Let’s talk about some of the best Montessori toys for 3 year olds! While children this age are still very much looking to involve their adults in a lot of their play, they also enjoy imaginative and open-ended play on their own.

We’ve spoken before about how there’s technically no such thing as a Montessori toy, but there are so many great options for your 3 year old that align with the Montessori philosophies. So let’s get into some of our favorites!

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Montessori Toys for 3 Year Olds

This set includes 60 fruit counters (10 fruit shapes in 5 different colors), a plastic pie plate, 2 jumbo tweezers, and an activity guide. Not only is this a great toy for hand-eye coordination, but they can work on their problem-solving skills as they compare, contrast, and investigate the toy’s fun sorting and patterning play.

Pattern Blocks and Boards

You can’t go wrong with Melissa & Doug! This educational wooden block set makes for an absolutely great gift for 3 year olds as they can create fun patterns and explore so many creative play options. It’s an amazing toy for building focus, concentration, fine motor skills, and patience.

Toy Vacuum for Kids

This Miniature Vacuum is just like the real thing! It’s an incredible tool for building practical life skills while having fun. Your little helper will love moving around the house independently while taking on real-life tasks.

Children’s Fruit and Veggie Prep Kit

We love to see Montessori kids in the kitchen! This is another educational tool that can also fall under the “toy” category, as it’s fun but (like the vacuum above) is great for practicing practical life skills! This set is durable, easy to use, and sure to be a hit with your little one.

Fine Motor Tool Set

This set lets your 3 year old explore their creative side and encourages self-expression while developing fine motor skills and hand strength. It’s great to include in your sensory box!

Domino Set

You might be thinking - Dominoes? For a 3 year old?? But they’re great to introduce at this age! This set will encourage your child’s spatial thinking abilities, color recognition, patience, and fine motor skills. I also really love that this set comes with a bridge, a bell, and various tricks that keep things extra fun. This is truly a set that will last for years and years.

Letter and Number Wooden Puzzles

Another Melissa & Doug toy for your 3 year old, this self-correcting puzzle set is sure to be a hit! The pieces illustrate letter sound and counting groups for every letter and number included. It also includes colorful pictures that feature familiar objects to count and name. It’s a great toy/tool for matching, building letter-recognition skills, and counting.

Floor Puzzles

Speaking of Melissa & Doug puzzles, these floor puzzles are always an excellent choice. They’re made with extra-thick cardboard, so you know they’re built to last. Plus it’s a great choice for working on hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills. They’re both great, but the dinosaur one is sure to be an absolute hit if your 3 year old loves dinosaurs!

Balance Bike

If you haven’t yet introduced your child to a balance bike, 3 years old is an absolutely great time to do so! Balance bikes are proven time and again to teach children to ride faster than training wheels. Plus this balance bike has adjustable seats and handlebars, so children as young as 18 months can use it to learn to ride.

Educational toys for 3 year olds doesn’t mean buying boring toys. In fact, educational tools that are fun means your child has a better opportunity to develop their focus and truly dive into that which interests them.

Whether you’re buying Montessori toys for your own 3 year old or simply looking for educational toys for gifts, just remember: less is more. The best toys will always be those that are long-lasting and ideally that will grow with your child (at least for a little while!)

There’s no doubt that the 3 year old in your life would love to get any of the toys on this list!