Best Christmas Gifts for 3 Year Olds for 2011

When your child is three and starts to understand the wonder of Christmas (rather than just playing with the box and wrapping paper) it’s time to really step up the gift giving. It’s probably also the time that they start asking for what they want. My 3 year old marched right up to Santa last year and said that he wanted a Nintendo DS! We got him a Leapster instead because we thought he wasn’t quite old enough for the DS, but during that time I got to research a lot of toys and gift ideas.

This year, 2011, is going to be a big Christmas season – even though people probably won’t be spending as much money as previous years, they’ll be looking for quality, fun, educational, and of course budget since every toy listed here is under $45 (and most are around $20).

Keeping that in mind, here are my top picks for the best Christmas gifts for 3 year olds this year:

#1 Stomp Rocket Jr Glow Kit

This is our number one choice of Christmas gifts for 3 year olds. The junior stomp rocket is a kit containing 4 foam rockets (which glow in the dark) and a launching pad that you must stomp on to launch the rocket into the air. It’s best used outside, because it can launch as high as 100 feet and you don’t want it breaking anything inside. You can often get this kit for under $10 and since young kids can spend hours ‘launching’ their rocket into the sky it is definitely well worth adding to the gift list.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $15.00

#2 Fisher Price Sesame Street Silly Sounds Remote

If you are sick of trying to wrestle the TV remote control from your little one then why not give them their own! The Fisher Price Silly Sounds Remote is the same size and look as a regular remote (although with Sesame Street character pictures on it). The buttons play different sounds and music and the batteries seem to last for ages. It’s also very durable which is important for three year olds who like to drop things! You can usually get this for under $15 which makes it a great gift idea.

Rating: 4 Stars | Price Guide: Under $25.00

#3 Yookidoo Flow ‘n’ Fill Spout

If you are looking for a good bath toy, then I really like the Yookidoo Flow N Fill Spout. It’s really cute looking, durable and made of bright colors which are great for your 3 year old. Water comes up through the spout to create a stream of water that cascades out of the top like a fountain. Your child can play with this alone, or with any of the included cups to catch the water. As a bonus it will help you get your kids to sit in the bathtub for longer while they play!

Rating: 3 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $40.00

#4 LeapFrog Scribble and Write

This toy is not only educational but also really fun (and a great way to teach your child about letters and writing). There are four different levels on the LeapFrog Scribble and Write from basic (drawing shapes) right up to Level 4 – upper and lower case letters. In the basic modes the stylus lights will light up the shape for your child to trace and as you advance they can free draw and the stylus will only prompt or correct them. It’s a great head start on school too.  This makes a great addition to our Christmas gifts for 3 year olds list this year.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $25.00

#5 Green Toys Tea Set

What child doesn’t like a tea party? And this set is environmentally friendly made from 100% recycled milk jugs making it strong, durable and excellent quality. Its FDA approved and doesn’t contain any nasties such as BPA, phthalates or lead paint. That means it’s perfectly safe to drink from! Of course your child won’t care that it’s green, but you’ll have peace of mind while they treat their dolls to another cup of tea.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $20.00

#6 Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set

This Basketball set is just the right height for your 3 year old as you can adjust it from 2.5 to 4 feet tall. It can be used inside and out so your child can practise their ball skills any time they like. You just add sand or water into the base for stability and you are good to go. This set also includes a junior sized basketball. Really good for helping to improve your child’s hand to eye coordination and will last a long time.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $40.00

#7 Step 2 WaterWheel Activity Play Table

A really good water table is the one from Step2 who make good quality toys. This water table comes with boats, cups and the water wheel tower. Kids love pouring water over the tower to make the water wheel move. In the colder months you can also put sand in this as an alternative. (Fine sandpit sand will go through the water wheel tower easily as well). It’s lightweight enough to move around your yard, but sturdy enough not to topple over if a child leans on the side.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $45.00

#8 Little Tikes TotSports T-Ball Set

And finally our last item on our list is the Little Tikes t-ball set is another great fun sports toy that can be played by both girls and boys. The set comes with two baseballs, a bat and the tee. It will help your child practice their swing as well as general motor skills and coordination. As with most products from Little Tikes it’s made of good quality durable plastic so it should last many years. Kids love hitting the ball and it makes a good all round sports toy.

Rating: 4 1/2 Stars | Price Guide: Under $20.00

Click here to see more bestselling toys for three year old’s (changes hourly).

We hope you liked our list of the christmas gifts for 3 year olds and it has given you some new ideas for your little one.