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Even though I have a high school senior and a sophomore in college, my Best Gifts for Toddlers & Preschoolers will always have a special place in my heart because I was inspired to start writing gift guides when my kids were this age.

Every year my Best Gifts for Toddlers & Preschoolers list reflects the innocence and curiosity of this age group. Toddlers and preschoolers have a pure view of the world yet are completely honest. They bring you into their fantastical minds through imaginary play and see the world as a wondrous place.

Best Gifts for Toddlers and Preschoolers 

Kids between the ages of 2-4 need gifts that will let them explore, figure out the world through play, and engage their imagination. The best gifts for toddlers and preschoolers let them develop social and emotional skills while fostering a love of learning. Encourage beginning math and reading skills while stimulating social and emotional growth, but don’t push too hard. Nurture their interests and let them be curious.

Here are my 11 of my favorite gifts for toddlers and preschoolers that help them explore and be inspired through play.

Learning Tower Stool ($61.99)

Elevate little ones to counter height with a learning tower stool that will help promote independence in the kitchen. Safer than a step stool or a counter height stool, this product features a wide base with four legs and a safety rail on all four sides. It’s great for kids who want to help out in kitchen or just always want to see what’s going on above eye level. Best for ages 18 months and up

Lego Duplo Santa’s Gingerbread House ($34.99)

Santa’s Gingerbread House is filled with festive features to inspire imaginative play that lasts all year round. I love the cozy, snow-covered home, covered in festive decorations and details like a chair, a tree with Christmas presents beneath it, a teddy bear, a tea pot and plate of cakes. There is also a Santa Claus figure plus a boy and girl figures. It’s perfect for role-play visiting Santa at his snow covered home, building the Christmas tree, putting the gifts underneath, and serving treats using the teapot and plate of cakes. Best for ages 2 and up

Bestie Bottles from Asobu ($29.99)

Asobu Besties Bottles are a darling way to ensure that kids always stay hydrated. The Bestie Bottle is an adorable stainless steel kids water bottle that features an adorable soft silicone animal head on the lid. The 16-ounce capacity bottle is just the right size for little hands to hold and is 100% spill-proof making it perfect for adventures. Each bottle includes a flexible reusable straw and is vacuum insulation to ensure drinks stay cold or warm. Choose from cat, rabbit, bear, unicorn, dog, or sheep.

Zingo Bingo from ThinkFun ($19.99)

Zingo is an innovative game that encourages pre-readers and early readers alike to match the pictures and words on their challenge cards with the tiles revealed in the Zingo! Zinger device. The first player with a full card wins the game by yelling “Zingo!” Zingo is built to develop critical thinking skills and makes for a fun and challenging activity. Playing will improve language skills through fun and fast placed play. Two levels of play and several game variations keep the zaniness going for hours! It comes with a very clear and easy to understand instruction manual so families can start playing within minutes of opening the box. Best for ages 4+

Play Kitchen Appliance Set ($35.99)

Level up the play kitchen with this 8 piece kitchen appliance toy set that features a coffee maker machine, mixer, toaster, and blender, cups and spoons. The mixer has a rotating whip and the toaster has a timer that makes toast pop up when done. The blender can be filled and has a rotating plastic blade. The coffee maker has fun sound effects for making and serving pretend coffee which is great fun for kids but unfortunately doesn’t help tired parents of preschoolers and toddlers everywhere. Best for ages 2 and up

Dog Bean Bag Chair ($34.99)

Kids love seating that is just right for them, and this darling dog bean bag chair is made of soft, yet durable, fabric that makes a cozy space for reading or snuggling with a blanket. It is filled with memory foam so it functions as a true supportive seat, rather than those annoying Styrofoam balls that never hold their shape and tend to get all over the house! Best for ages 18 months and up

Silicone Summer Beach Set from BraveJusticeKidsCo. ($32.99)

As much as I love the changing seasons and the holidays on the horizon, I also miss summer just a little bit. Whether you’re planning a warm weather winter getaway or just want to bring some fun new toys into your home for bath and water play, the Silicone Summer Beach Set from Woman and BIPOC-owned BraveJusticsKidsCo is a great addition to any home with kids. This new-to-me company provides affordable, safe, and educational premium silicone toy products that I wish existed when my kids were little. I love that these durable, eco-friendly, and BPA-free toys encourage little ones to blend learning and fun with modern toys that spark curiosity and creativity while also enhancing their motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills. Best for ages 18 months and up

Space Capsule Swing from Step 2 ($149.99)

Spark curiosity for the universe and explore astronaut dreams with this kids swing. With an exciting design that accommodates one or two children at once, the opportunities for adventurous pretend play are limitless. Created with the needs of little ones in mind, there are openings on either side with large handles that make it easy to hop in and out. The two blue-tinted porthole windows are perfect for observing surroundings while swinging through the galaxy. This spaceship swing features a unique dual design that allows it to be hung using the included rope for a classic, swinging experience, or placed on flat, level ground to transform it into a space-themed kids playhouse. Best for ages 3+

My First Math Dice from Think Fun ($15.89)

My First Math Dice is the perfect game to build pre-kindergarten Math confidence and counting skills. Children will be delighted when they roll the big chunky dice and rewarded as they collect the colorful counter chips onto their towers. Along the way, they’ll be introduced to important early math concepts like recognition of numerals, more than/less than, and basic addition. With 3 different games included, My First Math Dice is ideal for endless hours of home learning. Best for ages 3+

Cart Shuffle from Razor ($119)

Drive, drift, and spin with ease without any batteries to charge or maintain. Kid-powered means the Cart Shuffle is always ready for endless, noiseless, active fun!  And it’s been intentionally designed to be simple to use and enjoyable from the very first ride. Yes, this gift is an investment but it can also grow with your child thanks to an adjustable frame with 5 length settings. This allows for it to grow with the rider and be ridden by siblings and friends (ages 4+) of various heights. Best for ages 4+

Rechargeable Silicone Night Light from Lumipet ($24.99)

Soothe your children with an adorable LumiPet, a friendly bedside nightlight that comes in bear, bunny, cat, chick, cloud smile, dragon, elephant, fox, hippo, koala, lion, owl, penguin, pig, puppy, and unicorn. Each different animal shape emanates a glow of light and can shine with nine different soft colors. Made of high quality silicone, Lumipets can be operated with a remote control, feature three options for auto-shutoff (15, 30, or 60 minutes) and have a battery that can last about 12 hours before being needed to be recharged via USB. Best for ages 18 months and up

2023 HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES

AGE-APPROPRIATE GIFT GUIDES

• Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2, ages 5-8)
• Tweens (ages 9-12)
• Teens (ages 13+)
• College Students (inspired by my own college student!)

SPECIALTY GIFT GUIDES:

• STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-tween)
• Gifts for Teachers
• Gifts for Gadget Lovers
• Best Subscriptions
• Gifts for Runners & Outdoor Enthusiasts
• Gifts that Give Back
• Gifts for People Who Love Their Dogs (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)

FAVORITE HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDES FROM LAST YEAR

Need other ideas? Here’s a look at last year’s gift guides:

• Toddlers & Preschoolers
• Early Elementary Ages (grades K-2, ages 5-8)
• Tweens (ages 9-12)
• Teens (ages 13+)
• College Students 
• STEM Gifts for All Ages (preK-tween)
• Best Age-Appropriate Advent Calendars for Kids
• Best Subscription Boxes for All Ages
• Gifts for Teachers
• Gifts for People Who Love Their Dogs (inspired by Goldie and Murphy, of course)
• Fair Trade Holiday Gifts
• Best Gifts for Unplugged Fun
• Gifts for Outdoor Adventures
• Gifts for Gadget Lovers
• Gifts that Give Back
• 9 Gifts that Make it Easy for Families to Give Back

I hope you enjoy this year’s picks and wish you happy and stress-free holiday shopping!

Note to PR: The period for accepting items for age specific gift guides has ended but I am happy to accept items for review to consider for specialty guides. Please be specific about the products you’d like me to consider reviewing in your pitch and if you’re able to offer a reader giveaway. Giveaway items will be directly shipped to readers upon conclusion of the giveaway. Thanks for understanding I’m on a short deadline to get most gift guides wrapped up before Thanksgiving and do not have the bandwidth to return samples during this extremely busy time of the year.