3 year old birthday gift ideas
Categories: Toddlers, Preschoolers, Development, Kid decor & style, Toys & games
We'll soon be attending the birthday party of one of Bean's favorite friends. She's a sweet little girl who takes turns with Bean whirling about our house on his bike. The two are unstoppable. They giggle endlessly. They play chase and hide and seek. They jump on the trampoline. They climb anything climbable. And when they tire they sit on the couch and "read" books together.
Yet she is one of those kids who appears to have every toy under the sun. Her mom excels at shopping. EBay is her friend. She always has the cutest clothing, and Bean has wistfully told me on more than one occasion that he wants all of her toys. "I want all of them, mommy. I want da kitchen, and da train that goes." He clarified, just in case I was taking notes.
I, on the other hand, have general gift giving/shopping anxiety. When I think of buying birthday gifts my mind immediately skips back to seventh grade, when I was invited (along with everyone else in the class) to the birthday party of a boy I had a crush on. I agonized forever about what to give him. I may have settled on a snow globe. Or some dorky ball point pents with bobble heads on the top. I can't remember what I actually got him---because the of embarrassment at the utter un-coolness of it has spread across my memory like a rosy fog. Put it this way: the crush was never returned.
Thankfully, 3 year olds are a far different creature than gawky, hormonally driven 12 year olds. They're generally pleased to receive anything that comes wrapped in a box. But because I am gift-purchasing challenged, I need your help. What, in your opinion (or your daughter's opinion) would make an ideal birthday gift for a turning-3-year-old?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Sarah 10-30-2007 @ 10:36AM
Get her some wooden play food for the kitchen (my three year old loves it and you can use it to play "store" too). Or books, books are always the best.
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kris 10-30-2007 @ 10:38AM
I agree with books. Maybe a few classics? Or something special, like a pretty new piggy bank. I like to buy unique gifts. Check your local baby/child boutiques. I wouldn't buy a generic toy, it will be forgotten shorty and likely be recalled anyway :)
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pbhj 10-30-2007 @ 11:01AM
Most memorable present I ever got as a child? Well at playgroup a girl (who's name I don't even recall) gave me a toy car with red wings that popped out when you pressed a button on the roof. I think it was her toy. But she gave it to me. I loved it.
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Courtney 10-30-2007 @ 11:04AM
My 3 year old daughter loves to play dress up. That was her gift of choice at 3. She too loves books especially dora so if she is into dress up or dora, give her something along those lines. If she is bean's favorite friend, get his input. He'd probably know what she wants too.
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Eva 10-30-2007 @ 11:28AM
Dress-up stuff or musical instruments!
When your kid laments not having her stuff, tell him how lucky he is to be able to go to her house and play with everything! It might help.
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Sandyone 10-30-2007 @ 11:40AM
Kristin had a post on this not too long ago, too. It was for 2 yr olds, but I've found that many of the same gifts work for both ages (and older!).
My personal favorite is a flashlight, whatever kind your kid of the same age is most intrigued by. There are so many varieties and a flashlight is just fun.
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Gwen 10-30-2007 @ 12:40PM
I would second (third, fourth?) the books idea. Since she and Bean read together all the time this is probably something she will love. If this girl really has everything you might get her 1 book and then make a donation to a charity for her. She will get the fun of opening the small gift and the mom will appreciate the gesture and the lack of "stuff" she has to deal with. (At least this is something I would really appreciate.)
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Jill 10-30-2007 @ 1:45PM
for Bean or for the friend? very different answers
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Nicola 10-30-2007 @ 2:16PM
We use www.moolka.com. I always keep a stock of Haba games on hand for the 3-5 year old set so that I have something educational, quality, and unique to wrap up for our next birthday party. Haba does some fabulous games for around $9-14 and if you order a few of them, you'll get free shipping from Moolka. Nobody has them, they provide hours of fun and enjoyment (we've had some very big thank you's from virgin Haba parents), and they satisfy all of the no lead, no plastic, no junk requirements.
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Joy 10-30-2007 @ 4:10PM
I second Sandyone with the flashlight. My grandson is three and I found him a Thomas one for like 2.99 at the drug store. He loves it. He also loves his binoculars (spelling on that?? sorry). I also love books for every occasion but unless you know what they already have, it's hard to know what the likes are or if they already have it.
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Biro 10-30-2007 @ 7:58PM
For a small 3 years old baby I would choose a ride on toy, they always love them.
http://www.sortprice.com/reviews/prince_lionheart_wheely_bug_children's_ride_on_toy
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Uly 10-31-2007 @ 12:04AM
When in doubt, go with craft supplies. They get used up.
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