Toy Vacuum – A toy vacuum cleaner is also wonderful for sparking the imagination. Both my kids owned one and they got a lot of use. In fact, my oldest went through three because he used his so much. There are many toy vacuums to choose from and many, like the Dirt Devil toy vacuums, look so realistic that your little girl won't know the difference. Lights and sound effects add to the fun.

Spring Horse – This have been around for decades. I had one when I was a kid. Of course, some of the spring horses offered today are much more sophisticated but no less fun. If you little girl is active and loves horses, this is the perfect gift idea for this Christmas. One worth checking out is the Radio Flyer Blaze Interactive Spring Horse. Not only does Blaze make realistic horse noises, you can also feed her a "carrot” and brush her mane.

Play Food – Not enough can be said for the fun that can be had with something as simple as a nice set of play food. I recommend investing in a nice wooden play food set or two from a toy manufacturer such as Melissa and Doug or Haba, or buying or making some nice sets of felt play food. Your little girl will never grow tired of "making” and serving you pretend meals.

Games – This is a wonderful age to start introducing simple board games. There are many out there that are perfectly suited for the three year old crowd. A couple to consider are the Silly Socks Game by Pressman Toy and Eeboo's Tea Party Game. Silly Socks teaches matching skills while the Tea Party Game is good for decision making and categorizing.

All these toys have staying power and are not likely to be tossed aside after the excitement of Christmas morning wears off.