Toys for Three-year-olds

The toys suggested below are generally appropriate for typically developing three-year-olds. Many of these same toys are also suitable for kids who are not developing according to typical milestones, though they may need to be used differently. (For information on selecting or adapting toys for kids with disabilities, see Selecting Toys for Children with Disabilities or visit the National Lekotek Center at www.lekotek.org or www.ableplay.org.) Parents and caregivers must always ensure that any toy they let a child use is safe for that child.

Balls
Beanbags
Blocks (large and small for building)
Blunt scissors
Boxes (different sizes)
Brushes for painting
Bubble-blowing materials
Clay
Clothespins (adult size)
Costume box (containing adult clothing, purses, hats, shoes, jewelry, scarves, etc.)
Crayons (large size)
Doll furniture (carriage, high chair, bed, etc.)
Dolls (all kinds)
Fingerpaints
Games (lotto, matching, dominoes, etc.)
Hand puppets (all kinds)
Housekeeping toys (dust mop, broom, mop, ironing board, iron, stove, refrigerator, sink, etc.)
Jungle gyme
Large beads for stringing (strings should have rigid tips)
Musical instruments (rhythm sticks, bells, drum, castanets, rattle, triangle, etc.)
Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
Pegboards with large pegs in a variety of colors
Pencils
Plastic dishes and assorted cooking utensils
Playdough
Puzzles
Riding vehicles (dump truck, car, etc.)
Rocking horse
Sandbox
Sand toys (sifter, scoops, pail, small containers, spoons, funnels, etc.)
Screw toys
Seesaw
Shape sorting box
Slide
Stuffed animals
Swing set
Table and chair (child-size)
Tape deck and tapes
Toy airplanes, trains, trucks, boats, cars, etc.
Toy telephone
Tricycle
Wagon
Water toys (sponges, sieves, soap, egg beaters, plastic containers, funnels, straws, measuring cups, etc.)
Wheelbarrow
Wooden or rubber vehicles (cars, trucks, boats, fire engines, etc.)

Adapted from Play with Purpose by Theodosia Sideropoulos Spewock and Jean Warren. Published by Brighter Vision Publications, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada: 2000. Pages 8-9.

Provided By Susan J. Oliver, Tropomedia
This information is provided on behalf of the toy experts at your neighborhood toy store.