Melissa & Doug’s Wooden Café Barista Coffee Shop | Source: Melissa & Doug

Hold on tight: At age 3, kids have moved past baby and toddler and into the preschool stage. It might seem like an unfamiliar world, but at holiday time, choose to lean into what kids love and celebrate their developmental milestones. Whether it’s products featuring familiar characters like Bluey, Barbie, Peppa Pig, or CoComelon or something unique, each toy piques a new interest and builds on the skills learned at ages 1 and 2. Check out our fave gifts for 3 year olds below!


MAGGIE & PUP TRAINING SCHOOL PLAYSET

This set includes a poseable Jack Russell Terrier plush and dog training accessories, including a patch of grass, a frisbee, a trick guide, a grooming brush, and more. It is compatible with most 14-inch dolls (not included).

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $19.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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GIANT SHINY CAT DOMINOES

Each die-cut domino piece features two fanciful felines with shiny gold foil highlights. The set includes 28 larger-size dominoes that make the game perfect for preschoolers.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $17.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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BABY SHARK 12-INCH CHILDREN’S BIKE

Designed for kids 34-40 inches tall, this bike features custom Baby Shark graphics on the frame, training wheels, and handlebar. It also includes coaster brakes and a quick-adjust seat to grow with kids.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $94.00
  • Age:
  • 3+

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COLORING WITH ELMO

In this Magna-Tiles set, kids can match the colors and Sesame Street characters or use the included washable Crayola markers to color in the tiles, which can then be wiped off for repeat play.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.95
  • Age:
  • 3+

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DISNEY ENCANTO EZ LINK KARAOKE MACHINE

Connect to any Bluetooth device to stream songs and sing along using the included microphone. Press the EZ Link Button to open an Encanto playlist or connect to Disney playlists on music streaming services.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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EPOCH GAMES SUPER MARIO PIRANHA PLANT ESCAPE

Players will roll the die to move around the hungry piranha plant. Whichever space they land on will indicate how many times they have to press the button on the plant in this game of chance. Watch out: The plant will munch down at random!

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99
  • Age:
  • 4+

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FISHER-PRICE NICKELODEON SANTIAGO OF THE SEAS LIGHTS & SOUNDS EL BRAVO PIRATE SHIP

Recreate adventures from Nickelodeon's Santiago of the Seas with this interactive playset, which features sound effects such as character phrases and pirate story prompts, multicolor lights, a Santiago figure, and accessories.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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JOHN DEERE KIDS BUILD-A-JOHNNY TRACTOR

Little farmers will build a 16-piece John Deere toy tractor using a battery-powered drill. After the tractor is built, kids can take it apart or use it for push-along play.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $21.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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KIDS’ DIGITAL CAMERA — MEOWIE THE CAT

This kid-friendly camera features a 3-inch touchscreen, built-in filters and frames, and a shock-proof silicone covering. It comes with a preinstalled 16GB memory card and a lanyard that doubles as a USB and a charging cord.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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KINETIC SAND SWIRL N’ SURPRISE

Kids can swirl, flow, and stack sand using the included tools to create mesmerizing effects. This kit features a total of 2 pounds of kinetic sand in red, purple, green, and yellow.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $24.99; $38.92 CAD
  • Age:
  • 3+

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WOODEN CAFÉ BARISTA COFFEE SHOP

Kids can pretend to run a coffee shop with this 35-piece playset. It includes pretend drink-making tools, drinks, and baked goods. There's also a magnetic menu board and a check-out station.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $119.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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SQUISHVILLE PLUSH 6 PACK — VARIOUS ASSORTMENTS

These miniaturized plush are inspired by larger members of the Squishmallows Squad. Kids can collect cats, dogs, lions, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $18.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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LITTLE TIKES MAGIC WORKSHOP

Pretend to cast spells alongside a magical frog and combine ingredients to create imaginative potions with this playset, which includes a spell book, lights, sounds, songs, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $79.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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IT’S ALL ME

Each 8-inch poseable doll comes with apparel and accessories for two themes/activities. Choose from six styles: Artist and Cheerleader, Camping and Chess, Yoga and Baker, Dance and Swim, Basketball and Paddleboard, or Ice Cream and Tennis.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.95
  • Age:
  • 3+

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SNORBLE

Snorble blends artificial intelligence with entertaining and educational content to help kids adopt healthy habits and routines. The interactive pal engages kids with educational activities, games, storytelling, and bedtime routines.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $299.00
  • Age:
  • 1+

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2023 BARBIE DREAMHOUSE

The 2023 Barbie Dreamhouse is the ultimate playset for kids to act out their greatest adventures! This year’s Dreamhouse has the tallest slide in the Barbie Dreamhouse series to-date, with a three-story spiral design for endless fun. The Dreamhouse also features more pet-friendly touches than ever before, including a puppy slide and pool, pet elevator,…

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $199.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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HESS FLATBED TRUCK WITH HOT RODS

For more than 50 years, Hess Corp. has been releasing its collectible holiday truck toys. This year's truck is a flatbed that comes with two hot rods to put in the bed. The truck is packed with small details, including rubber tires, chrome detailing, LED lights, engine sounds, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $41.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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DISNEY PRINCESS STYLE COLLECTION PLAY SUITCASE TRAVEL SET

Princesses can go on fantastical adventures using this set, which comes with 14 pretend travel necessities, including headphones, a tablet, hand sanitizer, and more. Kids can even decorate their suitcase with the included stickers.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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CAPTIVZ DOMINION DINO SURPRISE EGG

Inspired by the Jurassic World Dominion movie, this surprise egg includes a large Captivz dinosaur figure, amber gel, biosyn gel, a sticker sheet, a collector's guide, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $9.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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KID TRAX FORD BRONCO — PINK

Styled to look like a real Ford Bronco, this ride-on features working lights, foot pedal acceleration, and a working FM radio and MP3 player input. Adults can remove the doors and bed cover for four different looks. It moves at a maximum speed of 5 mph.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $499.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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PAW PATROL BIG RIG PUPS HIGHWAY HQ

When kids pull open the command center, they will reveal the 3-foot-wide headquarters. The garage playset features a spot for each pup, a vehicle launcher, lights and sounds, and more. It comes with a Chase figure.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $99.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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MY FIRST KIDI SMARTWATCH

Help little ones learn about telling time with a friendly digital wrist pet. Kids can set reminders to help with their own daily routines and care for their virtual pet with this interactive, digital watch.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $44.99; $59.99 CAD
  • Age:
  • 3+

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PLAYMOBIL DUCK ON CALL — THE HEADQUARTERS

If there's an emergency in Playmoville, Ducklas, Freddy Fire, Polly Police, and Mikey Medic are on the way. The HQ set comes with all four figures, and features four play levels, a police helicopter, and more.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $169.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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PEPPA PIG THEATER WITH 4 PUPPETS

Peppa Pig comes to life with this wooden puppet theater. Act out scenes from the popular kids' TV show with this real-working stage that comes with two Peppa Pig backdrops and plush hand puppets.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $69.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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BLUE’S CLUES & YOU! DANCING BINGO BLUE

Kids can sing and learn with this 14-inch, interactive plush. Blue comes dressed in a farmer outfit and features music and game modes that teach kids about animals.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $39.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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CLEAN SWEEP LEARNING CADDY

This set includes an interactive bucket and pretend cleaning tools, including a spinning mop and a soap pump complete with squirting sound effects. Kids can follow verbal directions to dance and play games.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $29.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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FISHER-PRICE BOUNCETOPIA BOUNCER

With the built-in pump, this colorful bounce house inflates in minutes. It has enough room for multiple kids to play together, and it features one opening for entry and exit and transparent walls for safety. Designed for inside play.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $149.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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COCOMELON PATTERN PARTY GAME

Players will spin and match the character, color, shape, or pattern on their game card. Whenever a player's spin lands on the swap space, everyone switches their spinners. The first player to get four matches wins the game.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $14.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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DANCE & PLAY BLUEY

This interactive plush Bluey moves her arms and legs and invites kids to play with more than 55 phrases, four songs, dance mode, and three different games, including the freeze game “Statues” from the show.

Product Facts

  • MSRP:
  • $49.99
  • Age:
  • 3+

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About the author

Maude Campbell (Guest Contributor)

Maude Campbell (Guest Contributor)

Maude has written for Popular Mechanics and the New York Post, among other positions at Elle and HGTV magazines.

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