Hellobee

You can check out the rest of our 2017 holiday toy guides here.

I am about to have a four-year-old on my hands and in the last year, I’ve handled many requests from LeLe about things she “had” to have. We’ve managed to limit the insane amount of toys that she wants to a few that we researched a bit and that she has gotten good use out of. I am also the proud auntie to a 5 year old boy who was once a three-year-old so I have some items that were popular with him as well.

1) Kid’s Edition Fire Kindle – This little tablet is awesome for young kids and the best part is it is durable and replaceable if broken within 2 years. The Fire features a ton of great apps that kids can use for games, learning, spelling, coloring, etc. It also has a ton of parental control options, which is key for a tablet that kids are using. Both my kids have one of these and we use it for quiet time, for learning, and for watching the kids’ shows that I would rather avoid.

2) Bicycle and 3) accessories: helmet, squeeze horns, extension pedals, basket, knee pads – At this age, a bicycle is a great gift. I actually purchased a used bike for LeLe and then we decked it out with some accessories. She loves riding bikes and is getting really good at it. Remember to get a helmet to go with the bike.

4) Baby Alive – I have to admit, this was not a gift I was thrilled about getting, but LeLe has had this for almost a year and it still is one of her favorite toys. She takes it everywhere with us and it was well worth the money we spent on it. Word to the wise, it pees and “poops” so if your child is feeding it, be prepared to clean it up with a towel afterwards.

5) ABCMouse – We bought a subscription for LeLe and Little Bug to use this year, and we have been pleasantly surprised. The activities are tailored to the age of the child using the program, and that means that LeLe and Little Bug have different games to play based on their learning skill level. LeLe has really started to learn how to write letters and count with this program, so I think it is well worth the investment.

6) Farm Animal Set – This set has been used over and over again by LeLe and her cousi n. They love to pretend with the animals and they can be entertained by this for a long time. The best part, according to LeLe, is that she can take the animals into the bath as well.

7) The Secret Life of Pets – I am not usually a fan of kids movies other than Disney, but this movie is awesome. My kids love it, and I love it too. It’s a win-win!

8) Books – Books are always a good bet for three-year-olds, and LeLe has shown a preference for a series of books rather than just one. So we’ve been searching for books like the Pete the Cat series and she is thrilled when we have new ones to read.

9) Butterfly Growing Kit – It may not be the right time of year for this, but this butterfly growing kit was the highlight of our summer. LeLe was fascinated by the change and the end result, and she was thrilled when we got to release our butterfly.

10) Mini Trampoline – We got this trampoline in June and it has been used every single day since then. Both kids love it, but LeLe is really into it. My nephew was given the same one for his third birthday and he is still a huge fan as well. I especially like this one because of the safety bar and because only one kid can use it at a time, which means less chance for injury.

11) Hatchimals – Ok, so LeLe is obsessed with these, and I have to admit, they are super cute and they keep her entertained for hours. They are pricey, so it really is a gift that you have to know your kid will want and play with. In my case, LeLe asked for a long time, and we tried doing the smaller colleggtables, but she still wanted a larger one. We eventually caved and she loves her creature so much.

12) Anatomy Book for Kids – I’ve noticed that three-year-olds ask a lot of questions about their bodies. This book is awesome. It shows pictures with enough detail that kids get their questions answered. I like it because I can use it to help me answer some of LeLe’s questions, and it is interesting to me as well.

13) Disney Toddler Dolls – These are such cool little dolls and if you have a little one who loves dolls, this is perfect for them. LeLe requested Rapunzel, but I also got a Kristoff version for Little Bug as well. These are their Santa gifts for this year and I can’t wait to see them open them!

14) Dress Up Clothes – LeLe (and Little Bug now) is super into dressing up. I actually started by going to consignment shops to get old halloween costumes, and then expanded to Amazon once Little Bug was also showing interest. They now have a small bin of dress up clothes and they spend a lot of time pretending to be pirates, princesses, unicorns, and so many other characters.

15) Induction Truck – This toy is sooo cool! It is a car, truck, bus, etc, that follows a line drawn by a “magic” pen. We got this for my nephew when he was three and he still plays with it now, two years later. I especially like it because it creates wonder and I sent him a book to follow up about how the truck works.

16) Tool Set – We actually have two of these sets, and they get used all the time. The kids both love using them for “projects” around the house. If you have more than one kid, I recommend getting enough sets so that they don’t fight over the tools.