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Because preschool years are the most crucial years in your child’s development, it is a must for every parent to buy educational games for 3 year olds. In fact, according to research, playing educational games has an important role in enhancing your toddler’s brain structure and function. Furthermore, it also helps them improve their communication, relieve stress and build relationships.
To better understand the kind of toys you should be buying your 3-year-olds, here are some of the milestones your toddler may reach during this age.
3-Year-Old Development Milestones
Physical Development
At the age of 3, your child will experience a lot of noticeable physical growth from gaining weight to growing more bones and teeth. But aside from this, during these years your child should start improving his/her gross motor skills. This includes running, climbing indoor toys, jumping and all things that lets them understand how their bodies work..
During this age, they will also develop their fine motor skills like grasping. This is a more complex skill that involves mainly your child’s hands, fingers and thumbs. This is an important skill because it gives them the ability to control and manipulate objects that are needed in their everyday lives. This includes, drawing or writing, buttoning or zipping, and feeding or washing hands.
Cognitive Development
When it comes to intellectual development, at age 3 is where your child’s the most curious and imaginative. This is when he/she can be observant and focused to learn more about his/her surroundings and understand how things work. That is why at this age, you’ll find that your toddler tends to be more inquisitive and nosey. They will become more observant and focused. In fact, at the age of 3, they’ll start to love wooden puzzles and other building blocks games.
In addition, around your child’s third birthday is when you’re almost able to understand what your toddler says. That’s because by this time, they can speak a lot more clearly because they already have heard and learned a lot of words from you or other family members.
Social Development
Because your 3 year old toddler has much better control of his/her body, you will notice that he/she will be less dependent on you. Because he/she is more independent, your child will start to have the courage to interact and play with other children. This in turn will help him/her to be less selfish and be mindful when playing with other children.
Now that you know all of the development milestones your toddler should exhibit, you’ll understand that cultivating this is an important job as a parent. And the best way to do this is by making playtime educational too.
To help you find the best toys for your toddler, here are the best educational games for 3 year olds you can buy on Amazon today.
Orchard Toys 003 Shopping List Game
Type: Card Game
Age level: 36 months – 7 years
What is great about this toy: This is an award winning and best-selling game by Orchard Toys Store.
What is not so great about this toy: This toy contain small pieces which can be a choking hazard for younger players.
Description:
Do you have a toddler who loves memorizing and matching games? Then this educational game by Orchard toy is the best toy you can buy for him. In fact, this memory game is a favorite among British parents and children as it doesn’t only promote memory skills but social skills as well.
Orchard Toys 003 Shopping List Game is suitable for 2 to 4 players and each player can to pick a trolley to fill with grocery items. The goal of the games is to collect all the items included in their list. Booster packs are also available if you have more than players and need to increase the number of grocery items available.
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100+ PCS Wooden Magnetic Puzzle
Type: Wooden Jigsaws
Age level: 3 years and up
What is great about this toy: This magnetic puzzle board includes a sketching pad too.
What is not so great about this toy: This toy contain small wooden magnets, which can be dangerous for younger players.
Description:
This colorful Wooden Magnetic Puzzle by COOLJOY is the perfect gift for imaginative toddlers who love to draw. As a matter of fact, it includes 100+ colorful magnetic puzzles, including animal-pets, people, plants, shapes and patterns. These cute assorted pieces will surely spark up your children’s imagination and boost their creativity.
The 100+ PCS Wooden Magnetic Puzzle comes with a double function magnetic board that also serves as its carry box. This feature will let your toddler carry it anywhere and play with friends or classmates. It can also be used as a sketchpad or a message board for the family.
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Wooden 4 in 1 Tumble Tower Game for Kids
Type: Board Games
Age level: 36 months – 12 years
What is great about this toy: This game can be played in 4 different fun ways.
What is not so great about this toy: This toy is perfect.
Description:
The Wooden 4 in 1 Tumble Tower Game for Kids is one of the best toys to help develop your toddler’s fine motor skills. In addition, this toy it features cute, colorful and engaging animals to make the tumble tower game much more fun.
This Tower Game by Nene Toys comes with 51 colorful wooden blocks, 24 animal cards, 1 dice and manual. Your toddler will never get bored of this because he/she can play it in 4 ways. For the traditional tumble tower game, you can either use the dice or the animal cards to pick the block to remove. It can also be used to build a domino game or use it like lego to build all sorts of shapes.
Orchard Toys Little Bug Bingo Mini Game
Type: Travel & Pocket Games
Age level: 36 months – 6 years
What is great about this toy: Compact
What is not so great about this toy:
Description:
The Little Bug Bingo Mini Game is another educational toy made by one of Europe’s best toy manufacturers. This simple but engaging toy will surely keep your children busy for short periods of time. Luckily, there are 12 mini games like this that you can also buy, once they’ve mastered the game.
The best thing about this Little Bug Bingo Mini Game is its size. Measuring 15 x 2.5 x 14 cm, it’s super compact and can fit inside your bag or your toddler bags. It also features colorful, cute and fun characters to help them easily identify and memorize the game pieces.
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Desire Deluxe Magnetic Building Blocks
Type: Action Game
Age level: 3 – 10 years
What is great about this toy: The pieces are strong, durable and don’t have any sharp edges.
What is not so great about this toy: There are only 40 pcs of magnetic blocks included in the set.
Description:
Desire Deluxe Magnetic Building Blocks is another great toy for your creative toddler. With this toy, he/she can build anything from simple shapes to complex structures like houses or vehicles. This type of game will not only boost their creativity but also improve their focus and problem-solving skills too.
This Construction Toys Set for Kids comes with 20 square pieces, 20 triangle pieces and a manual. The BPA free ABS plastic blocks have a strong nickel-plated magnet and a round edge design. In addition, the building blocks are also lightweight, making it easier to grab and build their dream shapes and structures.
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Ravensburger 21373 Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders Board Game
Type: Board Game
Age level:3 years and up
What is great about this toy: The Peppa Pig theme is really attractive and interesting for toddlers.
What is not so great about this toy: The snakes and ladder game is easy to finish.
Description:
Who doesn’t love Peppa Pig? Your toddler will be thrilled when you buy him/her this Peppa Pig Snakes & Ladders Board Game. But another great reason to buy this toy is because it’s a fun and exciting game the whole family can enjoy.
Created by one of Germany’s oldest game manufacturers, you’re assured that every piece of the games is high quality and long lasting. The package comes with 1 colorful double sided game board, 4 Peppa Pig character counters, 1 numbered dice, 1 colored dice and instructions. The best thing about this game is it is super easy even for younger kids.
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Orchard Toys Smelly Wellies Game
Type: Board Games
Age level: 24 months – 6 years
What is great about this toy: It includes cute and interesting characters .
What is not so great about this toy: This games is easy to master
Description:
The Smelly Wellies Game is another fun matching game you can buy for your toddler. Aside from the colorful graphics, your children will develop their matching and memory skills by playing this game. In addition, the colorful monsters will surely boost your children’s creativity and imagination too.
This game by Orchard Toys is compact and small enough to fit in your bag when travelling. It comes with high quality 12 patterned monster characters your toddler will surely love. The game can be played two ways, first by matching pairs of wellies for their quirky monsters. Once they’ve mastered the matching game, Smelly Wellies can also be a challenging memory game.
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REMOKING Alphabet and Math Puzzle Game
Type: Flash Cards
Age level: 3 years and up
What is great about this toy: One of the best educational toys
What is not so great about this toy: Choking hazard
Description:
If you’re looking for an educational toy then the REMOKING Kids Educational Toys Matching Letter Game is one of the best toys to buy. As a matter of fact, it teaches your children both spelling and arithmetic. The flash cards are colorful too, making it easier for them to recognize and memorize the characters of the game.
REMOKING Alphabet and Math Puzzle Game comes with 32 word flash cards, 10 letter cubes, 20 number blocks, 5 mathematical symbol blocks and a matching tray. It can be played solo or with multiple players too. The letter machine is compatible with mobile phones that you can use to show new pictures and arithmetic problems too.
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Jaques of London – Spelling Game
Type: Magnetic Letters & Words
Age level: 12 – 6 months
What is great about this toy: It comes with a fabric bag for storage.
What is not so great about this toy: There’s only 27 cards included in the package.
Description:
If you’re looking for a long lasting toy then this wooden Spelling Game by Jaques of London is the one for you. Jaques of London has been inventing and creating toys since 1795 and their products are guaranteed high quality, long lasting and durable. In fact, all of the game pieces are made of 100% FSC approved wood and finished with non-toxic water-based paint.
The Jaques of London – Spelling Game comes with 27 double sided cards and 26 colorful wooden letters. The spelling cards feature easy to identify and colorful characters to help them enjoy learning spelling and phonics.
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Feelava Wooden Clock Puzzle
Type: Teaching Clocks
Age level: 3 years old and up
What is great about this toy: This toy is durable but affordable.
What is not so great about this toy: This clock puzzle is quite small.
Description:
The Feelava Shape Sorting Clock Wooden Teaching Clock is a great game to teach your toddler how to tell time. Because of its colorful and attractive design, you can easily introduce the concept of time to your toddler. Aside from that, it also features 12 different colorful shapes to help them learn more about number, colors and shape.
Wooden toys like Feelava’s Wooden Clock Puzzle have a lot of benefits for your toddlers. Aside from the mental benefits, wooden toys can also help develop your child’s fine motor skills. That’s because the wooden blocks fit perfectly in a 3-year-old’s hands. The can easily hold, grab or put the puzzle pieces to the clock without any trouble.
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Byserten Interactive Whack A Frog Game
Type: Hammering & Nailing Toys
Age level: 3 years and up
What is great about this toy: This toy has lights and sounds which are available in 4 different languages.
What is not so great about this toy: This toy is more expensive compared to the other games in this list.
Description:
Byserten Interactive Whack A Frog Game is a unique game that helps toddlers perfect their hand and eye coordination. It has 38 levels and a range of difficulty modes that will keep your children obsessed with this for hours. The toy also features entertaining lights and sounds that makes the game more entertaining.
When it comes to quality, the Byserten Interactive Whack A Frog Game is made of high quality, non-toxic, impact resistant ABS materials. The included rubber hammers are soft and small enough for 3-year-olds to hold. It also has 4 suctions cups at the bottom of the toy, to keep it from moving while your child is playing.
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Lewo 2 In 1 Fishing Game
Type: Magnetic Toys & Playboards
Age level: 3 years and up
What is great about this toy: This toy is made from natural wood which is durable and non-toxic.
What is not so great about this toy: The fish eye magnets are located outside the wooden fishes. It can be a choking hazard if it gets detached.
Description:
If you’re looking for an educational fishing game for your toddler, then Lewo’s 2 in 1 Fishing Toy is the one! Aside from letting your children master their hand and eye coordination, this toy will also help them learn more about colors and the alphabet letters. It can also improve your toddler’s social skills as this toy can be played by 2 players.
The Lewo 2 In 1 Fishing Game comes with 30 pcs wooden and magnetic fishes with the alphabet letters, fishing pole,1 magnetic dot doll and 1 game board. There are also 2 fun and exciting ways to play this game. First you can use the cat doll magnet to find fishes under the board or your children can flip the board and fish using the fishing pole.
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VTech 155403 Pre-School Laptop
Type: Electronic Learning Toys
Age level: 3 years and up
What is great about this toy: You can personalise the user by adding your toddler’s name and creating an avatar.
What is not so great about this toy: It doesn’t have any lights.
Description:
The VTech 155403 Pre School Laptop is a great gift for toddlers who love gadgets. With this educational game, your child can enjoy 30 fun and educational activities from counting to spelling. It also features 5 progressive learning categories including letters and words, numbers and shapes, animals and foods, logic and games and music.
This interactive laptop from VTech store measures 70 x 275 x 214 cm and weighs 630 gram which is light enough for toddlers to carry. It has an attractive white and orange color and is decorated with vibrant graphics. It also comes with a cute 4-directional mouse that your toddler can use to play the games too.
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GILOBABY Balance Math Game Toys for Kids
Type: Activity Toys
Age level: 3 – 10 years
What is great about this toy: This game is so attractive for kids.
What is not so great about this toy: The small toy frogs are choking hazard.
Description:
If you have a toddler who loves math then you should consider buying this GILOBABY Balance Math Game Toys for Kids. With this fun and educational game, you can teach your kids how to count, add and balance. Because of the eye-catching frogs and the vibrant colors, your toddlers will also improve his memory and creativity too.
The GILOBABY Balance Math Game Toys for Kids comes with 9 small frogs, 30 double-sided cards, 10 number models, 1 balance, 1 base, 2 weighing plates and an instruction manual. In addition, the pieces are made from high-quality and non-toxic and environmental ABC plastic materials.
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Galt Toys Number Puzzles
Type: Wooden Jigsaws
Age level: 3 – 10 years
What is great about this toy: It is the cheapest of all the toys in this list.
What is not so great about this toy: The puzzle pieces are not that thick.
Description:
Galt Toys is renowned for their colorful and engaging toys and their Toys Number Puzzles is one of their best-selling educational games. With this puzzle, your toddler can learn how to recognize numbers and how to count. In addition, the colorful and engaging individual puzzles will help your kid develop his memory and matching skills too.
The Galt Toys Number Puzzles are made from high quality materials and have passed rigorous safety testing. The package comes with 10 colorful 3-piece puzzles featuring interesting characters like dinosaurs, robots, pets, and flowers. Some puzzle pieces are too small too, that’s why it’s not appropriate for children under 3 years of age.
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Now that you’ve seen the best educational games for 3 year olds, let us give you further tips to help you choose the best one for your toddler.
First of all, you should buy a game that’s interesting for your toddler. For example as we’ve mentioned above, if you’re child loves Peppa Pig or Math, buy toys that have a Peppa Pig theme or involves a lot of math activities. These kinds of toys will help them get more focused and engaged, keeping them from getting bored while playing an educational game.
Secondly, you should also consider buying an educational toy that is appropriate for your kid’s age. For example, younger toddlers love larger toys like dolls and wooden vehicles. 3-year-olds on the other hand have longer attention spans. They love solving problems like puzzles, building structures, drawing or creating art and playing with their friends.
Last but not the least, try to find a multiplayer and collaborative game that will boost your child’s social skills. Games like board games or building games will not only boost your 3-year-old’s social and mental skills they will also improve his communication skills and build his self-confidence.
Frequently Asked Questions for 12ft trampolines
What makes a toy educational?
Educational doesn’t always mean academically related. A toy or a game is considered educational when it engages your toddler’s minds and stimulates learning. Educational toys promote common life skills like problem solving, reasoning and teamwork.
What should a 3 year old know educationally?
Generally, 3-year-olds can identify colors and understand shapes and sizes. They can speak up to 500 words and ask simple questions. Thus, they can also remember parts of a story or follow some parts of instructions. They also know how to count and have a basic understanding of time.
How many letters should a 3 year old know?
By age 3, almost all toddlers can sing the “ABC” song and can recognize half the letters in the alphabet. Some toddlers who love writing can even write a few letters or their name and some simple 3 letter words.
Can a 3 year old add and subtract?
At the age of 3, most toddlers can count up to 3 or recognize numbers up to 9. Although not all children are the same, some can count up to 10.
Should a 3 year old know shapes?
By the age of 3, your kid can identify basic shapes like circle, square, triangle,star and rectangle. At this age, they can also start drawing simple shapes like circles and can categorize objects according to their shapes.
