* A big (safe) mirror is essential for seeing how one looks in the aforementioned outfits.
* Dolls (enjoyed by both sexes), soft toys and doll's house people to be actors in the drama.
* Doll-sized accessories - simple clothes, cot (a shoe-box will do), pram, blanket, pillow, high chair, bowl, hairbrush, and so on.
* A play house. Children of this age love dens of every kind, from the expensive permanent garden structure to the indoor fabric version, or even the 'house' improvised from blankets and chairs.
* Miniature people, animals, vehicles and environments. Model farms, garages, road and rail layouts and houses start to become popular now.
* Simple construction toys they can use without help, such as Duplo, Sticklebricks or classic wooden blocks.
* Messy play elements such as sand, dough, water and mud are still popular and important. Increasing dexterity means that children can manage more intricate messy play equipment, such as moulds for wet sand, or (joy of joys) a machine for extruding dough in different shapes (ELC on 08705 352 352 makes one in the form of a train).
* Easy-to-handle art materials and implements, for example: fat, good-quality crayons; washable broad-tip felt pens; chalks; collage materials; a sturdy, appropriately sized easel; capacious overalls, so children are not inhibited by fear of dirtying clothes; chunky-handled brushes; paint sponges; safety scissors (most children can handle scissors by three years old).
* Books with good detailed illustrations so that you can augment the story with picture-led discussion. Play trays and simple puzzles with detailed pictures can also serve as talking points.
* Equipment that challenges and helps to develop their growing physical abilities, for example: tricycles with pedals; bigger climbing frames; balancing beams; large soft balls or beanbags for throwing and catching; skittles to knock down.
