44 Preschooler Gifts (Age 3-5) — Picked by Parents

For young readers, the Yoto Player is a screen-free audio player that uses physical cards to access audiobooks, music, and other audio content. A large library of cards and practical accessories will make great add-on gifts for future occasions.

These lightweight, cushioned foam weapons by Sarah's Silks are safe for indoor or outdoor adventure, allowing kids to engage in action-packed imaginary play.

MamaBear said:  My two youngest boys are only a couple of years apart, and starting when each of them was about 3 years old, all they ever want to do is "battle". Of course, they are happy to use any objects they find on hand for their battles, but these foam swords are my preferred choice. They are really soft and silky, and unlike some of their other impromptu choices, no one gets hurt when they use them to battle!

The Melissa & Doug Wooden Scoop and Serve Ice Cream Counter lets kids scoop, serve, and mix pretend ice cream flavors for endless imaginative play.

Bruder Toy Trucks are highly detailed, durable, and realistic vehicles that let kids engage in imaginative construction, farming, and rescue play.

Alexandra F. said:  If you’ve got a truck lover in the family, consider investing in some high-quality Bruder trucks. They are super detailed and very well-made, and interactive features like doors and hoods that open, beds that tilt, etc make them extra fun toys for 3 year olds. My truck-loving toddler has a LOT of trucks, but these are hands down his favorites, and the only ones that haven’t broken from regular use. They are pricey, but I’ve found good deals at discount stores like T.J. Maxx, and they are a worthy group gift, too.

Bristle Blocks are versatile building toys for toddlers and preschoolers made of soft, flexible plastic with tiny bristles on all sides. They connect in any direction, allowing for endless creative possibilities and helping children develop fine motor skills, spatial awareness, and problem-solving abilities.

Inspired by Waldorf Toys, play silks allow children to use their imaginations. Use them for capes, dress up, doll blankets, costumes and accessories, and more!

Jaclyn Keifer said:  Your children will love to dance, move, and dress up with these scarves.

The Barbie Dreamhouse playset features three stories of open-design fun, including a spiral slide that drops into a pool, a pet-friendly elevator and puppy play areas, and over 75 accessories for storytelling adventures in 10 unique indoor and outdoor spaces.

An excellent value and quality easel and assembly will only set you back 5 minutes. Sturdy and a well-thought out design, with white board on one side, chalk on the other.

A Boogie Board is a reusable, paperless writing tablet that uses a pressure-sensitive LCD with a stylus. With the press of a button, the entire screen instantly clears, so kids can use it again and again for doodling, writing and playing games.

Shila said:  My kids (4 & 6) really love to doodle, so they each received Boogie Boards on our last road trip. It's very lightweight & thin. Also good for playing Hangman or Tic-Tac-Toe games.

Tip: The stylus pen is appropriately sleek. Tie a colorful ribbon around the pen, so if it drops on the car floor, you can find it easier!

Realistic police officer costume with plenty of accessories, including jacket, cap, badge, name tag, whistle, handcuffs, and sound-effect walkie-talkie (batteries required).

Erin P. said:  Melissa & Doug makes a lot of great costumes which come in handy on many a rainy or snowy day. It is great fun to see just how observant children truly are once they start playing doctor, police officer, fire chief or construction worker. These costumes are great gifts for 4 year olds with a big imagination.

Lincoln Logs let kids build classic log cabins and frontier forts while developing creativity, fine motor skills, and a love for hands-on construction play.

Does your kid wake up at 5am and come into your room, eager to peel your eyelids open? Put a stop to that in a way they'll enjoy with this alarm clock, which tells them when it's an appropriate time to get out of bed and start the day, and when they should probably hit their internal snooze button.

Crocodile Creek makes durable, textured rubber balls perfectly sized for kids’ outdoor games and active play.

A beautiful and creative wooden toy that encourages open-ended play. The colorful arches can be stacked, nested, or used to create tunnels, bridges, and imaginative structures.

Jennie Utsinger said:  This gorgeous hand-carved rainbow offers endless play possibilities. It's one of those perfect versatile toys for 4 year olds, but delights kids of all ages - and grownups too! Balance the pieces on top of each other, create bridges for cars, rock your dolls, or practice your colors.

This helicopter with two spinning propellers is made of durable, eco-friendly recycled plastic. It is smooth, with no sharp edges, and is free of BPA, phthalates, PVC, and external coatings. It's even dishwasher safe for easy cleaning!