Raising Kids Gear and Products The 22 Best Gifts for 3-Year-Old Girls Foster imagination and discovery with toy kitchens, dress-up clothes, and more By Maya Polton Maya Polton LinkedIn Maya has more than 15 years of experience in digital media and communications and specializes in writing about family, food, and lifestyles. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 26, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Family content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. Finding the right gift for a 3-year-old is a delightful task. Full of discovery and blossoming independence, three-year-olds learn about their world through play, often reimagining their experiences, such as playing doctor after a visit to their pediatrician or pretending to be a firefighter. They are also developing cognitively, and by age 3, many children can complete simple puzzles or build towers from blocks. That means the world of early toys and games is open to them, and there are many gifts that will make their day. Reviewed & Approved The Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set is a long-lasting toy that fosters independence and fine motor skills. For hours of imaginative play, we recommend the Bluey Family Home Playset. When buying a gift for a 3-year-old, look for hands-on toys that let them act out real-life scenarios. They may enjoy pushing a baby doll in a toy stroller or serving pretend ice cream in a play kitchen. Dress-up toys also go over quite well, whether they are real-life costumes like a construction worker or fantasy-based characters like Elsa from Frozen. Because 3-year-olds are beginning to move from parallel play to cooperative play, look for toys that will be equally fun played alone or with other children. When reviewing gifts for 3-year-olds, we considered versatility, developmental milestones, design, safety, and ease of cleaning. We also looked for gifts well suited to a 3-year-old’s interests, such as dramatic play, outdoor activities, and huggable animal friends. Based on our reviews, these are the best gifts for 3-year-old girls on the market today. Our Top Picks Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set at Amazon Jump to Review KidKraft Alexa-Enabled 2-in-1 Wooden Kitchen at Amazon Jump to Review Bluey Family Home Playset at Amazon Jump to Review The Elephant Project Kiki at Theelephantproject.com Jump to Review Hasbro Baby Alive Doll Stroller at Amazon Jump to Review Kiko & GG Sushi Party Set at Kikoandgg.com Jump to Review Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe Scooter at Amazon Jump to Review Tender Leaf Toys Baby Barn Set at Maisonette.com Jump to Review My First Book of Girl Power at Amazon Jump to Review Pottery Barn Kids Cash Register and Play Money at Potterybarnkids.com Jump to Review In This Article Expand Our Picks What to Look For Why Trust Verywell Family Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set Amazon View On Amazon View On Walmart The Melissa & Doug Cutting Fruit Set is our top pick because it offers endless opportunities for imaginative play both independently and with others. This beautifully crafted wooden fruit set features 17 painted fruit pieces and a wooden knife. Kids can slice apart each piece of fruit with the wooden knife for a satisfying crunch sound. The pretend food, which reattaches with self-stick tabs, is well-made and long-lasting. The play set fosters imaginative play as kids will enjoy making a pretend meal and serving it with the wooden tray. It’s also great for developing fine motor skills and early math concepts. While the fruit set is the perfect addition to a play kitchen, it’s equally fun on its own. KidKraft Alexa-Enabled 2-in-1 Wooden Kitchen Courtesy of KidKraft View On Amazon View On Walmart Bring imaginative play to the next level with this splurge-worthy gift. Two-sided, one side features a kitchen and the other a market check-out counter. Alexa enabled, the kitchen can also make sounds, play games, and prompt activities for kids to keep busy. Bluey Family Home Playset View On Amazon View On Walmart Fans of Bluey will love this kid-sized playhouse that features four rooms, a spacious patio, removable and moveable furniture, and a cute Bluey figure. Perfect for imaginative play, this house is a great intro to dollhouses. The Elephant Project Kiki Courtesy of The Elephant Project View On Theelephantproject.com Help save elephants through The Elephant Project organization. Your kiddo will love to cuddle Kiki and you’ll love that 100% of net proceeds go to various organizations that help elephants. Hasbro Baby Alive Doll Stroller View On Amazon View On Bed Bath & Beyond Your mini-me will be instantly obsessed with pushing around with their very own doll stroller. Sized for dolls up to 24 inches, the stroller features a foldable canopy, undercarriage basket, harness, and folds for easy storage. Kiko & GG Sushi Party Set Courtesy of Kiko & GG View On Kikoandgg.com Expand your little one's familiarity with worldwide cuisine with an all-wooden sushi set. Velcro seaweed and magnetic sushi make it fun to play and create, all while building fine motor skills. The set includes 11 pieces, a bamboo mat, a serving tray, and more. Micro Kickboard Mini Deluxe Scooter Courtesy of Micro Kickboard View On Amazon View On Maisonette.com Get rolling on a scooter that’s made for kids from 2 to 5 years old. The three-wheel design provides a stable and supportive ride so small kiddos can master balance and coordination. Strong and lightweight, the handlebar is adjustable so it grows as your child does. The 9 Best Scooters for Kids of 2022 Tender Leaf Toys Baby Barn Set Courtesy of Tender Leaf Toys View On Maisonette.com Portable and easy to pack away, this sweet barn set is perfect to play with alone or with a buddy. Made of all wood, the set features animals, tractors, farmers, trees, and a big red barn. My First Book of Girl Power Courtesy of Julie Merberg View On Amazon Introduce your little lady to a wide range of role models that all promote “girl power.” The board book format is durable and easy to read over and over and over again! These Are the Best Children’s Books to Encourage Their Love of Reading Pottery Barn Kids Cash Register and Play Money Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids View On Potterybarnkids.com Fun for years to come, this play cash register and money set is inspiring for any young entrepreneur. Both the cash and coins are made slightly bigger than real money, so they are sized just right for kids and help young minds practice counting and coin recognition. Green Toys Tea Set Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids View On Amazon View On Walmart View On Potterybarnkids.com Fun for role playing, water play, bath time, or anytime, this colorful set is made in the USA out of 100 perfect recycled milk containers. Included are cups, saucers, a teapot, spoons, and more. Pinkies up! Eric Carle Board Book Box Set Courtesy: Amazon View On Amazon View On Barnesandnoble.com View On Harpercollins.com You’ll love reading these six board books over and over again to your 3-year old. The simple, engaging text and colorful collage pictures are well-loved favorites for good reason. Pottery Barn Kids Fishing Bath Game Courtesy of Pottery Barn Kids View On Potterybarnkids.com Enjoy the fun as you fill the tub with colorful fish and watch your kiddo reel in their catch. Three fish, a rod, and a net all promote hand-eye coordination while making bath time even more enjoyable. The Best Bath Toys That Kids Will Love Melissa & Doug Astronaut Costume Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon View On Macy's Head to outer space in this well-made, machine washable astronaut costume that’s sized for younger kids. The velcro closures make it easy for kids to take on and off on their own. Add this to a dress-up collection for fun that’s outta this world. The 11 Best Halloween Costumes for Kids of 2022 WeeFarers Polarized WeeFarers Children's Sunglasses Courtesy of Amazon View On Amazon Protect little eyes with these super stylish sunglasses that’ll have your mini-me looking just like mom or dad. Made with kids in mind, the glasses come with a carrying pouch and an easily adjustable strap. We Researched the Best Sunglass for Kids—Here Are Our Top Picks Land's End Kids Hooded Bath Towel Courtesy of Land's End View On Landsend.com Made of 100% cotton, this adorable hooded towel is designed for your kiddo to be able to wrap themselves up after taking a dip in the bath, shower, pool, beach, or anywhere else. For an added touch, add a monogram or name to the towel. Hasbro Don’t Break the Ice Game Courtesy of Hasbro View On Amazon A fun, fast-paced game that doesn’t require any reading, players are challenged to use their mallets to tap out the ice blocks, one by one. To win, keep Philip the Penguin on top of the ice. Fun for two to four players, this is a great introduction to board games. Nutcase Little Nutty MIPS Helmet 5 Courtesy of Nutcase View On Amazon View On Nutcasehelmets.com View On REI Durable and safe, this stylish helmet comes in two sizes and is made just for kids ages 3 years old and up. Use the size chart to find the right fit and pick from eight cool designs for a helmet your kiddo will love to wear. The 9 Best Scooters for Kids of 2022 Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter Courtesy of Melissa & Doug View On Amazon Order up! Replicate the entire ice cream counter experience with this 28 piece wooden set that includes everything kids need to serve the very best treats. A fun toy that promotes imaginative play and hand-eye coordination, it all fits back in the stand for easy storage. Melissa & Doug Water Wow! Reusable Coloring Pads Courtesy of Melissa & Doug View On Amazon View On Walmart An amazing option for travel, life on the go, or just some much-needed quiet time, these genius coloring pads are powered by water. Simply fill up the included brush/pen, color the pages, and watch how they change. Once they dry, they’re ready to use again. The best part is that they are mess-free! Lalo Play Kit Lalo View On Meetlalo.com A splurge-worthy gift, this attractive table and chair set creates an instant play zone for kids. Sized for young kids, choose from five different colors for the chairs. Stylish and practical, the set is easy to clean and comfortable. Calico Critters Kangaroo Family Courtesy of Calico Critters View On Amazon Perfect alone or with other figures, Calico Critters are flocked figures that include clothing and accessories that can all be removed, jointed arms and legs, and rotating heads. Gift your kid a set and watch how much fun they’ll have playing with their animals. Final Verdict The Melissa & Doug Water Wow coloring pads (view at Amazon) are a go-to gift for any 3-year-old and should be considered essential for travel. If your child doesn’t have a scooter yet, you can’t go wrong with the Micro Mini Deluxe Scooter (view at Amazon). Just don’t forget the Nutcase Little Nutty MIPS Helmet (view at REI)! What to Look for in Gifts for 3-Year-Old Girls Versatility Three-year-olds will often begin to play with their peers, rather than playing alone near them (parallel play). This developmental step happens gradually, however. Young preschoolers don't fully grasp the concept of sharing yet, and it is best not to force them to share. Instead, choose toys that can be played with alone or with others. This way, caregivers can respect the child's needs by letting them decide to play by themselves when they want, but also keep the door open for collaboration. Dramatic Play Toddlers and young preschoolers want to do what the big people do. The world is still fresh in their eyes and they often process new information through dramatic play. Costumes, play tool sets, and other hands-on, real-life inspired toys help little ones learn about the world around them. Fine Motor Development Three-year-olds' finger muscles are beginning to develop. Over time, this will prepare them to hold a pencil and write. But for now, fun activities that engage the small muscles in the hands will help them on their way. Toys and games that promote grasping and manipulating small objects (as long as they are not so small as to be choking hazards) prepare little ones' hands for future learning. Why Trust Verywell Family? Maya Polton is a former marketing manager and current freelance writer who covers food, home, and parenting. She’s also the mom of a 10-year-old-son, 7-year-old-son, and 3-year-old daughter. She keeps a secret space in her basement closet for last-minute gifts. Outdoor toys and art kits are her go-to gifts since they have a wide appeal. Her kids are super active and love any toy that can be played with outside. They are currently setting new pogo stick records every day! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get expert tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 3 Sources Verywell Family uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Important milestones: Your child by three years. Brownell CA, Iesue SS, Nichols SR, Svetlova M. Mine or yours? Development of sharing in toddlers in relation to ownership understanding. Child Dev. 2013;84(3):906-920. doi:10.1111/cdev.12009 Brown CG. Improving fine motor skills in young children: an intervention study. Educ Psychol Pract. 2010;26(3):269-278. doi:10.1080/02667363.2010.495213