Buying gifts for 3 – 5 year olds can be so much fun. At that age children will enjoy playing with almost anything you give them, even the wrapping paper or the box! But with so many toy options these days it can be a little overwhelming searching for the best christmas gifts. So if you need some inspiration I’ve put together a list of the best gifts for preschoolers that my own grandchildren have had much fun with and we highly recommend. There are gift ideas for all budgets, will suit a little boy or a little girl and will definitely put a smile on their face.
Note: I’ve said ‘she’ or ‘he’ throughout this guide but the toys are suitable for either.
Outdoor Play
Ozzbozz My First Balance Bike
You can’t put together gift guides for young children without mentioning a bike! This balance bike from Ozzboz is ideal for beginners. It comes in the lovely bright colours of green and blue and is a great way to introduce a child to the joys of cycling. A balance bike means it has no pedals or stabilisers so your child has to learn to push it along with their feet and balance on it as they ride. It has soft grip handles and is really lightweight so it’s easy to move around. The bike also has an adjustable seat so your preschooler can enjoy it while she grows.
Dominator Scout 2021 Complete Scooter
Scooters have always been popular with young children (even I had one). Maybe because they’re a lot easier to get the hang of than a bike. Little kids can just put their foot on it, push and they’re off. The Dominator Scout Scooter comes in blue & grey or red & white. Once your little ones have mastered riding it, the handlebars spin 360 degrees enabling them to learn a few tricks. The listing says it is suitable for children aged 4-7. My grandson is 5 and absolutely loves it.
SFR Stomper Adjustable Roller Skates
I can remember wearing my roller skates everywhere back in the 1960s and it seems they haven’t gone out of fashion. My 3 year old grand-daughter was delighted with these, although it may take a while for her to get used to them. I suggest you let your child practice on a carpeted area first to get used to the feel of the movement. I also definitely suggest you invest in a helmet, elbow and knee pads and wrist bands to minimise scrapes! The Stomper Roller Skates comes in pink or blue with larger wheels at the back to aid stability. They start from a Junior Size 6 (UK), are very hard-wearing and have a removable, washable lining. They make a perfect gift for the more adventurous child. I almost fancy a pair myself 🙂
Creative Play
Tots Playtime Box
This preschool activity subscription box is probably one of my favorite gifts. You can subscribe and receive a box filled with ready-to-go activities, delivered to your little ones on a monthly basis (there’s a different theme each month). Or you can decide to buy a one-off themed box. Each box includes 4 activities: an activity magazine & stickers, a craft, a sensory game and a game. I chose the Zoo Adventures themed box which contained a 14 page magazine (each page had a different activity), a parrot mask craft, a reptile slime messy play kit, a feeding time game and a box of crayons. Everything you need for each activity is included. Definitely a great gift idea for grandparents to buy … your grandchildren will always have something to do when they visit!
Moon & Me Velvet Art Set
The perfect gift for that little artist in the family who wants to ‘stay in the lines’! My 3 year old grand-daughter loves colouring velvet art pictures because it really helps her stay in the lines. This Moon & Me Set includes 4 velvet picture boards featuring Pepi Nana, Mr Onion, Moon Baby and Colly Wobble. It also comes with 6 chunky, washable felt tip pens that are easy for little hands to grip.
Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Books
Young children love stickers! And these beautiful reusable sticker activity pads come with 5 colorful backgrounds and 245+ repositionable stickers. This one features background scenes of deep sea, pirates, medieval, space and wild west. Hours of fun for imaginative little minds. They also have sticker pads that feature fairies, animals, vehicles and towns.
Peppa Pig Magnetic Scribbler
Draw a picture and then erase it in seconds. This cute little drawing board helps preschoolers practice using a pen as well as allowing them to get creative with their own fun designs. The Peppa Pig Magnetic Scribbler comes with a sliding eraser, attached magnetic pen and 3 stamper shapes. The board also has a place for the shapes to sit which makes for easy storage. A good toy to take on holiday too.
Vtech Kidizoom Duo Camera
This camera is a great first camera for the preschool years. As well as taking photos and recording videos the camera lets them add special effects and edit the pictures. There are also games and voice recording effects which will surely delight them. The camera is sturdy and easy for children to use. It’s suitable for children ages 3 to 9 so they can really develop their creativity as they get older.
Educational Toys
Oakabooks Active Learning Packs
If you have a child who has just started school and really enjoys learning then these Oaka Topic Packs may help them reach their fullest potential in a topic. The packs have been developed to compliment the school curriculum from KS1 up to GCSE. The topic on offer for Key Stage 1 (ages 5 – 7) is History: The Great Fire of London and Florence Nightingale. Each pack covers all the key areas of the events to help your child learn in an engaging way. The topic packs include an illustrated topic booklet that tells the story, a fill-in-the-blanks booklet to help your child learn, a cut-out timeline activity, an active learning map and character cards. I’m sure it’s an educational gift they’ll enjoy.
Julia Donaldson Book Collection
For the preschoolers who enjoy bedtime stories (or indeed anytime stories), the Julia Donaldson collection of books is the perfect fit. These beautifully illustrated stories include Room on the Broom, The Gruffalo, The Snail and the Whale, Cave Baby and many more. The stories are captivating and you will enjoy reading them as much as they enjoy listening to them.
Leapfrog Leapstart Preschool Interactive Learning System
This electronic book toy is a wonderful educational toy for those preschool years. In these interactive books they’ll learn everything from counting to problem solving with these fun replayable activities that teach them life and school skills. There are 16 books to go with the Leapstart (all sold separately) that cover over 400 activities. This is the gift you can build on each birthday and Christmas as your child progresses from preschool to primary.
Giant Jigsaw Floor Puzzles
A jigsaw is great for teaching your preschooler problem solving and perseverance … and they’re a lot of fun too. Giant jigsaw puzzles are even better as they’re easier for little hands and mum or dad can get down on the floor with them. There are some lovely jigsaws to choose from, even TV themed jigsaws. This Bing Bunny jigsaw was a great hit with our grandchildren.
Looking for ways to entertain preschoolers? Here are 25 ideas for you.
Imaginative Play
Smoby Bon Appetit Play Kitchen
One of the classic toys that never goes out of fashion. A play kitchen is always a winner with children. This Smoby play kitchen is suitable for children aged 3+ and is make of sturdy plastic. It comes with hotplate, sink, oven, fridge and espresso machine. This lovely little kitchen also has real cooking sounds and comes with a 23 piece accessory set. I guarantee this play kitchen will quickly become one of their favorite toys.
Melissa & Doug Pretend Food
If the child you’re buying for already has a kitchen then you could add to the fun with these fun pretend food sets from Melissa & Doug. The Wooden Sandwich Making Set and the Wooden Pizza complete with toppings will make a welcome addition to their imaginative play in the kitchen. All the pieces include velcro so the sandwich fillings stay put and the pizza toppings stay on the pizza. The pizza also comes with a pizza cutter to let them cut through the velcro and separate the slices. Of course you’ll spend hours playing too while they ask you what kind of sandwich or pizza you want.
Tea Set
Also as an addition to the play kitchen, you can’t go wrong with a child’s tea set. This Peterkin tea set comes with its own carry case and has lovely bright colours. With 4 cups, 4 saucers, 4 teaspoons, teapot, milk jug and sugar bowl, your little ones will really enjoy having their own pretend afternoon tea party.
Toy Card Payment Machine
And of course their play kitchen could also double as a cafe. They’re going to need a cash register for when you buy your tea and snacks. This Theo Klein card payment machine really brings child play up to date. Your child enters the amount, holds the card to the terminal, types in the pin and then lets you know you’ve paid. Contactless just like the real world!
Doctor or Vet Play Set
Does your child have an interest in helping people or animals? A pretend play doctor or vet set makes a lovely little gift for the preschool years. They’ll spend lots of time making their dollies and teddies better or practising their stethoscope techniques on the family dog or cat. The Peterkin Doctor Set comes in a hard-wearing carry case and contains 11 plastic medical items. Or how about this Melissa & Doug Pet Vet Play Set complete with medical equipment, accessories, a cat & dog soft toy, plus a bag for easy storage.
Vtech Go! Go! Smart Friends Enchanted Princess Castle
This interactive play set brings hours of fun for both my grandchildren, and the pieces are the perfect size for little hands. You’ll need plenty of room for this toy as it expands to four feet wide! The castle has 5 magic point locations which interact with the Princess Darla and her Smart friends. You get Darla with the castle and can buy other characters separately. The castle includes lots of rooms for the characters to play in and there’s also a swing and a tea set table where Darla and friend can chat and sing to each other. A lovely toy for preschool children to really use their imagination.
Note: The Princess Castle doesn’t appear to be available to buy new anymore, but there are lots of preloved listings on Ebay which are well worth having a look at. I picked ours up at a local car boot sale.
KidKraft Pirate’s Cove Play Set with Pirate Ship & Action Figures
Another lovely little playset that will delight preschoolers. This four-level KidKraft Pirate’s Cove play set features a jail cell, light up treasure chest and a pair of cannons with light and sound. The sturdy wood construction is built to last and this set will inspire lots of imaginative adventures.
Baby Born Magic Girl
My own daughter had this well loved baby doll and now my grand-daughter has her own which she takes everywhere with her. Baby Born is very realistic and has flexible arms and legs to make it easy for your child to dress her. This model has 10 life-like functions including: she can drink, pee, feed, go on the potty, cry, bathe and sleep. Baby Born Magic Girl comes with potty, nappy, plate and spoon, portion of porridge, bottle, magic dummy, birth passport and a friendship ribbon. There are also tons of accessories you can buy in the Baby Born range including baths, cots and car seats. It’s a gift you can add to for quite a few years.
Floor is Lava
As well as imagining they’re escaping a sea of lava, this fun game promotes physical activity (which is ideal for preschoolers with lots of energy). Coloured foam pieces are laid out across the floor and when the wheel is spun your child jumps to that colour (while trying to avoid stepping on the lava!). If you land on a question mark tile you get an activity card where you do things such as put your hands on your head. The Floor is Lava game does say for 5 years and over but my 3 year old grand-daughter also loves to play this game. You can even get the adults involved to make it even more fun for the kids.
Toys to Develop Fine Motor Skills
Duplo
Both my grandkids love to play with Duplo. They spend lots of time building towers and vehicles and it’s great for hand-eye coordination. The pieces are just the right size for little hands to create their own fun designs. Start with the Duplo Classic Deluxe Brick Box and for future gifts there are tons of sets that will make a great addition to their Duplo toy box.
Kid K’Nex Building Sets
Another fun way to satisfy your preschoolers creative side. This Kid Knex 30 Model Dino Dudes set has chunky pieces in bright colors which lets your child build dinosaur creations. You can help them follow the designs included on the instruction booklet or let them get really imaginative and create their own. You can also buy sets to create animals, vehicles or robots. A great gift idea for preschool boys and girls.
Galt Toys First Lacing Pictures
These little animal pictures with colorful laces will keep young minds engrossed as they learn to thread the laces through the holes on the pictures. This is a perfect way to encourage manual dexterity and the sturdy card pictures can be used over and over. I love to watch the concentration on my grandchildren’s faces as they learn to do something new. The lacing set includes 6 shaped pictures and 8 coloured laces.
