All I Want for Christmas is...30 Gift Ideas for 3 to 5 year-olds

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As a speech-language pathologist and mom of a preschooler, I am always looking for toys that are both fun and educational. According to Pathways.org, three year-olds should be engaging in what is referred to as “associate play.” During this time, children may be doing related activities instead of directly interacting with kids around them. They enjoy playing with new toys in a variety of ways, including blocks, dolls, dollhouses, vehicles and musical toys. While many toys have the “not suitable for children under 3” label, children at age three are less likely to put everything in their mouths. Therefore, they are able to play with toys that have more parts and smaller pieces than they were at 2 years old.

Toys that are appropriate for most three year-olds will also be appropriate at age four and five. Four year-olds should be engaging in “cooperative play” with other children. This is when children practice taking turns and sharing with others, which are necessary skills for successful social interaction. At this stage in development, preschool children are likely to be observed building, pretending and being creative. In order to foster speech and language development, social skills and critical thinking in your child, try to buy gifts that allow them to practice these skills.

I’m often asked for toy recommendations for early language development by both parents and other speech-language pathologists. If you haven’t already, please check out our blog post with our top 25 toys for toddlers. Today’s post is a special holiday edition that includes a list of Christmas gifts that are sure to inspire creativity, problem-solving and communication skills in the three- to five-year old children in your life. Whether you are a parent or grandparent, aunt, uncle or cousin, you can use this list as your go-to holiday shopping guide. If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or have a winter birthday celebration coming up, these toys are appropriate for year-round play.

How to Use This List

This list is sequenced in order of suggested age range, and some toys may be appropriate for multiple ages. For example, some toys may have an appropriate age range of 3 to 6 years, while others may be suitable for 4 years and older. The toys with no ending age may be appropriate for children up to 8 years old or even older. These type of toys offer the best value, as your child will enjoy them for many years to come.

Instead of including the current prices of the toys, the price range is represented by one or more $. This is because prices change daily--especially during the Black Friday sales. So use this key as a general guide:

$: under $25

$$: $25-$50

Age range: 3 to 6 years

Features: This doll accessory set includes two bottles, a divided dish, fork, spoon and play food. It pairs perfectly with the Jenna or Gabrielle dolls above.

Best for: Pretend play

Price: $