# 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:** 11\ **Page:** 3
**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, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/41 "2018-07-29T21:51:25Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > 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. My older grandies played with Duplo prior to moving on to Lego, and whilst we might have lost a few bits, the vast majority of the blocks survived and have now been passed on to a younger grandie. Lego products are friggin’ indestructible, they really are. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 9:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/42 "2018-07-29T21:59:10Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > > [@not\_what\_you\_d\_expect](#): > > > > Thomas Trains are loved by every little boy I know. > > That was what always made my son happy. My friend’s son (now about to start tenth grade) was _obsessed_ with Thomas the Tank Engine. He had many of the toys and could tell you all of their names. I jokingly asked if the diesel engines were the bad guys, and my friend replied that, yes, actually they were. ---
**Author:** ![lisiate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f05b48/32.png) [@lisiate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lisiate)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2018, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/43 "2018-07-29T23:19:44Z")
> [@kambuckta](#): > > My older grandies played with Duplo prior to moving on to Lego, and whilst we might have lost a few bits, the vast majority of the blocks survived and have now been passed on to a younger grandie. Lego products are friggin’ indestructible, they really are. Quoted for truth. We’ve got a big 60 litre tub of assorted Duplo and various knock-offs that have been handed down from various family and friends. The real stuff is notably superior to all the others in all respects. Another building set that has impressed me are [Magformers](https://www.magformers.com/). My four year old has had a set for 18 months and still likes making stuff with it. ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2018, 1:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/44 "2018-07-30T01:22:00Z")
When my son was 3 we got him Lego. At first we built it together, but he eventually got to do it himself. When he turned 4 we got him…more Lego. When he turned 5 we got him…you guessed. When he turned 30, his wife got him yet more Lego. When he turned 40, his wife got him a lifetime membership in the Lego Builders’ Club. He just turned 51 and, for all I know, he still gets some Lego. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/45 "2018-07-31T12:44:41Z")
> [@Weedy](#): > > [The Gruffalo](https://www.amazon.com/Gruffalo-Julia-Donaldson/dp/0142403873/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=) and [Room on the Broom](https://www.amazon.com/Room-Broom-Julia-Donaldson/dp/0142501123/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1532738743&sr=1-1&keywords=room+on+the+broom&dpID=61717NOl-IL&preST=_SX218_BO1,204,203,200_QL40_&dpSrc=srch) are good picture books for that age. The Firebug _loved_ Julia Donaldson’s books at that age. Those two, plus _The Gruffalo’s Child_, _Stick-Man_, _Tiddler_ (my personal favorite) (aka \*The Fish Who Cried Wolf \*here in the USA), _What the Ladybird Heard_, _Tyrannasaurus Drip_, _Zog_, _Charlie Cook’s Favorite Book_, and _A Squash and a Squeeze_. If there are some small children around, I can easily keep them entertained, and have a great time doing it, if I’ve got a few of these books handy. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/46 "2018-07-31T17:27:34Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I got [this](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BN6QAVI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for a relative’s 3-year-old’s birthday a few weeks ago. It was a big hit, even playing with it just at the water table on their porch. For the record, I played with it some, too, and thought it was pretty cool. So age range: 3-50. 😃 I confirm that the Green Toys we have are well made and fun for that age. My son loves his planes and dump truck. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/47 "2018-07-31T18:53:14Z")
> [@RTFirefly](#): > > The Firebug _loved_ Julia Donaldson’s books at that age. Those two, plus _The Gruffalo’s Child_, _Stick-Man_, _Tiddler_ (my personal favorite) (aka \*The Fish Who Cried Wolf \*here in the USA), _What the Ladybird Heard_, _Tyrannasaurus Drip_, _Zog_, _Charlie Cook’s Favorite Book_, and _A Squash and a Squeeze_. > > If there are some small children around, I can easily keep them entertained, and have a great time doing it, if I’ve got a few of these books handy. IMHO while these are all excellent books, they suit the 2-3 year range more than the 3+ Granted, a 3y.o who has never had them read to him/her will enjoy them, but my daughter (who is now 3 and two months) is growing bored of them, having had all (except “Tiddler”) since she was about 2. At this point she can recite them, as if she’s actually reading (which may not be a bad thing) when she sits with her dolls and “reads” ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/48 "2018-07-31T19:40:52Z")
> [@Athena](#): > > I got [this](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00BN6QAVI/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o09_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) for a relative’s 3-year-old’s birthday a few weeks ago. It was a big hit, even playing with it just at the water table on their porch. For the record, I played with it some, too, and thought it was pretty cool. So age range: 3-50. 😃 Green Toys are spectacular; they’re damn near indestructible, and they’re just cool. Plus they’re made of recycled plastic. For a 3 year old, I might go for a dump truck or possibly some of their construction equipment. Or maybe the seaplane, seacopter or train? ---
**Author:** ![ScarletNinny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f9ae1b/32.png) [@ScarletNinny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ScarletNinny)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/49 "2018-07-31T19:48:04Z")
> [@betterlifethroughchemistry](#): > > A copy of _Love You Forever_ for the parents to read to him at night This seems a little advanced ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2018, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/50 "2018-07-31T21:32:12Z")
> [@ScarletNinny](#): > > This seems a little advanced He just wants to make the parents cry… While it’s a good book, the first few times you read it to your children, you’ll probably start crying yourself and go call your own parents once you’re done putting your children to bed. The last few pages where the son visits his dying mother and repeats her rhyme back to her… holy crap, talk about a kick in the emotional balls! I might go with something a 3 year old might like… say [“Toot!” by Leslie Patricelli.](http://a.co/a2oKLl8) ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2018, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-to-get-a-three-year-old-boy-for-his-birthday-need-answer-by-early-saturday/818706/51 "2018-08-04T19:53:07Z")
A three-year-old girl. [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=2)