Best toys for 3 year olds in 2024: the top 20 tried and tested toys
According to our little testers, the best toys for 3 year olds are ones that are educational, sturdy and fun
The best toys for three-year-olds are games that help them develop key skills and encourage learning, as most kids this age are just a year or two away from starting school.
Three is quite the milestone age. Some three-year-olds are counting to 10. Most are recognising colours. Some have a collection of words they can say. And some three-year-olds might even be able to remember the words and tunes to their favourite nursery rhymes and songs.
So the best toys for this age are games that can help your three-year-old develop their gross and fine motor skills, along with other important key child developmental stages, like practicing their language abilities. Keep this in mind, too, when you're shopping for the top Christmas toys. Also screen-only toys can be a winner, like the popular audio boxes Yoto or Tonie (though, be sure to check out our Yoto Vs Tonie to get a real breakdown.)
"When your child reaches the age of three, they are likely to know exactly what toys they want and like to interact with based on their favourite TV shows and characters," parenting experts at yourbabyclub.com told us. Therefore, toys should continue to improve logical thinking and creativity and encourage problem-solving.
Interactive toys that encourage imaginative play and role play are also 'incredibly valuable for children,’ the experts added. "Especially at this age, as they offer an opportunity to practice new life skills and prepare for everyday situations, like meeting other people and visiting new places."
So, no matter whether you are purchasing a present, or you're updating your own little learner's collection, keep reading to find the best toys for three-year-olds. In our round up, each game has been tested by little hands to make sure they're a good fit for this age group. With prices starting from £10, there is something for every budget.
For some toy bargains, check out our guide to the best Black Friday toy deals too.
Best toys for 3 year olds in 2024
Smartmax Roboflex - £34.99 | Amazon
Good for: Creativity | Age suitability: 3+ | Batteries required: No
The Roboflex toy from SmartMax consists of a box of magnetic pieces which fit together in different ways to create robots. Mum of two Kate Mckenzie tested it with her youngest son, Elliott, 3.
'It’s a really imaginative toy that encourages a lot of creativity - 12 pieces doesn't sound like a lot, but you can make a lot of different robots from them,' she says. 'The box also includes an inspiration poster, which is brilliant for showing the many possible combinations and, of course, children can also make up their own ideas.' There is also an extension pack available, the Roboflex Plus, which is compatible with this starter set and will offer even more hours of play. And maybe even some quiet for you!
Bird Kite from Moulin Roty - £18 | Kidly
Good for: Hand-eye coordination, kinesthetic awareness, and gross motor skills | Age suitability: 3+ | Batteries required: No
In a vibrant bird of paradise design, this kite from Moulin Roty is a real eye-catcher. Kate Mckenzie took it to the park with her 3-year-old son Elliot on a windy day to try it out.
'We loved the bright colours and unique design, and the instructions were very simple,' she says. 'The quality was good and we managed to get it to take flight a few times too! We’ll be packing it for our next holiday to the beach, and I know my older son will enjoy playing with it too.'
VTech Splash & Play Octopus - £24.99 | Amazon
Good for: Sensory and language development | Age suitability: 12 months -3 years | Batteries required: Yes, 1 x AAA battery
This octopus bath toy from Vtech is all-singing and all-dancing...literally! 'The different arms of the octopus all do something different with water, whether that’s sprinkling it, pouring it, making bubbles, or spinning the arms around,' says Kate Mckenzie, who tested the toy with her son Elliott, who is three.
'The octopus goggles light up and make it talk when they are pushed or if water is tipped on its head, and there are lots of sounds, phrases, and songs so it doesn’t get boring or repetitive. He found it so engaging and loved repeating what it said, making it great for speech development.'
Our tester also noted that the different arm actions taught cause and effect, and helped her son practice hand-eye coordination in a fun way. 'I would buy as a gift without hesitation,' she adds.
Janod Bath Explorer Map - £13 | Amazon
Good for: Handling and dexterity| Age suitability: 3+ years | Batteries required: No
This bath jigsaw contains 20 pieces that stick to tiles to make a world map, plus 4 additional transport-themed pieces to fuel creativity. “This was a great activity for bathtime, and would keep a child entertained for them long enough to have a good soak,' says Kate Mckenzie after testing the toy with her 3-year-old.
'It needs a bit of help from parents at this age, but once put together the picture is interesting and gives us lots to talk about. The extra pieces, like the airplane and boat, gave us a chance to creatively explore the different parts of the map and imagine we were visiting the different countries together.'
eeBoo I Never Forget A Face, Memory And Matching Game, £10.79 | Amazon
Good for: Memory | Age suitability: 3+ years | Batteries required: No
This memory and matching game allows children to match the faces of 24 children from across the world. 'What a beautifully diverse range of faces,' Kate, mum to 3-year-old Elliot, said of this game.
'Different ethnicities, cultures, races, hair colour, and clothing are all explored and captured through this game, so it is not only a simple matching game but a cultural education for the child. As my son grows he is seeing diversity around him. This game gives me an opportunity to talk and discuss all types of cultures and races.'
Kate added: 'The cards are excellent quality, and whilst you can get cheaper matching games I would say that you are getting much more with the theme of this particular game.'
Janod Crazy Faces Magnetibook, £16.71 | Amazon
Good for: Creativity | Age suitability: 3-8 years | Batteries required: No
This book-shaped box opens up to reveal a face on the magnetic lid and 70 individual magnets to allow children to create all manner of faces.
Our tester Kate said her son loved it. 'There are lots of pieces so there are endless faces that can be made and many of the features when put together made him laugh so the capacity to be creative and imaginative meant he was happy to play for an extended period of time,' she says. 'It’s also very compact, making it great for travel, and my older son enjoyed playing with it too, so I know it will grow with my youngest and be used for years to come!' She did note that a future edition with a brown or black face, rather than the current white one, would be appreciated, given that both she and her son are mixed race.
Figure Of Eight Train Set - £30.99 | Hamleys
Good for: Creativity | Age suitability: 3-4 years | Batteries required: No
The Bigjgs Figure Of Eight Train Set is a fantastic option for a starter train set thanks to an affordable price point and simple design. Over time you can add to it with the many track expansion packs from the brand, but to begin with, this set includes two train engines and wooden figures to bring the play to life.
'The chunky pieces make it easy for my son to put together and watching the train go over the bridge and under the tunnel was so exciting for my three your old,' says tester Kate Mckenzie. 'The little wooden conductor and other pieces also give us lots of opportunity to imagine we are on a journey, and its all lovely quality too.'
Petit Collage Fishing Around Wooden Fishing Game - £22.92, Amazon
Good for: Fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination| Age Suitability: 3 years + | Batteries required: None
This wooden game is great for developing dexterity in children and getting them to learn to focus to achieve their goal. Sure to keep children entertained for hours, they can play on their own or in small groups, learning to take turns.
Mum and our consumer shopping expert Heidi Scrimgeour says: 'I was surprised by how much my children loved these fishing games when they were smaller. Such good value for literally hours of fun! My top tip is to pop away a spare set for when the fishing rods inevitably get lost.'
If you're a fan of the Petit range you may also be interested in the Petit Collage Magnetic Play Set. An easily portable toy, it gives you the tools to decorate an animal treehouse scene.
Casdon Dyson Cordless Vacuum Toy - £19.99| Amazon
Good for: Role play | Age Suitability: 3 years +
Batteries required: Yes
Anyone else have a 3 year old that just loves to clean? Children of this age love to copy the adults around them – and that includes mimicking the chores they see you do around the house. Get them their own little vacuum so they can potter to their heart’s content.
This Casdon Dyson vacuum cleaner is a replica of the Dyson DC14 - we wish it would actually work, but alas it only features spinning beans and has realistic sounds. Sadly, you'll still need to use your own elbow grease should you want to keep your house looking tidy.
Learning Resources Smart Scoops Math Set - £23 | Amazon
Good for: Colour and number recognition and fine motor skills | Age Suitability: 3 years to 7 years | Batteries required: None
Hands up who wants ice cream? You'll be hard-pressed to find a three-year-old who isn't interested in this ice cream toy. Scoop up early maths skills with this fun, hands-on, ice-cream-themed sorting activity set. It supports a variety of early maths skills such as colour recognition, matching, sorting and counting among young learners.
'I like the way all the pieces can be neatly stored inside the tub after use,' says Jenny, mum to Logan and Becky. 'While my kids thought it was just an ice cream game, it has an educational element to it, which I really love.'
For a similar game that builds on numeracy skills, you can also try the Learning Resources Super Sorting Pie game. This game develops colour recognition and develops counting skills.
Little Tikes Gas 'n' Go Mower - £26 | Argos
Good for: Role play | Age Suitability: 12 months + | Batteries required: None
Much like the trusty toy vacuum cleaner, a toy lawn mower is a staple when it comes to toys for 3 year olds. Many kids love to mimic what they see happening in the world around them through play, and this lawn mower will help them do just that. It's a great outdoor toy that also improves gross motor skills like balance and coordination.
Kids can use it in the garden come summer time, and you can bring it inside come winter. 'I love the way this toy encourages kids to get green fingered and take pride in the garden,' says Lindsay, mum to Arlo. 'I'm always gardening and my boy loves to watch and feel like he's involved, and this toy is a great way to occupy him while I get to the hard work of pulling up weeds!'
AquaPlay LockBox - £39.99 | Amazon
Good for: Literacy and spacial awareness | Age Suitability: 3 years + |Batteries required: None
This bestselling toy is loved by adults and children alike thanks to the hours of good fun it provides young ones. Kids can splash around in the garden with this toy. It comes with a lock, lock gates, crane, a marina ramp, an amphibious truck and a transport boat with containers all included. It makes a great fit for any marine-loving 3 year old.
Kids who love to play with this AquaPlay toy may also like the AquaPlay Boatset Children's Vehicles set, which comes with 7 toys including five boats/vehicles to include in the water. 'My kids simply love water play,' says Emily, mum to Bethany and William. 'A toy like this is so versatile as when it's not filled with boats or cars, it can also be used as a base for washing little dolls or filling with bubbles and maybe even a little bit of food colouring to make the water play even more satisfying.'
Simply Colors Personalised Wooden Toy Kitchen Set - £139.99 | Not On The High Street
Good for: Role play | Age Suitability: 3 years + |Batteries required: None
This smart wooden kitchen is a great way to spark a child’s imagination and encourage creative play between kids. This wooden toy kitchen comes with a clock, sink, oven dials and an opening oven door. You also get pots, pans and a set of utensils for the full mini-kitchen experience. We think it's a tasteful design that won't look out of place in your living room scheme.
My Weather Station - £17.59 | AMAZON
Good for: Role play and language | Age Suitability: 3 years + |Batteries required: None
Part toy, part keep-sake and part room decor, this gorgeous weather system is a great all-rounder to please both parents and child.
'My son loved updating it in the mornings and popping back again to make changes in the evenings. It was also brilliant for starting a conversation where we could learn and practise new words, phrases, and concepts,' says Kate Mckenzie, who tested the weather system with her 3-year-old son. 'There was also a little bag with additional pieces in it and a handy instruction card to get us started. This will be up on the wall for years to come.'
Personalised Twinning Superhero Cape Superstar Rainbow - £35 | Not On The High Street
Good for: Role play | Age Suitability: 3 years +
Batteries required: None
This personalised rainbow-printed superhero cape with a matching mask is the perfect gift for any child reaching for the skies. A gorgeous present for any 3-year-old, the great quality fabric means the cape will last for years to come.
No doubt you'll notice a child show an interest in superheroes at some stage - even if it's just fleeting. What we love most about this superhero cape, however, is the fact that it isn't branded. There's no Batman or Robin-type logo, for example. This makes it a much more classic, timeless choice.
Junior Chef Wooden Mud Kitchen - £109 | AMAZON
Good for: Sensory, observation skills and imaginative play | Age Suitability: 3 years + | Batteries required: None
A mud kitchen makes messy, imaginative play easy and this one comes with a robust splash tub, refillable water butt and a real working tap. You also get a starter set of mini stainless-steel pots and pans so your little garden chefs can get going right away.
A mud kitchen will keep messy play contained and you can add your old pots and pans to the mix to keep things fun and fresh. The Mud Kitchen is ideal for sand as well as mud and has a top shelf that leaves plenty of room for 'garden' ingredients such as flowers, grass, and perhaps the odd wiggly worm or two!
Orchard Toys Giant Road Floor Puzzle - £12, Amazon
Good for: Observation skills, hand-eye coordination and imaginative play | Age Suitability: 3 years + | Batteries required: None
This huge road jigsaw is one of Orchard Toys' best-selling toys for 3 year olds and comes with 20 interchangeable road-themed floor jigsaw pieces. Kids can build tons of different roadways for their toy vehicles to journey around over and over again.
If you've got the space we think this make a fun addition to your play setup. While you can buy rugs that are completely rectangular in shape and display a similar track design, this puzzle is unique in that kids can put it together themselves. If your child is showing interest in puzzles and wants to try more, also check out the Galt Toys Alphabet Animals floor puzzle, which is a fun and colourful design.
George Home Wooden Dollshouse - £38 | Asda
Good for: Creativity and social skills | Age Suitability: 3 years + | Batteries required: None
A doll’s house is arguably a staple in any child’s playroom. This smart wooden house, split over four floors and featuring working wooden shutters on the windows, is certainly the best on the market for your child’s toys to move into! A doll’s house is a perfect way to encourage imaginative play and storytelling and is a great way to develop a child’s communication and social skills.
'I love the fact that this doll's house has a beautiful wooden finish and isn't garish like some of the plastic toy houses you can find online,' says Gemma, mum to Oliver and Sienna. 'I can't wait for my kids to start collecting all the little miniature pieces to go inside - such as mini telephone, piano, beds, tables, chairs etc. It's something that we'll keep forever and pass down to the grandchildren one day.'
Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Dilly Dally Turtle Target Action Game - £20.99 | Amazon
Good for: Hand-eye coordination | Age Suitability: 3 years - 7 years | Batteries required: None
Encourage little learners to head outside this summer and practice their hand-eye coordination with this Melissa & Doug target action game.
The idea? To throw the bean bags and hit the sticky Velcro target. Whoever has the highest numbers at the end of the round, is crowned the winner. What's not to love?
Munchkin Colour Mix Laboratory Bath Toy - £12.99 | John Lewis
Good for: Cause and effect | Age Suitability: 3 years - 7 years | Batteries required: None
Bath time is the best time — and with this Munchkin Colour Mix Laboratory bath time just got a scientific upgrade. Toddlers can turn their tub into a science lab with this fun learning toy which teaches cause and effect through colour-mixing experiments that are safe, non-toxic, and non-staining.
The toy attaches to the tub wall and your three year old can then drop a coloured bath tablet into the slot. When they twist the knob, they'll experience a colourful waterfall.
How we chose and tested these toys
We shopped around for the best toys for 3 year olds and then gave them to our team of testers to make sure they are products that little ones truly love playing with. You can read more about how we test and review products but here's what we took into consideration when we shortlisted the best toys for 3 year olds.
- So that you can easily find the best playtime buys to suit your 3-year-old, we have included sensory toys, toys to encourage physical development, and options that encourage role-play too.
- We also picked products with a range of different aesthetics, from wooden toys that will look fantastic on the nursery shelf, to colourful toys with light and musical features that your child won't tire of - and which won't drive you mad!
How to choose the best toys for 3 year olds
- Check toy safety regulations - Check that the item complies with toy safety regulations and safety standards such as the CE mark. You'll find this information on the packaging or on the website where you order the item from.
- Make sure it’s age appropriate - Make sure the item is suitable for use by 3 year olds and safe for use. Some toys are not approved for use by children of this age.
- Easy to clean - Children of this age are less likely to pop play items into their mouths compared to younger babies but it's important to check that the item can be wiped down with anticbacterial spray or cleaned easily - especially if friends come round to play.
- Buy from reputable retailers - Buy from brands and retailers that you know and trust. It's always worth reading reviews before you buy a toy. We've tried and tested all the toys in this list so you can be assured that we consider them good quality and worth buying.
- Value for money - Everyone loves a bargain these days but cheap is not always good value - especially when it comes to toys. Consider the difference between a cheap plastic toy compared to an expensive wooden alternative - it will cost you more but save you money in the long run as it will last for generations and can be passed down to family members for years.
What sorts of toys are mentally stimulating at this age?
According to the parenting experts at yourbabyclub.com, toys that encourage counting and reading are mentally stimulating at this age, as they help to improve both cognitive and physical skills. While sorting through numbers can help better their fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, also preparing them for early learning.
The experts said: ‘Reading toys are not only helpful in encouraging communication skills but they also help the development of creativity and problem-solving in young children. This can be anything from audiobooks to word flashcards, and matching letter and word games.’
While you're looking for the best toys for three-year-olds, you might also be interested in tracking down the best toys for four-year-olds and the best Disney Frozen toys.
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Grace Holliday is a freelance journalist specialising in pregnancy, parenting, and motherhood. She has written for a broad variety of newspapers and magazines, including the Guardian, the Independent, the Telegraph, Glamour, and Stylist. She is also a proud northerner and mum-of-one.
- Becks ShepherdFreelance Writer
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