Ask HN: What are good christmas presents for a 3 year old?

I remember using Jenga blocks as larger, easier to stand up, safer for little kids, dominos. Used to have a couple sets and use them to make long domino paths to knock over. Drew faces on the Jenga blocks to create characters too. Could also use them as construction blocks. A lot of fun, but you probably know if your own child would like that sort of thing.

My 3 year old literally just asked for a bucket for his dirt.

LEGO duplo. Or similar stuff. 10848 and 10572 are great since they allow creativity. 10847 for the numbers.

Book with many short stories their parents can read (5 minute stories series from Tiger Tales).

A book about pooping (if they are still on diapers).

Things with numbers/shapes/colors (colored and numbered shapes exist).

Something to spend energy on, like a small set of pins with a mini bowling ball.

A 35 dollar slide.

Play doh.

Characters from their favorite show.

A small real musical instrument.

I made a marker holder from a block of MDF and a router. One hole for each marker. This was a huge hit with the 3 year old I gave it to.

Give them something that they can create with. Even the box from the present can be used to create.

I remember my son loving a little microphone and stand which had buttons that made cheering noises and deum rolls at that age.

Tinkertoy, Lincoln logs, Lego, Any of those building toys with magnets.

A copy of The Pragmatic Programmer

... I think a toy robot would be great

Books for the kids carers to read to/with them

Freight Train, Donald Crews