Okay, here’s installment #2 of this year’s Gift Guide: Preschoolers (ages 3-5). These little guys are so busy and learning so much so fast that it can be hard to keep up with them… and keep them entertained. Because of this, I am all about toys that have more than one possibility for play. My kids are all about sensory play, things they can physically hold, touch, and manipulate. So, I try to find activities and toys that fit both of those criteria. I try to make their play educational and encourage imagination as well.
GIFT GUIDE FOR PRESCHOOLERS
DIY GIFTS
(Awesome for in the car!)
3. Felt Car Mat
4. Pirate Treasure Map for imaginative play
(same map, different adventures!)
(These are onesies, but Big J was incredibly disappointed when Little J got some and he didn’t.
He has requested them this year and they will be in his stocking.)
(with FREE printable booklet)
11. Story Stones
(sometimes you just need ideas!)
13. New Apps
(The link will take you to the posts I’ve written on our favorite Android Apps for Kids.
Big J earns his screen time, but we’re still pretty selective with his apps.
A gift card to Google Play (or the App Store for Applers)
would send my preschooler over the moon and we still get the okay on what he plays).
14. DIY Watercolor Pages at Creative With Kids
15. DVD Case to Coloring Case Upcycle At Handmade by Stacy Vaughn
16. No-Sew Quiet Book at Our Cozy Nest
(This has a church theme, but you could do generic pages like colors, shapes, numbers and ABC’s)
17. Crayon Roll at Make & Takes
18. Car Caddy at Homemade by Jill
19. ABC Quiet Book at While He Was Napping
(Also done in a church theme, but you could easily make it a favorite things, family photo, or animal book)
20. Sponge Blocks at Inner Child Fun
21. ABC Parking Lot Letter Match at I Can Teach My Child
(I love this idea! I’m gonna try to figure out how to make it portable!)
22. Encouraging Play Kits at The Imagination Tree
(This post has some great ideas to put a kit together)
23. Floor Poof Cushion at Living With Punks
24. Homemade Geoboard at Feels Like Home
25. Personalized Book for the Kiddo at Fudge Banana Swirl
(Post has a link to purchase templates for super easy construction)
26. Felt Play Mats at Free Time Frolics
(I love that these fold up. A little storage pocket for the figurines would be great too.)
27. No-Sew Fort Kit at Celebrate Everyday With Me
(Big J will be getting one of these this year! Too much fun for the whole family!)
28. Felt and Magnet Fishing Game at Real Purdy
(No Photo, but totally cute and super easy)
29. Sensory Balloons at Tot Treasures
(Also no photo, but simple and fun. Requires supervision!)
GIFTS TO PURCHASE
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30. Road Tape via Oh Sweet Babies
(This is outrageously expensive for US-based kiddos, due to international shipping.
If you’re located in Europe, it’s not too bad. The rest of us may have to try a DIY version.)
31. Preschool Workbooks
or Pre-K Packs via Amazon
or Pre-K Packs via Amazon(You can also find FREE resources around the web, just Google it. Big J loves these.)
32. Counting Bears
via Amazon
via Amazon33. Do A Dot Art Markers
via Amazon
via Amazon(Print off some pages to use them with. Google “do-a-dot pages”)
34. Preschool Board Games
or card games via Amazon
or card games via Amazon(Candyland, Chutes & Ladders, Hungry Hungry Hippos, Don’t Break the Ice, just to name a few)
35. Take Apart Airplane
and other vehicles
(My mom got the boys a similar toy last year and it’s still a favorite)
36. Pattern Blocks and Boards
via Amazon
(we had these for months and the only time they came out to play was when Little J dumped them all over the floor. As soon as I printed off some pattern pages though, Big J is all over these. He needed more direction than just playing with the shapes themselves. So, don’t forget the pattern pages!)
37. LEGOs
via Amazon
(We opted to skip the mega blocks – the big legos – and go straight to the basic ones. When we gifted this two years ago to Big J they were above his skill set. Now, he plays with his Legos at least 4-5 times a week. We bought a set of basic blocks, a set of wheels and have gradually added sets over the years. We like to make cars and both boys play with the completed vehicles for days.)
38. Preschool-appropriate Puzzles
via Amazon
39. Gizmo Building Sets
via Amazon
(We gifted this to Big J last year and he didn’t quite understand at first – he was 3.5 – but within a few months he was building with them all on his own. He loves these enough, we may have to get other set so there are enough for both boys.)
40. Books! Books! Books! Books!
(I am a huge believer in books. I get most of mine off of Amazon or half.com. Check the used prices out and get discount shipping by shopping from the same seller. I don’t mind used books as long as they aren’t totally trashed. That way, I don’t have a panic attack when my children trash the book.)
and other vehicles(My mom got the boys a similar toy last year and it’s still a favorite)
36. Pattern Blocks and Boards
via Amazon(we had these for months and the only time they came out to play was when Little J dumped them all over the floor. As soon as I printed off some pattern pages though, Big J is all over these. He needed more direction than just playing with the shapes themselves. So, don’t forget the pattern pages!)
37. LEGOs
via Amazon(We opted to skip the mega blocks – the big legos – and go straight to the basic ones. When we gifted this two years ago to Big J they were above his skill set. Now, he plays with his Legos at least 4-5 times a week. We bought a set of basic blocks, a set of wheels and have gradually added sets over the years. We like to make cars and both boys play with the completed vehicles for days.)
38. Preschool-appropriate Puzzles
via Amazon39. Gizmo Building Sets
via Amazon(We gifted this to Big J last year and he didn’t quite understand at first – he was 3.5 – but within a few months he was building with them all on his own. He loves these enough, we may have to get other set so there are enough for both boys.)
40. Books! Books! Books! Books!
(I am a huge believer in books. I get most of mine off of Amazon or half.com. Check the used prices out and get discount shipping by shopping from the same seller. I don’t mind used books as long as they aren’t totally trashed. That way, I don’t have a panic attack when my children trash the book.)
What are you getting your preschoolers?
Other 2013 Gift Guides:
Babies & Toddlers
