Great Gifts for a 3 Year Old!

Turning three is lots of fun, as any three year old will admit! They are running, jumping and always ready for lots of fun. Role-playing is a developing trait and they love to pretend to be mom or dad, or even perhaps the family dog! Here are some wonderful gift ideas that will have any three year old jumping up and down with happiness!

A play kitchen is a favorite toy in many households with young kids. While traditionally thought of for a girl, a play kitchen also makes a great gift for a boy. Kids love to spend hours cooking and serving their delicious meals. Complete the gift with some plastic food and some pots and pans, and your three-year old will be cooking for days and serving you many delicious foods!

Another great gift idea for a 3 year old is a small trike. As a child hits the big three year old mark their motor development is on fast forward! With so much energy in that little body, any toy that will help release energy is a great idea! Look for a trike that has a small base so that the child can reach the peddles. Also look for large wheels that will make pedaling more successful. Throw in a helmet, and your gift is complete!

Since three year olds love to role-play and copy the actions of those around them, a child's tool kit is another great gift idea. This toy may be intended for little boys, but any little girl will love to play with their own tool kit as well. Hammers, screwdrivers, pliers and perhaps even a little drill are lots of fun for little hands. They will be fixing things for many days!

Shoes are always a classic gift idea. Kids love shoes, and they come in so many styles and shapes. While shoes may not be nearly as exciting for the child, a parent will thank you gladly! Since kid's feet are growing so quickly many parents feel like they are buying a new pair of shoes monthly! Be sure to ask the parent for correct shoe size and look for shoes that are made by a trusted brand. A favorite brand for many parents of a three year old is Stride Rite. Their shoes are known to provide correct support for those little, growing feet!

Almost any three year old loves taking a bath, so new bath toys will make a great gift! Bath toys need to be rotated often to prevent mold from building up, so parent's always can use some help with purchasing bath toys! Look for foam letters, fishing kits and even bath crayons. New toys will make bath time full of fun for your special three year old!

Another great gift idea is a play tent. There are many small tents on the toy store shelves, and any three year old is sure to have lots of fun with a play tent. They can play house, pretend to be camping, share their house with friends, and may even invite mom and dad in for a party. Many tents may even come with a tunnel to crawl though that attaches to the tent. This toy is sure to be a hit with any three year old!

One last idea for your three year old is dress-up clothes. Since the three year olds love to role play they love to dress up and pretend to be something or someone else. Look for princess dresses, animal costumes, firefighter outfits, or any other fun outfit you can find. Shopping the after Halloween costume sale is a great place to look for discounted dress up clothes!

This list is a great place to start when shopping for a three year old. The third birthday is often the first birthday a child will remember, so it should be celebrated with lots of excitement and joy for everyone! If the three-year old has a sibling, why not purchase a small toy for them as well. This will help prevent birthday party meltdowns and spread the joy around! Happy Shopping!