Updated November, 2023
Congratulations on yet another birthday for your little one. Their minds continue to grow and develop, looking for new challenges and ways to change. Maybe it’s time to update your toys and supplies for them! Below are my suggestions for the best educational toys for 3-4 year olds.
Books
Your child is really starting to show interest in and care for books now. It is time to phase them out of board books completely and into soft or hard cover books. They should still be relatively short but have a story line to them.
Top Picks
Dramatic Play
Baby Doll Accessories
Around this age is when I would suggest bringing in the accessories for baby dolls if your child is really into them. Much earlier than this and I see a lot of dolls put to sleep on the floor and fed in laps. The accessories such as beds, high chairs, and strollers really start getting used more regularly around this age.
Table Toys
This puzzle is harder than you might expect. Because each block has six sides, it will take awhile for your child to figure out and master this puzzle. It is not easy, so do not expect them to get it right away.
Having a few of these practice clothing items around can help your child succeed in lacing or buttoning their own clothes. There are a lot of options as well, anything for what your child might be struggling with. From zipping to snapping and everything in between, help your child learn some of these independence skills.
Large Motor
Velcro balls, grip balls, toss and catch game, whatever you want to call these, they are fun to practice throwing and catching with. The Velcro padding helps to make catching easier while still requiring your child to get to the ball and to try and catch it.
This bike is designed to help your child be successful with balancing on a bike as they get older. The idea is that your child will skip the training wheels and go straight to bike riding. I don’t know if it always works, but I have definitely heard positive results. At the very least, your child can learn to start controlling their bikes and balancing on their own.
