I am buying for anonymous 3 yr old boy - charity. Ideas please?

[CovidCantKillChristmas]

Hi all. I am looking for some ideas please. My work are involved with a charity at Christmas where we buy a gift for a child in the local area where the family is struggling. I have been given a 3 yr old boy. Budget is £25. I want to be able to get as much as possible for him for the money. Has anyone spotted any suitable bargains? Thank you in advance. X

My little boy played with this solidly every day for a year:

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/7854431?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=30f62ea9-9626-4cac-97c8-9ff3921f8558&istItemId=ilpqpqlpt&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:629-618-1342%7Ccid:9563523555%7Cagid:102230992710%7Ctid:pla-1152572189488%7Ccrid:423314717219%7Cnw:g%7Crnd:1463610402056510804%7Cdvc:m%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:1006644&utmmsource=Google&utmmedium=cpc&utmmcampaign=9563523555&utmterm=7854431&utmmcontent=shopping&utmcustom1=102230992710&utmmcustom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIjvW3md338wIVD7h3Ch1g9gAJEAQYASABEgKJ2DD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

We also bought a lot of ASDA wooden toys and found them to be very good quality/value

A toy garage?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07NQLBK97/

Very slightly over budget, but this went down well with my Gds at that age. Prextex dinosaur volcano house.,
The ‘house’ zips up and makes a carry case.

Duplo is a good bet for a three year old.

@GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER

Very slightly over budget, but this went down well with my Gds at that age. Prextex dinosaur volcano house., The ‘house’ zips up and makes a carry case.

I want one of those myself now

What about this car mat, a couple of books from the Works , and a jumper?

If you’re happy to buy something that won’t last forever, then a set of play doh tubs in all the colours and have some tools too (Argos is good for this) and some crayons, paper, or craft things like that. If you were able to spend £7.99 on them, I’d really really recommend ‘play color paint sticks’ which are poster paints in wind up/down sticks, £7.99 for ten. They’re fantastic quality and last ages. We are on our first set and I have two children who have loved that kind of thing.

But if you’d like to get something that would last, some wooden blocks, or megablox, or an Argos/Lidl wooden train set.

Scooter is a great idea.
Aldi wooden toy range is brilliant. They have a pirate ship, fire station, various wooden food, post office playset. All under £30

www.argos.co.uk/product/8513496?clickSR=slp:term:playdoh:4:14:1

Big playdoh set from argos. Half price £10 and contains all sorts of colours, cutters, tools, moulds.

This was another thing that went down well at that age -14 inch soft foam rubber TRex, indestructible when Gds was still at the chuck-and-bash stage.

£14.99, so there’d be money left over for something else, e.g sticker book or play doh.

100% a wooden train track - IKEA will get you bang for buck.

I buy a present for an appeal like this every year and it always causes me much annoyance that they don’t give you a hint of what the child might like. My ds at 3 loved dinosaurs but a lot of the boys in his nursery class loved Marvel. It’s difficult to know what to get!

If it was me buying I’d probably go with something toy car related. One of those mats/rugs with an arial view of city roads. I think Smyths do one for £15 and a set of hot wheels cars could work. I’ve not come across a three year old who doesn’t like toy cars to some degree. I think Argos do those cars in the two for £15 as well along with decent size play doh sets so you could get him something crafty to go with it.

@WellTidy

If you’re happy to buy something that won’t last forever, then a set of play doh tubs in all the colours and have some tools too (Argos is good for this) and some crayons, paper, or craft things like that. If you were able to spend £7.99 on them, I’d really really recommend ‘play color paint sticks’ which are poster paints in wind up/down sticks, £7.99 for ten. They’re fantastic quality and last ages. We are on our first set and I have two children who have loved that kind of thing.

But if you’d like to get something that would last, some wooden blocks, or megablox, or an Argos/Lidl wooden train set.

I would really suggest NOT doing this. My kids don't have paint, glitter, crayons etc... for a specific reason.

We live in a rented house and get charged for the damage done by stuff like that... why would you gift something that could damage things and cost them money they don't have.

The damage a kid can do with just 1 single crayon or 1 felt tip is crazy (as I have personally learned) never mind throwing things like paint in.

Play-doh and Slime is terrible for the same reason, my 4 year old destroyed his shoes with play-doh at nursery and I ruined the wallpaper in my bedroom as a small child with slime.

Thanks again everyone for ideas. Taking everything in to consideration, I have gone for a car garage that doesn't require batteries.

www.argos.co.uk/product/9445381?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=pwiaitqma&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7cacid:629-618-1342%7ccid:9560115721%7cagid:101739072607%7ctid:pla-1454221632371%7ccrid:422913086589%7cnw:g%7crnd:17278902526413219523%7cdvc:m%7cadp:%7cmt:%7cloc:1007460&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=9560115721&utm_term=9445381&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=101739072607&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gclid=Cj0KCQjww4OMBhCUARIsAILndv4B8HRBbkeKvA9o1FWRdFgbuvXnEKS_DcC78ZARHmyjVfSVEfTizWUaAmpfEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

The big blocks lego or something like sticklebricks, or a few things like a teddy a book, colours and a colouring book (but good quality). I'd also second kinetic sand or play dough but as above if kinetic sand get the bigger one with the box as it has a board to play on

Ah good choice OP, well done

Marble run

Just saw your update Great choice

Fabulous gift and what a bargain!

Great choice OP, he’s going to love it. A toy garage (the fisher price one) was one of my favourite toys as a child and one of the few toys I remember playing with. For £20 that’s a great gift and will look big wrapped up. Maybe get him some books from the works with the £5 you have left? I think they do the 5 for £5 books still.

Fab! He will love that

Great choice, my 3 year old would love it!

Ikea train set is really good quality.

(Car garage also great idea)