What to Gift a 3 Year Old Baby Girl

The best gifts for 3-year-olds will include plenty of opportunities to explore as toddlers grow and develop into more imaginative play.

Finally out of the "terrible twos," many are entering school for the first time and interacting with friends. They're becoming increasingly verbal and able to answer questions and follow directions. (Or not: There's a reason people call them "threenagers.")

"Three-year-olds are getting to be more social and have ideas of their own," said Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of "How Toddlers Thrive." According to Klein, "Open-ended toys such as blocks and building toys allow them to explore, discover and carry out their ideas."

They are deep in the "I'll do it myself" phase, so they enjoy things that help them master the fine motor skills that might help them dress themselves, said Marie Conti, head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and a board member of the American Montessori Society.

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Bestselling gifts for 3-year-olds
Best toys for 3-year-olds
Best book gifts for 3-year-olds
Best play sets for 3-year-olds

Don't forget to check out Shop TODAY's 2021 Gift Guide to find the perfect present for everyone on your list!

Bestselling gifts for 3-year-olds

Mudpuppy Transportation Puzzle Sticks, Amazon, $13.59
What Kind of Car Does a T. Rex Drive?, Amazon, $10.99
Color Your Own Super Hero Cape, Uncommon Goods, $35.00
Kid Made Modern My First Arts and Crafts Library, Amazon, $29.99
It Will Be OK: A story of empathy, kindness, and friendship, Amazon, $10.39

Best toys for 3-year-olds

Fat Brain Toys GeoMagic Mosaics

The options are endless when it comes to the patterns and designs your child could make with these vibrant geometric blocks. Their problem-solving skills and natural curiosity will also be tested by shapes like hexagons, trapezoids, rhombuses and more.

Loog Mini Acoustic Guitar

Prepare for hours of music play with this mini guitar that's just right for little fingers.

Manhattan Toy Playdate Friends

These dolls are huggable and machine-washable, and each comes with its own pet for extra fun.

Haba Little Friends Townhouse Villa

A doll house gives toddlers room for creative play, and a space to work through issues around separation as they head to school.

Dough Project Cupcake

Dough made from all natural ingredients comes in a cupcake set that's perfect for birthdays or any celebration.

Toniebox Audio Player

Toddlers can control their own music and storytime with the Toniebox audio player. Add-on figures come with songs and stories from favorite books and movies.

Ada Twist Scientist Doll

Fans of the popular book and Netflix series can bring home their very own scientist for imaginative STEM play.

Kid Made Modern My First Arts and Crafts Library

Small craft pieces like felt, pipe cleaners and googley eyes encourage creativity and fine motor skills as kids create mini masterpieces.

Chuckle & Roar Jumbo Aqua Draw Doodle Mat

With a little bit of water and a lot of creativity, your 3-year-old could create colorful masterpieces with just a flick of the wrist — plus some brush pens and markers.

Boon Marco Light-Up Bath Toy

Bath time just got so much more fun! Marco's helmet changes a multitude of colors once he hits the water, making his deep-sea explorations a lot easier.

Kid O A to Z Magnatab

With a magnetic stylus, reinforcing the ABC's and their handwriting becomes an easy task. It's perfect for the young learner that is still practicing their penmanship.

Great Pretenders Dragon Toddler Cape

This fun costume is easy to put on and take off for 3-year-olds who want a quick change.

Crayola Scribble Scrubbies Bath Set

Or for a more artsy bath experience, your 3-year-old can color in these little pets, then wash them off and start all over again.

Color Your Own Superhero Cape

This customizable cape is perfect for pretend play that's not determined by a character from TV or books.

Sarah's Silks Enchanted Playsilk

These real silk play scarves can be capes, wings, the roof of a fortress ... It's the ultimate in open-ended play.

Etch-a-Sketch

The original mess-free way to draw is a perfect toy for travel or restaurant play.

Slumberkins Alpaca Snuggler

As they start school, toddlers may become more interested in cozy friends who give comfort. These therapist-designed snugglers come with a story to help with stress management.

Mobo Mity Sport

Scooters, tricycles and balance bikes all encourage coordination. This three-wheeled trike is low to the ground with extra zoom like a little racecar.

Green Toys Car Carrier

This car carrier helps with fine motor skills and imaginative play.

Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Thomas

Child development experts Klein and Conti both appreciate Thomas the Tank Engine and the stories that go along with him.

AnaMalz Wooden Moose Figure

Animals are of great interest at age 3, and these sweet wooden figures are perfect for pretend.

Kiko+ Kaleidoscope Wooden Camera

This chic wooden camera features a kaleidoscope lens to delight 3-year-olds as they mimic their paparazzi parents.

Mudpuppy Puzzle Sticks

This unusual puzzle lets 3-year-olds arrange sticks to form a picture, a different kind of problem-solving than the usual notch-and-groove puzzle.

Corolle Mini Calin Doll

Get baby doll ready for bed in this doll and sleeper set combo.

Best book gifts for 3-year-olds

"Amos McGee Misses the Bus," by Philip C. Stead

In this follow-up to "A Sick Day for Amos McGee," Amos is a little too snoozy and misses his bus to the zoo — and perhaps his chance for a special afternoon with the animals. Fortunately, these animals are there to help a friend while he naps.

"Something's Wrong! A Bear, a Hare and Some Underwear," by Jory John and Erin Kraan

In this funny picture book, a bear knows something is wrong but not quite what. (Hint, it's the underwear.) His friends come through in a silly, sweet way.

"Chez Bob," by Bob Shea

Bob the alligator opens a birdseed restaurant in a genius plan to lure prey, but when the birds become good friends, will he be able to eat them?

"Bloop," by Tara Lazar and Mike Boldt

An alien dog comes to Earth and determines, quite logically, that dogs are in charge. He'll have to rule on this planet before he can take over back home.

"The Tree in Me," by Corinna Luyken

This beautiful book celebrates the joy of nature and the roots that connect us to each other, with lyrical text and vibrant illustrations.

"Bodies Are Cool," by Tyler Feder

All different kinds of shapes are celebrated in this body-positive book that shows all sizes, colors, face types and more.

"It Will Be OK: A Story of Empathy, Kindness, and Friendship," by Lisa Katzenberger and Jaclyn Sinquett

Giraffe has seen a spider and is scared into a tree. Zebra patiently talks to Giraffe and shows how to overcome fears and be a good friend.

"Inside Cat," by Brendan Wenzel

Inside cat is king of his domain and knows every corner and window. There's surely nothing left to discover, until he gets a peek outside.

"Welcome to Jazz," by Carolyn Sloan

They'll swing, dance and get into the groove while learning about the history of jazz with this interactive book. The page-turner also comes with a dozen sound chips to expose your music-loving toddler to the rhythm section, scatting, brass instruments and more.

"Penguinaut!" by Marcie Colleen and Emma Yarlett

This penguin has a dream and wants to achieve it himself (like many 3-year-olds) but discovers adventures are better with friends.

Best play sets for 3-year-olds

Melissa & Doug 100-Piece Wood Blocks Set

With 100 pieces, this wooden block building set is meant for fun and play. They'll get to use the colorful blocks and shapes to build their own architectural creations.

Play-Doh Fun Factory Deluxe Playset

Little ones are unleashing their inner artist at this age, and this set lets them explore through touch and feel.

Lego Build Me Emotions Set

This Lego set helps kids identify emotions for social emotional development, something many parents are concerned about now.

Colorforms Re-Stickable Play Set

"They can fit easily in your tote bag the same way an iPad could," Conti said of this restickable set.

Janod Music Instrument Set

"Musical toys can form a big part of a 3-year-old's day," said educational toys expert Lauren Leisk.

Tegu Robo Magnetic Wooden Block Set

Conti is a big fan of wooden magnetic blocks, like these, for easy manipulation with less frustration.

Hape Gourmet Chef Kitchen and Cookware Set

For the aspiring chef, this little kitchen can provide hours of play. (They may especially love it in the real kitchen so they can "cook" with parents.)

Melissa & Doug Star Diner Restaurant Play Set

Take kitchen play up a notch with this full restaurant set.

Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Blocks

These blocks are a favorite in preschools everywhere. Various sizes and shapes let little ones problem-solve.

Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway Set

Train sets are great for your 3-year-old boy or girl's developing spatial skills, Klein said. Brio train sets are also compatible.

Kinetic Sand Sandcastle Set

"The sandbox is one of the most popular activities on our playground, for all ages," Conti said. This magic sand is a perfect indoor version.

Learning Resources Building Toy Gear Set

Encourage early STEM development and fine motor skills with this interactive gear set that really works.

Magna-Tiles Clear Colors 32-Piece Set

These magnetic tiles allow kids to create their own masterpieces and will captivate them for years to come. "Kids will play with those for hours," Conti said.

Still looking for the perfect gift? Be sure to check out Shop TODAY's 2021 Gift Guide to shop for everyone on your list, including:

The best gifts for 1-year-olds, according to child development experts
The 35 best gifts for 2-year-olds, according to experts
Shopping for a 4-year-old? Here are 42 gifts they'll love
39 interactive gifts the 5-year-old in your life won't want to put down
33 toys and games that will make your 6-year-old smile

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This gift guide was originally published on Nov. 21, 2017.

What to Gift a 3 Year Old Baby Girl

Source: https://www.today.com/shop/best-gifts-3-year-olds-our-2017-holiday-gift-guide-t118862