Best toys for 3 year olds to capture their imaginations

At three years old your child is fully mobile and has the communication skills to express what they really want to play with. However, finding a fantastic toy to keep a toddler interested can prove challenging. We’ve rounded up our pick of the best…

What kind of toys should you get a 3 year old?

At 36 months, children can be into everything and anything. They may well have a favourite TV show, movie or special interest; unicorns, dinosaurs, vehicles and princesses are all still hugely popular. Often, toys that appeal the most are the ones that capture their imagination and allow many hours of pretend play, so go with what they’re naturally excited by.

At three years old, you’ll also notice a significant leap in their dexterity and gross motor skills, so they can really start to explore puzzles, playdough, fiddly building sets, crafting kits and explore more of the world around them by mastering a scooter or balance bike.

Three-year-olds will also be moving on from parallel play (the phase where they play next to another child, rather than with them) and prefer to engage with others during their playtime. Toys that encourage sharing and turn-taking are really important at this stage to help learn those valuable social skills and support early friendships.

What to look for in toys for 3 year olds

At three years old, children will be putting their newfound language skills