Best Nerf Gun For 3 Year Old: Top 10 For Beginners

Best Nerf Gun For 3 Year Old

Nerf guns are a lot of fun for kids as well as adults and that’s why we’re reviewing the best nerf gun for 3 year old. They are just over the toddler age and their motor skills have developed more so they are able to handle toys a little more complex.

The best Nerf gun for 3 year old children is the Nerf Ultra Two Motorized Blaster because it is light to carry, easy to reload, has excellent safety ratings, has no small parts to worry about and comes in cool colors to choose from.

The Nerf  brand guns are known for having higher safety ratings and are made higher quality over the lesser brands, especially the themed styles that come with exciting colors and designs. Nerf guns with safety darts made of foam or foam balls are safe but those that are lower-powered are the safest.

CategoryNerf Gun
Best Overall Nerf Gun For A 3 Year OldNerf Ultra Two Motorized Blaster
Best Budget Nerf Gun For 3 Year OldNerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster
Runner Up Nerf Gun For 3 Year OldNailbiter Nerf Zombie Strike Toy Blaster

Our guide for choosing the best Nerf gun for 3 year old kids provides you with everything you need to know about the models that are best for this age group. 

We include answers to common questions parents have along with explanations of the features to look for and why these features make a Nerf gun a good choice. We also review the top 10 most highly recommended 

Nerf guns including details about the best features, what we like about them, why they’re good for 3 year old’s, and what we don’t like about them.

Basic Nerf Gun

The basic Nerf Gun shoots one dart at a time. There are no premium or elite features such as motorized firepower or extra clips for longer play. These are the least expensive kinds. 

You simply load the dart on the end and pull the trigger to shoot the dart. Some Nerf guns are easier to use than others. For example, some require you to cock the unit before it will fire. 

Stiff mechanisms are usually too difficult for a 3 year old to pull back.

Easiest Nerf Gun To Use

3 year old children are still developing hand/eye coordination and fine motor skills so it might be difficult for some of them to load and operate the more complicated Nerf guns. 

It’s best to stick with guns that are rated as being easy to load with a lax mechanism that fires easily. You want to make sure that your child has enough finger and hand strength to pull the trigger.

Easy Reload Nerf Gun

An easy reload Nerf Gun is the best Nerf gun for 3 year old kids because it helps them to be independent and work on their manual dexterity skills. An easy reload Nerf gun is one that doesn’t require complicated steps to load the gun. 

A good example of this is the style that requires you to simply put the dart into the end of the gun, push down, then fire. Some guns come with clips that you can easily load the bullets into, then slip into place on the gun and fire. 

These are good for kids if they have simple steps for loading because it helps kids to learn how to complete a process that has one to three steps in it. It’s also a good memory training exercise.

Weakest Nerf Gun

The Weakest Nerf Gun styles are those that do not have much force behind the dart. Some are so weak that they’re not much fun to play with because of the frustration for misfires. 

The mechanism that propels the dart forward has a lot to do with the strength of the shot. Stiff mechanisms that build up more tension behind them hurl the darts further. 

These types are often harder for small children to operate because the triggers are often stiffer and take more energy to pull and some even require cocking the gun prior to firing. It’s a trade-off in many cases. 

It’s best to find a Nerf gun that shoots somewhere in the middle between weak and high power for the best safety and the most fun.

Best Nerf Gun For 3 Year Old Buyers Guide

Before you buy a Nerf gun there are a few things to consider. A 3 year old child needs a gun that he or she can safely operate without needing a lot of help from parents. 

You don’t need to go with complicated or expensive Nerf guns, but rather, look for the right weight, a gun that is easy to load and to operate, and one that has enough power to make it worth your child’s while to play with it.

Kids are also in bright colors and themes. This makes a Nerf gun more appealing and fun. There are a lot of different features that you should be aware of and look for before making your choice, to find the best Nerf gun for 3 year old kids. 

A little bit of a challenge is not a bad thing because it encourages concentration and problem-solving, but one that is too complicated can just be frustrating.

Weight

Choose a Nerf gun that is light enough for your child to hold and to easily carry. Some of the larger guns are even heavy for 5 year old’s. The lightest guns may not have the power that you want to go for a Nerf gun that is somewhere in the middle when it comes to weight.

Accuracy

Kids who shoot Nerf guns are trying to hit a target that they’re aiming at, so accuracy is important. Younger kids are working on honing their own hand/eye coordination and a gun that is more accurate is likely to be a lot more fun to shoot. 

Plus, it gives a 3 year old a big sense of accomplishment when he or she develops consistency in hitting the intended target.

Simplicity

When it comes to a 3 year old, simplicity is a good rule of thumb. The gun must be easy to load and easy to operate without the need for a lot of complicated steps to load or to fire. 

Choose a Nerf gun that is easy to load and use and keep it simple. You can always buy a more advanced style as your child’s skill level increases. A simple Nerf gun won’t lead to frustrations.

Safety

Make sure that the Nerf gun style you choose has safety features. It should not have a lot of small removable parts that could become a choking hazard. 

The darts should be made of soft foam and there should not be any sharp edges on the gun. The safest Nerf guns are those that have a medium force when shooting. 

Some of the high-velocity guns shoot darts that actually hurt when they hit you. Go with a moderate force and leave the high-velocity guns for older kids.

Nerf also makes safety goggles that are intended to be used with Nerf guns. Regardless of the velocity of the Nerf gun, any dart that is fired from any Nerf gun can cause injury to the eyes. It’s best to be safe and use the goggles for eye protection.

Top 10 Beginner Nerf Guns For A 3 Year Old

We’ve selected 10 of the best Nerf Guns for a 3 year old to review. Here you’ll find useful information about what makes each gun safe for 3 year old, interesting features that your child will enjoy, and what outstanding features make the gun among the top-rated.

We look at the key features, the specifications along with the good things about the gun that we like, and we also point out the drawbacks we’ve identified.

1. Nerf Ultra Two Motorized Blaster – Best Overall

We chose the Nerf Ultra Two Motorized Blaster on Amazon as the best overall Nerf gun for a 3 year old beginner. It’s a top-rated toy with high scores for its fast reloading feature. It reloads from the back and it’s easy for younger kids to load by themselves.

This gun fires darts for a long distance with excellent accuracy. It’s great for younger kids who want to target practice. There are no small parts to worry about but because it shoots for up to 120 feet, it has a considerable amount of power. Safety goggles and adult supervision are advised.

This Nerf gun gets an overall rating of well above average.

What I like:

  • The darts shoot out fast and they go far
  • It’s easy to load
  • This gun is easy to shoot
  • The motorized action is thrilling for younger kids

What I don’t like:

  • Batteries are required
  • You have to buy special darts for this gun because it only takes Nerf Ultra darts

This is the best overall gun for 3 year old’s because it’s easy to hold, carry, and use and it comes in exciting colors. The motorized blaster is a fun feature that thrills younger users and it’s great for target practice because of the accuracy.

2. Nerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster – Best Budget

The Nerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster on Amazon is a high-quality Nerf Brand gun that is small and light which makes it ideal for a young child to hold and to carry. It’s our pick for the best budget Nerf gun because of its low price.

This is great for 3 year old’s because it is easy to load and it is compact in size. It’s also easy for small hands and fingers to pull the trigger. The Nerf N-Strike Elite Jolt Blaster gets a great overall score because it’s simple, safe, easy to load, and easy to use.

What I like:

  • The gun comes with 2 Elite darts
  • It’s light and small in size
  • The orange color is bright and interesting
  • The power level is just right for younger kids

What I don’t like:

  • This is a single shot gun

This is our pick for the best budget Nerf gun because of its compact size, lightweight and low price. It’s an ideal Nerf gun for beginners because of its simple design and it’s also easy for young kids to use.

3. Nailbiter Nerf Zombie Strike Toy Blaster – Runner Up

The Nailbiter Nerf Zombie Strike Toy Blaster on Amazon is a quality and well-built name-brand gun that is brightly colored and filled with features that are exciting for younger kids.

We like the 8-dart indexing clip in this survival system with a theme that makes it look appealing as well as fun to play with. There are no small parts or sharp edges that make the gun safe for younger kids.

What I like:

  • You don’t have to prime this gun to get it to fire
  • It fires the darts fast
  • It holds 8 darts for extended playtime in between reloads

What I don’t like:

  • The darts tend to jam occasionally

While some users have had trouble with occasional jamming, this is a fun and interesting Nerf gun system. It’s visually appealing and easy to load and shoot.

4. Nerf Mega Talon Blaster

The Mega Talon Blaster on Amazon is great for 3 year old’s because it is fun and the accuracy is high. It uses Nerf Mega darts which are larger in size and safer for younger kids.

This gun even comes with a dart storage area on the blaster to keep backup darts to make reloading even faster

The priming handle is easy for little hands to pull and the trigger also pulls easily. this gun gets a good rating for its cool looks and fun and useful features.

What I like:

  • The storage area on the gun is great for keeping darts together
  • The blaster is made well
  • It’s easy to reload
  • The darts fly far

What I don’t like:

  • The gun only comes with 3 darts

5. Nerf Rival Roundhouse XX-1500 Red Blaster

The Nerf Rival Roundhouse XX-1500 Red Blaster on Amazon is a colorful red blaster that comes with some great features for kids age 3. The chamber is clear, and it rotates as it loads rounds into the barrel so you can watch it load the gun.

This gun shoots foam darts that are safe for younger kids. The outstanding feature is the 5 integrated magazines that hold 15 Rival rounds.

What I like:

  • The colors are great and exciting for young kids
  • It comes with a high round capacity
  • It’s compact and easy to carry

What I don’t like:

  • The priming handle takes some getting used to. Some mechanisms are stiff at first and jam easily until they get looser.

What we like the most about the Nerf Rival Roundhouse XX-1500 Red Blaster is its vibrant coloring and the fact that it comes with 15 rounds. 

This increases the amount of fun in between reloads. Although it may require some adult assistance at first, this is a fun Nerf gun with some great features for 3 year old’s.

6. Nerf Modulus Motorized Toy Blaster with Drop Grip, Barrel Extension

The Nerf Modulus Motorized Toy Blaster on Amazon is an outstanding Nerf gun model that is a lot of fun for smaller kids through adults. It comes with a barrel extension that you can use to make the gun longer or shorter.

It’s a safe gun that features foam-tipped darts. It has a great rating for quality and great features. It also comes with a drop grip.

What I like:

  • It’s motorized and the rapid-fire action is great for younger kids
  • You can customize this gun to change it up and keep it interesting
  • It comes with 6 safe darts with hollow tips

What I don’t like:

  • It requires batteries
  • Sometimes the hatches need to be reopened and closed to get the gun to work

One of the most outstanding features of this gun is that it is customizable. Although adults may need to help with the drop grip and barrel extension, it can hold a 3 year old’s interest for longer than a plain style Nerf gun. It’s fairly accurate and it blasts darts for a moderate 90 feet.

7. Nerf Rival Takedown XX-800 Blaster

Nerf Rival Takedown XX-800 Blaster on Amazon is the ideal Nerf gun for a boy. It features pump-action and it is a breech-loading gun that can hold up to 8 rounds so kids can spend more time playing and less time tracking down darts.

3 year old’s are attracted to the vibrant red color of this gun. It’s light enough to carry around and small enough for small hands to operate it easily. This gun gets a great rating for safety and useful features.

What I like:

  • The pump action is a fun and unique feature that teaches kids how to stop and use steps to achieve the desired result
  • The gun can fire 8 rounds in a row before it needs to be reloaded
  • No batteries are required for rapid firing
  • It fires rounds up to 90 feet per second with fair accuracy

What I don’t like:

  • A little bulky

Although this gun is a bit bulky, it’s fun for kids of all ages and it has great accuracy. Kids can fire up to 8 rounds before the gun needs to be reloaded. The reloading is moderately easy, but smaller kids might need some adult assistance for reloading.

8. Nerf Fortnite RI Blaster

We love the Fornite RI Blaster on Amazon because of its Fortnite theme. Kids are crazy about the theme and it doesn’t fire darts. Instead, it fires safe foam rockets into the air. It also comes with 2 official Fortnite rockets.

This is one of the most interesting Nerf guns we’ve seen in some time. It has a good rating for quality build and great features. It’s a replica from Fortnite and the blaster that is used in the video game. It’s ideal for 3 year old’s because it is easy to use and safe with adult supervision.

What I like:

  • Cool Fortnite theme kids love
  • Rockets are safe and fun to launch for something different
  • No batteries needed
  • It comes with 2 official Nerf rockets that have been tested and approved as safe and high performing

What I don’t like:

  • The rockets are expensive to buy separately

We love this unique themed Nerf set. It launches rockets instead of firing darts and this is great for stimulating the imagination of a 3 year old. 

It’s fairly easy to load and use although it does require 3 steps to load, prime, and fire. With a little adult help, this is a lot of fun for younger kids.

9. Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Toy Blaster

We love the Rotating Barrel that you can load with 6 Nerf Darts on the Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Toy Blaster on Amazon. This is a fun Nerf gun that is packed with interesting features. 

It’s ideal for a 3 year old because of the bright colors and its lightweight. It’s easy to carry, and although younger kids might need assistance loading it at first, it’s easy to shoot.

This Nerf gun gets a great rating for its quality build, attractive styling, and fun and useful features. It’s a safe gun that shoots hollow foam darts.

What I like:

  • It’s Slam Fire blasting feature is really fun for kids because you can shoot all 6 darts at once
  • The rotating dart barrel is easy to open and close
  • It holds up to 6 darts for more playtime in between reloads
  • This gun doesn’t need batteries

What I don’t like:

  • The high velocity of the darts sting when they hit. Goggles are recommended for eye protection.

10. Nerf Fortnite MSG-E Blaster

This is yet another Fortnite themed Nerf gun that young kids go wild over. We love the motorized dart blasting on the Nerf Fortnite MSG-E Blaster on Amazon and so do kids. It keeps them occupied with fun play for a long time.

This is a safe gun that features Elite foam darts. The Dart Clip holds up to 6 darts for longer playtime than single dart loaders.

This gun is rated good for its quality build, safety, ease of use and great useful features.

What I like:

  • The Fortnite theme is interesting and exciting for younger kids
  • It’s a replica of the SMG e-blaster from the video game
  • The trigger is easy for kids to pull
  • The motorized action is a lot of fun

What I don’t like:

  • The bullets tend to jam in the gun if you shoot it too fast

This is another highly rated Nerf gun with the popular Fortnite theme. It is a replica of one of the popular blasters used in the video game and kids who play Fortnite will easily recognize the similarities. 

It’s a fun and safe Nerf gun that comes with high recommendations for younger kids.

Helpful Tips To Choose The Best Nerf Gun For A 3 Year Old

  • Look for Nerf guns that shoot safe projectiles that are made of foam
  • Inspect to make sure there are no small parts that can easily come off and be a choking hazard and inspect for sharp edges. Choose a gun that has smooth edges
  • The gun should be fairly accurate and have enough power to make it fun
  • Look for easy to load features and also mechanisms in the trigger that are not too stiff for your child to operate

Final Thoughts

Our guide provides you with useful information about what to look for in the best Nerf gun for 3 year   old kids. Safety is the first consideration and guns should have smooth edges with no small parts that come off easily. 

They should be easy to load, easy to fire, and light enough for your child to carry. The gun should also be small enough so your 3 year old can handle it well. 

Our reviews of the top 10 Nerf guns for kids age 3 give you a breakdown of the important features for each product along with the good and the bad for each to help to make your final decision about which to buy easier.

Drew Thomas

My name is Drew Thomas and I’m the creator of Fun In the Yard, your one stop site for all your outdoor games, sports, party activities, outdoor gear, and lawn & gardening tips.

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