gifts

Here are our top picks — 1. Fisher-Price Classic Doodler (Magna Doodle) – Here’s a toy that will satisfy your child’s creative side, as well as keep you (the parent) happy due to its portability and the fact that it’s noise-free. 2. Mega Bloks 200-Piece Duffle Bag – While some 3-year-olds are ready for the smaller sized Legos, many younger 3’s will have an easier time building with the larger Mega Blocks. They’re similar to Lego’s Duplos, but cheaper! 3. Pretend Food – There are dozens of companies that offer make-believe food of varying quality, but you really can’t go wrong with any of the Melissa & Doug products. There are wooden fruit cutting sets, pizza sets, an ice cream parlor, and more. Some are wooden, some are plastic, all are high quality and loads of fun for the 3-year-old who loves to play in the kitchen. 4. A Tricycle – Most 3-year-olds aren’t quite ready for a bike, but have long lost interest in the ride-on toys of their youth. A tricycle is an excellent transitional bike and come in various sizes. We like the Radio Flyer Classic Red Trike. 5. Classic Board Games – Congratulations! Your child is finally

Are you looking for the perfect gift for your kid that will last for years? The Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Classic Doodler (also known as a Magna Doodle) is a sure-thing kid-pleaser for children between the ages of 2 and 7. (If you are new to the world of toys, then I will just tell you that this is a good thing; many toys will only appeal to your kid for a year or two, if even that long.) The Classic Doodler is portable, with convenient carrying handles. Your kid will use this magnetic doodling tablet on the couch, in bed, in the car, at a restaurant, in the doctor’s waiting room, on an airplane, on the toilet — have I made my point yet? The Classic Doodler comes with a magnetic pen and 2 stamps — a circle and a triangle. Your kid doodles and then erases his/her creation by sliding the eraser along the bottom of the doodler. And then the fun begins again.  My kid can sit for about 30 minutes uninterrupted drawing on her Magna Doodle. That’s a long time in the life of an attention-span-challenged 3-year-old!