Best development & learning resources for 3 yr old

[Spacesea]

Just that really. Was wondering if we could share the best books / toys / games / crafts / experiences, just anything really that would be beneficial to a 3 yr old learning and development.

I am working long hours and want to try to make the most of the precious time I do have with him.
Only child DS, not very sporty but a very bright boy who loves books and numbers, so want to do my very best to encourage that moving forward.
We are currently loving staging tiny theatre shows i.e. small world play based on books.

Just play with him. He’s 3!! Don’t over-think it.

At 3, I just tried to do things that would foster curiosity and an openenss to learning. Simple science sets that could be done together were popular, all sorts of puzzles, art and craft sets that don't require to much dexterity, musical instruments, gardening projects, simple counting and maths with food, cooking together, books with choices or questions etc.

Anything that would combine a bit of skill building, with the idea that learning is fun.

Just play at 3, listen and join in. Answer questions, that's all....don't try hot housing!

I don't know what hot housing means, but that is what I am asking for, what type of games, toys etc are suitable, so I can play with him. Not necessarily educational, just what would be good for a 3 yr old (FTM, no experience with children).

Hi OP if you're working long hours I think maybe he's in nursery or with a childminder in which case he will be doing loads of education stuff Google early year's foundation.

Apologies if he's not in nursery and with dad or grandparents but if not I'd do stuff he can't do in a formal setting,so pottering, wandering... let him lead.

You could encourage finger dexterity with play dough. Make your own and colour with food colouring. Cheap lasts for ages if you wrap in clingfilm and store in airtight container afterwards. Roll, squeeze, pinch the dough. Use cookie cutters . My kids loved squeezing dough through the garlic press.

Move on to using child friendly scissors. Let them loose with scrap paper.

Dot to dot encourages hand eye control as well
as manual dexterity. These sorts of play help with holding a pen and writing further down the line.

My second child has learning disabilities and lax ligaments. All those sorts of games were encouraged at sessions with occupational therapists.

Mine likes a game of Bingo. We have a dinosaur bingo one but there’s lots of others. Sometimes there’s only two of us so we get one of his soft toys to ‘join in’. Another hit is a good set of magnetic tiles. We make all kinds of structures.

To be honest I do encourage a lot of independent play though, it’s a good skill to have. I love him to bits but I can’t be his sole source of entertainment at home, so I usually say ‘if you play nicely for x amount of time while I get a couple of bits done/have a cup of tea/shower I’ll give you a game of bingo’

Jigsaws

Magnifying glass

Torch

Bucket and spade

Language games i.e: What rhymes with pot? Mat?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Learning-Minds-Colour-Button-Puzzle/dp/B07FB1L17B

All of the Orcherd Toys games on John Lewis

www.jaqueslondon.co.uk/collections/montessori-toys?srsltid=AfmBOorL0ancav9-5m9rfuODM8dH-dpq1cfuGUD4bd8Ymx9neiGtYFBh

my 3 year old has a cash register with coins which we use for learning basic sums. she loves it and finds it fun when she “catches me out” when i’ve paid with the wrong amount of coins 😄.

otherwise just reading and getting them used to recognising 2-letter (then 3 letter etc) words when they come up. Go really slow so it doesn’t interfere with the enjoyment of reading. start with the word “a” then progress to “at”, only doing phonetic easy words at the start.
you’ll soon be able to put magnets on the fridge and he will be spelling out words with them.

dont worry about “hot housing”. kids love to learn so long as it’s done in an unpressurised way and at their pace.