gift for 3yr old???

[shaqangel]

hi ladies...just thought i'd ask the pro's on this topic!
our godson is turning 3 and we have no idea what to get him....what would be a cool gift for a 3yr old.

we got him a tricycle for christmas and he loves sports but has too many things related to that.

we already have a dvd from the einstein series...but any other suggestions are welcome

thanks!

[alienhost]

Maybe this should have gone in the "big kids" section? I tried searching but didn't find much...

We have a b'day party for a 3 year old boy to attend. Any gift suggestions? I'd like to spend between $15 - $20.

I'd like to avoid clothing since I'm not 100% sure of the size.

I'm also leary of all the toy recalls so I'm not sure what to do. Books are always an option, but some title suggestions would be great. Also they are in the process of selling their house and moving so I suppose I shouldn't get them anything too bulky.

TIA!

[SiValleySteph]

My son is just about to turn 3 and I'm a bit stumped, too. (Since, let's face it, the kid has plenty of toys and books.)

My thoughts are:
Music, my son LOVES cds
Wooden train stuff (seems pretty popular and they're all pretty much compatible)
Sport stuff, balls, baseball set, etc.
Cash register - one of my son's favorite! Got ours from Learning Express

For books, some current favorites of my son:
Chugga-Chugga Choo-Choo by Kevin Lewis
Lorax by Dr Seuss (good for your environmentalist friends ;))
Any book with cows/farms/etc. - he hasn't grown out of that yet!

I think as long as you give a gift receipt, you can't go wrong. I would probably stay away from movies/character stuff/electronic stuff unless you know for sure the parents are okay with those.

Good luck! :D

[Renrel]

We got a board game called Kids on Stage which is a children's charades game and DS loves playing it. We enjoy it too, for a kids game. Much more interesting than candyland. Caraboo is another good game for 3-4 year olds if they are starting to learn their numbers, letters and colors.

The kids in my son's class seem to really like the Magic School Bus picure books, DS is obsessed with them but he is more on a 5yr level in the books he likes so he is not a good measure, he also likes the chapter versions of this series but that would be too much for most 3 yr olds.

An etch a sectch (sp)

Big Magna Doodle

Tinker toys

floor puzzles

Cars and trains and things on wheels

kid size sports equiptment (soccer ball, baseball bats (padded kind), baseball mit)

kid size umbrella and maybe a rain hat (they come in fun designs like fireman)

Dress up clothes - fireman, doctor, astranute

Piggy bank of some sort

Connect four (even if he does not get the game he may enjoy dropping the coins in and this is good for fine motor development)

A webkin pet (if the parents allow him on the computer)

Subscription to Animal Baby magazine. DS likes Ladybug also but it is more expensive.

[Ohana]

Board games would be fun. Chutes and Ladders and Candyland are pretty popular around our house. If you're willing to spend a bit more, Hullaballo is fan-freakin-tastic. DD absolutely loves that game.

As far as books go, DD is into Curious George and anything Dr Seuss.

[emschwar]

My son got Cranuim's Cariboo game for his 3rd birthday and he LOVES it. It's $17 at target, I think. He calls it the treasure ball game and is convinced it's the best thing ever. Plus, he can play it all by himself, which is really nice for when mommy doesn't feel like playing it for the 9000th time in a row.

[Renrel]

The other nice thing about Cariboo is one game can be finished in under 5 minutes, maybe 10 at most, so when Mommy does have to play or child wants to play before bed or something it is possible to do it without anyone getting to bent out of shape.

[alienhost]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I'm leaning towards the Cranuim Cariboo game, that sounds cool.

I'm also going to keep in mind all the book titles and other stuff since they might be good suggestions for Christmastime for DD.

thanks!

[shelbel]

My DD just had her 3rd birthday party this weekend and her favorite presents she received are Cranuim's Cariboo game, a flute (so noisy, but she LOVES it) a purple monogrammed backpack, a bicycle w/ training wheels, furniture for her doll house and her Dora watch. She also got tons of books, which I'm happy about so we can have some variety at bed time (she got a few Frog and Toad books, which I remember having when I was a kid).