# what to get a three year old boy for his birthday, need answer by early Saturday **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 27, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706 "2018-07-27T22:30:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/21 "2018-07-28T12:57:50Z")
A [toy telephone](Fisher-Price Chatter Telephone [https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014KEDB3Y/ref=cm\_sw\_r\_cp\_apa\_i\_UFgxBbBCE4D74](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B014KEDB3Y/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_UFgxBbBCE4D74)) that will confuse the heck out of him. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/22 "2018-07-28T13:02:02Z")
Last Christmas my family coordinated which Duplos would different people get The Little Nephew (among other presents). I got to buy a set which is about a vegetable garden; he loves explaining that you have to put things in the right order… while putting them in an order that’s completely, uh, creative 😃 He likes planting the tomatoes above the sun. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/23 "2018-07-28T13:18:02Z")
My 3 year old just had a birthday and his favorite toy was a dinosaur set. It’s a set of a varity of dinosaurs and setting pieces, like plastic rocks and trees, that he sets up and has the dinosaurs fight each other, sort of like the green army men but larger. ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/24 "2018-07-28T14:53:50Z")
> **[Tickle Monster Laughter Kit — Includes the Tickle Monster book and fluffy mitts...](https://www.amazon.com/Tickle-Monster-Laughter-Josie-Bissett/dp/1932319832)** > > Tickle Monster Laughter Kit — Includes the Tickle Monster book and fluffy mitts for reading aloud and tickling! \[Bissett, Josie, Atteberry, Kevan\] on Amazon.com. \*FREE\* shipping on qualifying offers. Tickle Monster Laughter Kit — Includes the Tickle... My kids (7 and 10) we reading it again just today, so it certainly has longevity. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/25 "2018-07-28T18:21:19Z")
Empty refrigerator box. ---
**Author:** ![Darren\_Garrison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/darren_garrison/32/92_2.png) [@Darren\_Garrison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Darren_Garrison)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/26 "2018-07-28T18:31:10Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > My 3 year old just had a birthday and his favorite toy was a dinosaur set. It’s a set of a varity of dinosaurs and setting pieces, like plastic rocks and trees, that he sets up and has the dinosaurs fight each other, sort of like the green army men but larger. Do places still sell [this](http://diterlizzi.com/essay/owlbears-rust-monsters-and-bulettes-oh-my/) classic set? ---
**Author:** ![Tarataratara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Tarataratara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarataratara)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/27 "2018-07-28T21:27:51Z")
Finger paint Bathtub crayons or paint (soap based ---
**Author:** ![InsomniaMama](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/ad7895/32.png) [@InsomniaMama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/InsomniaMama)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/28 "2018-07-28T21:30:29Z")
Magna tiles were hands down the best “money per time spent playing” toy ever. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/29 "2018-07-28T22:00:10Z")
Large piece jigsaw puzzle. This one has 14 pieces and is for preschoolers. Initially the parent may want to help the child with the puzzle. My mom says I used to dump several puzzles into a pile. Then assemble each one. I guess by then one preschool puzzle wasn’t challenging enough. 😉 > **[Ravensburger - Puzzles, Games and Crafts & Science](https://www.ravensburger.us/start/index.html)** > > Puzzles, Games, 3D Puzzles, Arts & Craft and Science Kits ✔ Find the complete range, browse our novelties and get support only in the Ravensburger Shop ✔ > [@](#): > > My First Frame Puzzles are designed to help your child associate shapes with their corresponding images. The holes on the back side of the frame puzzles make it fun for your child to push out pieces again and again. ---
**Author:** ![K2500](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f6c823/32.png) [@K2500](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K2500)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/30 "2018-07-28T22:06:08Z")
> [@RunSilent](#): > > A flashlight. Little kids love them. This is my go to for that age. A mini mag would be around 10-15$ and as a bonus it’s water proof. The cheasy ones crap out on the first trip to the tub. ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/31 "2018-07-28T22:15:26Z")
What did you get? ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/32 "2018-07-28T22:30:54Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > What did you get? Shoot, I was too late to this post, and as the father of three grown boys, I would have had one word for you: Legos…and if you are worried about the size (reasonable), their large precursors, Megablocks…the love for Legos transcends across male generations, I got my boys Legos as I loved them as a boy, we STILL give them to each other as gifts and have a great time on Christmas putting them together…great re-sale value, too… But, to **Sunny** ’s question, what’dja get? ---
**Author:** ![betterlifethroughchemistry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/betterlifethroughchemistry/32/3094_2.png) [@betterlifethroughchemistry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/betterlifethroughchemistry)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/33 "2018-07-28T22:44:08Z")
A copy of _Love You Forever_ for the parents to read to him at night…my wife and I would take turns reading each boy when they were young a book before bed, one night, my wife went to read a book to our then-four-year old son who has always been very bright and introspective…she pulled this out and said, “What about this?”, he paused and said, “I don’t think Daddy likes that book, it always makes him cry.” There is a really sad story behind the book, but at face value, I think it’s really sweet and loving… Again, too late for the party, but maybe next time? ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [July 28, 2018, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/34 "2018-07-28T22:58:17Z")
> [@Sunny\_Daze](#): > > What did you get? I did look for many of your suggestions and would have gone with Stomp Rockets if I had posted even one day sooner; that or a flashlight. But I left it too late and was restricted to what I could find close by. Magna Tiles look great but too expensive. I got crayons and a doodle pad (with pirates on the cover), a dinosaur (it doesn’t do anything; it’s a T Rex) and a plush shark that plays scary music all in a minions bag that has a detachable mask. somewhere on the internetz (the dope? I don’t recall) I remember reading that a mask was a hit for a little kid. thank you to those that helped 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/35 "2018-07-29T01:05:54Z")
> [@Darren\_Garrison](#): > > Do places still sell [this](http://diterlizzi.com/essay/owlbears-rust-monsters-and-bulettes-oh-my/) classic set? You really want them a bit bigger than that for a three year old. They still don’t have all the small motor movements down so having something they can wrap their whole hand around is better. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/36 "2018-07-29T05:39:54Z")
To late to matter, but I wanted to add that at 3, the “priceless” cliche was true: the kids had more fun with a big box than anything that came in it. Of course you can spend a bit more than that: Teepees, indoor tents, and big ball-and-stick toys covered with sheets also worked. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 7:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/37 "2018-07-29T07:42:05Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > Shoot, I was too late to this post, and as the father of three grown boys, I would have had one word for you: Legos…and if you are worried about the size (reasonable), their large precursors, Megablocks…the love for Legos transcends across male generations, I got my boys Legos as I loved them as a boy, we STILL give them to each other as gifts and have a great time on Christmas putting them together…great re-sale value, too… NOT MEGABLOCKS. No self-respecting 3yr old will abide them, and the resale when they’ve outgrown them is zilch. DUPLO is the one you’re after. It’s the junior version of Lego. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/38 "2018-07-29T18:18:33Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > NOT MEGABLOCKS. No self-respecting 3yr old will abide them, and the resale when they’ve outgrown them is zilch. > > DUPLO is the one you’re after. It’s the junior version of Lego. 🙂 The term “resale value” applied to toys that have been played with by a toddler is laughable. My kids were in middle school before they had any toys they outgrew before they were destroyed or lost. And even then it was borderline. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/39 "2018-07-29T19:13:37Z")
yes mega blocks suck… they sucker you in with their licensed stuff and you realize nothing stays together ………. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 8:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/40 "2018-07-29T20:18:40Z")
> [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > Thomas Trains are loved by every little boy I know. That was what always made my son happy. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706.md?page=3)