Gift Ideas for 3 Year Old Boy

How about Lincoln Logs? Seems everyone forgets they are still around :-) My son (4 yr old) received some last year for Christmas and begged for them for his birthday. Also, it's a great way to get dad and son together to build!

I love educational toys. Anything from national geographic, a globe, easel, educational computer games. good luck!!!!
jen

Color Wonder things by Crayola are great because he can color or paint at will and it doesn't get all over everything. My favorites are the "finger paints" and the plain paper. The markers are good to. The coloring books are a little annoying because the colors only show up inside the lines and most toddlers I know don't care about that. The supplies are relatively inexpensive and definitly easier and less headache than cleaning finger paints out of the carpet. I got some for my nephews at Christmas and they love it.

I was in your same place exactly one year ago when my little one turned 3. I decided to ask for gift cards to places like chick-a-fila, movies, petting zoos jump zones ect. Tickets to upcoming thomas the train shows/events, blues clues ect. Year memberships to Houston zoo, water park ect. Basically i decided to ask that people give my child experiences and the idea worked out wonderfully. My house is less cluttered and we have had a busy year filled with FUN new experiences we may never have been able to afford all on our own. hope this helps

M

How about a computer game/learning tool? Some excellent suggestions are Reader Rabbit (Toddler, Early Reading (ages 3-5), Colors & Shapes, Alphabet....etc)http://www.learningcompany.com/jump.jsp?itemID=512&it... or Sesame street, etc. There are many excellent learning programs for the computer that are fun and educational. Children this age absorb information like a sponge.

Some simple outdoor activities such as bubbles, chalk, watercolors and bug collection kits are also fun ideas.

Hope this helps.

My son just turned 3 on September 12, and we got him a race car set that you shake up the cars and put them on the track to race. Also, you might want to look at leapfrog leap pad. Jason's is (I think its called) my first leap pad. You put different stories on there and read it. If you are wanting learing, leapfrog is the way to go. Also try V- tech. You can go to Wal-Mart or Toys R Us and just look around. Thats what we had to do for Jason. If he likes to draw get him an easel. The biggest thing I can suggest it just go (without son in tow) and look at things.

Hi R.,

My son just had his 3rd birthday party on Saturday. Here are a few things that he got that I really liked...
t-ball stand
Bob the Builder -- Follow Me Scoop
Leap Frog Card Games and a Twister type game
Play-dough and books

I think his favorite is the Bob the Builder stuff. That was a big hit with all the kids.

A.

HI I SEE HOW YOU FEEL. HOW ABOUT THOSE LEAP PAD BOOKS. yOU BUY HIM THE PAD AND TELL THE GUEST TO GET HIM THE BOOKS. THEY ARE INEXPENSIVE AND FUN FOR A 3 YEAR OLD. OR YOU CAN ALWAYS GO WITH CLOTHE, JUST PUT THE SIZE IN THE INVITATION AND PEOPLE WILL FIGURE THAT U WANT CLOTHE. TOO MANY TOYS IS NOT GOOD BECAUSE FIRST U WILL HAVE PILES AND PILES OF TOYS AND KIDS GET BOARD OF THEM PRETTY FAST. THEY WILL PLAY WITH THEM 2-3 TIMES AND THEY WILL BECOME UNINTERESTED. I KNOW I HAVE A 3 1/2 BOY, AND I THINK THE TOYS HE HAS ARE ENOUGH FOR WHEN MY 7MO. BOY GROWS UP. GOOD LUCK IN THE PARTY.HAVE FUN.

Do you have a savings account/college fund established for this child yet? Now is a good time to start one. Ask relatives that usually buy big dollar items to purchase a cheaper item and make a deposit into the savings account.

A friend of mine was recently redoing her son's room and asked for home depot cards and walmart cards so they would purchase items needed.

Another friend was purchasing a new expensive wooden swing set and asked for gift cards from the store they would be purchasing it at. Hope that helps

I would suggest the geotracks trains and add ons...

we've had this train for almost 3 years, it still looks brand new and my boys haven't been able to tear it up. it also has a bunch of add ons. there aren't any small parts, which will be great since you still have a little one, that I'm sure puts everything into his mouth. it's also really easy to snap together.

I read the idea of having a book party in a magazine somewhere....everyone buys the birthday boy their favorite storybook. I always loved that idea.

I have 3 and 4 year old boys.

I bought my little girl a desk with the leap pad book on it. she loves sitting there and reading and writing and singing the abc's. Also ask for easy read books and wooden puzzle they last longer.
L.

I think music is a wonderful gift that all kids love. Why not have some fun rhythm instruments for the kids to play/keep. You can also get your son a very special instrument like a guitar for toddlers. ***Or you can bring in outside musical help. Check out my profile to learn more about teeny-tot-tunes.

Have you seen the building blocks called Magneatos?? Look them up online at toysrus.com. THey have them at specialty toy stores too. I am thinking about getting those for my son who is turning 2. The blocks come in various sizes for their age. They look really cool! You might also want to check out Lakeshore Learning online as well. They have more educational toys but have great building sets as well. Your son may like to play with the gears set. Lots to chose from there, too. I love gifts that spark creativity!

You can check at CVS/pharmacy some of the photo gifts, like for example character plates, photo mug, a calendar or poster with his picture on it. That can be additional very personal gift for your son that will always remind him of this birthday.
Good Luck!
Agata

Check out Like-a-Bike. We got them for our 3 year old twins and they love them. We are able to go for bike rides as a family and they will never need training wheels. We got ours from Hele Mills in UK but I'm sure they are availalbe in the US by now.

V tech smile game system - my three year old son loves this, but at first needed a little help. Sit and Spin, Board games like hi ho cherri o, chutes and ladders, and more for three and up. There is a fishing game where the fish go round and round and open there moutha and you have to catch your colored fish with a fishing pole.

Hi there! I also have a little boy turning 3 in November. Bob the Builder has some great toys, tools and learning material. Also Playdoh and accessories to use along with it.Bathtub toys, a bubble machine for the tub, and DVD's.

HOW ARE YOU? THE ONLY THING I CAN TELL YOU TO DO IS TO LOOK AROUND IN HIS ROOM AND SEE WHAT HE DOES NOT HAVE AND THEN DECIDE WHAT HE WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.THRE ARE SOME NICE EDUCATION BOOKS AND TOYS AT TARGET YOU JUST HAVE TO ASK ONE OF THE SALESPERSONS FOR SOME HELP.
TAKE CARE D.

You have some good ideas. I can understand fully I feel the same way. From my personal experience is that the vtech is not built for young children I have had to return one twice within just 2 1/2 months. The Leapster however is amazing. My kids can't get enough of what it has to offer. It is non-stop learning and REALLY built to last. I can't tell you how many times my 5 and 3 year olds have dropped them and no problems. Good luck and hope he has a nice birthday.

S.

Have you tried the my first leappad. It looks like a school bus or they have it just in blue and you buy different books that go with it like thomas the train, dora, wiggles, ect. and he learns to read and his colors and shapes and alphabet. I got it for my three year old on his birthday and he loves it. I put it up when he is done with it so he doesn't loose the cartridges that go with the books but when he gets it out he will sit and play with that thing for awhile. I also got him thomas trains and a set of thomas tracks. You can buy the big thomas train and it opens up and stores all the trains in it so they aren't all over the floor. There are so many toys out there and my kids probably have most of them, so I know what you mean about not wanting more cars to have thrown all over the house. I have three boys and the oldest two have about 60-70 hot wheel cars. Good Luck and clothes is also a good gift to get him. He might not like opening it but he will have new stuff to wear and you won't have to buy it.

I;m in the processing of helping Santa put together a Wishlist for my twin son's; they;ll be 2 1/2 at Christmas. Consider these items...

The Laurie Berkner Band - DVD/CD. You've probably caught her on Noggin. The DVD has gone platinum and my son's love it. I found mine at WalMart. One of my son's dances to it while the other listens intently as though he is studying classical music (it's NOT classical music but really fun, catchy toddler tunes).

Fisher Price "Kid Tough FP3 Player". It's like a MP3 player or an Ipod (not real familiar with these things) but it's music gadget where you can download your toddlers favorite tunes. I bought each of my son's a toddler CD player but they'd run the CD in a matter of hours. This FP3 also comes with speakers where the FP3 player docks right into the set of speakers. If you don't get the speakers then they have to listen thru toddler safe earphones. The FP3 player and speakers are new to the market and I think they'll be flying off the shelf...The player is running $59.99 to $79.99 and the speakers are around $29.99. WalMart has the FP3 player but I can only find the speakers on-line.

"Wedgits" are a new award-winning spin-off from the traditional building blocks

I have a full time Nanny and she says my son's LOVE to look and learn at flash cards and now there are all types. I found the widest selection and best prices at justforkidsbooks.com.

My son's also love dinosaurs (Thanks to Laurie Berkner and the "We are the Dinasaurs" song) so their also getting Dinosaur figures, costumes and puzzles.

Crayon twistables - work like a mechanical pencil - supposedly less breakable.

24 or 25 piece puzzles my Melissa and Doug (also found some 25 piece puzzles of wildlife at Dollar Tree for a buck).

"Dado" cubes - award winning.

Fatbraintoys.com has a lot of really great idea's.

Good luck. Please share with us what he gets and, more importantly, what he likes!

I totally agree with everyone else about the leapfrog, my 5 month old daughter already has one! As for a different suggestion, how about the new easel out at Toys-r-us. I can't remember the brand but I think it is fisher price. It tells you what to draw and the colors to use. Something easier? The large size legos, I mean the real big ones that fit in the plastic bags, my little cousins all love them. Outdoor toys? Sandbox? I hope you find what your looking for, good luck!
Mindy

How about The Rescue Heroes they are action figures but non violent so that little ones can act out positive role play instead of shoot 'em up games. They are great for little ones because they have chuncky feet (which makes them hard to nock over) and big acessories so that small hands can do it them selves. They were a big hit in my preschool class room.the boys loved them.
Good luck
Jas

What about money? It may not seem like a warm and thoughtful present but you could start a savings account for your child. We started one for our son and when he gets a monetary gift that is over $10 we split it - half goes to his savings account and the other half goes towards buying him a toy.
Another idea would be a gift certificate to an indoor play arena in your town. Like if you have a Tiny Tots or a Kids Station type of indoor play center. Tokens for Chuck E. Cheese would also be a nice gift for a 3 year old. Or even money for an extracircular activity like soccer, gymnastics or a music class.

Hope this helps!

Hi,
Have you considered aking for money to put into a savings account or invest in some way for your son? This way you avoid the whole over crowded bedroom/house and can get a head start on a college fund.

hi there, my name is V.. i have a boy who is three years old. i know its hard to buy thing for boys then girls. what i buy my son is educational things. remember u need to get him ready for when he stats school. i dont buy him tos its just a waist of money. i also buy him clothes. i hope i helped u with your question.

What you have for ideas sound good so far. I can understand not wanting any more little cars, etc... Maybe playdough would be another thing to add. They always run out of that. Also, sidewalk chalk for the driveway or patio. Any kind of contraption that makes bubbles is fun also. Another idea...I know he may not quite understand this yet, but maybe now would be a good time to start asking guests to bring a slightly used book instead of a gift. You could compile a box of them (along with some of his less used toys) and donate them to the local Women's Shelter or Hospital. Your son will undoubtably get plenty of gifts from you and family, so this wouldn't add to the already full toy chest you seem to have. You could talk to your son and explain what you're doing and take him with you to drop them off. And instead of focusing on gifts for the party, focus on games and fun. I myself have a soon to be two year old, with another on the way in a few weeks, and am anxious not to have every single toy or book ever made.

I made up a art and craft bag for my 3 year old, In it I have crayons and coloring books, a few work books and tons of other things for him to use his imagination. Oh another thing he loves is tents and sleeping bags. But I hate to say it but my kids have more fun with just random things than with the room full of toys that they have. :)

How about face painting at his birthday party! I paint faces for kids parties and just did a party for a three year old last weekend. The kids love it!The boys and the girls! www.art-bylinda.com is the website. I am not sure if this is the forum to pass on the info, but in this case I thought you might like the idea.

I had three daughters and then my son. I was always (and still remain) mostly puzzled about what to get him for gifts. The girls seemed so easy in comparison.

Good Luck :)
L.

Hi...my son turned 3 this last April and he is just about the same as your son. Anything that has an engine he loves!!! I think a bike is a wonderful idea also. It gets them outside and sooner or later he'll learn to ride without training wheels. Also book about trucks and trains, etc are great because it is a subject he is interested in but at the same time it is quality time with him and a learning tool.

Try telling them to go to the Lakeshore learning store. Everything in there is educational and it is all very cool.

wooden blocks or those big legos for kids, music, books

Just a couple of suggestions. First, it is incredibly rude to ask people to give money as a gift. If they offer, then a college fund is great. But soliciting funds for your child is down right greedy and very poor manners -- it is your job as a parent to fund your child's education, etc...
Second, my son turned 3 in July. We had a small party, which cut down on the clutter that unwanted toys produce. He received (and loves) books, tractors, and trains -- especially books about tractors and trains. He has a sit-n-spin, and likes it a lot. He also has the big legos and LOVES them, always building houses and incorporates them with his train stuff. He also enjoys his trike -- he's not ready quite yet for a bike with training wheels (maybe next year).
Have fun, and good luck!

I have a 4 year old girl who is totally obssesed with Dora. so for her 4th birthday, i got the help of family and friends and turned her bedroom into a Dora haven. she has everything ever made by Dora. from the TV to the DVD player, CD radio, clock, lamp, bedding, curtains, clothes, dolls, games, posters, videos (probably everyone ever made). she loved it. its all stuff she can use to decorate her room and this way, u dont' have to shell out to redecorate his room. if he has a totally favorite character go with that.

also, last christmas i got her a V-Tech learning system which is totally awesome for kids to learn, its video games that are educational and she loves them.

good luck.

I bought my 3 year old nephew one of those "go fishing" games. It used to be magnetic, where you have a fishing pole and a string, and you try to catch as many of your color fish as you can while they open and close their mouths. I got it from Wal-Mart.

i have this problem too, but have found the best way to come up with ideas is to take them to Toys R Us and show them different toys. That is how I create my list. Educational toys are great, you can never have enough books, and what about dress up. Even boys like to pretend to be a cowboy, doctor, etc. As for outside, they have a whole section at Toys R Us. They have a cool bug vacuum, but may not be age appropriate. Toys for outside are fun too, like a T-ball stand, or velcro mitts w/ ball to work on catching and hand-eye coordination. How about a soccor ball to work on kicking -outstuff is great for gross motor.
Hope that helps.

I would suggest getting in touch with a Discovery Toys rep. I have one that lives in Conroe but she would mail you a catalog. They have awesome toys for all ages and the cool thing is that they have a LIFETIME guarantee. I bought something a few years ago for my niece who is now 7 and one of the pieces got lost. I called the company and they sent me an entirely new toy without question. I didn't even have to return the old one. All I was interested in was a replacement part but they sent the entire thing at no cost. The other cool this is that all their toys have a skill that a child needs to develop to focus on. Some have textures for babies to learn. Others are science or math or reading helpers. Many build on a base set and grow with the child from toddler to elementary school. You can order older accessories to go with something they can use now. They are awesome. Email me privately if you want my Discovery Toys rep to call you.
C.

i think books are always a good idea. if you want him to think of reading as more than a chore, it may be wise to make it an exciting ritual now. you may also want to consider things that promote creativity, for instance, markers that only mark on paper, or a coloring book. inspire him to imagine!