Between the ages of 3 and 4, children make great leaps in their self-awareness, language, imagination, and social interaction. Their play becomes more complex: they create stories, take on roles, and truly begin to play together with other children. Their motor skills also refine, making them more independent in everyday activities.

Motor skills
Children aged 3 to 4 learn to run, jump, ride a bike, and even balance short distances more quickly. Their fine motor skills are also developing rapidly: they can draw, do crafts, and manipulate smaller objects more effectively.

1. Balance bikes and first bikes
   Helps improve balance and coordination. A good preparation for a real bike.
2. Balance and climbing toys
   Climbing frames, balance stones, and play furniture encourage children to move, practice their balance, and take on new challenges. Soft, modular furniture also offers space for free play: building, stacking, or simply relaxing.
   Gift tips: Stapelstein, Present stories - play furniture
3. Construction toys
   Building more complex structures stimulates fine motor skills, concentration and spatial insight.
   Gift tips: Connetix - creative pack , Connetix - pastel creative pack , Plus Plus
4. Craft materials
   Painting, coloring and cutting stimulate fine motor skills and creativity.
   Gift tips: Kidywolf - Kidydraw , Kitpas - (Window) chalk , Grennn - pencil holder , Grennn - paint holder, Invitation to imagine - play clay
   

Cognitive development
Toddlers and preschoolers are increasingly discovering cause and effect, can solve simple puzzles and begin to count and sort.

1. Puzzles
   More pieces and more complex shapes stimulate problem-solving skills.
   Gift tips: Learn and grow toys - magnetic tile toppers animal duo puzzle , Stuka Puka - take me a ride puzzle
2. Educational toys (sorting & counting)
   Children learn to count, recognize colors and categorize in a playful way.
   Gift tips: Bajo - Number block set , Grennn - wooden sorting tray , Small Foot - wooden sorting box , Small Foot - Very Hungry Caterpillar wooden color game , Studio de Rijk - Trofast inserts
3. Magnetic building sets
   Challenging construction toys that help children learn to combine creative ideas.
   Gift tips: Connetix - creative pack , Connetix - pastel creative pack
4. Cause and effect games
   Mechanical playsets or simple board games teach children strategy and concentration.
   Gift tips: Small foot - color memory
   

Language development
Children aged 3-4 go through a huge language explosion: they learn longer sentences, ask questions and can retell short stories.

1. Reading books and picture books
   Stimulate vocabulary, imagination and listening skills.
   Gift tips: Books . Classics and theme books about emotions, friendship: Chris Saunders books
2. Role-playing toys
   Dollhouses, kitchen sets and doctor's kits give children the opportunity to make up and act out stories.
   Gift tips: Dollhouse - Unfold, read and play , The Wooden House - dollhouse , Tré Timber Toys - role play boxes , Maison Rue - Beauty playset
3. Toy microphones and musical instruments
   Help with singing, practice sounds and have fun with language and music.
   Gift tips: Kidywolf - kidymic microphone, Kidywolf - portable karaoke box

Social-emotional development
Children this age often play together instead of just next to each other. They learn to share, cooperate, and manage emotions. Imagination and role-playing become increasingly important.

1. Dolls and figurines
   Helps with empathy, role-playing and emotional expression.
   Gift tips: Dollhouse - Unfold, read and play , Bajo - wooden play figure sets , The Wooden House - dollhouse , We Are Gommu - pocket
2. Board games
   Simple board games teach children how to take turns and manage winning/losing.
   Gift tips: Smallfoot - color memory
3. Role-playing toys
   Dollhouses, kitchen sets and doctor's kits give children the opportunity to make up and act out stories.
   Gift tips: Tré Timber Toys - wooden kitchen box , Tré Timber Toys - wooden workbench box , Maison Rue - Beauty playset

4. Play silk & dress-up materials
   Open-ended toys that let children's imaginations run wild: a cape, tent, picnic blanket or magic cloak.
   Gift tips: Sarah's Silks - fancy dress

Sensory development
Children aged 3-4 love experimenting with textures, sounds, and materials. They explore with their senses and connect this with imagination.

1. Sensory play bins
   With sand, rice or natural materials for role play and fine motor skills.
   Gift tips: Grennn - play rice , Grennn - sensory play box , Grennn - magic sand
2. Musical instruments
   Musical instruments and tools stimulate a sense of rhythm and hearing.
   

   Gift tips: Kidywolf - kidymic microphone, Kidywolf - portable karaoke box
   

3. Bath toys
   Toys that light up when they touch water make bath time extra magical. They stimulate the senses and help children understand cause and effect: when you place them in water, the light comes on. A combination of sensory play and imaginative bathtime fun.
   Gift tips: Glo Pals - Bath toy figure and light-up blocks , Mushie - Baspeelgoed

One beautiful, shared gift
Children are often showered with gifts, both on their birthdays and during the holidays. But eventually, one gift will become their favorite, and the rest will prove unnecessary. Save up all your money and opt for one beautiful gift that will be enjoyed for years to come.
Quality over quantity. Open-ended toys are the answer. They have a long lifespan because they grow with your child, fostering ingenuity, creativity, and imagination. And siblings can play with them too. But toys that you can expand and collect are also valuable.
Investment gift tips: Connetix - creative pack , Connetix - pastel creative pack, Present Stories - play furniture , Stapelstein, Grennn - sensory play box with accessories