13 best gifts and toys for three-year-olds that they will love

If you’re trying to resist the lure of the iPad when it comes to keeping your little one entertained, investing in a Toniebox is the way to go. This clever little device is hugely popular with kids and parents alike, and for good reason – it lets you take music, audiobooks and bedtime stories out and about with you, with no need for screens. The Toniebox is also incredibly kid-friendly and easy to use – simply pop one of the cute characters (or ‘Tonies’) onto the top of the box and the device will immediately start playing.

The Gruffalo Tonie is the brand’s bestseller for three-year-olds, and we can confirm it went down a storm with our mini tester. Yes, the gadget may be on the pricier side but, with a wider range of stories and educational products available, kids will enjoy it for years to come, so it’s worth the investment.

As soon as they turn three, your little ones will start wanting to show their independence by having their own space, and this affordable tent from Ikea is a great way to let them have just that. While it may not be quite as aesthetically pleasing as some of the other (pricier) options on the market, the fun circus theme is sure to tap into kids’ imaginations and keep them playing for hours.

If you don’t want the tent on permanent display, no problem – it can be assembled and taken down in a matter of minutes. It then folds away into a handy mesh case, so it can be stashed out of sight when you’re not using it. It’s great for both indoor or outdoor play and is virtually indestructible – it was able to withstand the rambunctious play of 20 kids during testing. Although it’s made of polyester, at least 90 per cent is recycled, making it more eco-friendly.

When it comes to beautifully designed kids’ costumes, Meri Meri reigns supreme. This is the age when your little ones will really discover the joy of dressing up, and this superhero costume ticks all the boxes. What three-year-old doesn’t want to be a superhero?

The costume set comes with a gorgeous cape, complete with glittery stars, a mask and cuffs, meaning your little one will have all they need to transform into their favourite world-saving star. Although Meri Meri’s items can be on the pricier side, they’re all brilliant quality. The cape is made from lined blue lamé, while the mask and cuffs are made from leatherette and felt. This means it feels much more luxurious than many of the cheaper costumes on the market and will last much longer. A must-buy for letting your little one harness their growing imagination.

French brand Djeco is known for making some of the best craft kits around, and this activity box centred around animal houses is no exception. Inside, you’ll find six different activities that kids can work on together, from collage, colouring and cutting out to mosaics, transfers and totems.

Everything you need can be found in the box, which comes with a pair of safety scissors, a tube of glue and plenty of stickers. If your little one hasn’t yet mastered the art of using scissors, you may need to help them with some of the cutting out but, otherwise, this kit enables them to let their imagination run wild and create some lovely pieces worthy of being stuck up on the fridge. It’s a great option to pull out on a rainy day, if you’re trying to avoid just plonking them in front of a screen.

Now that your three-year-old is officially entering their preschool years, it’s a great time to start introducing them to the concept of letter formation, in a fun and informal way. We found this set from Edx Education (the masters of educational toys) a great way to do just that. Inside the box, you’ll find 200 brightly coloured flexible GeoStix and 20 double-sided activity cards suggesting all manner of weird and wonderful things to make.

Your little one can snap together the GeoStix to form space rockets and dinosaurs, diggers and bugs, or settle down to make all the letters of the alphabet. The sticks snap together super easily, meaning even the tiniest of fingers can master this activity, and our little one loved seeing her creations take shape before her eyes. It’s also a great way to help promote patience and concentration, as they need to pay careful attention to the cards to build whatever they’re making.

What kid doesn’t dream of owning their own sweet shop? This gorgeous wooden set from Janod is every three-year-old’s fantasy come to life. This is the year your little one is really going to get into role play, so, it’s the perfect time to invest in toys that are going to unleash their imagination. Our tiny tester loved the bright colours of the shopfront and the sweets, but it was the cash register that really sold it for her. She loved being able to open the register and use the ‘real’ money provided to pay and charge for her sweets.

We particularly loved the attention to detail, such as the little bell that dings when you close the till, and the miniature chalk board on which you can write prices for each sweet. Another bonus is the set is made entirely from sustainably sourced wood, for those who prefer to steer clear of plastic. The paper money is a little flimsy and likely to get lost but, overall, this is a fantastic toy for imaginative play.

Finding a hard-wearing yet attractive pair of shoes for a three-year-old can be surprisingly tricky. You want something that can withstand long days at nursery or preschool and romps around the park but also still look smart enough for a family meal out or a kids’ birthday party. These unisex Superga trainers tick all the boxes.

A miniature version of the classic adult style, they’re made of extra-strong, fully breathable cotton, perfect for keeping little feet dry without overheating. They’re wonderfully lightweight and also machine washable, which means you can just chuck them in the wash whenever they’re looking too grubby. The Velcro straps mean you don’t have to faff around with laces, and you can start teaching your little one to do them up themselves – they’ll master it in no time.

Everyone knows three-year-olds love nothing more than copying the adults around them, and that’s doubly true for mum’s make-up and grooming routine. Our tiny tester is obsessed with nail polish, and Miss Nella’s products are the best kid-friendly offering on the market.

These non-toxic nail polishes are made with a water-based formulation and easily peel off when you want to remove them. Dermatologically tested and hypoallergenic, they’re gentle on young skin and won’t wash off in water, either. There’s a wide range of colours to choose from, and this set also comes with a little nail file to perfect those manicure and salon role plays. While this may seem like a rather girly gift, our mini tester’s male friends also loved getting their nails painted when they came over for playdates.

If you’re looking for a way to stop your three-year-old filling up your smartphone camera reel with blurry selfies, investing in their very own camera could be the way to go. This option from VTech is one of the most popular kids’ cameras on the market and is a great starter option for little ones. Larger and chunkier than many other cameras aimed at kids, it feels reassuringly robust, meaning it’s more likely to withstand being dropped or chucked around.

It’s also packed full of whizzy tech features: there are dozens of games and activities to choose from, as well as 75 photo and video effects. While it may take some time for your little one to figure out how to use all of them, this is definitely a camera they can grow into, and it should keep them entertained for years to come. Our tiny tester got a kick out of playing with all the different effects, as well as snapping plenty of family portraits.

Once they hit three, your little one is likely ready to start playing some basic family games. When it comes to fun games that are also educational, there’s no brand better than Orchard Toys. The brand has loads of brilliant options to choose from, whether it’s something from its Peter Rabbit range or fun mini games for taking on holiday. Our top pick, however, is Hungry Little Penguins, which offers a first introduction to collaborative gameplay.

There are two ways to play – either everyone plays together against the pesky seal, who’s trying to steal the penguins’ fish, or you compete against each other to be the first to fill your board with fish. Our mini tester loved playing the collaborative version, and the game itself is brilliant for helping to encourage turn taking and teamwork.

Anyone with a three-year-old will know they go absolutely gaga for Peppa Pig, and will likely pester you to buy everything and anything featuring the world-famous TV character. If you want to thrill your Peppa-loving little one while still buying something aesthetically pleasing, this is the pyjama set to go for.

Mori’s recent Peppa Pig collaboration is by far the chicest we’ve come across, featuring beautifully muted colours rather than the garish shades so often found on kids’ clothes. These pyjamas are also super soft, crafted from a blend of organic cotton and silky bamboo. Gentle on the skin, they’re the comfiest things to snuggle up in come bedtime – our tiny tester rarely wanted to take them off. Bamboo is also great for temperature regulation, meaning they’re less likely to overheat while wearing these.

Once your little one turns three, it’s likely they’ll start clamouring for their first set of wheels. Many parents introduce a balance bike around this age, and it’s a great ‘big’ present for their third birthday. Banwood makes some of the most stylish bikes around, and our mini tester loved the shininess of this sleek chrome option.

The 12in bike comes with an adjustable saddle and handlebar that can be easily switched up as your child grows, meaning the bike should last your child until around their fifth birthday. A balance bike is a great way to develop little ones’ coordination skills, while also helping them be more independent. They’ll be whizzing around on it in no time – now all you have to do is make sure you can keep up.

Three-year-olds are like dogs, in the sense they need to get outside every day to burn off some energy, whatever the weather. This waterproof pack-away raincoat is a godsend on rainy days, as it’s super lightweight and folds away into a tiny bag, meaning it’s easy to carry around with you at all times.

The coat itself has an ultra-soft outer shell made from recycled PET plastic bottles, and a silky Airtex lining that means it’s also very breathable. While it doesn’t come in a huge range of colours – the main ones being soft mallow pink, peppermint and light blue – the shades are lovely, and there’s also a couple of patterned options. The main draw here is definitely the fact it packs away into such a small bag, making it one of the most practical options on the market.