Best toys and games for 3 year olds: play that builds skills

The best toys for a 3 year old are simple, hands-on and open-ended: things to build, match, pour, stack and play together. Three is when many children first enjoy simple games with rules, as long as turns are short and nobody has to lose. Always check the age grade and small-parts warnings on the product page.

What are the best first games for a 3 year old?

• Count Your Chickens is a cooperative game: everyone plays together to get the chicks home.
• Where's Bear is a hide-and-find stacking game.
• Stack Your Chickens is a balancing game.
• Sneaky Snacky Squirrel is a colour-matching game.
• Tiny Polka Dot is for roughly ages 3 to 8, so it grows with them.

What are the best building toys for a 3 year old?

• SmartMax Start and Start Plus are magnetic building sets.
• My First Safari Animals adds animal figures.
• Oppi Piks is a construction set.
• Pattern Blocks are great for shapes and patterns.

What are good early maths toys?

Numberblocks Mathlink Cubes 1 to 10 and the Numberblocks Number One soft toy are popular with fans of the show.

What about outdoor and sensory play?

Dr Zigs bubble kits and number sand moulds turn outdoor play into early learning.

How do I choose safely?

• Check the age grade and small-parts warnings.
• Supervise magnets and small pieces.
• Choose open-ended toys that work in several ways.

FAQ

Are board games OK for 3 year olds?

Yes, simple cooperative ones are. Keep rounds short and focus on taking turns, not winning.

What comes next?

See our guide to toys for 4 year olds.

Browse educational toys for 3 year olds.