Inspired Montessori Learning Birthday Gift Guide - 3 Years

The Birthday Walk

In many Montessori schools around the world you will find a sweet little birthday celebration called the “Birthday Walk.” This is a simple yet incredibly beautiful way to celebrate a child’s time on earth since their birth. You can go here to read about the ‘Montessori Birthday Celebration’ and access our free “Birthday Walk” printables. This month we have a really special day because our Emery and Lovey (Barbara), share the same birthday!

Gift Guide for a 3 year old

We get asked a lot of questions about what parents should get to put on their child’s work shelf that’s age appropriate. We know a lot of you have a child turning 3 soon so in honor of Emery’s birthday, we’re releasing our very first Gift Guide! Emery received some of these items for her birthday and the rest are items we already know and love. Can’t wait for you all to try them!

Some of these items are affiliate links which means we get a small commission if you purchase it, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep our blog running. Rest assured, we stand behind all the items we list on this gift guide. Enjoy!

Birthday Cake – First up is this adorable Melissa and Doug Cake Cutting work. Emery is getting this for her birthday. We have already checked it out. Because Emery has been practicing her cutting skills both with other work like this and in the kitchen since she was 18 months old, we love that this is a double layered cake. It will be that much more challenging for her. But you don’t have to use the top layer if your 3 year old is just starting out cutting!
Stacking Rainbow – This stacking rainbow is such a great gift! It is really large and great quality. Your child can use it for creating a traditional rainbow or use the pieces for creative play. It will teach balance, problem-solving, pattern recognition, fine motor skills and is a beautiful wooden material.
Crayon Rocks – These are great for young children in developing and strengthening the pincer grip needed to control a pencil. We use these in our school in California for our young children but the older children love working with them too.
Stacking and Sorting Bowls – A great way to help a child in learning colors, practicing counting, sorting, and imagining!
Tool Belt – A favorite of boys and girls in our classrooms and a super fun thing to have around the house too. Children love working alongside mom and dad building things. We like to get a big tree stump and halfway hammer in several nails on top of the stump, allowing the children to put the tool belt on and hammer away. As they get older, they begin to learn how to control the hammer better and can start building simple projects.
Montessori Lock Box – These are always so much fun! Children will play for hours locking and unlocking these doors. They will also use them to hide things in so if something comes up missing, check there first. :)
Magnetic Building Tiles – These magnetic tiles are great for the imagination and fine motor control. Fun for the whole family!
Shopping Cart – This was a winner with Emery from day one! She loves pushing it around and loading up with all of her “treasures” in the cart while she is shopping around the house.
Teepee – This is a perfect place to use as a reading corner or a special area for relaxing, taking a nap, spending quiet time or talking to friends and parents. Every three year old needs a teepee!
Cleaning Set – Children just want to do what adults are doing so put them to work cleaning and organizing with this cute cleaning set! This is Practical Life at its best!
Balance Board – This is such a great material. We love our balance board. This one is made exceptionally well and is very beautiful. Great for developing motor skills and natural balance and can be used in a variety of ways: as a seesaw, boat, tunnel, bridge, rocker and slide. Your child’s imagination is the limit!
River Stone Set – Go over the river and through the woods on stones toward learning! Kids will learn coordination, balance, and depth perception as they hop from stone to hilltop, great for indoor and outdoor use!
PlasmaCar – Another family favorite! Your child will love zooming around the house or outdoors with this fun PlasmaCar!
Art Easel – It is always fun to have an art easel available for your child. Drawing, painting and even writing on chalkboards are an important part of your child’s development. This art easel has it all. A chalkboard on one side, a paper roller on top and a magnetic board on the other side. Great storage underneath and don’t you just love this color?
Indoor Trampoline – We know our kids have energy to burn! This is a great indoor trampoline for working out their whole body. They will develop better fitness, balance, and coordination. If you have a long winter ahead like we do, this might just be a lifesaver!