Best toys for 3 year olds in 2025, tried and tested by parents and children
Looking for the best toys for 3 year olds? Here's our pick of the most exciting, entertaining and educational toys for boys and girls
Finding the right toy for your 3 year old can be tricky. According to Helen Brown, author of Parenting for Dummies: "Your 3 year old is now able to reason logically (though he or she may not always choose to do so!), which means there's a new appeal in toys that require a sequence of sorting or fitting together."
She continues: "Your child's improved dexterity also means they are also able to do much more fiddly-stuff: this is the age when fine-finger-control toys and kits that involve playdough, puzzles and painting and drawing come onto the scene."
However, Helen adds that the biggest winners at this age are toys that set the scene for imaginary play – "Especially if it involves acting out roles (doctor, cook, train driver, pirate). Your 3 year old is fast becoming a proper drama king or queen!"
Whether you're looking for outdoor toys, soft toys or learning toys, we’ve chosen and tested the best toys for 3 year olds from favourite brands that will suit a range of budgets.
We've also updated our list to include some of the winners from the Toy Awards 2025. Check out the full list of winners for more child-approved picks.
Best toys for 3 year olds at a glance
Best educational toys for 3 year olds
- Toniebox 2, £99.99
- Yoto Player, £89.99
- Connetix 212-piece Rainbow Mega Pack, £198.95
- Learning Resources Numberblocks Puzzle Solver, £15.99
- Alphablocks Character Set, £19.99
Best imaginative play toys for 3 year olds
- Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset, £19.99
- Melissa & Doug Vending Machine, £69.99
- Kidoz Wooden Play Kitchen, £69.99
- Casdon Ooni Pizza Oven, £24.99
- Little Live Pets – Mama Surprise, £64.99
- Doctor's Play Kit, £47
Best character toys for 3 year olds
- Imaginext DC Super Friends Ultimate HQ Playset, £72
- Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Set,
£59.99£39.99 - Hot Wheels Ultra Shark Car Wash Playset,
£59.99£44.99 - Jumbo i Learn The Gruffalo Storyteller My First Speaking Companion, £33
Best transport toys for 3 year olds
- The Adventures of Paddington Campervan, £20
- Thomas & Friends Talking Cranky Delivery Train Set,
£44.99£29.99 - Paw Patrol racers, £25
Best outdoor toys for 3 year olds
Jump to:
- Best educational toys for 3 year olds
- Best imaginative play toys for 3 year olds
- Best character toys for 3 year olds
- Best transport toys for 3 year olds
- Best outdoor toys for 3 year olds
What are the best toys for 3 year olds?
Best educational toys for 3 year olds
1. Toniebox 2, £99.99
Available at: Tonies, Currys, Natural Baby Shower
Age suitability: 1+ | Best for age: 1-9 | Batteries: Rechargeable | Awards: Gold - Best Audio Player
The Toniebox 2 really does take everything you know and love about the first generation player and make it even better. It's now 1+ certified, even softer and more huggable and with the addition of the Tonieplay games, there's even more to do.
Veronica is delighted with her Toniebox. She particularly likes the games so I'm glad that functionality was added! We've had it for a couple of weeks and it's still the first toy she wants to play when she wakes up and when she comes back home from preschool.
2. Yoto Player, £89.99
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Batteries: Rechargeable, up to 24 hours of battery life | Awards: Gold - Best Audio Player
The Yoto Player is the main competitor of the Toniebox, differing in that it swaps small figures for cards. Like the Toniebox, the Yoto is a speaker that can play anything from music and nursery rhymes to long-form stories and educational lessons. While the device is screen-free, every time you insert a card the speaker will display a pixel-art cartoon on its face, but it can also show the time and the weather if you want it to!
Yoto has hundreds of cards to shop on their website, with new stories and adventures being released all the time – including recently all 7 of the Harry Potter books. With Yoto, you can also make your own cards by recording your own sounds and uploading them, or download cards to the Yoto app on your phone.
We went for the Yoto because I felt it had more longevity with the cards rather than characters. I genuinely love ours and it’s the only thing that kept my 3 year old in her bed!
3. Connetix 212-piece Rainbow Mega Pack, £198.95
Available at: Connetix, The Kid Collective, John Lewis
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: L41cm x W31cm x H9cm | Batteries: None |
Though they are expensive, these colourful construction tiles are an innovative and exciting way to play. The pieces come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes allowing for complex constructions while offering children great educational value for a range of ages by engaging problem solving and spatial awareness.
From counting the pieces and learning colours to finding the right piece for the particular build, there are an array of ways for children to improve their logical reasoning using the Connetix Rainbow pack. The strong magnets that connect each of the pieces allow for some impressive builds including towers and castles and, as an added bonus, the magnets make cleaning up easy and fun as the pieces stack up neatly.
4. Numberblocks® Puzzle Solver from Learning Resources, £15.99
Age Suitability: 3+ | Best for: 3-7 | Batteries: None | Award: Gold - Best Logic Toy/Puzzle
The Numberblocks Puzzle Solver comes with 50 puzzles with 4 levels of play, where children must choose the correct blocks and adjust their configuration to solve the puzzle. For any parents out there who love puzzles, this one can get pretty addictive so beware. It starts off simple and grows with your child, offering more complex and challenging puzzles as they progress.
I absolutely love my new Numberblocks toy! It’s so much fun and I love solving all my missions and filling in all the pieces. My favourite is the missing gaps bit, where you fill it in with blocks.
5. Alphablocks Character Set, £19.99
Available from: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for: 4-5 | Batteries: None | Awards: Gold - Best Educational/Learning Toy (under £20)
Alphablocks are the perfect way to bring learning to life for your little one. Like Numberblocks, they give personality and character to each letter, telling unique stories that help engage children in a new way. They are the perfect way to supplement your child's literacy and a great way to bring fun into learning.
Teddy has absolutely loved playing with the Alphablocks, practicing and showing off his phonics skills. He is 4 and started school this term, so phonics are part of his every day life and it's been amazing to see the Alphablocks toy bring that to life at home.
Best imaginative play toys for 3 year olds
6. Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset, £19.99
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for: 3+ | Batteries: None
We all scream for ice cream, and now your child can mix it, serve it and decorate it for themselves with this beautifully colourful Play-Doh set. Load the machine with two or more Play-Doh colours and press the handle to fill the spinning cup or cone with the perfect Mr Whippy. You can also make sprinkles from the dispenser at the side and additional toppings from the moulds.
My 3-year-old daughter loves that this toy has so many different colours of Play-Doh. She gets really excited when the ice cream comes out out of the nozzle, she absolutely loves the sprinkle feature, and decorating the little Play-Doh ice creams. She and she loves that there’s lots of different pots to be able to put the ice cream into like a real ice cream parlour.
7. Melissa & Doug Vending Machine playset, £79.99
Available at: Melissa & Doug, Very, John Lewis and Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3 |Batteries: None
The Melissa & Doug wooden vending machine is a great way of improving your child's dexterity, colour-matching and imaginary play. Simply insert one of the three colourful coins, or credit card, and pick one of the nine coloured snack boxes, including food packages, snack bars, drinks and pouches.
This item has been in and out of stock thanks to its huge popularity, so if you want to look at other products check out the Melissa & Doug Amazon page.
My son Ezra has loved playing with this. He was so excited when he opened it, he played with it for 2 hours straight, and wanted to play with it immediately when he got up the next day. I can see he will come back to it again and again.
Hannah, mum to our child tester Ezra, 3
8. Kidoz Signature Pink Play Kitchen, £69.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3-4 | Batteries: None | Awards: Gold - Best Role Play Toy
If you're looking for a long-lasting, adorable and feature packed toy that won't break the bank then look no further than this play kitchen from Kidoz. It comes in 3 colourways and includes a ton of different interactive play features like an ice machine, phone and more.
Daisy has LOVED playing with her new kitchen! It looks like a 'real' kitchen and there is lots of different features to explore even small things like the cooker dials that click as they turn. Her favourite part is of course 'the water dispenser and the cooker for my saucepans' (the hob).
9. Casdon Ooni pizza oven, £24.99
Available at: Ooni, Very, Selfridges
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3 | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
Children love to copy their parents' day-to-day lives, so if you're a fan of the Ooni pizza oven, you can now buy a mini one for your pint-sized chef. The oven comes with a flame-effect light to make it feel as real as possible, plus accessories like a pizza cutter and pizza ingredients.
My son was very excited to play with this as soon as he saw it and instantly wanted to jump straight in. He is a really big fan of roleplay and even put on his chef’s apron and hat to get fully into the experience. He asked to play with it again straight away the next morning and has gone back to it in the days since. When asked about the toy he said: ‘My favourite thing is everything. I’d give it 12/10!’
10. Little Live Pets – Mama Surprise, £64.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: L20cm x W30cm x H29cm | Batteries: 6 xAAA (not included)
The bestselling Little Live Pets range has included many different sorts of interactive animal over the years but this little hamster is, in our view, one of their best yet. If you take her from her hutch and groom and stroke her and feed her (pretend) celery, she'll respond with cute noises. But there’s more – carry on with your hamster cuddling and a heart will start to glow on her chest to show that she is ready to have a baby. Then, you pop her back in the hutch, shut the doors and wait – for the first of 3 little arrivals, each with their own little 'care pack' of accessories.
The wait for the birth may be a little long for some children but, if you can't spin the 'There’ll be a baby in the morning' message, there is a 'faster birth' button that shortens the wait to about 10 minutes. And once all the babies are born, you can repeat the whole process again.
I like this toy – yes! She sings to me and she's very soft.
11. Learning Resources Pretend & Play Doctor's Kit, £47
Available at: Amazon and Learning Resources
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: L37cm x W3cm x H23cm | Batteries: 2 x AAA for toy phone (not included)
This good-sized, sturdy doctor's kit is stuffed with 19 (plastic) medical 'instruments', including a stethoscope, syringe, blood-pressure cuff, tweezers, phone and a fetching blue pair of doctor's specs. It is pricey, to be sure, but it's also best set of ‘instruments’ we’ve seen. We love the interactive stethoscope that you press to hear a beating heart, and the blood pressure cuff with a red dial that moves. This is a great kit to encourage role play that's all about identifying and then solving (imaginary) problems.
Best character toys for 3 year olds
12. Jumbo i Learn The Gruffalo Storyteller My First Speaking Companion, £33
Available from: Argos
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3-5 | Batteries: 2 x AA (not included) | Awards: Gold - Best Interactive Toy (under 5 years)
This adorable little Gruffalo toy has 4 interactive game modes that are designed to entertain, educate and soothe. It is a step beyond just an educational toy, with all the fun personality you'd expect from the Gruffalo offering hours of fun and plenty of play potential.
My 3 year old really enjoyed this toy. He enjoyed being able to control the toy himself and change between the functions using the simple buttons. My child gets so excited pressing the buttons and joining in, and it’s great knowing they’re learning as they play.
13. Imaginext DC Super Friends Ultimate HQ Playset, £109.99
Available at: Amazon and Selfridges
Age suitability: 3-8 years | Best for age: 3-8 years | Size: L40.64 x W18.88cm x H61.72cm | Batteries: 3 x AA (included)
This vibrant and colourful playset is perfect for DC superhero fans with its array of fun interactive play features. There are lights and sounds that activate depending on where the figures are positioned, as well as multiple included vehicles for Batman. The Batwing is a particular standout.
The handle at the back of the set can be used move the Batwing and activate the disc shooter. What really stood out during our testing was the scale of the set. It includes 4 floors, stands at an impressive 61cm tall and even includes a lift to move figures between the floors. However, we must note the baffling omission of Wonder Woman, a key member of the DC Justice League.
This is a big and impressive toy that definitely has an instant wow factor. Taran screeched with excitement when he first saw it! The Batwing was a big hit, as was the projectile launcher. It appears solid and well made.
14. Bluey 3-in-1 Transforming Plane Set, £60
Available at: Very, Argos, John Lewis and Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Batteries: None
Try not to lose any of the 25 pieces in this 3-in-1 playset, because Bluey and her family will need all of them to get on their holiday! This intricate set transforms into a plane, a resort and a boat, and comes with a load of detailed props, including an Aussie passport!
When my 3-year-old son first saw this he said ’Wow!’ and his face lit up. He clearly thought it was really cool but struggled to be able to use all the features independently. When my 4 year old saw he is shrieked ‘Oh cool, a Bluey plane!’ and hasn’t stopped playing with it since. It has easily become his favourite toy. He loves showing me around the house – he gets very excited to swing the hammock, pull down the bedsheets, and swivel the chairs around.
15. Hot Wheels Ultra Shark Car Wash Playset, £60
Available at: The Entertainer, Very and Asda George
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Batteries: None
This is a super exciting new Hot Wheels set featuring a colour-changing car. Simply place it in the shark's head and press down to splash water on it, revealing the car's decoration, then let it race along the car wash, through a foam roller and movable gates, until its dunked into the water tank and changes colours again!
Best transport toys for 3 year olds
16. The Adventures of Paddington Campervan, £24.99
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: H13.8cm x W20cm x D11.2cm | Batteries: 2 AAA (not included)
Marmalade sandwich, anyone? This playset contains a Paddington figure and Bessie the Campervan, as seen in the Adventures of Paddington TV series. The campervan has a removable roof that allows for play inside the camper, and you can also fold the roof into a canopy for rainier days. The set comes with Paddington’s suitcase that contains a picnic cloth, toy cup of tea and marmalade sandwich. Bessie also plays two different sounds in Paddington's voice, as well as music from the TV show.
I like taking him on adventures in his campervan. He has little food which is nice for him to eat. I want to play with him all day.
17. Fisher-Price Thomas & Friends Talking Cranky Delivery Train Set, £59.99
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3 | Size: 69.3cm x 132.7cm x 50.5cm | Batteries: None
Bring Brendam Docks to life with this Thomas & Friends motorized train and track set that includes songs, railway sounds, and real character phrases from the Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! series. The set features three familiar characters from the show, including Cranky the Crane, a motorized Thomas engine and a Troublesome Truck. The set includes 14.5 feet of track, three pieces of cargo, as well as a child-powered hopper. In a move that will delight all fans of the show, the characters recognise and talk to each other on the tracks. There are also 325+ songs, sounds and phrases to soundtrack kids’ imaginative play.
My favourite part is Cranky, because he can pick up things with his claw. I want to keep playing with it and get another train track to make it bigger. I want to collect all the trains. It's my favourite toy.
18. Paw Patrol racers, from £24.99
Available at: Amazon and John Lewis
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3 | Size: H19.05cm x W21.59cm x D9.53cm. | Batteries: None
Join the Paw Patrol on their latest mission with these mini racers. There are a huge range of characters available including Zuma, Rubble, Rocky, Marshall, Chase and Skye, each with their own iconic vehicle. The vehicles come with moving wheels, authentic detailing and moveable parts. Simply pick your child's favourite pup and away they roll.
He was very excited to see the characters. He started to call out their known phrases and tell me their colours. He began to race them but soon wanted to carry them around and put them in his garage
Best outdoor toys for 3 year olds
19. Early Fun All Surface Swingball, £24.99
Available at: Argos and Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: L31cm x W39cm x H125cm | Batteries: None
Yes, it's swingball for smaller people! The ball is bigger and softer (foam) and much easier to hit, and the bats are smaller and have nice grippy handles. We like the redesigned base, with balancing feet, which allows you to play on any surface, outdoors or in, and which also converts into a carry case to store the game in or take it with you. And the spinner really is as tangle-free as the packaging blurb promises.
You have to chase the ball and it's really funny! I love playing with it with all my family and it doesn't hurt Daddy when it bonks him on his head.
20. Pop-up Play Curtain, £19.99
Available at: Very
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: H170cm x W68cm | Batteries: None
Let their imagination run wild with the Pop-up Play Curtain. Coming with an extendable rod this play curtain can be hung over any doorway and has a perfect-size cut-out for role play or puppet theatre performances. There are a range of designs available including ice cream parlour, theatre stage or supermarket.
How to choose toys safely
- Look for the CE symbol as this is used by manufacturers to show the toy meets all the relevant regulatory requirements
- Also keep an eye out for the British Toy and Hobby Association's (BTHA) 'Lion Mark' – although this is a voluntary scheme, it means that the toy with this mark has met the BTHA's safety requirements
- Pay attention to the age suitability of the toy
- Avoid toys with loose fabric, hair that sheds easily or small parts that detach easily as these can be a choking hazard
- Check toys over time for sharp points or edges or signs of wear that are potentially dangerous