Best Gifts for 3 Year Old Under $50 (2025)
It’s that time of year again! Get your gift list ready for black Friday deals 🙂 You’ve come to the right place for the best gifts for 3 year old!
I looooved the 3 year old stage. At this age, 3 year olds are rambunctious, have great control of their bodies and still learning about boundaries. They aren’t teething anymore, but might put things in their mouths out of curiosity. They are starting to learn the alphabet in full and their vocabulary is much more developed.
👶What 3 year old kids are looking for
- Open-ended play
- Toys that allow them to use their imagination to mold and build what they’ve observed or things they dream up
- Cause and effect
- This includes long race tracks, marble run
- Simple gadgets
- Such as a baby’s first watch or laptop or camera. They have no “smart” functionality but are still super interesting to 3 year olds
🌿Sustainability and safety considerations
Things to watch out for if you want to buy a gift that would last and be appreciated.
- Fabric parts that cannot be washed easily
- Plastic parts that easily break and cannot be repaired
- Lots of small parts
- Lots of parts that require clean up every time
- Battery cover that isn’t screwed on
- Paint that chips off
🎁Best Gifts for 3 year old – full list
JOYIN Toy Truck for Kids
I didn’t expect this to be so popular, but this toy was swarmed by all of the boys in the class, and it kept them entertained for almost an entire birthday party.
Kids Selfie Camera
Kids love to see the photos they took. It’s also very entertaining to see what they take photos and videos of.
Marble Run Building Blocks
If you’ve been following my guides, you’ll know that I’m a big fan of Duplo. My just turned 4 year old and even my 6 year old still reaches for it on a daily basis (in addition to the regular sized Legos).
This marble run set fits perfectly with the Duplo sets, expanding each set’s useful life.
LEGO DUPLO Classic Deluxe Brick Box
These brick sets only get more fun the more you add to them. No 3 year old would be upset at receiving this huge box of Duplos.
Bath Crayons
Don’t sleep on bath toys! These crayons take bath time to the next level. Bath time entertainment allows caregivers a tiny break.
These come in a handy container and are large enough to not quickly get lost in the bath.
Play-Doh Buzz ‘n Cut Fuzzy Pumper Barber Shop Set
This list wouldn’t be complete without play-doh! It’s always a favorite and it can always entertain kids for a long time.
Also, how funny are these shaved heads?!
Toddler Balance Bike
It’s time to introduce a 2 wheeler! Training wheels are not the way to go. Balance bikes help kids learn to actually balance on 2 wheels and easily transition to pedals.
This particular one is one sale at just under $50, but there are other brands that consistently sell for $50 or less.
Kinetic Sand
My kids got this for his 4 year old birthday and he asked to play with this day and night for at least a week until we put it away. Now he regularly takes it out to play with alongside his duplo.
Seeing how much he enjoyed playing with it made me wish I bought it for him sooner!
LeapFrog 2-in-1 LeapTop Touch
I bought this for my kids when they were too young. Age 3 is a good time to start using this laptop which teaches the alphabet and numbers, and has some simple games.
Stomp Rocket
Every time we pull these out, the kids are entertained for hours on end. There is always a few of these at birthday parties. They are the best!
Hopefully this list gives you some ideas. There are higher prices options from the same brands that are linked on the same Amazon page.
You can also group several toys together that are lower in price.
I absolutely LOVE writing these gift guides. I get to go through all of my previous shopping cart saves and relive the baby years 🥹
Thank you for reading this far. This post contains affiliate links. If you click on a link and make a purchase, I may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
