Educational Toys for 3 Year Olds
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Best Educational Toys for 3 Year Olds 2011
This articles gives the top educational toys for 3 year olds based on those that my 3 year old son loves, plays with and learns from.
Toys are so important at this age. They encourage and facilitate imaginative play to expand 3 year olds minds and experiences of the world. They are some very good toys for reinforcing numbers and introducing letters, words and even spelling! Other toys help develop problem solving skills, expand vocabulary, develop social skills and creativity.
Read on for lots of suggestions of the best educational toys for 3 year olds.
Toys are so important at this age. They encourage and facilitate imaginative play to expand 3 year olds minds and experiences of the world. They are some very good toys for reinforcing numbers and introducing letters, words and even spelling! Other toys help develop problem solving skills, expand vocabulary, develop social skills and creativity.
Read on for lots of suggestions of the best educational toys for 3 year olds.
Melissa and Doug See and Spell
Melissa & Doug See & Spell
Amazon Price: $9.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
My son was bought this toy a couple of months before his 3rd birthday. He will play with it for a long time and it has been fantastic for introducing him to letters and words. As he gets older I expect it to be a good toy to help him with the spelling of his first words too.
More Toys that Introduce Letters and Words
My son has shown a great interest in letters since he's turned 3 and at the moment he thinks learning them is fun so I am taking advantage of that.
As well as the Melissa and Doug see and spell toy featured there are lots of top educational toys which introduce letters, phonics, simple words and that are great fun toy. Check out some of the best options available below.
As well as the Melissa and Doug see and spell toy featured there are lots of top educational toys which introduce letters, phonics, simple words and that are great fun toy. Check out some of the best options available below.
Toys to Improve hand / eye co-ordination and motor skills
There are some toys that focus on improving hand and eye co-ordination and honing fine motor skills. These sills are important to progress in so many areas in life from learning to dress to learning to hold a pen and write. Check out some options below.
Floor Puzzles
My 3 year old loves doing floor puzzles of about 24 to 32 pieces at the moment. They help hone fine motor skills and develop problem solving skills. I try and let my 3 year old do the puzzles on his own with some guidance but not too much, to help build his confidence that he can work things out on his own. Its also good to talk about the pictures and what they can see in them.
Here are some good choices of puzzles below:
Here are some good choices of puzzles below:
Get Ready for School Activity Set
The Alex activity set is a great educational toy for 3 year olds. It 's a skill building set for pre-school children. You can learn to cut, tie your shoe, and write the alphabet and so much more. It includes 3 learning wipe away books, and many other hands-on activities
Pattern Blocks Toys
Pattern block toys have lots of educational value. They are good for teaching geometrical skills, shapes and colors. Some of them also introduce the ideas of fractions and re-inforce sorting, matching and symmetry.
Educational Toys for 3 Year Olds in the UK
Websites featuring educational toys for 3 year old boys and girls in the UK
- Educational Toys for 3 Year Old Boys in the UK
- If you're looking for educational toys for 3 year old boys in the UK this website has an excellent selection.
- Educational Toys for 3 Year Old Girls in the UK
- This website features educational toys particularly suited to 3 year old girls in the UK.
Cash Register
A cash register is another great toy that encourages imaginative and role play.
However, there's lots more educational value too.
Introduce 3 year olds to the concept of money. As they get older its great for teaching them to give the right change and show simple maths. Reinforce social skills, saying please and thank-you when shopping. Reinforce numbers too.
However, there's lots more educational value too.
Introduce 3 year olds to the concept of money. As they get older its great for teaching them to give the right change and show simple maths. Reinforce social skills, saying please and thank-you when shopping. Reinforce numbers too.
Learning Resources Pretend and Play Calculator Cash Register
Amazon Price: $27.70 (as of 05/31/2012)
Toys that Facilitate Imaginative Play
Imaginative play peaks at around 3 years. At the moment my son always wants to play all kinds of imaginative games. Every toy has a character. Cars talk, teddies talk, spoons talk. Any toy that facilitates imaginative play is great for this age. Puppets, dressing up clothes, toy kitchens, doll houses, garages - can all facilitate imaginative play.
I find imaginative play is educational in many different ways. It expands vocabulary - we play through scenarios and use new words and sentences. It encourages creativity too.
Check out some great ideas of toys for imaginative play.
I find imaginative play is educational in many different ways. It expands vocabulary - we play through scenarios and use new words and sentences. It encourages creativity too.
Check out some great ideas of toys for imaginative play.
Toy Digital Camera
My 3 year old son loves taking pictures with his camera at the moment. Its fascinating to watch what he takes pictures of. At the moment he takes his cars and puts them in different places and takes pictures. The cars are pictured on the bath, on the dustbin, in the backyard, in different arrangements, on the wall, by the fireplace. Its really quite funny. He also takes pictures of us (quite often with our heads cut off). But I love his pictures, they really show his creativity and encourage creativity too.
Vtech Kidizoom Camera - Pink - 2010 Version
Amazon Price: $44.99 (as of 05/31/2012)
This camera comes in different colors.
Its designed for preschoolers so is durable and can withstand their play.
There's 64MB of memory (enough for 400 photos). It also has some games to play too.
Great fun.
Magna Doodle
My 3 year old loves his magna doodle and so do I.
Its great for encouraging creativity, honing fine motor skills and learning how to hold a pen. We use it to draw shapes, pictures, letters, numbers and more. We talk about what we draw. We play with it together or my son draws on his own. Its a great drawing toy as I don't have to get out all the paper, pencils, crayons etc to start drawing.
Its great for encouraging creativity, honing fine motor skills and learning how to hold a pen. We use it to draw shapes, pictures, letters, numbers and more. We talk about what we draw. We play with it together or my son draws on his own. Its a great drawing toy as I don't have to get out all the paper, pencils, crayons etc to start drawing.
Fisher-Price Pro Doodler With Four Stamps, Red
Amazon Price: $24.69 (as of 05/31/2012)
List Price: $21.99
Books
My son loves reading and we're always getting books to read.
I would really recommend joining the library as its good to have a new selection of books to widen their vocabulary and so you don't get bored reading the same ones over and over again.
Its also good to have a few books at home too. Check out the article below for some ideas.
I would really recommend joining the library as its good to have a new selection of books to widen their vocabulary and so you don't get bored reading the same ones over and over again.
Its also good to have a few books at home too. Check out the article below for some ideas.
Toys for 3 Year Old Boys UK
If your looking for educational and fun toys for 3 year olds in the UK, check out this article for lots of ideas and suggestions.
- Best Toys for 3 Year Old Boys UK
- Find below lots of suggestions of the toys for 3 year olds, based on toys that my 3 year old son loves to play with. All toys have links to amazon.co.uk, where you will find more reviews.
by Lou1842
Hi my name is Louise and most of my articles are about toys for babies and children.
I spend most of my time with my lovely boys. I have a 8 month...
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