Looking for the perfect gift for the preschooler in your life? Here are the best gifts for 3 year old girls to inspire your shopping!
Shopping for a gift for a three year old can be tough. Three is a sort of in between age in my experience where kids are old enough to have interests but, especially young three year, olds, or kids who are just turning three, they might not be quite at the mental point where they understand gifts and can specifically ask some thing.
This is in contrast to my current four-year-old boy who is, as we speak, making a wildly long and detailed Christmas wish list.
My daughter turns three this week and it’s been hard asking her what she wants as a gift because first of all she has everything and second of all she doesn’t really understand gifts and she has no idea the mountain of toys that are about to come her way.
Regardless, if you are shopping for a three year old girl, I wanted to share some ideas for what, from the perspective of someone whose daughter will turn three in just six days, would be good gift ideas for a three year old girl.
The best gifts for a 3 year old girl
Here are my favorite 3 year old birthday gifts and holiday gift ideas!
Experience gifts
OK I’m gonna go ahead and start it with a gift idea that is not a toy. It’s not even anything you can really rap. It’s an experience! I have a whole article about the best experience gifts to give kids, but think of these kinds of ideas:
- Trip or membership to a zoo, aquarium, or museum
- Meal at a favorite restaurant
- Tickets to the movies
- Sleepover (such as a night at grandmas)
- Fun activity like slide place, water park, putt putt, petting zoo
An experience gift is great if your three year old girl has too many toys, minimalist, parents, a full house, or just doesn’t need anything physical. Create memories instead!
Subscription box
My kids have gotten a few different subscriptions in their lives and loved them all. One of them is highlights Hi Five magazine. It has stories, activities, and craft ideas. It is a perfect magazine subscription for a 2-4 year old.
My pick for a kids subscription box is Kiwi Crate. At this age, it’s the Koala Crate box. We have subscribed for over 2 years and you can see our full review here. We love the fun crafts and activities and convenience of the subscription.
Finally I want to mention my daughter’s hair bow of the month club. It’s through Little Poppy Co and she LOVES getting seasonal bows in the mail!
Imaginative Playtime Wonders
Three years old is an age where kids really start to get a good imagination, and in my experience will play independently or with a friend with toys and create little stories. If this is what your kid is into, here are some gift ideas.
Dollhouses and figurine sets: Encourage her creativity with miniature worlds and storytelling opportunities. I love this dollhouse, this wooden furniture and these dolls for it!
Play kitchen sets: Let her whip up imaginary meals and explore her culinary dreams. You can get a wooden or plastic play kitchen, depending on your needs! Don’t forget the play food!
Dress-up costumes: Dress up is SO fun at this age! Fuel her imagination with princesses, superheroes, and more.
Doctor or veterinarian kits: Foster caring and empathy through role-playing like a doctor or vet kit!
Learning Through Play
Looking for more of an educational type gift idea for your three year old? Here are some learn and play toy ideas.
Educational puzzles: Enhance cognitive skills with age-appropriate puzzles and shape sorters. At the age of 3, floor puzzles are my favorite choice as a step up from baby wooden puzzles!
Building blocks: Inspire creativity and spatial awareness with colorful building blocks. At this age, I think that magnetic tiles are the way to go. Consider Magna Tiles or Picasso Tiles, and look into fun add ons like the dinosaur set if they already have the tiles!
Interactive books: Combine fun and learning with lift-the-flap books and sound-enhanced stories.
Activity books: My kids love activity books, including this style of Disney sticker book, Highlights look and find sticker books, and these scissor skills books!
Alphabet and number toys: Introduce early literacy and numeracy in an engaging way. I taught my kids their letters with this wooden ABC puzzle and this peg game is perfect for practicing numbers!
Screen free audio player: These kids speakers will play stories and songs and keep them entertained – without a screen – for a long time. Lots of the content is educational, too. We have a StoryPod but Tonies is a very popular brand. Here’s my comparison of the top screen free audio player options!
Outdoor Adventures and Active Fun
Does your three year old love to get outside and play? Here are some gift ideas for outdoor fun.
Tricycles and balance bikes: Develop her motor skills and confidence for outdoor exploration. A balance bike is perfect for this age! Or, try this 3-wheeled scooter. My kids love theirs and that it has a fold downs eat if needed!
Sidewalk chalk and bubbles: Encourage outdoor creativity and play. I love a bucket of sidewalk chalk and this set of bubbles!
Play house: Create a whimsical space for imaginative adventures in the backyard. Consider plastic or wooden options.
Gardening set: Instill a love for nature and hands-on learning with a child-friendly gardening kit.
Saucer swing: at 3 they are getting too big for a baby swing, but might not want to pump their own legs on a swing set. We love this saucer style swing for lounging and swinging!
Bounce house: Kids will go WILD to own their own bounce house. We use ours indoors, but they are great outdoor toys if you don’t have the space inside!
Arts and Crafts Galore
Three is a fun age for crafting and playing creatively. Here are some fun craft gift ideas for three year olds.
Washable markers and crayons: Spark her artistic side without worrying about messes with washable markers.
Dotters: These dotters are so random and make me think of Bingo but are a huge hit with the kids.
Playdough sets: Enhance sensory experiences and sculpting skills with vibrant playdough and fun playdoh kits.
Craft kits: Fuel her creativity with DIY projects like jewelry making, paper crafts, and more.
Paints and art supplies: Allow her to explore colors and textures through hands-on art with a painting set or an easel!
Stickers: Kids at this age just love stickers. Go with sticker books or just big packs of stickers for fun!
Cuddly Companions
A lot of three-year-olds really like just having a snuggly friend. My son couldn’t care less about stuff like this, but my daughter is just obsessed with stuffed animals and dolls of any kind.
At the age of three, I highly suggest dolls or stuff animals that are related to an interest of theirs. This could be a movie, a show, or just some thing they’re really into.
Stuffed animals: Gift her adorable plush toys for snuggles and imaginative play.
Soft bodied dolls: Girls love dressing up and cuddling soft bodied baby dolls. You can see all of my favorite soft bodied dolls here!
What is your favorite gift for a 3 year old?
Thanks for reading!
Hey there, I’m Morgan, the creative mind behind CelebratingWithKids.com! As a parent of two lively little ones, I’ve made it my mission to turn ordinary days into extraordinary adventures, sharing playful activities, thoughtful toy reviews, and delightful printables to help families celebrate every moment together. 🎉👨👩👧👦🎈