At 3, a boy wants toys that let him copy the adults and toys he can handle on his own: a dump truck that loads and tips, a metal tea set or a play kitchen set with its apron, a 24-piece puzzle, a firefighter costume in his size. The gifts that work are the ones he can use straight away, by himself, and pick up again the next day.

What a 3-year-old loves

Language is overflowing: he narrates, comments and asks questions in chains. His hands are getting precise, he stacks, screws and pours, and he insists on doing it himself. Pretend play takes over: he cooks, drives, nurses and repairs, often next to other children rather than with them. His attention holds for about a quarter of an hour, which calls for simple, sturdy toys with no instructions. And he needs to move, indoors and out.

Our gift ideas

To do what the grown-ups do

The play kitchen set with apron and utensils turns the play corner into a restaurant, and the metal tea set survives years of service. The tool set fixes everything in the house, and the camping kitchen becomes the centre of the home. All our pretend-play toys are made for three-year-old hands.

To roll, fly and load

The Renault Trucks dump truck and the rubbish truck are toys to load and empty, not display models. The Crazy Truck tow truck pulls anything on wheels, and the wooden Fire Plane goes from hand to hand without losing a part. See our cars, boats and planes.

To become someone else

The firefighter costume is cut for ages 3 to 4, helmet and accessories included. The dinosaur finger puppets start the bedtime stories, and the witch hat gets used well beyond Halloween. Our costumes range from a single accessory to the full outfit.

To think without noticing

A puzzle at 3 means 20 to 30 pieces with a clear picture: the farm and town puzzle or the elephant case puzzle, which tidies itself away. The circuit puzzle lets cars drive on the assembled pieces. The wooden magnetic letters live on the fridge, and The Colour Monster is a first board game about naming feelings. All our puzzles and board games.

To move and to make

The crocodile watering can and the wooden giraffe to paint fill an afternoon in the garden. The musical marble run is still watched at 6, and the DJ console with microphone has the merit of stopping when you decide. See our outdoor toys and arts and crafts.

To cuddle

The shell plush fits in a bag, and the Maileg baby pig in its crate is the kind of little character you find again ten years later. All our soft toys and our Maileg world.

What budget?

Under 20 euros: a Norev car, the crocodile watering can, the tool set, a 24-piece puzzle or the giraffe to paint. Between 20 and 50 euros: the trucks, the bigger puzzles, the metal tea set, The Colour Monster and the firefighter costume. Above 50 euros: the camping kitchen, the DJ console or the Maileg wedding couple in its box, for a gift that leaves a mark.

Frequently asked questions

Can a 3-year-old boy play with a tea set?

Yes, and he will play with it a lot. Pretend play has no gender: cooking, nursing, fixing and driving are the four big scenarios of this age, for every child. Our selections by gender follow what parents search for, not a rule of the shop.

How many pieces for a puzzle at 3?

From 20 to 36 large, thick pieces, with a picture where every area is recognisable. A puzzle that is too hard gets abandoned; a puzzle that works gets done twenty times.

Can the gift be wrapped?

Yes, gift wrapping is free: tick the box on the product page before adding to cart. Delivery to a pick-up point is free from 80 euros in mainland France, and you can collect your order in our shop at 211 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.

See also

• Gifts for a 3-year-old girl
• Gifts for a 2-year-old boy
• Gifts for a 4-year-old boy
• All toys for ages 2 to 4
• All our gift ideas by age

Advice from the team at L'Oiseau de Paradis, a toy shop in Paris since 1932.