Cool toys for 3-4 year olds for immediate play?
December 11, 2013 2:02 PM Subscribe
What are some cool toys for a three and a half year old which I could open and would be really wondrous and cool immediately? He's in an astronaut phase and has a great imagination generally, but the toy does not have to be space-related.
He already has a stomp rocket, so not that, but that's a good example of the kind of immediate-fun toy I'm thinking of. Thanks.
Might be a bit young, but it says not for children under 3:
Airhog!
posted by Grither at 2:15 PM on December 11, 2013
Airhog!
posted by Grither at 2:15 PM on December 11, 2013
Best answer: The indoor analog to stomp rockets: squeeze rockets! Just keep them out of the kitchen while cooking.
posted by rouftop at 2:16 PM on December 11, 2013
posted by rouftop at 2:16 PM on December 11, 2013
Boomerang.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:18 PM on December 11, 2013
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 2:18 PM on December 11, 2013
Best answer: If you're OK with him wearing it around the house 24/7 for weeks on end, an astronaut flight suit, boots, gloves, and/or space helmet.
If you're OK with him making a mess, silly string or crepe paper streamers.
If you're OK with him making noise, a tiny drum kit or Fisher-Price xylophone.
If you're OK with spending $130 (!!) on a playset, The Discovery Space Center Play Station.
Build-your-own monsters.
Remote-controlled car or helicopter.
posted by divined by radio at 2:41 PM on December 11, 2013
If you're OK with him making a mess, silly string or crepe paper streamers.
If you're OK with him making noise, a tiny drum kit or Fisher-Price xylophone.
If you're OK with spending $130 (!!) on a playset, The Discovery Space Center Play Station.
Build-your-own monsters.
Remote-controlled car or helicopter.
posted by divined by radio at 2:41 PM on December 11, 2013
Old-fashioned wooden blocks
Magna-Tiles
Plastic corrugated tube toy (dirt cheap but lots of fun making noises when you expand it and when you twirl it).
posted by Dansaman at 2:43 PM on December 11, 2013
Magna-Tiles
Plastic corrugated tube toy (dirt cheap but lots of fun making noises when you expand it and when you twirl it).
posted by Dansaman at 2:43 PM on December 11, 2013
came to say "wooden blocks"
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 2:48 PM on December 11, 2013
posted by Emperor SnooKloze at 2:48 PM on December 11, 2013
MagnaTiles are fun.
Might be a bit young, but it says not for children under 3:
Airhog!
What? Who gives toys with reviews like "BEWARE OF THIS TOY: SHOULD BE RENAMED SPINNING NINJA KNIVES OF DEATH" to a 3-year-old?
posted by belladonna at 3:29 PM on December 11, 2013
Might be a bit young, but it says not for children under 3:
Airhog!
What? Who gives toys with reviews like "BEWARE OF THIS TOY: SHOULD BE RENAMED SPINNING NINJA KNIVES OF DEATH" to a 3-year-old?
posted by belladonna at 3:29 PM on December 11, 2013
Kaleidoscope. I usually give books to little ones, but also want to give them something "shiny-cool" to immediately play with and so far a kaleidoscope (as the bow on the box) has been a hit.
posted by Swisstine at 4:07 PM on December 11, 2013
posted by Swisstine at 4:07 PM on December 11, 2013
This gear set is totally awesome
Bonus: Duplos fit on the hub pegs
posted by thirteenkiller at 5:59 PM on December 11, 2013
Bonus: Duplos fit on the hub pegs
posted by thirteenkiller at 5:59 PM on December 11, 2013
Best answer: Oh god, there are two kids at my son's preschool with flight suits. It is a battle to get them to take them off long enough to bathe. You will win.
The 3 year old in this house almost immediately likes playing with every toy he gets, so really almost anything will probably get a good reception. A recent huge winner was a paint-a-pumpkin kit; equivalent might be a big space-themed poster with its own paint set.
this tube full of space toys has been super worth it.
Along the line of stomp rockets would be a whirlybird or rubber-band-powered airplane (would add a link but my google-fu is failing me).
Magnatiles are wonderful but somewhat pricey.
posted by tchemgrrl at 7:07 PM on December 11, 2013
The 3 year old in this house almost immediately likes playing with every toy he gets, so really almost anything will probably get a good reception. A recent huge winner was a paint-a-pumpkin kit; equivalent might be a big space-themed poster with its own paint set.
this tube full of space toys has been super worth it.
Along the line of stomp rockets would be a whirlybird or rubber-band-powered airplane (would add a link but my google-fu is failing me).
Magnatiles are wonderful but somewhat pricey.
posted by tchemgrrl at 7:07 PM on December 11, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by phunniemee at 2:08 PM on December 11, 2013