Three-year-old boys are at a fun age because they are learning to be much more independent. They are making great strides in exploring their world through using all their senses. Many still have a tendency to put everything in their mouth, so make sure to consider toys only with large parts for the three-year-old. While it may take some prompting from adults, children at this age are generally able to tell a story. They are also starting to put together grammatically-correct sentences verbally.
Three-year-old boys often use crayons to draw lines resembling mock words on paper while they are starting to recognize signs associated with their favorite restaurants, playgrounds or other activities. These children are often able to sort objects by characteristics, but they generally still need to concentrate on one idea such as color or shape at a time. Puzzles are a fun pastime as children learn that whole objects can be divided into numerous parts.
Most have lost most of their baby fat, so they are ready to tackle the world by swinging, running, jumping and other large muscle activities, although it may be rough at first. Boys at this age are starting to recognize that others have feelings, and they are often more than willing to give a sad person a hug. Finally, they are often very quick to learn their favorite songs, and they are willing to sing them at the top of their voices.
If you are looking to buy toys for a three-year-old boy, then consider these choices.
Paw Patrol Ultimate Rescue Fire Truck with Extendable Ladder
Boys three and older who love the Paw Patrol series will love this fire truck toy that looks like it just stepped out of the cartoon. It comes with a Marshall figure that sees the beloved dalmatian wearing a fire hat and a matching uniform jacket. Also included is a large truck with a ladder attached to the top that extends up two feet. The truck has many features that work, including lights that flash on and off and sounds that play when he presses a button. You’ll need to add two AAA batteries to make sure that those features work, though it comes with batteries inside the box. The truck also has a fire hose that pulls out from the side. Marshall can ride in both the fire truck and the smaller fire cart.
Fisher-Price Imaginext Playset Featuring Buzz Lightyear
With four animated films and dozens of shorts based around the world of Toy Story, it’s easy to find toys relating to that franchise. One of the best toys for young boys is this playset from Fisher-Price. It creates a large robot that mimics the look of Buzz Lightyear, including his large green wings. The top of this robot has a cockpit that lets him put the Buzz figure inside. Both the Buzz and alien figures that come included are small in size but perfect for little hands. The robot has a claw attached to one arm that can lift the figures and a launcher on the other arm that lets him launch the figures into space. There is also a power pad that lets him open the wings as he makes the robot move.
Little Tikes STEM Jr. Wonder Lab Toy with Experiments
You can foster the growth and development of your little guys with this Little Tikes set that can increase their interest in STEM fields. Designed for kids in preschool, it features large plastic pieces that they can easily grip in their hands and working parts that let them perform more than 20 different experiments. Most of the experiments use ingredients and products that you already have around the house. It also has a power switch on the back that you can turn on when putting the set together, which allows kids to make sounds and see lights when they use different features. The lab tray that fits on the top comes off for cleaning, which many parents like. It also includes 20 pieces of lab equipment that kids can use such as sticks and spoons for stirring and goggles they can wear over their eyes.
LEGO Duplo Big Construction Site
Any little boy who loves Bob the Builder and building toys will like this set, which may also increase his interests in design and advanced LEGO sets. Designed for kids up to the age of five, this LEGO set uses the larger Duplo blocks that are perfect for his small hands. He can build a bulldozer to topple the bricks that he uses to construct buildings and use the attached crane to pick up and move those bricks. It comes with three Duplo minifigs that each wears a helmet to stay safe on the construction site. With more than 60 pieces included, he’ll have fun coming up with new designs and ways to use those bricks, which are compatible with all other Duplo LEGO building sets too.
Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends Super Hero Flight City
Your little man no longer needs to choose between Batman and Superman because this Imaginext set includes both of those characters. It features one large playset that includes both a replica of Metropolis where Superman lives and Gotham City, which is home to Batman. Four power pads located across the set let him send those characters flying through the air as they battle against each other and work together to capture the bad guys. One of those power pads comes complete with a helicopter that shoots the vehicle out in a 360-degree direction. Each area of the set includes three different levels, including an elevator that goes up and down and a jail with a door that opens to lock the villains inside. It also has trap doors that the characters can use to grab Joker and Lex Luthor.
Best Choice Products 12V Kids’ Battery Powered Remote Control Ride-On Car
Little guys with a passion for cars will like this car that lets them hop on and go for a spin. It uses a 12V battery that you can quickly charge between rides and some working accents such as headlights that flash on and off. Capable of holding kids of up to 66 pounds, it features two operation modes too. You can choose the manual mode and let him take control of the wheel or go the remote control route and control the car for him. That second option is great for making sure that he can handle the wheel before you let him ride alone. A built-in AUX output lets him plug in a music player or another device and listen to music as he rides. The car comes in two colors too.
Fisher-Price Imaginext DC Super Friends Batcopter
Though some Batman shows and movies are too mature for young audiences, others are perfect for little boys. Those who love the adventures of Batman will like this Imaginext set from Fisher-Price that includes both Batman and his Batcopter. The Batman figure has the character’s iconic look and comes dressed in a black suit with the gold bat logo on the center of his chest. It also includes a Batcopter that lets Batman chase the Joker and other bad guys around Gotham City. The Batcopter features a landing gear that opens to let him pick up characters off the ground. It also has blades on the top that rotate. He can hold the helicopter in one hand and use the trigger on the back to make the landing gear open and close as he fights crime and captures the bad guys.
VTech KidiBeats Drum Set
Encourage your three-year-old boys musical abilities with the VTech KidiBeats Drum Set. Three drum pads and a cymbal make it easy for the child to play music in a variety of styles including pop, rock and dance greatly increasing the child’s sensory ability. These drums are not only fun to play, but they are also educational as they have games designed to help the boy learn his numbers, letters and pattern sequences. The child will even feel like he is a drummer when he plays this toy with the realistically designed drumsticks. This drum set takes three AA batteries, although it comes with a trial set. Nine melodies make this drum set endless fun.
InStep Fire Truck Pedal Car
Your three-year-old boy will feel like a real fireman with the InStep Fire Truck Pedal Car. A solid steel frame on this nostalgic looking fire truck helps ensure that it easily withstands the punishment three-year-olds can give toys. The three-year-old child can share his truck with anyone not weighing over 70 pounds. The pedals easily adjust as the child grows to allow the child to easily pedal it before and after a growth spurt. A large metal-looking steering wheel helps the child steer the truck in the direction he wants it to go. Rubber tires help ensure a smooth ride while being tough enough to go across multiple surfaces.
Little Tikes Cozy Truck
Your three-year-old child will feel like a real driver when they are riding in the Little Tikes Cozy Truck. Watch their vocabulary expand as they remove the cover from the gas tank to pretend to fill the vehicle with fuel. This truck that has plenty of room for two riders also has an easy-to-grip steering wheel complete with a working horn to warn all pedestrians and animals to get out of their way. Attractive off-road wheels help the child move smoothly across many different surfaces. This truck also features a front grill with a big bold smiley face along with other fun decals. Riding this truck is a great way to build big muscles.
The Ladybug Game
Adults who are looking for a fun board game to play with their three-year-old boy will want to consider The Ladybug Game. First-grader Kylie Copenhagen invented this game for other children to enjoy playing. The adult starts the game by reading a short story about four ladybugs named Rickie Red, Olivia Orange, Ella Yellow and Tommy Teal making this a fun way to introduce children to color words. The winner is the first ladybug to get back home as the ladybugs travel around the board on their adventure. Standing in their way, however, are many hazards including high grass, praying mantises and various insects. All family members will enjoy playing this game with its unexpected twists and turns.
Ylovetoys Kids Play Tent Indian Teepee
You are likely to hear whoops of joy coming from your three-year-old boys when you let them play with the Ylovetoys Kids Play Indian Teepee. Boys are sure to love the bright red, yellow and browns found on this tent that quickly goes together in minutes. It is made of a lightweight nonwoven material that will stand up to rugged use. An oval window on the side of the teepee helps keep it cooler inside, lighter inside and helps parents see their child without having to enter the teepee. Boys will quickly increase their vocabulary while playing imaginary games using the teepee. It is also a great place for the child who needs a quiet spot for a nap or to draw by themselves.
Aqua Doodle Mat
You may discover that you have a budding Rembrandt, Van Gogh or Monet when you get them the Aqua Doodle Mat. The three-year-old boy can fill one of the two included pens with water and start drawing on the colorful polyester mat. The child’s work will disappear in 10 minutes letting them draw on the mat many times. Boys will practice their eye-hand coordination and learn to perceive different colors. When someone else uses the other pen, they learn cooperation. The mat is backed with nylon, so water never soaks through. You are likely to be amazed at the variety of things that your child can come up with to draw.
Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center
This colorful drill and activity board may start your three-year-old boy on a career as a woodworker or on a hobby of building things. Children use the reversible power drill, screwdriver and combination wrench to build their own designs on the activity board using the 120 plastic bolts, which is a great way to build eye-hand coordination and large muscles. Alternatively, children can follow the patterns on the 20 design-activity cards allowing them to practice putting things in order. The plastic bolts can also be used to teach boys to classify objects by color. This fun toy is the winner of numerous awards including the National Association of Parenting Publication Award, Parents’ Choice Recommended Award and the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award.
Skylar Dollhouse
Three-year-old boys can have many hours of fun creating scenes in the wooden open-sided Skylar Dollhouse. They can use the four play people, 20 pieces of furniture and the pet dog to create numerous creative activities. This sturdy dollhouses open design allows for more than one child to play with it at a time, and the stairs can even be moved to accommodate many interior designs encouraging children to work together and to take turns. The lead-free gender-neutral colors make this the perfect toy for families with more than one young child. Placing the people and the furniture encourages the child to think logically. You will enjoy hearing the stories that the three-year-old tells as he plays with this imaginative toy.
PicassoTiles
You may discover that your three-year-old boy is a budding architect when you let them play with the Picasso Tiles. This set includes 60 colored tiles that use magnets to go together in an infinite number of ways. Your child will learn geographical concepts like squares, rectangles and triangles while also learning color names when they play with this exciting toy containing four large squares, 24 small squares, 18 small triangles, eight medium triangles and six tall triangles. They may also learn about magnets. When you play with them, they may also learn to follow directions and to count. The most important thing, however, is that they will be having hours of playing fun with this toy that easily stores flat until the next time the child wants to play with it.
Step2 LifeStyle Custom Kitchen Playset
Three-year-old boys will love pretending to cook with the Step2 LifeStyle Custom Kitchen Playset. Roleplaying is so important to children’s development, and this toy is the perfect answer to encouraging them to copy the action of the family cook. This kitchen with its granite-like countertops, decorative plate rack, stainless-steel-like oven, microwave and refrigerator has every kitchen appliance that children may want to consider using. It also has a storage bin to keep food pieces in, although they are not included. As children roleplay with this kitchen, you will also notice their vocabulary grows, and you will have the pleasure of eating some of the best pretend meals you have ever eaten in your life.
BeginAgain John Deere Dump Truck
Your three-year-old boy will love playing with the BeginAgain John Deere Dump Truck made from corn cobs and sugar cane in a unique process that makes bio-plastic. Therefore, you are also protecting the environment that he will grow up to inherit. The rugged wheels on this dump truck ensure that your child can roll it easily across your living room floor or through the deepest sand. He will have an outstanding time loading the dump bed and dumping the load in a new location. Then, he will be ready to begin again in a never-ending circle of role-playing fun. Pushing this toy made in the United States helps build large muscles along with eye-hand coordination.
Play-Doh Doctor Drill ‘n Fill Retro Pack
Three-year-old boys are often starting to question what they want to be when they grow up, even if it changes hourly. The Play-Doh Doctor Drill ‘n Fill Retro Pack is a great toy to introduce the child to a career as a dentist. This pack includes a fun head with giant teeth just waiting for the child to fill cavities with the drill that makes fun sounds. It also includes a toothbrush where the child can push play-doh up through it to make toothpaste. The three-year-old can even pretend to install braces on the mouth. A roller makes it even more fun to play with the five included cans of play-doh.
Looking for Gifts & Toys For Other Ages Of Children?
Do you have more than child to buy for who is at a different age? If that’s the case then you might want to check out our other guides of carefully curated and considered lists of gadgets, games, puzzles and toys that cater for all different ages and development stages of kids.
You’ll find that the guides below have toys that have been specifically designed and developed to match your child’s physical, emotional and cognitive abilities. I hope these guides provide you with all the inspiration you need to get your child gift idea spot on!
1 Year Old Girl / 1 Year Old Boy
2 Year Old Girl / 2 Year Old Boy
3 Year Old Girl / 3 Year Old Boy
4 Year Old Girl / 4 Year Old Boy
5 Year Old Girl / 5 Year Old Boy
6 Year Old Girl / 6 Year Old Boy
7 Year Old Girl / 7 Year Old Boy
8 Year Old Girl / 8 Year Old Boy
9 Year Old Girl / 9 Year Old Boy
1o Year Old Girl / 10 Year Old Boy
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