Melissa and Doug Fire Truck Puzzle
Available on Amazon for $11.25 here.
Puzzles make a valuable addition to your collection of toys for 3 year old boys. A great one is this Melissa and Doug Giant Fire Truck Floor Puzzle.
Sure to please aspiring firefighters, this bold and colorful floor puzzle contains 24 jumbo extra-thick cardboard pieces that snap easily into place to create a high quality, yet simple picture of a fire truck ready for the alarm.
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This large, imaginative puzzle with an easy-clean surface has a finished layout of approximately 4 feet long. A great activity for developing motor skills and problem solving abilities.
Here are some great features of this Melissa and Doug Fire Truck Puzzle:
- Big, bright and boldly detailed fire truck on this delightful floor puzzle is sure to provide hours of learning fun
- 24 jumbo-sized pieces are made of heavy-grade cardboard, ideal for small hands
- Recommended age range 3 years and up
Here’s a review from an owner of this Melissa and Doug Fire Truck Puzzle:
Both of my kids (4 ½ and 22 mos.) love fire trucks so this puzzle was a big hit. The large size (4 feet long) makes it a good size for use on a coffee table. It is also large enough that several kids can work on it without banging into each other.
The design is clear with strong colors and nice details (look for the Dalmatian in the window). The pieces are durable for cardboard, my kids walk across the puzzle constantly and it has not been damaged. (Joshua K.) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Melissa and Doug Underwater Puzzle
Available on Amazon for $10.59 here.
Beginning puzzlers build dexterity and problem-solving abilities with this colorful, 2-by-3-foot Melissa & Doug Underwater 48-Piece Floor Puzzle.
A green and blue ocean floor background is crowded with colorful marine life, from octopus to crab, fish, and coral.
The complex image builds matching skills for sure, as children use the box picture to identify and place each of the big, easy-to-clean, 48 pieces.
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Alone or with a parent or playmate, this scene makes a fun challenge your kids will turn to again and again.
Here are some great features of this Melissa and Doug Underwater Puzzle:
- Illustration of underwater sea life
- 48 piece floor puzzle
- Helps develop matching skills
- Recommended age range 3 Years and up
Here’s a review from an owner of this Melissa and Doug Underwater Puzzle:
Unlike small table-top puzzles, this one is large enough for a group of little ones to work on together. We often have 2 to 4 kiddos crawling around the floor working on this puzzle. Each piece is sturdy enough that a small tyke can sit on it (on carpet) and not bend it. Also, the colors are just as vivid as they look on my computer screen. Quite lovely. The kiddos get so excited at the sheer size of these puzzles that we have several of them, some several years old and still in good shape. Your results may vary, but we’ve found them to be very worthwhile investments. (Lady X.) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Magna Tiles
Available on Amazon for $120.00 here.
I bought a 100 piece set of translucent Magna Tiles last Christmas because it had some of the most glowing reviews I have ever read on Amazon. A couple of people said their kids played with the tiles every day for quite some time. That’s pretty amazing!
We’ve had our Magna Tiles for almost a year, and they actually did get used every day for a while! After 10 months the Magna Tiles are still a consistent favorite.
The tiles attract on all sides and in all combinations, helping children move from two-dimensional to three-dimensional creations. Our kids build all sorts of houses & structures and place toy animals, cars, etc. inside.
One nice thing for younger children (and parents) is Magna Tiles are easier to build with than most construction toys such as Duplo and Mega Blocks. So it’s more hands off for Mom & Dad with not too much asking for help! The kids mostly want to build their creations on their own!
I recommend the translucent version of the Magna Tiles so the kids can see inside their structures.
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Magna Tiles also can teach spatial relationships, math, logic, and problem-solving through creative building!
This unbreakable set contains 50 Small Squares, 4 Large Squares, 15 Isosceles Triangles, 11 Right Triangles and 20 Equilateral Triangles.
Here are some great features of Magna Tiles:
- Easy to store, pick up and clean
- Very portable
- Easy for young children to build
- Designed for children ages 3 and older.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about Magna Tiles:
This has been my kids’ favorite toy for 2.5 years now. Nothing else even comes close. We bought the 32 pc. starter set when they were 2.5 yrs old, and quickly followed up by buying the 100 pc set.
They just turned 5, and we’ve added two more of the 100 pc sets to their collection. I have BGG triplets and all three love to play with them, and every kid who comes over loves them.
As my kids have gotten older, they’ve learned to build larger and more complex structures, and even use them to interact with other toys (e.g. building castles for figurines or bridges over railroads).
I don’t see them falling out of use for years to come. I recommend getting the translucent set as the kids like to put figurines and other toys inside their creations and want to be able to see what’s inside.
I don’t recommend the 32 pc set as its difficult to build much with 32 pieces and its simply not a good value. (James S “Triplet Dad”)
Duplo Blocks
Available on Amazon for $29.88 here.
This LEGO Duplo Building Set – 71 Pieces (5380) is a great value to get your youngster started in the wonderful world of Duplo building sets.
Duplo blocks are the perfect size for 3 year old hands. Made of high quality ABS plastic, these blocks connect with just the right amount of effort for this age range. Not too much force is required, yet the blocks stick together firmly.
This set includes a small building plate, a wheeled wagon base and even a cute little construction worker figure to help inspire role-play fun.
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Little builders with big imaginations will love diving into this tub of colorful LEGO Duplo blocks. Includes a quality container allowing for easy clean-up and efficient storage. Also, the transparent lid lets little builders display their models.
Tub measures 7.56″H x 15.12″W x 7.56″.
Manufacturer recommended age is 18 months – 5 years.
Here are some great features of these Duplo Blocks:
- Optimized mix of blocks that spark the imagination
- 71 pieces provide a good amount of building options
- Legendary LEGO quality
- A classic toy that kids never tire of, endless building possibilities
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about these Duplo Blocks:
We got this Duplo set for our son, who is almost 21 months, for Christmas. He loves it! He’s too young to make particularly complex creations, but he really loves snapping the blocks together and taking them apart, as well as playing with the stuff Mom and Dad make. (And we have tons of fun with these, too!) Heck, he even has a great time just dumping the blocks out of the bin and putting them back in …
The set comes with a good assortment of rectangular and square blocks, and a few sloping and curved ones, as well as one small baseplate, a wheeled rectangular block (my son’s favorite!) and a “guy” (he looks like a construction worker to me).
The blocks seem as durable as they were back when I was a kid, and they have just the right degree of “snappiness” — they’re not too hard to snap together or take apart, but they don’t come apart too easily, either. (Alexis C.) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Melissa and Doug Building Blocks
Available on Amazon for $45.87 here.
Every toddler and young child should have at least one wooden block set in their toy collection. These Melissa and Doug 60-Piece Standard Unit Blocks include 60 precision-cut, standard-shaped, solid wooden blocks that will engage your child’s imagination for hours.
Designed for ages 3 and up, these blocks feature smooth, rounded edges and are housed in a convenient, sturdy wooden storage crate.
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Build a tower, a town or just about anything with these large solid-wood standard unit blocks. The 60 big, smooth-sanded sturdy blocks are naturally finished with a classic look for hours of classic fun.
The handsome wooden storage crate makes clean up and storage easy.
Measures 15″L x 12.25″W x 5.25″D.
Here are some great features of the Melissa and Doug Building Blocks:
- 60-piece standard unit block set allows children to build towers and towns
- Stimulates creativity and hones basic motor skills
- Features natural look and the pieces are easy for little fingers to grasp
- Excellent tool for teaching math concepts, organizational skills, sequential skills, and spatial relations
- Includes 60 solid-wood pieces and wooden storage box
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Melissa and Doug Building Blocks:
These blocks are all you could ask for at an unbelievable price! The selection of sizes and shapes is very good.
The quality, weight, and workmanship of these blocks is outstanding. This is surely a gift that can be passed on for generations. In this day and age of pricey toys- so many being electronic and/or requiring only “one right answer or goal” it’s incredibly refreshing and truly necessary to encourage children to be creative and explore learning through active free play.
I purchased 2 sets of these blocks for my 3 & 4 yr old boys. I believe these blocks are probably one of the most valuable “toy” choices I have and will make. (S. Lipson) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Fisher Price Trike
Available on Amazon for $49.99 here.
For the price, it’s hard to beat the Fisher-Price Rock, Roll ‘n Ride Trike XL. We bought this trike when our first son turned 18 months, and it’s probably been one of the most used outside toys we own by both boys and their friends.
There are certainly much more expensive and higher quality trikes out there, but you need to consider how much to invest in a trike since the kids quickly move on to regular bikes with training wheels and/or balance bikes.
That said, the trike still remains a favorite toy when they don’t feel like riding their other bikes. They still like to goof around and ride the trike.
We don’t have much room in our garage, so the fact this trike was nearly all plastic was a big plus for us… we are able to keep it outside all year round. So even though the trike has been stored outside in the sun, snow and rain for almost 4 years it still works great even though the stickers have come off. The kids will even ride it in the winter with their snow boots on!
We never used the rocking feature, but the push handle feature is nice. The handle is a little too low for me at 6 feet tall, but again the push phase didn’t last very long. The kids were able to pedal by themselves pretty quickly and even before that they could push along with their own feet so you don’t always need to be pushing.
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This sturdy trike offers three fun ways to ride. The base locks in place for ride-on, rocking fun. As your child grows, the base converts to an parent push handle so you can comfortably stroll behind your child, offering a helpful push while they learn to pedal. When they’re ready to ride on their own, remove the handle, adjust the seat and fold the foot pegs for easy, independent pedaling.
Here are some great features of this Fisher Price Trike:
- A sturdy trike with three fun ways to ride
- Lock the base in place for ride-on, rocking fun
- The base converts to an extra long push handle so you can comfortably stroll behind
- Foot pegs fold up for easy independent pedaling
- Recommended for 18 months – 5 years
Here’s a review from an owner of this Fisher Price Trike:
Let me start by saying that we have owned this trike for over four years. I have 3 kids ages 5, 7 and 9. They still ride this trike after four years! They started using it as a rocker for a short time, and quickly moved to the push trike setup. It has gotten so much use and abuse over the years. Now, even the 7 and 9 year old still like to play with it.
I don’t write reviews too often, but I felt compelled to write about such a great purchase. How often do we spend money on toys for our kids that break or rarely get played with, or they outgrow them before they get much use? (More times than I would care to think about for us!)
On a side note, if your child is young and/or too short to reach the pedals, you should consider trying this toy again in a few months. There were probably times when, at certain ages, my kids didn’t use this often. But the great thing about it is that it really does grow with your child. They have found new ways to play with it more times than I can count. (Lori P) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon
Available on Amazon for $74.99 here.
This popular Radio Flyer Pathfinder Wagon combines durability, comfort and safety in a compact package pleasing to both kids and adults. Well-designed, award winning features include cup holders and flip-up seat backs to support children’s backs. Parents will appreciate the safety belts, storage compartment and long handle for easy pulling. The seat backs can be folded down when hauling stuff around.
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Designed for up to two children ages 18 months and older, this Radio Flyer wagon also has front axles designed for safe, no-tip turning. The Pathfinder is made of sturdy plastic, in Radio Flyer’s trademark red color. Assembling the wagon is fairly easy, but it does take a little time to get it right and you should follow the illustrated instructions carefully.
Here are some great features of this Radio Flyer Wagon:
- A sturdy plastic body, easy steering, front axle with no-tip turning, and exclusive Dura-Tred tires make for a smooth, comfortable and safe ride.
- Exclusive convertible feature – 2 seat backs fold up or down.
- This wagon features four molded cup holders, a storage compartment, and two seatbelts.
- This wagon has won the National Parenting Center’s Seal of Approval, National Parenting Publications Gold Award.
- Also won Oppenheim Toy Portfolio’s Gold Seal Award, and Canadian Toy Testing Council’s Three Star Rating.
- Ships in Certified Frustration-Free Packaging.
Here’s a review from an owner of this Radio Flyer Wagon:
This is a fantastic wagon! I had searched the internet looking for the best wagon re: durability, comfort, capacity, price AND SAFETY. This is the only one that keeps your children securely in the wagon- providing seat belts complete with between-the-legs strap.
It handles very well both pulling and pushing, and takes corners without a hint of tipping. The handle stays upright when you’re not moving and doesn’t pinch little fingers. The area between the wheels and the wagon is large enough for fingers to pass freely without pinching either. The wheels are quiet, and the cup holders have been a big hit for my three kids.
Although it technically seats two, all three of my boys (4, 3 & 1 yr) have ridden in it at the same time- and it was still easy to move! I love this wagon and strongly recommend it! (MelindaLiz) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Radio Flyer All Terrain Wagon
Available on Amazon for $115.23 here.
Wagons don’t get much tougher than this Radio Flyer 32S All Terrain Steel and Wood Wagon. Featuring big pneumatic tires and rugged, stainless steel construction, this large Radio Flyer wagon can haul topsoil as easily as toddlers, ably handling any kind of terrain with its 3-inch-wide, 11-inch-high rubber wheels.
A 16-by-34-inch bed provides ample room for five or six grocery bags- or a couple of kids.
Six-inch-high, removable wooden side rails give the 4-inch-deep bed even more hauling power. A nearly 3-foot-long steel handle with a plastic grip provides the pulling power.
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The original Little Red Wagon design makes this wagon a classic. The high wooden stakes and big brawny air tires allow it able to handle on or off road adventures.
Features full-sized all-steel seamless body with no scratch edges, extra long handle for easy pulling, no-pinch ball joint to keep fingers safe, fold-under handle for easy storage and controlled turning radius to prevent tipping.
Here are some great features of this Radio Flyer Wagon:
- A smooth, seamless steel body and sides crafted of natural wood, no-pinch ball joint
- The handle folds under the wagon for easy storage
- Rubber tires that can be filled with air make for a smooth and quiet ride
- This wagon won the National Parenting Publications Award and Early Childhood News Director’s Choice Award
- This product is made by Radio Flyer, innovating play and creating memories since 1917
- Controlled turning radius to prevent tipping, make this wagon safe and comfortable for children to ride in
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about this Radio Flyer Wagon:
This wagon is awesome! The big air tires make it really easy to pull and it is a much softer ride for my 3 kids. Yes, this wagon is big enough for all 3 of them to go for a ride together.
The wooden sides can be removed making it a lot easier to load this wagon in the car when our family goes on field trips.
This all terrain wagon is so big and rugged I use it for my gardening and yard work too. (A Customer) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Little Tikes Basketball Hoop
Available on Amazon for $30.70 here.
Sometimes the simplest toys are the best value. That’s certainly the case with the Little Tikes EasyScore Basketball Set. Our kids love shooting baskets by themselves and especially with little friends.
This really helps develop hand eye coordination and motor skills. It’s hard to imagine a healthier, more fun activity in such a simple package.
This toy even provides an opportunity for social skill development by learning to take turns, share the ball and cheering each other on.
The Little Tikes basketball hoop grows as fast as toddlers by adjusting to six heights from 2 1/2 to 4 feet.
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Designed for kids 18 months – 5 years, the Little Tikes basketball hoop includes an oversize rim and a junior size basketball.
Base should be weighted with sand (not included).
Product dimensions are 22″L x 23 3/4″W x 60″H.
Here are some great features of the Little Tikes basketball hoop:
- Set adjusts to 6 heights from 2.5 to 4′ tall
- Great for indoor and outdoor use
- Includes an oversize rim and junior size basketball
- Develops social and motor skills and coordination
- Base can be weighted with sand (not included) for stability
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about the Little Tikes basketball hoop:
This product is scary good. What do I mean by that? Let me explain.
With a 4 year old girl and an 18 month old little boy we thought this might be a fun product to try. I opened the box, set it up in a couple minutes and watched the kids start playing and playing and playing and playing.
My wife and I were stunned. Both children spent hours shooting baskets. Even my little one was shooting and consistently making bank shots from 2 feet out with the hoop height set just above his head.
My little boy went to sleep that night with his arm curled around the basketball (similar to how he might hold a teddy)…
I’m not sure if our children’s reactions are typical, but at least in this house, this product is a huge hit. (My $.03)
Melissa and Doug Train Set
Available on Amazon for $74.78 here.
The Melissa and Doug Deluxe Wooden Railway Set represents a fabulous value in a wooden train set! With nearly 100 wooden track sections and supports and over 30 accessories, this Melissa & Doug Train Set is ideal for the young train engineer.
This set has all of features of the more expensive sets, but at a much more affordable price. Best of all, it’s a high quality set and fully compatible with more expensive train sets such as Thomas, Brio, etc.
This amazing set includes everything needed for wooden train fun:
- Multi-piece trains and magnetic-tipped cranes
- Dozens of track sections in straights, curves, ups & downs and junctions
- A spacious roundhouse engine shed with a 360 degree engine turntable
- Y-switches and a T-junction for passing lanes
- Trees, rail workers, and traffic signs
- A suspension bridge, a trestle bridge and more!
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Designed for children ages three and older, the set includes easy-to-follow instructions for four different track configurations, giving children hours of playtime as they build the perfect layout.
Here are some great features of this Melissa and Doug Train Set:
- No batteries required and no annoying electronic sound effects! This wooden railway set is designed to offer your child imaginative playtime.
- Constructed of high quality solid wood, this set will provide years of enjoyment and fun!
- Fully compatible with most popular wooden trains including Thomas!
- Includes 4 detailed color layouts, perfect to get you and your child started with custom configurations.
- Designed for children ages 3 and older.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about this Melissa and Doug Train Set:
My husband is a hobby woodworker and the first thing he said was “wow, this is much better quality than I was expecting for the price!”
I could not find another set with as many “goodies” as this one has (bridges, supports, roundhouse, two trains, etc), all in one box and WITHOUT a bunch of “extras” that a young child won’t play with.
Most of the high piece count sets I saw online were 50% people, trees and signs — but this one is mostly all track, bridges and usable accessories! It comes with 2 trains and a little semi with a 5th wheel trailer that runs on the track as well — very cute! (RedNeckMom) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Thomas Train Table
Available on Amazon for $167.37 here.
This Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway- Island of Sodor Wooden Playtable is destined to become a remarkable addition to any bed or play room. Play time extends to the Island of Sodor and beyond as your child creates his own layouts, or builds on her existing sets.
Playtable features 3-D faces of the favorite characters from the Thomas & Friends series.
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Table measures 49.5″ L x 33.5″ W x 18″ H
Here are some great features of this Thomas Train Table:
- Top of the line in Thomas Playtables
- Use with multiple playboards (available separately).
- Features colorful graphics with 3-D molded engine faces
Look for Thomas & Friends one- and two-sided Play Boards, which are sold separately from the tables.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about this Thomas Train Table:
… I did my homework before purchasing the table. I looked at some cheaper tables to begin with but found that they couldn’t come close to the Thomas table by Learning Curve. This table is made of solid wood and took me about 5 minutes to put together. Another thing that sold me on the Thomas table was that this is the same table they have at Barrnes and Noble and you can imagine how many children play on that day after day. (mashby) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
KidKraft Train Table
Available on Amazon for $129.34 here.
One really nice thing about train tables is they actually make the job of keeping one’s home neat and organized a lot easier. This KidKraft Train Table is kid-sized for hours of effortless fun.
With a wide, generous playtable, this train table has several unique features including curved edges for safety, sturdy construction and a silk-screened landscaped play board with reversible flip side.
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Table Dimension: 49.5L x 35W x 17.5H
Here are some great features of this KidKraft Train Table:
- Special T-molded edges to prevent chipping, Curved edges for safety
- Easy to assemble, Sturdy construction
- Silk-screened landscaped playboard with reversible flip side
- 1 ½ lip to keep toys on the playtable
The best thing about this table is that it can grow with your child. Unlike many train tables covered with graphics, this is done in simple wood tones and it is like a nice piece of furniture.
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about this KidKraft Train Table:
What little boy or girl doesn’t love trains? I have a 5 year old girl and a 1 year old boy and every time we go to one of those stores with a train set like this one out for the kids to try I always have a hard time dragging my kids away. Well, now my kids can play with a train set as long as they want!
My kids are also fond of Thomas the Train whose vehicles are fully compatible. (Marc D.) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here
Nilo Train Table Toys for 3 Year Old Boys
Available on Amazon for $155.25 here.
This Nilo Muli-Activity Table combines the highest quality and versatility to offer the most value in a train table. Made of SOLID HARDWOOD like a quality piece of furniture! All edges are rounded smooth. This table can double as a coffee table as well!
The design is timeless… since the table is finished like a fine piece of furniture it will stand the test of time for you and your children.
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Many high quality accessories are available to transform your Nilo table into a platform for highly sophisticated, multi-level train layouts for older children, a LEGO table, a Rokenbok table and more including a Zoobs interface!
Another outstanding feature of this train table is the high quality hardwood construction allows for much more storage space under the table. Our family is able to store many large and small bins of trains and other toys conveniently under the table.
Table dimensions: 50.25”L X 34.25” W X 20” H
Here are some great features of the this Nilo Train Table:
- Made of solid hardwood, the highest quality train table available on the market.
- Features a 2-sided, easy to clean, white melamine table top
- Free Graphic Playmat included (not pictured)
If one side of the table should ever become worn (highly unlikely) you can flip the top over. You now have a brand new tabletop great for many more years of constant use!
Here’s what one of the owners had to say about this Nilo Train Table :
I can’t say enough good things about this table, and about the Nilo people. My 1-yr-old son loves it, and it is the perfect height to help him learn to pull up to stand, and cruise around to get to toys on it. He is very rough, always throwing toys down on top of the table, but it is quite sturdy and never chips or dents. He is always pulling on it, too, and it has never once wobbled–a very sturdy construction. (Anthromom) Review Paraphrased for size – view original review here