Choosing presents for 3 year old boys can still be pretty easy (cars, balls, and noisemakers). But sometimes you want something different to give as gifts, don’t you? Check out some of my favorites for the 2018 Holiday Gift Guide for 3 Year Olds.
This year, as my son is nearing 3, I wanted to share some of my favorite ideas to give as presents for 3 year old boys.
While we stick to a pretty strict 4 gift system (need, want, wear, read), I thoroughly enjoy perusing the net to find some really cool items to put on his wishlist. No matter how much we tell the grands to stick to a limit, it never happens. So, I like to have a nice wish list built up of things I wouldn’t mind actually having around the house.
Because of his age, I can still get away with requesting a lot of educational gifts … and he thinks they’re just fun toys!
WIN – WIN!
The 2018 Holiday Gift Guide: Presents for 3 Year Old Boys
Some items in this years gift guide have been sponsored – I’ve either been provided compensation or product in order to share some of these items. All opinions expressed here are my own and are not swayed by my relationship with the sponsors.
I’d love your suggestions for other presents for 3 year old boys if you have any! But, these are some of my current favorite gift ideas for a 3 year old boy.
Bookroo
Photo courtesy BookRoo
My children both (finally) love books. Still, with my youngest, he wasn’t great at sitting still and listening to books, so it took a lot of time an patience to get him more interested in reading.
One of the things that helps build his interest in reading is Bookroo!
With Bookroo, you have several subscription options based on your child’s age, one being the Board Book Subscription for ages 0 to 3 years. Every month, your little one will receive 3 individually wrapped board books. I truly believe the unwrapping of each book adds to the excitement and anticipation of finding out what their new books are like!
Not only is this a great way to build your child’s library, it’s wonderful to have new books coming in every month, because it’s so easy for mom to get tired of reading the same books over and over again. If your children are like mine have been, you begin to recite the books and probably crave a break from the routine.
Have older children? Don’t fret mama! Bookroo offers picture book and chapter book subscription options for children up to about age 10!
You can get your child’s subscription for as low as $16.95/box (plus $5 shipping/box). BONUS: take $15 off using my special discount code SAHMGIFT. This discount expires December 31, 2018, so you have plenty of time to get your orders in before Christmas or use some Christmas money before the New Year!
Learning Resources Pretend and Play Calculator Cash Register
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We’re having fun with our Cash Register as our little guy learns about money.
The Learning Resources Pretend and Play Calculator Cash Register comes with play money in the form of bills and coins. This is a great way to teach a preschooler what each coin and bill is. Plus, setting it up with a play store helps build your child’s understanding of charging, or being charged, for items they wish to purchase.
The cash register has been a long-lasting item in this house that both my kids have thoroughly enjoyed! Honestly, even the 7 year old likes to play store with her little brother still, so this makes a wonderful investment and great present for a 3 year old boy.
Melissa & Doug Monster Bowling
Sometimes I need something to entertain the kiddo that’s low effort on my part, but burns off some of his excessive 3 year old energy. We like the [easyazon_link identifier=”B000GL1DTA” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”ivsvabasaan0a-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”n”]Melissa & Doug Monster Bowling[/easyazon_link] set for just such occasions.
It feels the need for my son to use some gross motor skills and burn off his energy. And, I can sit (or lay down) within arm distance of the 6 monster pins for easy set up.
Plus, we work on basic math skills like “how many monsters are there?”, “how many monsters did you knock down?”, and “how many monsters do you have left to knock down?”
SpinAgain from Fat Brain Toys
We love the [easyazon_link identifier=”B016F5QJQW” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”ivsvabasaan0a-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”n”]Fat Brain Toys SpinAgain[/easyazon_link] toy for so many reasons.
Well … truth be told, our little guy loves pulling the white pole from the base and watching as the pieces twist and fall to the floor. I can’t tell you how often he does this as soon as I clean it up to put it away. So, yeah, it’s fun for him, but makes cleaning up the playroom a bit more tedious *wink*
Aside from the appeal during cleanup to watch the pieces spin, the SpinAgain toy comes with tons of learning opportunities. As I teach my son to place the pieces on his own, we discuss colors and the concept of biggest to smallest. Additionally, if you watch bigger pieces vs smaller pieces spinning, you can see which pieces spin slower or faster than the other and point it out.
Finally, the blue base is reversible so that the flat side makes for easy placement of the discs, while the rounded side adds a bit more complication as the base and pole will move (and sometimes topple) if the child is being a bit more reckless (as most boy moms will certainly understand *sigh*).
Lego Duplo
Okay, my kids are finally getting interested in Lego. The 7 year old is starting to be able to build on her own and the 3 year old is interested, usually because there are so many to choose from with some of his favorite characters, construction equipment, and more.
Admittedly, I’ve been known to buy them “for the kids” because a set really caught my attention and I wanted to play with it myself. Luckily, my little guy still needs a bit of help in the fine motor department so he uses me to build for him a lot of times.
But, [easyazon_link keywords=”Lego Duplo” cloak=”n” locale=”US” localize=”y” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”ivsvabasaan0a-20″]Lego Duplo[/easyazon_link] are great for small hands in that they can grasp with more of their hands than they could with the smaller pieces of regular Lego.
Little Partners The Original Learning Tower
Image © J. Ivy Boyter www.sahmplus.com
That picture (above) was right after we received our tower and my little guy was helping me make chocolatey trail mix bars.
And we’re still using this fabulous piece since we received it. The[easyazon_link identifier=”B001ECHXVC” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”ivsvabasaan0a-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”n”]Original Learning Tower[/easyazon_link] is a permanent fixture in our kitchen that has helped both kids reach the counter to “help” cook or do fun science or craft activities safely.
It’s truly a well-constructed piece of furniture that makes me feel safe while scooting around the kitchen when my kids want to “help” me.
Little Passports: Early Explorers Subscription
Several years ago, I was given the opportunity to review Little Passports for my daughter. Of course, I wasn’t great at reviews (or images for that matter). But, it was a cool concept.
Back then, Little Passports was geared to ages 5+.
Now, they have an Early Explorers Subscription for ages 3-5 years.
With the first month in the subscription, your child is given everything they need to begin their word exploration. It’s important to remember that the first month will be the introduction with their suitcase, passport, map, luggage tag, and more.
Subsequent subscriptions will have world themes where your child will learn about things like music, oceans, and dinosaurs. Each monthly expedition is led by “pen pals” through letters, learning activities and games.
Early Explorers Subscriptions can be as low as $16.95/mo with the 12 month plan.
Theo Kline Service Car Station
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For the 3 year old car enthusiast, this is a very interactive car toy. Not only does it have some car sounds, you can teach your 3 year old about mechanics. Take apart and service the whole front of a car.
And, if your kiddo is like mine, he’ll be pushing around pretending to drive after he’s figured out how to put everything back in its place.
Just don’t be surprised if you have car parts all over your kid’s room … taking apart the [easyazon_link identifier=”B005C3FXAM” locale=”US” nw=”y” nf=”y” tag=”ivsvabasaan0a-20″ cart=”n” cloak=”n” localize=”y” popups=”n”]Service Car Station[/easyazon_link] appears to be way more fun than putting the car back together.
Do you have any favorite ideas to give as presents for 3 year olds?
Other Cool Gift Ideas
6 comments
friend
My son would be the one he just turned 4. I am a single mom with no child support Thats why I love your blog and have been a subscriber for so long! I always feel so guilty because I want to be the best parent I can be and my son and yours are about the same age just like months apart!
My 8 year old son is the most curious little boy. He loves to learn everything he can about animals, science and different cultures. I would love for him to have a subscription to Little Passports.
My son would love to receive a subscription to Little Passports under the tree this year!
My son would love a subscription to little passports.
My daughter, she is in Kindergarten and she is 5. I think she would absolutely LOVE this!
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