Kids love their toys—that much is a given fact. From those early months of their lives up to their school-aged years, toys remain a source of joy and fascination. And it's for a good reason. Toys are an excellent way for kids to express their sense of exploration and creativity.

As your kids grow from infancy to their toddlerhood and onward, their brains develop as well. That's why you'll notice that the toys that used to excite them, say, a year ago, are now neglected somewhere in the corner of their room. Their expanding minds want something a little less simplistic.

Therefore, as a parent, it's essential to take note of your child's development needs even in terms of the toys they need. A time comes when you’ll have to put away those rattles and crib mobiles, as well as other toys better suited for a 1-year-old and upgrade to toys that your little one will have a better experience playing with.

Buying toys for your kids can be frustrating. Let's have a look at the ten best toys for 3-year-olds of 2020.

With this toy, your child can build, fix, and rebuild for as long as they wish. It consists of 35 pieces, including a hammer, screwdriver, a saw, vice, wrench, screws, nuts, and other parts. The workbench counter is adjustable, making it ideal for kids who are three years or older. It offers real-life simulation where your kid can build a variety of items for hours on end.

The workbench comes with shelves that allow your youngin to store all their tools and supplies. It's a hands-on toy that helps your child to fine-tune their motor skills and nurture STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) basics. The realistic tool design helps your tiny handyman/handywoman fix whatever they want.

The tools are all made from wood sourced materials from environmentally sustainable forests. The solid wood build of the workbench ensures longevity, and a non-toxic paint finish adds to the safety of your child. The tool bench lowers the chances of tools getting misplaced while also offering enough storage space.

Key Features
  • 35 pieces of toy tools
  • Adjustable workbench height
  • Shelves on the workbench
  • Strong, solid wood build
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: Yes
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 35
Pros
  • An adjustable workbench allows for you to make adjustments as your child grows
  • The sturdy wood frame provides longevity
  • Shelves on the workbench offer storage for your child’s tools
  • 35-piece set provides versatility and fun during playtime
Cons
  • Some parts may be missing making assembly difficult

Squigz are exciting little suckers that easily connect or to any solid, non-porous surface. The pieces can flex and stick, and once they hold on, they take a bit of effort to separate. Your little one will have their hands full with this delightful toy.

Their flexibility and connectivity allow your child to assemble several objects. The pieces may be folded into cars, rockets, or even jewelry. This toy nurtures creativity, experimentation, and interaction. It also provides relaxation and sensory stimulation. It’s also compatible with a wide range of ages starting from three, meaning your child can keep enjoying this toy for a couple of years to come.

The pieces easily connect and pop apart, creating a gratifying playing experience. The pieces are also generously sized and come in eight versatile shapes. They are made from high-grade silicon rubber and leave no residue or marks on your home surfaces. The silicon is free from latex and bisphenol-A (BPA), making it safe for use.

Key Features
  • Suction construction
  • Flexible and pliable pieces
  • Generously sized components
  • Eight different shapes
  • High-quality silicon rubber material
  • Latex and BPA free material
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 24
Pros
  • The flexible, pliable pieces make them easy and fun to play with
  • Suitable for ages three and above meaning your child can continue playing with them as they get older
  • Latex-free and BPA-free build means they’re safe to use
  • Interactive, therefore, encourages creativity and playful experimenting
Cons
  • The pieces may leave a stain if attached to the skin

This toy is an excellent option for your kid if they love the idea of cooking or becoming a chef someday. Your little one can make custom pizzas without the risk of heat or the headache of having to do dirty dishes. The set comes with an oven for pizza, a pizza slicer, a paddle, and five cans of Play-Doh for all of your child's pretend pizza needs.

There are no batteries or intense assembly procedures. Your kid can jump straight in and start creating their custom pizza. There are cheese shreds that compound into grated cheese. The oven playset comes with a variety of molds for creating make-believe pepperonis or other fun toppings. When the pizza is ready, the pizza paddle takes it out of the oven, and the pizza cutter slices it up into neat pieces.

Additionally, it also comes with five, 2-ounce Play-Doh cans and three creation cards that show step-wise ways of making different creations. This is an excellent toy for nurturing creativity and allowing your child to express their artistic side.

Key Features
  • Oven playset
  • Five cans of Play-Doh
  • Pizza paddle
  • Pizza cutter
  • Silly cheese machine
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 9 pieces (oven, five Play-Doh cans, pizza pan, cutter, and pizza paddle)
Pros
  • Assembly-free so play starts right away
  • It doesn’t require batteries
  • Vast number of accessories make for versatility, creativity, and fun
Cons
  • The toy may get monotonous after a while

This interactive toy allows your child to enjoy the fun and the mess of feeding time. It’s an adorable baby doll that makes playtime feel like real mealtime. The doll can help teach your child how to become nurturing. She eats, drinks, and even messes up her diaper.

Happy Hungry baby responds with over fifty sounds and phrases like "More, please" and "Baby stinky!". Your child can feed her using a unique spoon, and when she's not full, she'll move back and forth, asking for more. There are also fun feeding accessories such as a baby bib and a feeding tray. There's everything your kid will need to make food, feed, and change her.

From feeding time to diaper time and even nap time, your kid will feel like a mommy or daddy. This is the perfect toy to create memorable moments and get your child to understand the value of responsibility. Aside from the bib and feeding tray, the doll also comes with a Sippy cup, a comb, two packets of powdered doll food, and two diapers.

Key Features
  • Over fifty words and phrases
  • Interactive playtime
  • Comes with lots of accessories
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and over
  • Batteries Required: Yes (4AA batteries)
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 1
Pros
  • The doll is highly interactive making for fun playtime
  • The doll comes with a large number of accessories for more fun
  • It’s a great educational and recreational toy
  • It’s suitable for both boys and girls
Cons
  • The doll may become monotonous after a while

This kit comes with everything your child needs to create unique characters. Essentially, the doll creates a blank canvas that allows your little one to custom-make a character of their liking. The versatility of this toy is something that your kid will love.

The doll wears a tank t-shirt and a pair of shorts and comes with a short haircut. There are also six items of clothing, three pairs of shoes, additional accessories, and a long-haired wig. The wig is easy to come off, meaning your kid can switch from a long hairdo to a short look in no time.

This doll additionally bends at the neck, shoulders, wrists, elbows, knees, hips, and ankles, allowing your little one to create unique poses. The doll was inspired by real kids, and that means it creates more fun thanks to its relatability. The authentic details connect with kids and help to inspire real-life storytelling. Bring out your child's creativity with this fun-filled toy.

Key Features
  • 11-inch doll
  • Six pieces of doll clothing (2 tops, one jacket, one skirt, one pair of shorts and one pair of pants)
  • Removable wig
  • Three pairs of doll shoes
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 6
Pros
  • A large number of accessories makes for interactive fun
  • The toy offers versatility during playtime
  • The doll bends at various body parts allowing for customization and fun playtime
  • It’s suitable for both girls and boys
Cons
  • The 11-inch design may put off some kids from playing with it

This fantastic set comes with pieces made from durable, quality materials. It comes with six dinosaurs: two brontosauruses, two Trex dinosaurs, and two ceratops. There's also a set of 12 tools that allow your child to assemble quickly: six wrenches and six screwdrivers. These tools can be disassembled and put back together for a whopping total of 218 pieces!

If you want to nurture your child's creative side, then this would make for a great option. As they take apart and reassemble the dinosaurs, they develop coordination and problem-solving skills. There’s also the benefit of increased hand-eye coordination. It's an excellent toy for bonding sessions between kids of a similar age as they tackle the challenge of assembling the pieces.

The construction pieces are all made from non-toxic, BPA-free plastics that ensure your child’s safety. If you want your kids spending less time in front of the TV or a tablet, this toy is the perfect distraction. It can keep them occupied for hours, and they get to feel a sense of achievement after each successful assembly.

Key Features
  • 218 pieces (six dinosaurs and 12 unique tools)
  • Strong, quality materials
  • BPA-free and latex-free plastic pieces
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: Yes
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 218 (6 dinosaurs and 12 tools)
Pros
  • Large 218-piece set allows for interactive and creative playtime
  • It's a great way to get your kids off-screen time
  • BPA-free and latex-free materials ensure safety
Cons
  • The pieces may not always fit back together correctly after disassembling

This toy consists of a large and surprise-filled safe that unlocks loads of fun for your kid. Your kids can use the key to open the safe and find out what Ryan's World-inspired surprises await them. There are all sorts of goodies, including jointed figures, treasure, mix and match characters, mystery eggs, and so much more.

Your child can push and discover surprises. There’s stuff to smash and decode as well as a secret locked compartment that adds a surprise factor. So, if your kid is the exploring type then this safe should suit them well.

Each safe comes with over 30 great surprises on the inside, offering a variety of things to discover. Bring home the surprise of unboxing all the fun of Ryan’s World. Characters like Gus, Red Titan, and Combo Panda, among other favorites, are all waiting to be discovered. Your kids are more of the adventurous type, then Ryan's World Super Surprise Safe would be the perfect pick for them.

Key Features
  • Large, surprise-filled safe
  • 30 fun surprises inside
  • Secret locked compartment
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 1
Pros
  • There are over 30 surprises for your kids to discover
  • The secret locked compartment offers even more surprises
  • No assembly means your kids can jump straight into discovering surprises
Cons
  • Some of the pieces inside the safe are choking hazards
  • Some surprises not unique/fail to impress

If you're heading off to the beach or have a sandbox in your backyard, then this would be an excellent toy for your kids. Your kids can pretend that they’re on an excavation site by digging and dumping loads of sand at a time. The digger can reach up to a depth of 15 inches and has an arm that can reach 33 inches and a height of 25 inches.

The excavator crane is an excellent choice for outdoor fun and encourages kids to go outside. Kids can play and dig around for hidden treasures in the sand. The Big Dig is easily portable, making it possible for you to carry it around.

It has a 360-degree swivel and a two-handed digging and dumping action. It’s a toy that can be used in any season and offers great fun. The contoured base seat provides a broad and comfy base for your child to sit on while the sturdy metal frame adds durability. As a construction toy, it helps develop your child's hand-eye coordination, logic, problem-solving skills, and reasoning capability.

Key Features
  • 360-degree swivel action
  • Extendable arm with 33-inch length and 25-inch height
  • 110 lbs. weight limit
  • Contoured seat
  • Strong, durable build quality
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3 and above
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: Yes
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 1
Pros
  • Great toy for outdoor activities
  • Enables motor-skill and coordination development
  • Easy assembly process
  • Suitable for all season play (snow, sand, and dirt)
Cons
  • Small parts have been missing in some cases

If you're looking for an educational toy, then look no further than the Osmo - Little Genius Starter Kit. It brings learning to life using hand-held pieces with an iPad. The games are designed to ignite your child’s imagination while also delivering critical skills. Osmo combines technology with exploration, actively engaging your little one in the learning process.

Your preschooler can learn letter formation and phonics. They can also create pictures using sticks or rings, feed or dress a character or bring animals to life. All these interactive features foster problem solving and learning.

The Osmo base for iPad comes with 19 cardboard pretend to play costume pieces, 38 silicon sticks for practicing letter formation, a silicon gameplay mat, and four game apps. The games include ABCs, stories, costume party and squiggle magic. The game allows you to keep an eye on your child's progress and is an excellent way for your child to guide themselves on a learning adventure.

Key Features
  • Squishy colorful sticks and rings
  • Over 50 different phonic sounds
  • Comes with four game apps (stories, costume party, ABCs and squiggle magic)
  • In-game parent app
Specifications
  • For Ages: 3-5 years
  • Batteries Required: No
  • Assembly Required: No
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 19 cardboard plat costumes and 39 silicon sticks
Pros
  • The parent app allows you to monitor your child’s progress
  • Four game apps add to the variety of games your child can play
  • Squishy colorful sticks and rings make the game fun
  • The game is both recreational and educational
Cons
  • The game may fail to read what is on the mat accurately

This fascinating tower comes with a rotating periscope, a functioning elevator, and a zipline for the pups. The buttons on the tower activate lights and sounds from the show. The icons on the pup pad activate the pup’s unique phrases. The tower even features a bay that can house six vehicles.

The flip on the top opens to reveal a mission control panel, and there's a light-up space on the top platform for each Mighty Pup. The tower comes jam-packed with a ton of exciting features for your kids to explore. This toy allows your kids to use their imaginations to create adventures involving their favorite superheroes.

The tower’s rotating base has room for all six Mighty Pups (each sold separately). That allows your kids to collect the whole Super PAWs team for loads of more heroic missions. This toy also makes for a fun learning experience on traits such as bravery and heroism. The package comes with Paw Patrol action figures, transforming cars, playsets, and craft kits for the ultimate fun experience.

Key Features
  • Comes with a mighty 2.75-foot lookout tower
  • Six zipline clips
  • Bay for six vehicles
  • Mighty Chase action figure
  • Comes with one Mighty Pups Vehicle
Specifications
  • For Ages: 2 to 5 years
  • Batteries Required: Yes (3 AAA batteries)
  • Assembly Required: Yes
  • Interactive: Yes
  • Number of Pieces: 1 Mighty Lookout Tower + 6 zipline clips
Pros
  • It’s a great way to bring the fun of Paw Patrol into your home
  • Highly interactive thanks to a large number of accessories
  • Suitable for kids up to five so your kids can use it for a few years
Cons
  • The other characters of the Paw Patrol come separately

On the technical side of development, at the point of birth, your baby’s brain already had all the neurons it will ever possess. Neurons are these specialized cells that transmit nerve impulses. In your baby’s first year, his or her brain will double in size, and by the time they reach three, their brains will already have achieved 80 percent of their adult mass.

More importantly, synapses form quicker during these early years. Think of synapses as bridges across which nerve signals pass. The input that your child gets from their environment, which includes the toys they play with, stimulates synapse strength. Better synapse strength means more efficient brain networks that better support learning and memory.

So, at age three, your little one is going through a period of development of their motor and language skills. It's also an age where socializing and learning colors and shapes are vital. Your kid will begin exploring the relationship between objects and how different parts and wholes fit together. And that’s why getting them the ideal toys goes a long way in helping their brains develop adequately.

It’s a great time to introduce cognitive building toys. For instance, toys that help to practice writing or drawing. Books may also help your child develop literacy skills and name recognition. These types of toys are an ideal way to show your child how to associate with real-life objects.

Consider toys that are educational just as much as they are recreational. Educational toys can help your child learn a ton of different skills they’ll need later on in life. For instance, your child could develop problem-solving skills or learn how to resolve conflict. Educational toys are also a great way to help teach your child about social skills such as sharing.

Additionally, at three years of age, your child is becoming more active. Therefore, aside from educational toys, consider toys that involve more physical play. Safety should always come first when introducing them to any physical play activities. Let them know that toys such as tricycles require them to wear a helmet.

With that said, you might still be in a pickle as to which toys to get your little one. Stores stock up on all sorts of toys, and that could prove difficult when trying to pick out something. To ease your burden, check out our list of the 10 best toys for 3-year-olds that you can get right now.

Resources— Urban Child Institute, Educational Play Care

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