Birthday gifts for 3 yo?
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I don't do a lot of gifts. Maybe 1 bigger gift that's between $50-$75 and then maybe a couple small things. I also wrap with newspaper bc kids don't care what it's wrapped in lol
I have a four gift rule for my 3 year old as a base. Something they want (usually a fun toy based on their interest), something they need (usually clothes, sometimes a chore tool like a small broom, or otherwise educational), something outdoors (anything that’ll encourage outside play like a soccer ball), and something to read (any kind of book). Anything outside of that is because it caught my eye or he asked for it after I finished that shopping. We don’t have a lot of family or friends to gift extra on top of it. So he’s probably not gotten more than 15 toys a year after a birthday, a winter holiday, and the random toy here and there while shopping.
Just as a follow up. I was the youngest in a wealthy family. I had ALL the toys. So many toys to unwrap at Christmas. Our tree was overwhelmingly overflowing and I always got everything I wanted. It was a dream as a kid, but I was also an entitled spoiled brat and had to unlearn a lot of that in my teens and adulthood. My kiddo rarely gets more than 8 presents to open. I’m a single mom and can’t afford much more than what I offer. He’s done fine with that. Our small space isn’t overwhelmed with toys. He doesn’t have a walk in closet over-filled with things he’s played with once like I did. Do what works for your family and household. I try to find toys that I know will get lots of repeated use and he actually wants. Things like art supplies are great because they’re consumable and won’t overwhelm a space, but they also have tons of utility. Building blocks and train tracks also do super well.
We got a couple gifts for his birthday (more magna tiles… why must they be so expensive?? And some plastic foods that pull/cut apart using Velcro). For Christmas we are going to get him his own little table/desk thing with blackboard top that flips over to a white top and has storage. Not sure yet what else to include for Christmas yet. They have these paper planet things that remind me of paper lamps that we think he will enjoy and are considering for Christmas. I should look into some new books. We go to the library and he has a lot of books but books are always good!
I wrap maybe two or three and the rest are just in bags. I tend to do more bath toys since they enjoy bath more. I do like crayons or paint for the bath. For toys, my kids like numbers and abcs so anything educational like that and clothes.