Bday gift ideas for a 3yr old?

[leighi123]

What should I get him?

So far I have some sufer wall-ies (wall sticker things), a science kit that is kinda like seamonkeys only they look like little crabs, and a food dehydrator (so he can make his own Kale chips, he loves to cook!), a few books

What else would be good? Maybe some sort of game sense he is into 'games' right now (we have candyland and cooties) or a marble run? some sort of science book?

or even stuff I can make (I sew and am crafty!)

[luv-my-boys]

since its summer have you thought about chalk paint? Crayola makes chalk paint (which is truly washable) and the boys LOVE it. they run about 3 a bottle and you can mix to make other colors. I let the boys loose on the sidewalk or driveway with some big brushes plus the up side is after all is done a simple spray with the water hose washes it all off.

[Vancouver Mommy]

My 3yo has recently developed a new love of building blocks. He also loves more complex puzzles and all things that go.

[LaughingHyena]

I sewed an apron for DS for Christmas, I wrapped it with a couple of packets of cake sprinkles. He loves it and wears it quite a lot.

If you don't have lots already my kids love having lots of different shapes of cookie cutters. The silicone muffin moulds that come in various shapes are also popular.

[Starry-eyedMom]

My boys love Legos! You can find cheap lots on ebay. Also, try board games, dominoes (good for building-then counting), Hungry Hippos, Magna Doodle, Thomas the train--all were/are hits at our house.

[pianojazzgirl]

You could make a beanbag game. Sew up a bunch of beanbags (maybe in a fun shape... whatever takes your fancy), and then make a "target" (a flat mat, out of a bottom-weight - corduroy would be good since it's so grippy - probably a couple of layers, with a pic of a target appliqued on it).

[pianojazzgirl]

Wanted to come back with another crafty idea. For Christmas my friend made each of my kids a set of felt play food. Ds (2 yrs) got fruit and dd (5) got sushi. They were a great hit and have gotten tons of use.

[Cujobunny]

I was going to suggest a marble run. I got one at a yard sale last year for my ds (so he was 4) and he still loves it, as does my 2yo dd and the 2 & 4 yr olds I babysit.

[leighi123]

Thanks for the ideas!

chalk paint - I wish he could play with chalk! He is sooo allergic to dyes, we even have to get special markers and stuff, and chalk gets all over you so he cant use it

blocks - we have a ton that he never plays with, maybe I need to find a new way to 'display' them so he will be more interested.

he has a cheif apron/hat I made, and I did get him cookie cutters!

legos I am scared of stepping on...I forgot about hungry hippos, I'm gonna check the thrift store for games b/c they always have nice ones for cheap.

beanbag game... he has beanbags, I never thought of a target, but I have a ton of coorderoy so thats a good project.

playfood - thats a good idea, Ive made it for other people but not him! He has a play kitchen with no food, so I can make the things he likes to 'bake' all the time.

I think Im going to get a marble run, any recomondations? (the Quadrilla one looks awsome but I cant afford that!)

[pianojazzgirl]

I keep coming back to this thread because I'm starting to think of things for ds's 3rd b-day.

I wanted to make another game suggestion. There's a company called Family Pastimes that makes cooperative board games. One that my dd and her friends enjoyed at that age was called Harvest Time. If you check out their website there are a few more that are appropriate for 3+. I'm thinking of ordering a couple of them for our family.

[iris777888]

As for games, right now our 3yo DS likes Connect Four, bingo (with colors/numbers), and any sort of memory/matching game. He also likes to play with cards and dominoes. We have Chutes and Ladders as well, which seemed like it would be great but is not a favorite.

[Boot]

This is probably too pricey but have you thought about a run bike? DS got one for christmas and he loves and adores it. For his 3rd birthday we just gave him some melissa & doug cutting food that they sent us for free to replace a recalled toy. how cheap are we?!

[leighi123]

Originally Posted by Boot

This is probably too pricey but have you thought about a run bike? DS got one for christmas and he loves and adores it. For his 3rd birthday we just gave him some melissa & doug cutting food that they sent us for free to replace a recalled toy. how cheap are we?!

He got a Skuut bike from santa! He is on it EVERY day, the only gift he really has used much.

I traded for some of the cutting food, his play kitchen is outside so I thought the wood will be better than the crochet stuff he has already.

[One_Girl]

A giant dumptruck for outside or some big tractors might be nice. I got our dumptruck for a couple dollars at the thrift store when dd was little and she still uses it and loves it to this day. She also loves her kid sized wheelbarrow that I got for her when she was one, she bends over to use it but loves filling it with weeds and pushing it around. Kid k-nex are fun as are regular k-nex. Large legos may be fun if you are too worried about the small ones. A marble run sounds nice, but they can be a pain to construct and if your child doesn't like to build then he may not use it much. If you are building with it together it may be a fun family gift though.

[bluebirdiemama]

My son is 38 months and totally loving connect 4. I also got him a small deck of dino cards and taught him to play go-fish. He loves it!
Other things I think my ds would love... marble run, more complex puzzles, dvds about building things, or volcanoes/ocean life/trains/that kinda thing...
I just got him an interactive computer game for Dr Suess' ABC... he loves it! (found it at a yard sale for $2!!)

Can't really think of anything else at the moment....
I will so be back here though. My ds seems to be getting bored with the things we have, so I need ideas too!