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

ABC Mouse is a downloadable app that offers a full online curriculum for the youngest learners, including animations, games, activities and lessons for various subjects such as math, reading & language arts, science and social studies. The program is tailored to each child using a step-by-step learning path, with hundreds of lessons and activities to choose from. Sign up for a free 30-day trial to see if it's right for your family, or gift a yearlong subscription at a significantly discounted price.

Lisa R said:  This multi-faceted program teaches reading, math, science and more through stories, puzzles, and other games that advance with your child. Kids accumulate tickets each time they complete an activity, which they can redeem for clothes, toys, and pets for their avatar. My daughter loves visiting the virtual farm and zoo, where she can listen to facts about animals while watching them move around the screen and feeding the fish in the virtual classroom.

If you Google, there are quite a few places that offer a free 1-2 month trial. We originally signed up under my husband, took a break when the trial ended, and then signed up again under my name with a different offer.

This erasable sketch pad is a mess-free way for young kids to draw, write, and play games at home and on the go.

Erin P. said:  We have gotten so much use out of our magnetic drawing board. The kids can write or draw on it and then use the knob to wipe the screen clean. It is a great car toy, and has also been a perfect toy for our son to use while waiting during our daughter's gymnastics class. Since it's quiet and travels well, we generally keep ours in the car nowadays for times such as these. (Personal confession: I used it quite often to doodle possible names when we were expecting our third baby!)

If your kids are into board games and games of skill, they will really enjoy Klask! Try to steer the ball into the goal of your opponent by using a magnetic handle. The game has won a number of awards as it appeals to those young and old.

This game brings the story of the three little pigs to life, letting young kids problem-solve through a fun brain teasing puzzle. The game comes with multiple challenges, with the object being to place the houses around the pigs or to put the pigs inside the houses and safe from the big bad wolf. The game pieces are easy to hold and maneuver with little hands.

Amanda Banta said:  Now that my sons have had the game for a while, my 5-year-old will go off-book and create his own challenges and my 7-year-old also finds some fun in the harder challenges.

Aquabeads are hundreds of colorful beads kids can line up to create patterns or designs. Spritz water over them, and once dry, they'll have created a little sturdy craft toy. It only takes water to adhere the beads together.

Curious kids will love this colorful and engaging book that offers clear, age-appropriate answers to their many questions! With its interactive Q&A format and content rooted in a child’s everyday experiences, the Little Kids First Big Book of Why offers so many fun facts, along with some hands-on activities, simple recipes, crafts, and more.

Kids look and feel just like "real" scientists with this kit packed with sturdy plastic beakers, a flask, funnel, safety goggles, tweezers, pipette, and magnifying glass. The kit comes with a set of numbered experiments that use everyday kitchen ingredients and gradually increase in difficulty.

Lisa R said:  While the experiments are geared for kids 3+, younger kids also enjoy following directions alongside mom and dad and mastering skills like pouring and pipetting.

Mad Mattr is a modeling compound that feels like a cross between sand and dough. It holds it shape very well once molded, but is fun to squish, knead, and stretch! The formula is wheat, gluten, and casein free.

Great for developing fine motor skills and color recognition. This set includes 4 tubs of modeling dough along with tools to roll, cut, and make shapes.

The Ninja Blast Hover Soccer Ball floats smoothly over hard indoor surfaces and lights up for action-packed, furniture-friendly play—even in low light.

Dawn Denning said:  Constant motion is the norm in my house. The Hover Ball helps keep the motion productive and nondestructive by floating across the floor instead of flying through the air. The Hover Ball kicks like a soccer ball, but doesn't launch through the air. Your kiddo can practice their skills and burn some energy without messing up the house!

These awesome crayons function as a colored pencil, watercolor paint, and wax crayon all in one! Also great for drawing on glass, with easy removal.

The Adventure Kidz Outdoor Exploration Kit is a compact backpack filled with kid-sized binoculars, a crank flashlight, compass, magnifier, and whistle—designed for children to explore nature, boost STEM curiosity, and take on outdoor adventures. 

Dawn Denning said:  My boys love to pretend to be explorers and create adventures! This fun pack includes a magnifying glass, binoculars, compass and whistle for your little one to explore the outdoors! The handy pack helps you pack it up to take it to a park or on the road, so your kiddo can take the fun when your family goes hiking or camping!

The Lenox “Childhood Memories” Musical Ballerina Jewelry Box features a twirling ballerina figurine, plays the tune “Für Elise,” and opens to reveal a soft pink-felt interior with multiple compartments for storing cherished trinkets.

Kelly R said:  My daughter loved receiving a jewelry box at age 5 to store all of her treasures, and investing in a quality version means that it will grow with her. This ballerina jewelry box has a spot on the front for engraving her name, and plays Für Elise.

These 16-inch dolls modeled after classic and newer Disney characters, including Alice in Wonderland, Tiana, Mulan and Jasmine.

Kristy Pepping said:  My 4 year old girl is obsessed with Disney. Any princess-themed gift is sure to please her, and the 16 inch Animators' Collection dolls from Disney are beautiful and high quality. Choose your child's favorite character!