Best Gifts for 3-Year-Olds

Your 3-year-old is a complex person now -- with thoughts, interests, and greater control of her body. She's also got a longer attention span, so she can focus on make-believe, games, craft projects, and more. Here, 14 gifts that experts -- and kids -- love.

By Lambeth Hochwald

Courtesy of Hasbro

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Play Along

Gift: Play-Doh

Why she'll love it: This soft, squishy stuff has been thrilling preschoolers for more than 50 years. Because it's open-ended, there's no limit to what your child will create with it. Play-Doh spaghetti anyone?

Why experts love it: "Play-Doh has so many uses, especially if you add tools," says R. Keith Sawyer, PhD, a professor of psychology who studies creativity in children at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri. "It uses fine motor skills and imagination."

Our pick: This caddy is a rainy-day lifesaver, with tons of tools and colors, all stored in a neat carry-all.

We cannot guarantee that all of the products featured within this slideshow may still be available for purchase.

Play-Doh Super Craft Caddy, $20, available at www.hasbro.com

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