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12 best gifts for three-year-olds that they won’t want to put down

Screen-free presents allow for their creativity to come into its own    (The Independent)
Screen-free presents allow for their creativity to come into its own (The Independent)

As you’re waving goodbye to the terrible twos, you start a new chapter with a threenager; an age when their little personalities start to shine as they advance to pre-school age.

A crucial period before they enter the world of “big school”, parents want to honour these precious infantile years where their offspring may still spend a large amount of time at home. This undoubtedly applies extra pressure when it comes to choosing an appropriate gift.

At the age of three-years-old, thoughts start to take real shape and their energy seems relentless, which means some serious consideration is needed for present purchasing. From outdoor activities, to games which require concentration (we can but dream, hey), these gifts have a lot to live up to.

Past the 36-month mark, children’s imaginations go into overdrive, so toys that encourage role play are vital. Therefore, we looked for gifts that harness in on their growing imaginations as well as those that help develop skills too. We also wanted to showcase presents that will see them beyond the big unwrapping, offering longevity and capturing their attention.

While screen time can be a child’s and parent’s best friend, we sought after gifts that’ll allow their own creativity to take centre stage – with classic thought-provoking toys proving to still appease Generation Alpha. But most of all, we hunted down gifts that’ll provide plenty of fun, while also not costing the earth financially or in the way they’re made.

How we tested

Our three-year-old tester happily obliged to trying out a whole range of gifts over the course of two weeks. Together we scrutinized the quality, how durable each gift was and whether it could withstand the pressures of “passionate” preschool play. We’ve considered different budgets, from purse-friendly presents to wow-factor gifts that are seen as more of an investment. These are the ones that come out on top.

The best gifts for three-year-olds for 2022 are:

  • Best overall – Le Toy Van le grand garage: £89.95, Letoyvan.co.uk

  • Best energy burner – EDX Education whizzy dizzy: £109.99, Shopedx.co.uk

  • Best screen-free gift – Tonies starter set: £79.95, Tonies.com

  • Best wooden toy – Little Dutch Toys kitchen in mint: £107, Scandiborn.co.uk

  • Best for stylish kids – Polarn O. Pyret number print top: £16.80, Polarnopyret.co.uk

  • Best STEM toy – Smart Games roboflex: £24.99, Smarttoysandgames.co.uk

  • Best for creativity – Djeco play dough hairdressing workshop: £10.35, Birdkids.co.uk

  • Best classic toy – Liewood Sebastian fishing game: £22.79, Liewood.com

  • Best for look lovers – Ten Minutes to Bed: ‘Where’s Little Unicorn, a magical lift-the-flap book’: £6.99, Waterstones.com

  • Best battery powered toy – Bluey dance and play plush toy: £37.50, Argos.co.uk

  • Best practical gift – Stych pointelle pink smile pyjamas gift bag: £40, Stychaccessories.com

  • Best for role play – Lilliputiens little doctor Alice bag: £41.99, Johnlewis.com

Le Toy Van le grand garage

Made from FSC-certified wood, this imaginative and educational toy will keep young ones occupied for hours on end. This garage has everything motor fans could need, built using a multi-level with two spiral ramps made from composite wood and a working lift set which transports the vehicles through the three levels. There’s also a petrol pump to refuel the included car and helicopter, and helipad for necessary landings.

We love how this set encourages little ones’ imaginations, alongside developing skills such as dexterity and fine motor skills. But what impressed us the most is the quality, crafted using durable wood from sustainable sources and decorated using child-safe paint, it’s sure to stand the test of time… if our tester is ever willing to share it with anyone else.

Buy now £89.95, Letoyvan.co.uk

EDX Education whizzy dizzy

This activity toy from EDX Education is certainly unique. Promoting healthy active play both indoors and out, it’s effectively a park roundabout to be used at home. A sturdy base with swivelling platform, our active three-year-old took no persuading to hop on the whizzy dizzy. By pushing and pulling the rotating steering wheel our little tester spun around much to her delight. Not only does it provide an upper body workout, it develops hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills, too.

Our young tester soon took control of the steering, speeding up and slowing down as she played, and looking rather chuffed with her efforts. Brilliantly sturdy, it encourages independent play and will certainly keep active young ones coming back for more. Handling up to 45kg, we see it getting years of use and being a go-to garden toy.

Buy now £109.99, Shopedx.co.uk

Tonies starter set

If you’re trying to steer your young ones away from screen time but want a gadget that’s going to be deemed worthy of your three-year-old’s attention, we believe we’ve found the answer with Tonies. The toniebox device is a child-friendly audio player that is geared towards independent play for pre-school children.

In the starter set you’ll get a toniebox, a creative-tonie, which has 90 minutes of space for you to upload online audiobooks, music or even recordings of your own stories and messages, and a charging dock. Encouraging a love of audio learning and reading, our tester enjoyed adjusting the volume using the rubber ears, swapping stories by placing the Tonie figurines on top of the cube, but most of all she just loved listening to Chase’s adventures (of Paw Patrol fame) with four different tales to listen to.

We were impressed by the vast offering of stories to choose from, including the hugely popular Peppa Pig and The Gruffalo, and even Disney classics. But at £14.99 a pop, we’d suggest going for their favourite character to garner the most interest. It’s also worth bearing in mind, though, that you will need to connect to wifi initially, but once you’ve placed on the tonie, the story is downloaded and ready for story-time action.

Buy now £79.95, Tonies.com

Little Dutch Toys kitchen in mint

A toy kitchen has almost become a house essential when there’s a preschooler inhabitant, and it comes with kudos as it is the pinnacle imaginative role play toy. And we think we’ve found a wonderful example in the charming scandi-style Little Dutch kitchen.

It’s got everything budding chefs could wish for and more, complete with clicking rotating oven knobs – a favourite feature for our tester – two hobs, a metal sink, clock, and some cooking utensils. In fact, we found this example went the extra mile providing pots, an oven glove, and even salt and pepper shakers.

As smart as it is stylish, we love that this kitchen comes with extra height adjusters which slide under the legs, giving an additional 6cm of height for longevity of use. Before the big day you may want to plan ahead and assemble as this took us the best part of an hour to put together, after all your little one will be desperate to get the roast dinner on.

Buy now £107.00, Scandiborn.co.uk

Polarn O. Pyret number print top

Most three-year-olds are pretty proud of their age, so why not celebrate their innings with this cool number three top from Swedish childrenswear brand Polarn O. Pyret? Our little tester loved the fun lift-the-flap design, lifting the sunglasses to reveal the comical side eyes lurking below. Crafted from soft organic cotton, the brown and taupe two-tone design is effortlessly cool yet wonderfully comfortable, too.

Buy now £16.80, Polarnopyret.co.uk

Smart Games roboflex

You can always rely on Smart Games, which has been creating educational toys for more than 25 years, to come up trumps on some fun independent learning. Turning three is a great time to put little minds to the test, and our little reviewer loved getting creative and making her own colourful crazy robot combinations. New from the brand is the genius extendable flexible bar pieces, magnetic at each end, simply stretch out and connect to make weird and wonderful arms, bendy bodies, or extensions for googly eyes.

Develop fine motor skills and colour and shape recognition, as mini builders work their way through the included poster which provides robot designs to copy. This twelve-piece set can be combined with all other SmartMax sets, so that’s the next present sorted too.

Buy now £24.99, Smarttoysandgames.co.uk

Djeco play dough hairdressing workshop

Kids can channel their inner hairdresser with this creative set from French toymaker Djeco. The concept is super simple, and somewhat addictive in its therapeutic nature, as you push the dough through the holes at the top of the figures’ heads to mimic hair. Our stylist enjoyed creating various hair styles, with a penchant for chopping at her peril.

You’ll get two pots of dough (one yellow, one orange), two head figurines and matching pushers, and a pair of child-friendly scissors. A fun, yet creative way to develop fine motor skills… while a future career path may be questionable, the enjoyment is undeniable.

Buy now £10.35, Birdkids.co.uk

Liewood Sebastian fishing game

Playing this with our three-year-old tester felt pleasingly nostalgic as the magnetic rod caught its next object. While this may be a classic game, it’s safe to say it’s had a makeover since our day, and this version from Nordic brand Liewood is a lovely example. Beautifully presented and made from 100 per cent beechwood, this set comes with eight animal faces, in a variety of pink and brown hues, all tactile to the touch. The magnetism was magical for our little tester, and while incredibly straightforward it’s entertaining and a classic toy you’ll want to pass down the generations.

Buy now £22.79, Liewood.com

Ten Minutes to Bed 'Where’s Little Unicorn, a magical lift-the-flap book’, published by Penguin Random House Children’s UK

From Ladybird’s best-selling bedtime series, Ten Minutes To Bed Where’s Little Unicorn, is a gift for both three year olds and their parents as it helps with the taxing bedtime routine. A magical lift-the-flap book, our little bookworm loved discovering what character was hiding under the flap. At the end of the story, they reach a magical rainbow where readers will find Twinkle the unicorn tucked up ready for bed, which should encourage readers to follow suit. While we can’t promise a full night’s sleep, we’re sure it’ll be a bedtime favourite.

Buy now £6.99, Waterstones.com

Bluey dance and play plush toy

Bluey has become a household name across the globe. But perhaps unlike most animations, the series is not only loved by kids but parents, too. Our Bluey fanatic was over the moon to be dancing along with her favourite character. Dancing and playing songs.

Known for her awesome moves, little one’s can wiggle along as she hops on one leg, dances, and waves her arms in the air. There are over 50 phrases, which keeps it exciting, and four songs, plus there are three of her favourite games to play ­– statues, dance mode and copycat, which all kept our mini tester occupied. Batteries are included, so you play can start straight away – a real bonus.

Buy now £37.50, Argos.co.uk

Stych pointelle pink smile pyjamas gift bag

A one-stop-online accessories shop for girls, Stych is full of shiny and bright wonderment with some fabulous gift finds. If you’re looking to gift a practical present but want it to leave a lasting impression, say hello to the pointelle pink smile pyjamas gift bag. Beyond your run-of-the-mill kids’ pyjamas these have been lovingly crafted using an organic cotton blend – we love the pastel pink with neon cuffs, and our little tester took no convincing to don the super soft teddy ear towelling headband. Presented in a reusable cotton gift bag, it makes a practical yet pretty present.

Buy now £40.00, Stychaccessories.com

Lilliputiens little doctor Alice bag

Our hearts melted as we watched our three-year-old tester take care of Alice the toy fox, who seemingly had been in the wars requiring a plaster and head bandage as her temperature was taken. Inspiring imaginative play, the Lilliputiens little doctor Alice bag is a brilliant example of a doctors role play set, complete with plenty of medical paraphernalia – including stethoscope, syringe and doctor’s mask. We love that this set is soft, opposed to plastic or wooden – making it a snuggly bedtime buddy for our tester – and also means the set can be easily transported in the nifty bag which doubles up as Alice’s sick bed.

Buy now £41.99, Johnlewis.com

The verdict: Gifts for three-year-olds

Le Toy Van’s le grand garage ticks all of the boxes. It encourages imagination, is gender neutral, sustainable and durable. But most importantly this set wholly captured the attention of our three-year-old tester and had her coming back for more. What more could you want in a gift?

Aid children’s learning with the best educational toys that they’ll never get bored with