20 best gifts and toys for three-year-olds, approved by a parenting editor

The Yoto mini quickly became one of those gadgets I didn’t realise we needed until we had it. It’s small enough to fit perfectly in my three-year-old’s hands, yet sturdy enough to survive the inevitable drops and tumbles that come with toddler ownership.

Straight out of the box, it feels like a quality product – solid, thoughtfully designed, and built to last. It comes with a USB charging cable, a simple instruction guide, and access to a huge library of Yoto cards packed with stories, music, and mindfulness tracks. Within minutes, my child had figured out how to pop in a card and start listening, completely independently, which is a huge win for any parent craving five minutes of peace.

What I love most about the Yoto mini is how much it encourages calm, screen-free entertainment. My little one listens to stories before bed or in the car, totally engaged without needing a screen or my help to navigate. The speaker is surprisingly good for its size, and the battery life easily lasts through long car rides or weekends away. It’s also super portable – we’ve taken it on flights, to grandparents’ houses, and even to the park for story picnics.

Compared to the full-sized Yoto player, the mini is a much more practical choice for younger children. It’s less expensive, easier to carry, and doesn’t feel as precious, which means I can relax while my toddler takes charge of it. The bigger player has a nightlight and clock, but for a three-year-old, the Yoto mini offers everything they need.

Children at this age absolutely love stickers, and this book taps straight into that enthusiasm while sneaking in some gentle learning. It quickly became a favourite with my mini tester, who loved placing stickers to label parts of the body (like the head, shoulders, knees, and toes), and it naturally led to conversations about emotions and what’s happening inside their bodies – things we hadn’t really talked about before. Suddenly we were chatting about feeling happy, excited, or nervous – turning a simple activity into meaningful shared moments.

The stickers themselves make the learning hands-on, helping with fine motor skills, and the pages are bright, simple, and age-appropriate, so my child could confidently identify and stick each item. The combination of creativity, interaction, and education made this sticker book both fun and surprisingly impactful.

We’re big fans of the Usborne range of books, and this one is a great example of why – they also offer other engaging options, including water painting books, activity books, and interactive sticker sets that keep little hands and minds busy in fun, educational ways. So be sure to check those out, too.

Any little car fanatic is bound to be impressed with this unique, personalised toy garage. We tested the big version, which easily fits up to 100 small vehicles for storage. The wooden shelf acts as a versatile playspace for all your little one's toys and characters to experience imaginative play. Unlike most of the garish, plastic car garages in toy stores, we love the aesthetic of this wooden design, meaning its appearance in the living room or child's bedroom is most welcome.

As a parent who feels like I'm constantly asking my toddler to "tidy up", I was exceptionally grateful that this gift doubles up as a storage unit for the vehicles that I spend most of my evenings putting away – or tripping over. To my surprise, my three-year-old now actually enjoys neatly parking their cars away before bedtime. Turns out, it only took this exciting car garage to teach them a valuable life lesson. Thank you Toybox!

The personal touch of your child's name display isn't even the best bit. Its customisable wood means you (and your little one, if you're more relaxed than I am) can paint and draw all over the material to your child's taste. For an extra magical Christmas surprise, I went into full "pimp your garage" mode using paint in my son's favourite colours for the parking slots and painted on roads. I might have got carried away and ordered some parking stickers and LED strip lights for an extra special touch, too.

Ideal for little ones who love dinosaurs and learning at the same time, my three-year-old was immediately drawn to the colourful, silly prehistoric characters, and we spent ages matching opposites like “big/small” and “long/short”. While the set is made up of 20 chunky, wipe-clean puzzle pieces, the focus is more on learning about opposites than completing a traditional jigsaw.

The quality is excellent – the pieces are easy for little hands to grip, and the bright, clear images make matching simple and fun. Beyond play, it encourages language development, hand-eye coordination, and the ability to spot differences between items. My child kept asking for “just one more” puzzle, which made for some peaceful, educational screen-free time.

In short, this set is a sturdy, engaging, and educational gift that’s ideal for dinosaur fans and makes learning about opposites feel like pure fun.

This set is a delightful pick for any preschooler who loves playing, building, and pretending – especially if they’re a fan of Peppa Pig. With a colourful amusement park scene that includes a rotating big wheel ride, a slide and even a juice bar, you’ll find plenty of imaginative play built in.

My three-year-old loved loading up the little figures (like Peppa, Candy Cat and Danny Dog) onto the big wheel and sending them spinning, then arranging drinks at the juice bar, taking turns down the slide and chat‑acting a full day at the funfair. The pieces are large enough for toddler hands, the build is straightforward and the colours are bright and inviting.

Besides being great fun, it’s got real developmental benefits, too. Children can practise sorting colours, develop basic fine motor skills and engage in imaginative role‑play, which builds confidence and social skills.

If you’re shopping for a gift for a little one who loves pretend play and mini‑worlds, this is a brilliant pick. There are many sets in the Sylvanian Families range, but we chose this one because it’s packed with detail, easy to set up and has incredible play value.

The set includes a brick‑style wall and green roof, a checkout counter, shelving, a scanner, shopping basket and around 40 tiny food items – everything from milk and cereals to fruits and veggies.

My little one loved “running” the market, choosing items, putting them on the shelf, ringing up purchases and bagging them. Plus, I loved that this type of role‑play builds vocabulary (foods, quantities, shopping words), fine motor control (handling the tiny items), and social understanding (taking turns, “paying”, interacting).

What I liked most is how this set fits into a larger world. The Sylvanian Families line has so many houses, shops and characters, but this grocery market stands out because it can be a central hub of activity and easily connects to other sets. If you’re going to start somewhere, this one gives you a full toy‑shop experience without needing tons of extra expansion. It’s a strong standalone gift and also a great foundation for future additions.

Pyjamas are one of those surprisingly perfect gifts for little ones – practical, cosy, and something they actually get to enjoy every day.

One of our favourite sets is the Boden glow‑in‑the‑dark pyjamas, which come in a range of fun prints. The ones we tried were the “medieval blue astro” design, covered in stars, rockets, and little space icons that glow when the lights go out. My three-year-old loved watching them glow in the dark and it made getting ready for bed feel like a mini adventure rather than a chore.

The pyjamas are made from soft cotton, so they’re gentle on sensitive skin and easy to wash, which is a huge bonus for parents. They fit comfortably and allow plenty of room to move, meaning my child could still jump, play, or even have a little pre-bedtime dance before settling down. Beyond the glow-in-the-dark feature, these pyjamas make bedtime feel special and magical.

Though my child isn’t keen on dolls themselves, they love using their soft toys for “pretend parent” play, and the carrier has become one of their favourite props. They immediately clipped it on, tucked one of their little teddy bears in, and marched around proudly as “mummy” of the cuddly toy.

What makes it a great gift for a three‑year‑old is the blend of imaginative play and physical coordination: sliding the toy into the carrier and then walking around gives them a little sense of responsibility and care. In my child’s case, it’s helped develop the concept of caring for “someone else” – even if that someone is a stuffed fluffy bunny. The way they carried it around showed they were engaged, playful and excited.

In terms of quality, the carrier feels well‑made: the fabric is sturdy, the clip‑on straps stay in place, and the design is charming without being overly fussy. The floral print gives it a sweet, timeless feel, and it stands up well to the enthusiastic handling of a toddler. Overall, it’s a thoughtful gift for a child who enjoys role‑play with both classic dolls and soft toys.

If you’re looking for a really fun and slightly different gift for a three‑year‑old, then a kid‑friendly camera is one of those inspired ideas. It gives them a sense of independence, encourages creative play, and captures memories in a new way.

The camera is perfectly designed for little hands as it has chunky grips, big buttons, and a durable build that easily stood up to my child’s enthusiastic handling. They loved exploring the filters and effects, taking silly selfies, and even making short videos. The dual cameras make it easy for them to switch between regular shots and selfies, and the playful features kept them engaged for ages.

What I loved most is how it encouraged imaginative play. My child pretended to be a professional photographer, taking pictures of their toys, the garden, and even me, all while narrating each shot.

A small note: the image quality isn’t like a grown-up camera, but for a toddler it’s perfect – clear enough to enjoy and capture their world.

If you’re looking for a gift that’s part art project, part playhouse and all fun for a three‑year‑old, this is a brilliant pick.

We tested it with a crew of three and four-year-olds at a party, and what stood out straight away was how fully they got involved. They took their paint pens and transformed the blank cardboard pirate ship into their own treasure‑island and it became a full‑blown play zone: they climbed in, pretended to steer the wheel and shouted “ahoy matey!”.

From a parenting perspective, it supports hand‑eye coordination, imagination and gives them a cosy space of their own. Plus, it was fairly easy to assemble, taking around five minutes in total. The panels simply slot into each other, and the whole structure goes up quickly without any glue or tools.

The cardboard is surprisingly sturdy for its size and I loved the fact it becomes an experience, rather than just something to open and forget.

When we unwrapped this little hamster, my child’s eyes went wide. From the moment the it rolled out of its clear plastic ball, it felt like we’d adopted a tiny, furry friend (thankfully without the midnight squeaks). My little one loved chasing it around the living room, sliding the ball across the carpet, and squealing whenever it made those adorable “hamster noises”.

The hamster scuttles in all directions, forwards and backwards, and sometimes zooms inside the ball, keeping play unpredictable and exciting. We got a pink one, but they come in a variety of shades, perfect for collecting a whole “hamster family” or appealing to your child’s favourite colour.

From a parent’s perspective, it kept my child entertained for over half an hour, offering screen‑free, active fun. The hamster is sturdy, easy to handle, and, despite being pink, surprisingly realistic. It’s worth noting that it requires 2 × AAA batteries, which aren’t included, but once powered, it’s a lively little buddy.

If your three‑year‑old is starting to show interest in letters, stories and the idea of reading, then this could be a really strong pick. We tried it with our little one, and it opened up some lovely new moments of independent play, curiosity and shared reading time.

The starter set comes with the “Tiger” reading buddy character, the stylus that interacts with the books, and an activity book on daily routines, plus a sampler book. My child loved grabbing the stylus, tapping the pages, listening to the little audio stories and then engaging with the activities themselves – it felt like they were in charge of their own “reading machine”. What stood out was how much fun they had pressing the buttons, hearing the character say something, and then trying to answer questions or tap the right picture. It brought reading‑and‑listening together in a simple, engaging way.

I was genuinely impressed by how it supported early reading and vocabulary. We talked about the routines in the activities and the interactive element helped my child observe sequences and words. It also encouraged them to explore reading as something they could try themselves, which felt like a little milestone. Plus, because the system is game‑like, it held their attention in a way that a plain picture book sometimes doesn’t.

There are a couple of practical things to know: the stylus needs batteries, and some of the activity books require the reader and stylus system (which this set gives you) and future books for more variety. But for the age‑group and stage we’re at, it hit the mark for mixing fun with learning and gave my child a little bit of agency and confidence in “reading” for themselves.

Buying for a little one who loves creativity, building, and problem-solving? If you haven’t got these already, magnetic tiles are an absolute must-have for your preschooler. There are lots of different sets to choose from, but one of our favourites is this bright portal pack from Connetix.

It comes in vibrant colours and includes a mix of squares and “portal” tiles that click together in all sorts of inventive ways. The magnets are strong and even rotate 360 degrees, letting little imaginations run wild as they build tunnels, houses, and kaleidoscope shapes.

My mini tester was completely hooked. They spent ages experimenting with different structures, delighted in how the tiles clicked together so neatly, and loved seeing their creations stand tall – before knocking them down, that is. The tiles fit neatly back into the provided box, though they are surprisingly heavy, which is something to keep in mind when it comes to storing them away. Still, it’s a tiny trade-off for such an engaging toy.

There are loads of characters in the Hug‑A‑Lumps range to choose from (dogs, bunnies, snails and more), but we tested the cow, Clover. Right away, the weighted feel of Clover made it different to a standard plush – it’s heavier (approximately 1.5 kg) and that added weight gives it a comforting, almost “hug‑blanket” quality.

My three‑year‑old immediately carried Clover around the house, plopped them on the bed for storytime, and even used the plush for role play scenarios like playing vets or babies.

The softness and build are excellent – the plush is very cosy and, despite the weight, it’s still manageable for a young child to hold, cuddle and carry. Clover became my child’s go‑to for evening snuggles and even for a few minutes of calm when we were winding down.

Kids absolutely love dressing up, and this dinosaur costume is a perfect example of why. My three-year-old’s face lit up the moment they put it on, roaring around the living room with delight and swinging the tail with joy.

Featuring a hood with felt teeth and nostrils, along with bright blue felt spikes, the costume feels magical and is brilliant for imaginative play. At age three, dressing up isn’t just fun, it’s how they explore identities, stories, and movement.

Now, full disclosure: it is expensive but, while the price may feel high for a dress‑up piece, I believe the cost is justified by the finish. As something that gets regular wear and that kids will use again and again, the quality of the fabrics means that it’s built to last – the copper lame is vibrant and sturdy, the soft lining ensures comfort and the felt details and spikes are carefully sewn on and reinforced, making the overall construction feel solid and durable. All of this means it can withstand enthusiastic toddlers, and even be passed down to younger siblings or saved for future playdates.

Bath toys are always a winner as they turn routine bathtime into a splashy adventure. One of our favourites is this Toomies shower & scrub Bluey toy, which is perfect for little fans of the Aussie pup.

You fill Bluey’s little tub with water and a squirt of bubble bath, then press down on her to make real bubbles. There’s a working shower‑head to rinse her off afterwards, too, which is great for imaginative play and introducing simple bath routines. My mini tester absolutely loved it – they giggled every time Bluey’s tub fizzed up, and they were totally happy for us to help with hair washing (just like Bluey), without any tears.

The only niggle? We did find that the suction mount would slip off the wall when we pressed Bluey down hard. That might be down to our glossy tiles, but it’s something to watch out for. Still, for us it was a small trade‑off for such a fun and bubbly bath mate.

This adorable panda is such a fun gift for little ones who love interactive play as it cleverly responds to cuddles, tickles, and even feeding. You can give the panda some tasty bamboo to eat and listen to his cute munching sounds, then, when he’s full, he kicks his little feet to let you know it’s potty time. Place him on his potty, watch him do a funny little dance, then lift him off to see the results of his “business” – because, let’s be honest, what three-year-old doesn’t love a bit of toilet humour?

Our mini tester was absolutely captivated with this cuddly toy. They spent ages looking after him and it really brought out their imagination. While the toy has more than 50 sounds and interactions, their favourite, of course, was ChuChu saying “poo-poo” and had them in fits of giggles every time.

Aside from the laughter, this is a great toy for encouraging and promoting caring for others, whether that’s animals or people. It helps little ones to develop nurturing skills, while having loads of fun.

No car garage is complete without your child's favourite, speedy Disney Pixar Cars’ characters zooming about. Our little tester loved racing Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez down the track, before parking up the race and rescue red fire truck after saving a trapped dinosaur from a bridge. The 1:55 scale diecast vehicles are the perfect size for fitting in toy garage parking spaces and their authentic movie-inspired designs would complement car-themed bedrooms.

Surprising your child with real-life versions of cars they've enjoyed watching on the big screen really brings the magic of the movie to life, encouraging endless, independent and push-around imaginative play.

Starting your little ones young with their very own collection of toys that they can keep adding to, not only makes gift shopping for every occasion easier, but it creates those sentimental childhood memories they'll fondly remember in years to come. For me, it was collecting Groovy Chick magazines in the 2000s.

If you’re new to Lovevery, it creates beautifully designed, Montessori-inspired play kits tailored to specific developmental stages – and I’ve yet to find one that isn’t spot-on. This particular set, the problem solver, is designed for curious preschoolers (around 3.5 to four-years-old) who are starting to ask that dreaded question about everything: “why?”

Inside, you get a brilliant mix of activities: a turtle hatch board game, a 3D wobble puzzle that challenges balance and patience, clever math bars and number tiles, a soft measuring tape, nature counters, and even a liquid colour lab for experimenting with fizzing tablets and swirling colours. There’s also a sweet storybook and a super-helpful play guide for grown-ups to get you started.

My three-year-old’s absolute favourite was the colour lab – they were completely mesmerised by dropping in the tablets and watching the colours bubble and change. The turtle hatch game was another hit, though, and it’s great for practising taking turns. It’s a thoughtfully made kit that’s educational, fun, and filled with things they’ll play with – and learn from – for a long time.

This charming pram is a beautifully traditional toy with its pastel frame and floral-print fabric. My little tester loved pushing their favourite toys from room to room and tucking them into the cover before heading off on imaginary outings. The pram is lightweight but sturdy, making it easy for little hands to steer, and the smooth wheels meant my toddler felt confident walking independently while using it. The storage basket underneath was a big hit too, usually packed with bottles, blankets and extra toys for the journey.

It also perfectly matches the carrier above, which was a real bonus for mix-and-match play. If you’re shopping for a true doll obsessive, this classic pram is a gorgeous, confidence-boosting gift they’ll reach for daily.