play restaurant and we are her customers.

How about an chef apron, hat and her own little utensil to help you in the kitchen?

Regards,

Kim
S. - DFW Cake Decorating P.

If she loves books, go to the bookstore and pick out a bunch of really nice ones. She's going to learn so much more and have so much more fun with real, tangible books/games/toys than any electronic reader. The pictures are so much nicer in a real book.

I wish we had paid the extra $$ for the color screen leap pad. We got the cheaper lap-top looking one and the black and white screen is hard to see. The toy is great otherwise for our 3-year old to be introduced to computers.