What Preschoolers Play With – Gift Guide

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I’m not sure how it is at your house but here there is an abundance of toys and much of it is, frankly, junk. Toys that wind up at the bottom of the toy box. Toys that sit on a shelf unplayed with. Toys that fall apart and result in calls of “Mom, can you put this back together”. And I hate those toys. I hate the mess. I hate the little items that sit at the bottom of the toy box.

But I don’t hate toys. In fact I love toys and get really excited by toys that I know Jackson will love and will play with. This years preschooler gift guide features toys that we own and love along with some that I’m hoping Santa brings on Christmas.

Imaginext

Last year Jackson asked for a lot of these play sets and Santa came through. This year Jack wants the new Lion’s Den Castle so that he can have two castles to play with. While I’m not sure what Santa’s feeling are on two castles. I do love Imaginext toys because they are well made and inspire hours of imaginative play. I would say that almost 80% of the time Jack is playing quietly it’s with an Imaginext toy.

Legos

You really can’t go wrong with Legos. Girls, boys it doesn’t matter kids love Legos. While I’m partial to the Duplo ones for preschoolers, kids can still enjoy regular Legos as long as Mom or Dad is willing to help (do all the work). I love that the Duplo sets have expanded beyond the basics and now you can get fun characters like Jake and the Neverland Pirates or Batman or Disney Princesses.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Half-Shell Heroes

Jackson loves dressing up in his old Halloween Costumes (Jake and Buzz Lightyear), so much that at this birthday party he requested that his best buds come in there costumes too. And of course this year Frozen is all the rage again. This costume trunk featuring both Ana and Elsa dresses is sure to be a big hit with little girls. 

Play-Doh

I have a love hate relationship with Play-Doh. I love that it entertains Jack for a long time but I hate the mess it leaves behind. But I’m willing to deal with the mess if it means he happily plays with it for an hour. Play-Doh is available in a wide variety of sets and there are endless ways to play.

Candy Land

Jack got this for Christmas last year and was still a little young for it. But once he hit about 3 and 1/2 he was ready to play. Candy Land is one of my favorite kids games. However there are 2 versions of this game. I highly recommend getting the old school version with the deck of cards. Santa wasn’t aware that there are 2 versions and brought us the one with the spinner last year. This year he may be repairing that mistake and bringing the old version that I know and love. Jack loves playing Candy Land and will actually set up his stuffed animals and play with them.

 

Leap Pad

Jack got this for Christmas last year and I had to make a decision to do this or an IPad. A year later I’m thrilled with my decision to get a LeapPad. It holds up really well when it is dropped or stepped on which has happened from time to time. I don’t get angry when I discover it is on the floor or under the couch because I know it won’t break or cost a fortune to repair. I love that with the LeapPad 2 Jack can NOT access the internet, so he can play and I don’t have to worry. Jack loves the games that we download for it and it keeps him entertained.