What Do You Get a Three Year Old?

My in-laws got my son an electic powered ATV toy - it charges in the wall, etc. He LOVES it. in fact, his best friend and he ride like little bikers on it, very cute. We keep him on the sidewalk or in the backyard with it - always supervised. I would stick with an actual toy vs. a full scale three-wheeler. FYI - He knew how to steer and put in reverse immediately. Probably because of his obsession with motorcycles. However, you may be limited on space, so some other thoughts are guitar lessons at TCU or some other activity that he enjoys may be a fun alternative that also provides engagement at home with practice and teaches discipline, etc.
Whatever you get he will love. Have fun!

How about a magazine subscription? My little one just turned 3 and she loves getting something in the mail every month. Instead of a "thing" treat him to dinner at Medieval Times maybe? There is nothing that says you "have" to spend a certain amount of money on any given occasion. Believe me, the toys and things become more and more expensive and the expectations keep getting higher.....

But you didn't ask for advice about that :-)

The bounce house is a great idea too!

D.

Yeah--a 4 wheeler for a 3 yr-old is a little....uhmmmm...well, excessive. hee!
It's hard to know what to get kids when they have so much, isn't it? Here's what I've decided with my guys...
First, I remember being a kid & being really excited about silly little things--like my Grandma buying me--a girl--a motorcycle toy! I thought it was so great! How exciting to be given something so unusual! It was probably a $1 toy, but I'll never forget it. Kids can be just excited by an unusual little toy as they are about the bigger things.
Second, I look at what my boys have & realize that the toys that they loved & carried around for days are now forgotten & discarded. This makes me realize that it's sort of silly to go out & spend a fortune on toys when they're just going to forget about them in a matter of days. If you keep it simple, they'll be just as happy and you won't be in the poorhouse.
Third, my 4 yr old has shown a real aptitude for geography, so I'm going to try to focus on developing & nurturing that talent (an area I'm totally lacking in) by looking for toys that will help him to progress in that area. Like, I have him all excited about the prospect of an US map for the wall of his new room. Look at areas your little guy is growing in--does he like colors? Maybe you can get him his own finger-paints. Does he love saying his abc's? He might like one of the many Leap Frog alphabet toys--or even refrigerator magnets (my little guy loved them at that age--thought they were really special).
Honestly, whatever you give him can be a big deal, depending on the spin you put on it! I have given my son a package of disposable spoons (a tale in and of itself) and told him these were HIS SPECIAL SPOONS and he was excited about it.
At any rate--do not get your teeny little guy a 4 wheeler. He may seem like a really big boy, but he's really just a baby! You'll see what I mean when he gets a little older!

What are you going to do next year? Or better yet when he is 9 and has the same 4 wheeler and by that time is expecting the world for his birthday. Its very tough cause i know i have gone overboard before, but its going to be hard to live up to this down the road. I would say wait until he is 8 or 9 (I would wait even later, but that is due to my personal feelings about kids and 4 wheelers) and when he gets it he will have a look on his face you will never forget, and it will be a moment he will never forget.

Let the other family members get him the amazing things this year and save your moments for the older ages when he will remember them and still associate the gift as coming from you more than 5 minutes after it happens.

S.

Hi A.,
We bought the electric John Deere Tractor for ages 3-7 for my son when he turned 3. It has 2 speeds and a reverse on it. When he first got it, he did not no how to steer very well, so we locked it down in the low speed-this particular vehicle you can do that with. Well now he can drive it everywhere, and he Loves it! As far as the electric vehicles go-this one in the 2nd speed is pretty powerful especially for a 3 year old. I do not regret this purchase. As far as the battery goes, It depends on how long he rides it per day. We charge it about every other day. The tractor will run for about 3-5 hours depending on if they are towing things around in the trailor or not. In the time I have typed this e-mail , my son has already asked to go ride his tractor. Any way- good luck!

My parents got my son a Power Wheels Harley (it has 4 wheels, it's just that two are under the saddlebags)when he turned 3. He absolutely LOVED it. Rode it every day, and kept riding it for years. Unfortunately, he's too big for it now. I have two sets of batteries (to keep it charged all the time because literally, I couldn't get him off of it most days LOL) -- it's red with flame decals (too funny), in good shape, and I'd sell it to you relatively cheap! That way it's not so expensive or 'excessive'....if you're interested, let me know.

But clearly -- I think it's a perfectly fine gift. I don't know that I would have purchased a new one myself as they are pricey, but the grandparents know no bounds...

Re-Reading the other posts more clearly...I didn't realize you meant an actual gas-powered four-wheeler! Not to be too blunt, but in my opinion, there is absolutely no way a 3 year old is ready for one of those things. My nine year old isn't ready for one of those things!! The Power Wheels type vehicle will be plenty for him to handle at this age...and some of the other ideas were really neat!

I would never get my child either of these things. I used to turn to the police every time I saw kids across the lake from me with go carts. They are not safe. I was so worried about them. The road is for 16 and older licensed drivers not kids. There were some that got killed just before that. What parents do not realize people can get killed going 5 miles an hour. My neighbors had this little slide that had a car that they could ride in. Sort of a ramp. They did not go real fast but they all got a lot of joy going on it over and over. The neighbors also came over to go on it. They at that time were about 2 and 3. I have no idea where to get one. But good luck in finding something safe. G. W

How about a bike? Around 3 years they can bike real fast. My two oldest love to bike! (And me or dad running after them with the 2 year old in the stroller LOL)

And I agree with another lady that mostly very little presents turn out to be their treasure because they can take it in their bed. (Or are my boys the only ones who want to take their dearest toys in bed?)

Go with him to garagesales. Learn him that second hand is as good als new, so you can safe money to donate. Although, the last part is more for a four year old. But at least tell him not every kid in this world gets expensive presents. A lot of kids have absolutely nothing to play with but a stick and a rock.

I.

I would definately not get him a real 4 wheeler!!! Those things are very dangerous. My husband got in a serious accident on one, could have died, and has a scar on his face from the stitches. I would suggest a bounce house. You can buy them at Toys R Us.

It sounds like he has plenty of toys and would not miss getting one more. You may just want to skip the toy altogether and made a donation to an organization in his name or an extra deposit into his college fund.

A.,

We got my eldest daughter (now 12) a electric Barbie Jeep for her 3rd birthday and she hated it. We kept it and handed it down to my other girls. We thought it would be something that she would remember. Ya right. She doesn't ever remember the gifts that she got from her birthday she remembers the friends and family that showed up to play with her on that day.

As for a gas powered 4 wheeler. No way! Your child is way to young and does not have the motor skills to properly ride an ATV of a 50cc power. These ATV's can reach speeds of higher than 15mph. My girls (all three) own one for each. I would not dare put a 3 yr old on my youngests. My middle child who is 9 flipped hers. She had the know how and the knowledge of what to do if this should ever happen. A 3 year old would not understand how to handle a situation like that.

My neighbor has a 3 yr old son and he has an electric 4 wheeler. He loves it! He begs his mom to allow him to ride it everyday. Yes, the batteries don't last very long. So she purchased an extra to keep on the charger. Then when the battery goes down she just changes it out.

I hope that this helps. I am an avid outdoors woman. We have all owned ATV's etc... When your son reaches the age of 6 and is mature enough to handle the knowledge and the experience of a 50 cc purchase one then. You may find that he grows out of this stage and may just want a pedal bike!

Have a great day and enjoy the birthday!
Dene' H.

First off I'd say YIKES on getting a REAL four wheeler. Don't get me wrong -- I'm a total advocate of outdoor sporting equipment, am a motorcycle rider, dirt bike rider, 4-wheeler, etc. But NOT for a 3 year old. I bought my son what looks like a motorcycle but it actually has 4 wheels -- kinda like training wheels that come off the side. IT has a disconnectable turbo boost that really speeds it up. I'm not able to walk beside him when he's in full blown turbo mode -- I actually have to jog... so it goes plenty fast for a 3 year old.

One friend of mine is in the same predicament you are in and she bought one of those HUGE inflatable water slides... she's the hit of the neighborhood... said it's out about every day.

I'd say something like that over a real 4 wheeler... at 3 years old ... the just don't know how to be safe on anything really. I have an 8 year old and I think I'd be fearful of getting one of those for him (even though he does know how to ride it)...

I will say that the ORIGINAL battery we got with the motorcycle 4 wheeler thing did finally bite the dust and we got rid of it... and bought a new one... and it holds a charge just fine -- we do charge it up every night but he runs it for a couple hours and it's just fine..