Toys to keep a 3 year old busy!

[tryingtobemarypoppins2]

Ideas please xx

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This thread is a bit old now, but if you have landed here looking for recommendations, we've recently updated our guide to the best toys for 3-year-olds featuring toys tried and tested by Mumsnet parents.

We hope you find this useful.
MNHQ

Lego and jigsaws

Play doh

Gather all your rubbish/recycling together and provide some glue/paint to go with it.

A tent for the garden, for them to put anything they want into (cooker/den/etc)

Safety scissors and an Argos catalogue. Electronic keyboard (not so peaceful ). Wooden train set. On a sunny day, painting the patio with water or chalks, or "planting seeds" (lentils or rice), or watering can. Tea set with water to pour.

fabulous!! Keep going......it's another 10 days before school starts :0

A clean cat litter tray filled with water, then add rocks/jug/whisk/toy frogs/washing up liquid/glitter - anything that takes your fancy - keeps my DD age 4 occupied for ages.

Play 'shop' with food in your cupboards

A bowl of soapy water to clean their plastic toys/ cars etc.

Pretend washing up - at the real sink used to last hours and hours at that age.

Magic painting - grown up paint brushes and seaside bucket of water. Paint anything you like outside.

Def thumbs up for sidewalk chalks.

Playing in our stationary car will last for at least an hour. Ditto "washing" the car - though it looks way worse afterward.

Sandpit at that age was a life saver even though it's like 1ft square. Hours and hours and hours with cars or diggers, or water or pretend tea set.

DOulbe thumbs up for junk modelling - but save yourself some hassle and give DC masking tape to put things together.

Bit of computer time - www.poissonrouge.com is incredible for tinies and not a commercial site. Unbelievably creative.

I don't know if they still sell it, but we have the ELC fairy toadstool with lots of little fairy figures and furniture. Keeps my 6 yo and nearly 3yo occupied for ages.

Is playmobile (sp??) worth the money??

I guess I am looking for more challenging toys iyswim??

Duplo.

DS was given playmobile for his 4th birthday and it was swiftly removed as it was such a faff for him, loads of bits that were going to be lost in seconds. It's better for slightly older kids IMO.

the things that keep my nearly 3 yr old ds busy the most is jigsaw puzzles and wooden train track/trains

Dens - with cushions and blankets also a winner, indoor camping if its wet outside.
Cooking? Buns etc.
My DD loves Playmobil now and gets a lot of value out of it, but she is 4, I think she would have lost the small bits age 3.
Fuzzy felt is a nice non messy creative play

cars, board games, drawing, painting, jigsaw puzzles, musical instruments, blowing bubbles, sewing cards, making necklaces etc, skittles, play books, wooden train sets (Thomas, chuggington etc.), Mr Maker making things, play doh, making cupcakes, making pancakes, decorating own pizza, T-shirt painting, dressing up, etc.

Mixing bowl, spoons, and anything like rice, pasta, lentils, flour etc. In little containers to add & mix- if you can cope with the mess add water, glitter, food colouring.