Duplo or Lego for 3 yo?

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

It's personal choice really, DD1 (just 5) an build lego from an instruction booklet & also make her own free form things.

DD2 (nearly 4) can build towers, pass me the shapes in the books but not quite get placement.
She loves the smaller lego & we've gotten rid of the duplo sized blocks now.

Both the girls are quite obsessed with lego at the moment.

[briggsy's girl]

If she is already playing with Lego, duplo might be a step backwards. We didn't start accumulating any Lego until dd had just turned 4. At almost 4.5 she can now make some of the trucks in the city range almost by herself (she needs guidance, and like you mentioned, some things don't entirely click together for her).
Maybe get the duplo between your dd and her sister if you are concerned and hold off on Lego a little while. There is a new/dedicated range of Lego for young builders due to hit Australia in January. Looks to be some interesting sets! There is also disney princess stuff coming out in Lego rather than just duplo.

There is a Lego/mega bloks thread on here that has a lot of discussion about sets for kids at different ages. Mostly seems to be aimed at the 4-5 year olds given those of is crazy enough to be as in to Lego as our kids seen to have kids that age! Can't post a link though cos I'm on my phone

[~Kim~]

I didn't have any duplo with my first either and their ages are similar.
I got the pink set for DD1 just before she turned 4, and for exactly the reasons you stated it got put away.
Duplo is a great way to get them into following the more simple instructions, the pieces are easier to manage and snap together. Me, I'm all for independence. I have a 1yo too and the duplo is great for her even though she's had access to proper lego her whole moving life. The bigger kids have moved on a bit, but everytime their mates come over you can bet what gets pulled out, and DD1 is totally cool with helping the little ones build stuff.
Lego now also have a range that is aimed to the 3-5s....called.....nah can't remember but it's a new range and they do have some princess stuff in there.