Top Toys and Gifts for 3 Year Old Toddlers

Plasma Car is a ride-on toy that won't be outgrown quickly. This cool car is powered by the motion of the steering wheel. As the child turns the wheel back and forth, the car moves forward. Because the Plasma Car can even hold an average size adult, you won't have to worry about it being outgrown in a few months. It's easy to learn how to make Plasma Car move, even for a toddler, and the cars come in plenty of colors to match almost any little one's tastes.

The Fisher Price Smart Cycle combines a lot of great learning methods into one fun toy. Many parents today are concerned about letting children play video games because kids usually sit still while playing. With the Smart Cycle, kids sit on a toy bike that hooks up to the TV, and they can race with cars on screen while pedaling on the bike. Within the cartridge learning games, kids also can pedal to different locations within the game to complete various math, spelling, matching activities and more. A joystick on the bike allows kids to play games while sitting still, too. Smart Cycle is for ages 3 to 6. One game cartridge is included, and others are available separately for $20-$40.

Toddlers love to build things, and this construction set allows a toddler to do just that. This set also teaches critical thinking and problem solving, though, because toddlers must consider how the marbles will roll on the track as they're building. There are plenty of pieces so your little one can get creative. When building time is through, the marbles roll down the track, and it's time to start all over again. The Ball Track Construction Set from HABA will be used for many years, because as your child grows, he or she can learn to make more complicated tracks.

Lots of fun imagination play awaits with this cool circus set from Plan Toys. I love the magic box where one of the characters can disappear. The set also includes clowns and circus animals, as well as extra people so there can be a ringmaster performers and audience. The colorful circus tent even has a tightrope! The wooden pieces are made of chemical-free rubberwood and the finishes are all non-toxic.

Idbids do include the key element of toys - fun - but they also have a potentially greater impact on a toddler's life. These plush toys come with a story book and field guide that teach about environmental responsibility. Most importantly, it teaches kids how to take small, manageable steps towards green living, so your toddler can feel like he or she is accomplishing something right from the start. Cloud water drop and flower Idbids are available. The plush toys are made of organic cotton and the packaging is even recycled materials.

The Wheely Bug gets my vote for the best ride-on toy ever! The large size is perfect for older toddlers, and is available in ladybug, bumblebee and cow themes. The Wheely Bug has a padded seat covered with wipe-clean material, and a padded handlebar on the front. The caster wheels are mounted on a wood platform, and swivel in every direction, so toddlers can spin, glide and roll wild all over the house or driveway. This is sturdy toy that offers plenty of fun for toddlers and pre-schoolers.

Melissa & Doug wood toys are made well, so they stay looking nice for a long time. That's good in the case of this sushi set, because it's pretty attractive! Tuna, shrimp and salmon roe sushi rolls are included in the set. There are also chopsticks and a cleaver. Velcro holds the sushi rolls together until your toddler uses the cleaver to "chop" them apart. There's even a bowl of soy sauce for dipping.

Elmo is back with even more cool features than ever! Elmo's mouth moves, so it seems like this toy is speaking just like the real Elmo on TV. Elmo also stands, sits and crosses his legs, all with fairly lifelike movements. Toddlers will definitely be impressed, particularly if they're Elmo fans already. While I think Elmo Live is really cool, I have to wonder at the price. At around $100, this is fairly expensive for a toddler toy.

If your toddler has seen you working on a laptop, chances are they've asked to push buttons on it, or have attempted to take it over at some point. The VTech Tote & Go Laptop gives toddlers their own cool computer to play with, and it's packed with age-appropriate activities to keep a little one entertained for quite a while. There are games as well as learning activities for math, reading, music and languages. I like that the mouse can be positioned on the right or left, in case your toddler shows a dominant hand early on. This is also fairly inexpensive for an electronic toy.

You can have fun teaching your toddler to say "arrrr" while playing with this great wooden pirate ship. The big, colorful skull and crossbone sails give it a fearsome look, and they can be raised and lowered just like a real ship. The set includes 4 pirates, 2 treasure boxes, and a whole bunch of other cool pirate stuff to use in the ship. At under $50, this wooden pirate ship is a great value.