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.
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.
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. My four year old has had a set for 18 months and still likes making stuff with it.
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.
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.
I confirm that the Green Toys we have are well made and fun for that age. My son loves his planes and dump truck.
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”
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?
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.
A three-year-old girl.