Kaitlyn is a tiny little thing, full of sugar and spice, and the word feisty <\/em>always comes to mind when I think of her. She is loud and funny and messy and a born performer (watch the video in this post and you’ll see what I mean<\/a>).<\/p>\n\n\n Even so, there are some toys, games and other gifts that they’ve both loved, and that I love, too. Some are educational, in a sneaky way. Some allow them to explore their artistic sides. But most? They’re just fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n So, this year, I have put together what I hope is your new go-to guide for shopping for a 3-year-old — I’ve included a lot of items that my girls like, but many would be great for boys too. I’ve also taken some of the recommendations readers have shared in comments here on the blog or on social media, and added in a few that we don’t yet have but are on my own shopping list this year.<\/p>\n\n\n Oh, and one final note? Each year, I try very hard to remember that less is more. We talk a lot at home and in homeschool<\/a> about gratitude and giving back. So if you are looking to save some money or cut back on the tangible gifts this year, here are a few ideas:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you have other ideas, I’d love to see them in the comments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n [clickToTweet tweet=”Check out this giant gift guide for 3-year-old girls!” quote=”Check out this giant gift guide for 3-year-old girls!”]<\/p>\n\n\n\n OK, on to the list! Please note that these include affiliate links, which means I get a small commission from your purchase, although you don’t pay any more.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Magnatiles.<\/a><\/strong> These are always a huge hit, and not just for 3-year-olds, so I love that this is a toy that can grow with your kids. Their imaginations can run wild while their knowledge of geometry grows, as they build different shapes and towers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Microphone<\/a><\/strong>. Even though she is sometimes shy about it, Hailey is really into singing and making up songs and at 3, started to give us little performances. Kaitlyn? She loves being in the spotlight. There are so many fun options, from hand-held to karaoke micrphones on stand. (I’m especially intrigued by this one that can be hooked up to an iPod or iPhone<\/a>!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n “Kid”noculars<\/a>.<\/strong> A friend of mine has these and they’re perfect for letting kids take a closer look at plants or animals or even at their older siblings’ sports practices and games. They’re also really sturdy and won’t break when dropped (plus, there’s a breakaway cord so it takes away any risk of choking). The same company makes this microscope, too<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other great options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n For her first Christmas, Hailey received a Christmas Bear personalized book and loved it. And both my kids have had so much find finding the letters of their names in books, so having something just for them is a really special idea. I See Me! has some great options<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A few other favorites in our house:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Color Play Houses.<\/strong><\/a> We first discovered these when Hailey received one for her 3rd birthday — it was a huge hit then and is such a great option for this age. Kids can color the outside, the inside and play house with toys, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Board Games.<\/strong> At this age, it can be hard for kids to understand the rules or pay attention long enough to finish, but there are some really fun options for beginners. Candy Land will always be a classic<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kid Aprons. <\/strong>Again, my kids and I love <\/em>spending time together in the kitchen, and this is such a fun way to help them get involved and feel like it’s a really special thing. Plus, there are matching options for mom or dad<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n More inexpensive but great options:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dress Up Clothes. <\/strong>Imagination is really kicking in at this age and it\u2019s so much fun to watch it run wild. Zulily<\/a> is a great place to get discounts on costumes and fun items, so keep an eye on that. Plus, Amazon has some great options like this 4-piece set of capes and masks<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speaking of fun clothes — my kids love <\/em>twirly dresses like these<\/a>, and not just for dress-up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jewelry Box.<\/a><\/strong> Along with the dress-up clothes, my kids love playing with jewelry. They have day time and night time rings that they will switch out as they get in and out of bed. They like bracelets and necklaces too. Having a place to keep their treasures is a great way to teach them how to take care of “precious” things, plus, it helps keep what could become a tangled mess fairly well organized. Pottery Barn has some of our favorites<\/a>, but this one on Amazon is lovely, too<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fishing Pole.<\/a><\/strong> It may sound a little counterintuitive, but my girls love \u201cfishing\u201d off our back deck with her fishing pole. We help them cast it and they will reel the little plastic fish in over and over!<\/p>\n\n\n\n And these options are especially great if your kid gets the wiggles or needs to burn off some energy:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kitchen Knives<\/strong>.<\/a> My kids really love being involved in the kitchen and at this age, they can really start developing some skills and help, rather than just play. These knives are sharp enough to cut some foods, but dull enough to be safe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sleeping bags. Whether it’s for an indoor slumber party or to take on a travel adventure, these kid-sized bags are great. This alligator version<\/a> is adorable, but I know my kids would also love this ladybug option<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Life Factory Water Bottles.<\/a> <\/strong>There are baby bottles, open cups and then these 16-ounce options that are BPA-free, easy to wash and come in a silicone sleeve so they’re easy for small hands to hold on to.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kid Lunchboxes.<\/strong> Even though we homeschool, the kids and I often go on adventures and need to pack snacks and lunches that may be eaten hours later. There are some great options, including these Bentgo boxes<\/a> (my friends love them!) and PlanetBox<\/a> which is pricier but really nice. Plus, there are so many fun and colorful boxes, many of which fit into a backpack<\/a> or have handles that make it easy for younger kids to carry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n What was the best Christmas gift you received as a child? <\/strong>What is your favorite gift to give to a child?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether your preschooler is a budding artist, a born performer, a whiz in the kitchen or something in between, this guide will…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":37120,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[2262,1484],"tags":[2080],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24584"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24584"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62575,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24584\/revisions\/62575"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/37120"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=24584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=24584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.ahealthysliceoflife.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/10\/Grandfather-Mountain-NC-1-of-1.jpg\")
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<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nGifts for 3-Year-Old Girls<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Toys & Games<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Books<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Stocking Stuffers\/Under $25<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Just for Fun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Helpful<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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