MPMK Gift Guide: Go-To Gifts for Preschoolers

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Welcome to the famous MPMK Gift Guides and congrats on finding the most comprehensive and easy-to-use kids’ gift guide on the internet! (If you’re not familiar with our famous lists, learn all about them here).

Don’t forget – you can check out all 15 of our 2016 Gift Guides here!

Also, I do my best throughout the year to keep our readers up-to-date on any sales I see on our gift guide items. To be in the loop, checkout:

TOYS ON SALE!

Which Toys that Made the List This Year Are Currently On Sale – See the Page UPDATED DAILY!

Psst – you can also…

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First, though…

Toys from This Guide Currently on Sale

Bruder Vehicles  $16 and up (3+ years) – over 20% off

Favorites include:

• Crane Truck $63.99 $47.51 – every kid that’s ever come to our house absolutely LOVES this thing!

• Man Side Loading Garbage Truck $75.99 $61.99

• Mack Granite Dump Truck $71.99 $62.00

If you’ve got a true vehicle lover at home then you know they can NEVER get enough construction vehicles to push around the floor (or around the sandbox).  The Bruder versions are each realistic, high quality options that won’t disappoint. Their working parts are incredibly durable and our son absolutely adores his large working crane truck with stabilizer feet, which he uses for all sorts of imaginative play.

Last year the only thing he got for Christmas was this flatbed truck and backhoe which is all he wanted, and he was totally thrilled.

Melissa & Doug Spray, Squirt and Squeegee Set $15.99 $13.99 (walking – 6 years) 

One of the most surprising things about having toddlers and preschoolers is seeing how much they absolutely LOVE to clean! We’ve had a broom and dust pan set for years. The kids really enjoy breaking it out to help with clean up when the opportunity arises or just using it to play pretend. Every toddler we know has this set and totally adores it and our 18 month old completely freaks out when he can’t find it. 

This year, though, I’m totally eyeing this set- it comes with so much amazing stuff!!

With this set my toddler will get to spray, wipe, scrub, and even squeegee. Do you KNOW how much toddlers love, love, love to spray and wipe down windows, cabinets and anything else they can get their hands on?

This one is a sure slam dunk for any toddler on your list- guaranteed!

Learning Resources Primary Science Mix and Measure Set $24.99 $19.44 (18 months – 6 years)

This set includes a scale, bowl, 3 self standing spoons and 6 unique cup designs to help children visualize quantities as well as activity cards to guide children in making mystery goo, puffy paint, slime and more.

Because it allows those not quite ready to experiment to get in on the fun too, it’s a great toy for siblings of different ages as older kids can partake in real concocting while their younger counterparts pour to their heart’s contentment.  This is a fabulous toy perfect for playing with at the sink, in the tub, or at the water table.

Little Tikes Cozy Shopping Cart $34.99 $23.79 (2 – 5 years)

I absolutely love this cozi coupe because it’s like 3 toys in 1, is this shopping cart/cozi coupe. Kids not only get to push their dolls around, but also fill up a shopping cart and get in and drive away. So many awesome play possibilities both indoors and out at such a great price!

Educational Insights Design & Drill BrightWorks $29.71 $23.00 (3 – 8 years) 

I particularly like how this toy combines fine motor skills with pattern recognition AND adds a great dramatic play element. We got it for our son when he was 4 and he played with it quite a bit until his little old sister took it over. Now our 1 1/2 year old is starting to get in on the fun (mostly sorting and manipulating the pieces with his hands for now but I anticipate him picking up the drill pretty soon).

The popularity of this toy has also led to some cool variations, including the Design & Drill Flower Power Station and, my favorite, this Design & Drill BrightWorks– which is like if the original Design & Drill had a baby with the classic Lite Britefrom my childhood (in other words, the pieces light up and it’s totally awesome).

Magformers 30 Piece Set $39.99 $29.99

Magformers Cruisers Car Set $46.22 $32.61 (3+ years)

A friend from toddler group recommended these to me when I mentioned what a big fan we are of magna-tiles. They work in the same way but they are more affordable and can be used to make 3D geometric shapes. The reviews are also similarly stellar (as long as you buy sets with enough pieces may say).

The cruiser car sets allow builders to create cars of various design, including classic cars, wacky cars, space cars, underwater cars, dragsters, and hot rods.

 

Educational Insights Magic Moves Talking Electronic Wand $15.99 $13.10 (18 months – 9 years) 

Normally I’m not big on electronic toys with lots of sounds and lights, but when said toy can help my kids get rid of all their pent up energy inside on a stormy day, it becomes my new best friend. This inexpensive magical wand uses 90 silly commands (sway, creep, stomp like a dinosaur, leap) and 26 songs, along with a light show to get kids moving. This is one of those rare toys that’s great for siblings of different ages to play together (my 7-year-old, 5-year-old, and 18 month old all love it).

It will keep the bigger kids interested (who doesn’t like having the mic and being the star of the show?) while developing listening skills in the younger set along with enriching their vocabulary and ability to follow directions.

Note: If animals aren’t your kids’ thing, there’s now also this gym version.

The Original Stomp Rocket (3 – 12 years) $19.99 $13.81

My kids both got to play with this at science camp this summer, during their study of physics, and fell in love. They both, my son especially, get a little hyper in the afternoon and I knew we’d all love having this around for them to stomp to their hearts content in the backyard. Lucky for us, we got one for C’s 6th birthday and I was absolutely right.

The concept is simple, stomp (or jump) on the launch pad to send a foam tipped rocket up to 200 ft in the air. I like that both sets come with 4 rockets so the kids get to launch multiple times before running around to pick them all up and do it all over again.

There are lots of spin-off versions too. Obviously the glow-in-the dark aspect of the Jr. Glow Kit is pretty cool. Siblings will love going together, and not having to take turns, and hosting friendly competitions with the Dueling Double Stomp Rocket Kit. In summary, these simple battery-free toys are multi-award winners and get great reviews. Plus they’re cheap – gotta love that!

LeapFrog LeapStart Interactive Learning System for Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten $37.99 $27.96 (2-4 years)

This is the pre-cursor to the Leapfrog Leapreader Reading and Writing System that I rave about in my Top Learning Toys for Independent Play Gift Guide. It’s a great toy for your older toddler who is becoming interested in naming letters, numbers, etc. and who wants tablets and books all their own. The magic behind LeapStart is a stylus that reads invisible dots on every page of the books triggering engaging audio like questions, challenges, songs, jokes and more to teach school and life skills in new, exciting ways.

This is also a fantastic toy to start to introduce “quiet time” or, as we call it, “me time”. This is something that you REALLY, REALLY want to introduce around this age, even just for 15 – 20 minutes, trust me!

I really appreciate the large number of books that are available as add-ons with this system as well as the fact that most replayable activities are designed with two levels so that kids can play and learn at the right level and move up when they’re ready. Highly considering it for under our own Christmas tree this year.

Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set $17.99 $15.99 (4+ years)

This kit of real science tools is perfectly sized for little hands. It comes with 10 double-sided activity cards, beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, googles, large 6″ test tube and stand, and 2 small test tubes.  The authenticity of these items will have your little scientists dying to experiment and they’ll serve great double duty for dramatic play too.

Mega Bloks First Builders Big Building Bag, 80-Piece (Classic) $14.99 $10.49 (15 mos – 2 1/2 years)

I still remember my son receiving his first set of award-winning Megabloks for his first birthday. It took him a little while to figure out (kids typically grasp block building somewhere between 12 and 18 months), but once he did he started building like a mad man and never looked back!

All my mom friends and I love Mega Bloks for our youngest kiddos, even more than the classic LEGO duplos. The locking mechanism is just a little bit easier for beginners to put together and pull apart. Plus the colors are beautiful and the zippered bag is very handy.

Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle $9.31 $8.74 (3+ years) 

World Map Floor Puzzle $12.16 $9.50 (4+ years)

USA Floor Puzzle $12.99 $10.90

Extra Large floor puzzles are great to introduce around ages 3 or 4. We have all three of these and our kids have loved them from preschool through 2nd grade and counting.  It amazes me what they can construct completely on their own!

Melissa & Doug Dress Up Sets starting at $18.07 (2– 6  years) – Up to 30% Off

A big box full of dress up clothes was the kids’ big present a few Christmases ago.  I filled it with lots of random items (shoes, jewelry, masks, hats, boas, etc) as well as a few complete outfits.  For that, Melissa & Doug’s selection has always been my favorite.  Go for their Delux Role Play Costume Bundle or check out their chef, Fire Chief, and pirate outfits as well as this very cool, non-M&D, astronaut getup.

Green Toys Tea Set $19.59 $17.52 (2 – 7 years)

Whether playing with mommy or a favorite doll, tea time is always a fun way to pass some time. We’ve had this set for over a year and it still looks like new (despite lots of use in the playroom, bath tub and even sand box).  Plus I love that Green Toys are 100% recycled, made from milk jugs, are FDA approved to eat and drink from, and do not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint. What more could you ask for?

Now, onto our very favorite, most engaging, toys for preschoolers…

 

Magna-Tiles $119.99 (2 – 10 years)

I discovered magna-tiles a few years ago and they were the big present under the tree for the kids. They’re definitely more of an investment, but have been totally worth it. All of my kids, ages 2 to 8, still play with them multiple days a week. Currently, my 6-year-old loves making elaborate pet stores with ramps and rooms for each of her Disney Princess Palace Pets while my 2-year-old always asks for these first to take to build in his room during “Quiet Time”.

Teachers absolutely rave about these blocks and the play possibilities are endless. Because they join together using magnets, kids can create elaborate structures (often taller than they are) without becoming frustrated by crashes. They’re also great for use with other toys. They can be used along with blocks and LEGOs to make elaborate structures, with marbles and cars to make tunnels, bridges, and marble runs, or even with dolls to create doll houses.  We splurged for the 100 piece set and got hours of rainy day fun with these. If you have the space/budget for a personal light table to use them, the translucent pieces would look fantastic lit up from underneath.

 

Educational Insights Magic Moves Talking Electronic Wand $13.10 (3 – 10 years)

Normally I’m not big on electronic toys with lots of sounds and lights, but when said toy can help my kids get rid of all their pent up energy on a rainy day, it becomes my new best friend. This inexpensive magical wand uses 90 silly commands (sway, creep, stomp like a dinosaur, leap) and 26 songs, along with a light show to get kids moving.

This is one of those rare toys that’s great for siblings of different ages to play together. It will keep the bigger kids interested (who doesn’t like having the mic and being the star of the show?) while developing listening skills in the younger set along with enriching their vocabulary and ability to follow directions.

Note: If animals aren’t your kids thing, there’s now also this gym version.

 

Mindscope Twister Tracks Neon Glow-In-the-Dark Set $34.90 (2 – 9 years)

My toddler loves playing with his train table but he gets so frustrated when the trains fall off the tracks that sometimes I just want to hide it from him… Which is why I’m definitely getting him this awesome car and track set this year. The flexible track will be much easier for his little hands to snap together and I just know all the cool features are going to be a big hit with him AND his big siblings.

Set-apart features of this set includes cars that light up as well as the ability to go upside down on the loop-de-loop and the ability to make a ring of track around the car that will spin as it goes, called a hamster roll. Watch the videos on Amazon, I dare you not to be impressed. There is a reason this one is consistently the #1 seller in preschool train & train sets on Amazon! (Note: we are also choosing this particular set as reviews of some of the other sets said there was only one car and not enough track).

 

LeapFrog LeapStart Interactive Learning System for Preschool & Pre-Kindergarten $29.99 (2-4 years)

This is the pre-cursor to the Leapfrog Leapreader Reading and Writing System that I rave about in my Top Learning Toys for Independent Play Gift Guide. It’s a great toy for your older toddler who is becoming interested in naming letters, numbers, etc. and who wants tablets and books all their own. The magic behind LeapStart is a stylus that reads invisible dots on every page of the books triggering engaging audio like questions, challenges, songs, jokes and more to teach school and life skills in new, exciting ways.

This is also a fantastic toy to start to introduce “quiet time” or, as we call it, “me time”. This is something that you REALLY, REALLY want to introduce around this age, even just for 15 – 20 minutes, trust me!

I really appreciate the large number of books that are available as add-ons with this system as well as the fact that most replayable activities are designed with two levels so that kids can play and learn at the right level and move up when they’re ready. Highly considering it for under our own Christmas tree this year.

 

Melissa & Doug 60 Piece Standard Unit Blocks $54.96 (2 – 12 years)

If I could buy my children only one toy, a large set of basic wood blocks like these would be it! They are the ultimate creativity toy.

 

Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center $23.99 (3 – 8 years)

I particularly like how this particular toy combines fine motor skills with pattern recognition AND adds a great dramatic play element. We got it for our son when he was 4 and he played with it quite a bit until his little old sister took it over. Our 1 1/2 year old is started to getting in on the fun sorting and manipulating the pieces with his hands and was off and drilling around the time he turned 2. Now this is one of the first toys he goes to, again and again, when given a choice.

The popularity of this toy has also led to some cool variations, including the Design & Drill Flower Power Station and, my favorite, the Design & Drill BrightWorks– which is like if the Design & Drill had a baby with the classic Lite Brite from my childhood (in other words, the pieces light up and it’s totally awesome).

 

Kangaroo’s Pretend Doctor Kit with Light Up X-Ray Machine $29.95 (2 – 8 years)

A quality doctor kit is an excellent dramatic play toy for both boys and girls. Kids like being patients but really enjoy the power involved in getting to play care-taker (which can be really nice when your tired because you can play with your child by basically laying still and playing “patient”). These kits are also nice for easing doctor visit anxiety.

This new kit from Kangaroo has an unprecedented amount of unique props that do some really cool things– too many to list here in fact!

This includes battery operated instruments such as the thermometer (press tip down and see the temp change), the stethoscope that plays a heart beat, the x-ray machine, heart monitor, and blood pressure monitor that have actions and lights, the light up otoscope, spring-back syringe and so much more! It also include some great imagination props like glasses, a clipboard and x-ray sheets.

You get a lot of bang for your buck with this toy and, accordingly, it gets a lot of rave reviews.

 

Melissa & Doug Let’s Play House Cleaning Bundle $31.58 (walking – 6 years) 

One of the most surprising things about having toddlers and preschoolers is seeing how much they absolutely LOVE to clean! We’ve had a broom and dust pan set for years. The kids really enjoy breaking it out to help with clean up when the opportunity arises or just using it to play pretend. Every toddler we know has this set and totally adores it and our 18 month old completely freaks out when he can’t find it. 

This year, though, I’m totally eyeing this Melissa & Doug Cleaning Bundle- it comes with so much amazing stuff!!

Not only will my toddler be able to sweep, mop, and dust to his heart’s content- he will also get to spray, wipe, scrub, and even squeegee. Do you KNOW how much toddlers love, love, love to spray and wipe down windows, cabinets and anything else they can get their hands on?

You can also buy just The Dust, Sweep and Mop Set or just The Spray, Squirt, and Squeegee Set at very reasonable prices.

 

Sesame Street Elmo On the Go Letters $14.97 (2 – 4 years)

This suitcase full of big letters is the perfect on-the-go toy and such a fun way for preschoolers to learn their ABCs by snapping each letters into place. The toy grows with kids too, as they enter preschool kids can use the letters to spell out simple words in the bottom window. Also, underneath each letter is a cute image of a word that starts with that letter.

When play is done, fold up the Elmo carrying case, and take the alphabet on the go! This straight forward toy is a big hit with parent and kids alike plus the Elmo face on the front of the case is sure to put a smile on the face of any toddler.

 

Playskool Sesame Street Love2Learn Elmo $59.99 $31.49

Every year there’s a new “must-have” Elmo Toy. This year Elmo comes with an app t0 deliver a customized play experience for their child. When parents select their child’s name, desired subject, level, and favorites in the app, the Elmo toy will talk and play based on those selections.

Elmo can even encourage kids to clean up and use the potty. With 350+ responses and 30+ minutes of unique content, little ones will spend lots of time engaging with this guy.

 

Pie Face Game $14.88 (2 – 12 years)

This super fun game has been a huge hit ever since it debuted. We got ours last month for my son’s 8th birthday and had the best time playing with it. Everyone from my 2-year-old son to the grandparents was rolling on the ground laughing.

The premise couldn’t be more simple; spin a number, put your face in the holder, crank the number of times that you spun and see if you get a “pie face”. Because kids love getting dirty and silly, this one is always a winner.

 

Pillow Buddy starting at $13.99 (all ages)

These oversized cuddly character pillows ranging in size from 11 to 26 inches are the PERFECT gift for any kid that has a favorite movie, show, etc. There are so many options to choose from; Star Wars, Frozen, Super Heros, Toy Story, Minions, The Good Dinosaur, Hello Kitty… The list goes on and on!

 

Castle Logix $26.99 (3 – 8 years) and Camelot Jr. $26.99 (4 – 8 years)

The entire line of single player puzzle games from SmartGames gets such stellar reviews that it was hard not to recommend all of them!  The bold colors of these two 3-D wooden castle puzzles especially caught my eye and it has kept my daughter’s attention throughout preschool and kindergarten.

Assemble the wooden blocks and towers to match the challenges included in the booklet. With simple challenges for inexperienced builders to complex puzzles that will challenge skilled architects, these puzzles serve to develop logical thinking skills and spatial reasoning abilities.

 

Kidkraft Red Vintage Kitchen $109.99 (2 – 8 years)

The play kitchen is a quintessential play toy that I would recommend for every child if you have the space and budget.  There are so many different ways kids can play with them – cooking at home, setting up a restaurant, having a tea party, going shopping and unloading the groceries, etc. Just last night, in fact, I brought home some kid-friendly cooking utensils and before I had even gotten them unpacked my kids had set up a restaurant game with the kitchen; my 8-year-old wrote out the menus, my 6-year-old cooked the food, and my 2-year-old made the deliveries. It kept them busy all night!

We bought this one for the kids when they were 1 and 3 and couldn’t be happier with it.  I really like the look of the thing and I think the vibrant red is nicely gender neutral. Despite a small footprint, this kitchen still has all the amenities and both my kids enjoy regularly playing at it simultaneously (Side note: people sometimes ask if kids will get too big for this smaller kitchen – mine are 95% in height and haven’t had an issue). If you’re looking for a big wow gift from Santa, this could very well be it!

 

Melissa & Doug Cutting Food $15.99 (3 – 6 years)

Regardless of whether you go for a play kitchen, grocery cart, cash register or all of the above – you’re gonna need some food to cook and/or buy.  We got this cutting food from Melissa & Doug before we ever got the kitchen and it was an excellent toy all on it’s own, both for dramatic play and for building fine motor skills.  Our kids have been playing with these pieces for years and still found them very enticing on their own up to age 3 or so (after that they were good props for kitchen play).

 

Step2 WaterWheel Activity Play Table $34.39 (walking – 7 years)

We have owned this water table for years and still get so much use out of it! My 18 month old son plays with it so much that we gated off a portion of our deck, that also has doors into our living room, so that he can freely walk in and out to play with all day long. To my surprise, even after years of pouring, dunking, sailing, etc. my 5 and 7 year olds still find themselves drawn to the water table too.

This is such an excellent toy for getting your kids playing outdoors and we use it all types of weather. It’s actually great fun to put on our rain gear and go play with it on the deck while it’s raining (plus there’s pretty minimal clean up for playing outside in the rain because they stay out of the mud). I highly, highly recommend this one and so do the multitude of positive reviews. Toys I recommend playing with while at the water table (aside from basic cups, bowls, and measuring cups), include these water bugs and net,  this set of cups and a ball, and these squirting toys.

 

Mommy & Me My First Doll Stroller $19.99 (12 months – 5 years)

Around the time they start walking all kids, girls and boys, ABSOLUTELY LOVE pushing around toy strollers. When my daughter was a toddler, she liked her dolls, but wasn’t obsessed like some other little girls we knew. Yet she has always adored piling them into her stroller and taking them for a stroll around the house over, and over, and over again.

Recently, her stroller has been straight-up commandeered by her 18 month old brother who also can’t get enough of pushing it around all day. I promise you, if you a buy a toy stroller for your child, it will be one of the most-used toys you’ve ever purchased. Oh, and if you have a girl that does happen to be doll-obsessed, this 3-in-1 pram is a really fun and versatile option too!

 

Battat Take Apart Sets $19.80 and up (3+ years)

I’m kind of in awe of these Take-A-Part kits (there’s an airplane, crane, 4×4 and roadster available). They combine my son’s two absolute favorite activities: building and playing with things that go vroom.  Plus kids put together their sets using a working power drill with 3 different bits.  The reviews on this one are stellar and I’m totally sold!

 

LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box Set $28.99 (4+ years)

A basic set of LEGOs is a must-have for any child, boy or girl. Start early with a basic duplo set or a set of Mega Bloks and transition around age 4 to a standard sized set. This is a good one to start with!

 

Step2 Thomas the Tank Engine Up & Down Coaster $89.97 (2 – 5 years) 

Several indoor play centers and community centers around our town have these Step2 rollercoasters and my kids always flipped when they saw them. Easy for younger kids to get on and off on their own, I have seen first hand how they will get on it over and over and over. A friend of mine bought one for her kids a few years ago and said it was an excellent toy in the driveway on sunny days and in the playroom on rainy days.

And, of course, the Thomas the Tank Engine version only makes it that much cooler! One reviewer wrote, “The Thomas Roller Coaster Ride is absolutely amazing! I have two younger kids, a boy and girl who are two and three, and they can’t get enough of it. They have been playing with it for hours at a time. All they have to do is climb up the small steps and take turns going for a downhill ride. Not only does it keep them entertained, it also teaches them about sharing and taking turns.”

 

Melissa & Doug Solar System Floor Puzzle $11.99 (3+ years) 

Melissa & Doug USA Floor Puzzle $12.74 (5+ years)

World Map Floor Puzzle $12.16 (4+ years)

Large floor puzzles are great to introduce around ages 3 or 4. We have all three of these and our kids have loved them from preschool through 2nd grade and counting.  It amazes me that they can construct the entire map of the US completely on their own!

 

Richard Scary Busy Town Game $19.99 (3 – 8 years)

I have heard great things about this cooperative, non-competitive game from multiple sources but was really convinced when a mom on one of my son’s good friends was raving about it. Everything about this game is impressive, from the 6 foot long game board, to the amount of imagination and teamwork required.

In fact, the company behind this game, Wonder Forge, has won over 120 prestigious awards by creating good-for-you games that encourage teamwork, healthy competition, and get-up-and-go active play. This is the perfect game for children of multiple ages to play together and for when you hit that stage when kids pout a lot about losing or start to become ultra competitive as it focuses on teamwork instead of competition.

 

FirstBike Balance Bike $159.99 (22 months – 5 years) 

What can I say?  I think a balance bike will probably make it onto my gift guide for as long as I’m writing them. All 3 of my kids have been zooming around on bikes since they were 2 years old thanks to this genius idea of taking away the pedals and letting the kids pick up their feet and balance when they’re ready.  I also really love how light weight they are.  All my kids could easily pick theirs up and carry it around as soon as they started using it.

In previous years I’ve always recommended the Strider Balance Bike because that’s what we have and it’s worked great for us.  The only drawback has been when the kids get really good at it and can’t stop when going down steep hills due to the lack of brakes. This new FirstBike version comes with a hand brake that could come in very handy for those scenarios (no pun intended).

 

Little Tykes Trampoline $39.99 (2 – 7 years) 

Every day around 4:30 PM, when things get real, I wonder why we haven’t bought one of these yet.  Two of C’s buddies have one and they each love to jump and jump and jump on it.  Chances are very high Santa will be bringing the kids a trampoline this year and if he does it’ll be this one due to the great reviews and great price.

 

Hop on Air Hop Balls $22.97 (2 – 5 years)

My sister got these for the kids, per my request.  The bouncy ride-on balls have been a fantastic way for the kids to get some energy out when stuck inside. (So much better then running around the living room and kitchen until someone inevitably gets hurt.)  We got a 15″ version for then 2 year old S and an 18″ ball for then 4 year old C (both of whom are tall for their age) and they are both still using them a few years later.

 

Yoga Pretzels $14.99 (3+ years)

This is another card set I’ve had my eye on. Again the illustrations looked beautiful and I like how there’s a story element to go along with each of the poses. Plus the set got great reviews on Amazon. When I pulled the trigger and finally got them for Christmas, I wasn’t sorry. 

Both my preschool and elementary aged kids return to these cards again and again and it’s a great activity for them all to do together, especially because some of the poses require two people. Their current favorite way to use them is to put them in a big circle on the floor, play music, and do whatever pose they land on when the music stops.

 

Mini Micro Scooter $79.99 (3 – 5 years)

Hailed as “the quality choice in 3-wheel scooters for young children” this scooter has more than it’s fair share of rave reviews and awards (the Oppenheimer Toy Portfolio Gold and Platinum Award Seals for Best Toy, the Parent’s Choice Approved Seal, ‘Best Pre-School Scooter’ by Toy Report, ‘Best Outdoor Toy’ by Learning Express Stores and was featured on the NBC Today Show as part of its ‘Best Toys for Summer’ series).

The key is the “learn to steer” design and back brake, both of which grant preschoolers an extra element of stability. Also, the Mini can be ridden inside while learning (or waiting for Spring) as the quality wheels, made especially for Micro, are non marking. And the Micro-Mini 3-in-1 Kick Scooter $114.99 (1 – 5 years) lets even new walkers in on the fun. 1 year olds start out sitting on the scooter with the seat attachment and using it as a typical ride-on toy. Later they advance to the O-bar (which is lower than the traditional Mini Micro Scooter) and eventually graduate to the real deal.

 

Green Toys Tea Set $20.47 (2 – 7 years)

Whether playing with mommy or a favorite doll, tea time is always a fun way to pass some time. We’ve had this set for over a year and it still looks like new (despite lots of use in the playroom, bath tub and even sand box).  Plus I love that Green Toys are 100% recycled, made from milk jugs, are FDA approved to eat and drink from, and do not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint. What more could you ask for?

 

Learning Resource Jumbo Dinosaurs $23.00 (2 – 9 years)

The best thing about these dinos are their size (tallest is 12 inches). This is a great find if you have a dino lover at home and want a starter set. If you find your dinosaurs starting to accumulate, this storage box that unzips into a deluxe playmat is also extremely popular.

 

Melissa & Doug Brianna Doll $24.99 (1 – 7 years)

There’s a lot to like about this basic doll.  At 12″, she’s a good size for hauling around.  Her soft body allows for laying or sitting and her hard arms and legs easily wipe clean.  She has lots of shiny hair to play with and her eyes open and close. Plus, her open mouth allows her to suck on either her thumb or pacifier. Last but not least, her price can’t be beat!

 

CAT Digger Sit On Toy $99.95 (2+ years)

The aunties bought this for my kids several Christmases ago, when my oldest was 3.  I have to say, I had my reservations. My son, of course, thought an excavator that he could actually sit on, drive, and manipulate was just about the coolest thing ever but I was concerned about the space it would take up in our yard, especially with a non-rainy season of only about 3 months here in Seattle. What I failed to realize was the versatility of this toy. Yes, it’s awesome for digging in the sandbox or bark in the summer, but it’s also great for picking up leaves in the fall and snow in the winter (see here).

This thing gets played on year-round and is often the one of the main things that lure my kids out to play on a rainy day (they put out buckets to collect the rain water and use the bucket shovel to scoop it out). This one’s definitely a big ticket item but return on investment is high.

 

Hot Wheels 20 Car Gift Pack $24.20 (2+ years)

A decent set of small hot wheels are a must for us. They’re great for playing with the toy garages or for using with blocks, up-cycled paper towel rolls, and even painter’s tape tracks for all kind of innovative an open-ended play.

We also LOVE this kind of race ramp for rainy or sick days. It’s still both my 2-year-old and my 8-year-old’s favorite Hot Wheels toy. They never get tired of seeing who will win and it’s so quick to set up and put away. (I was also pleasantly surprised that our version lasted it us a several years already and I like how it folds down flat for easy storage).

 

Little Tikes First Slide $29.74 (18 months – 4 years)

A few years ago when we had a 20 month old and a brand new baby, we bought an indoor slide and put it in the upstairs landing between the kids’ bedrooms and it was one of the best things we ever did! A sturdy plastic slide used inside can be a life-saver when the weather is bad and the kiddos are restless. This particular slide – highly rated for durability and usability for kiddos young and old – also serves double duty outside as an excellent safe place for toddlers to play while their big siblings scale taller play equipment.

 

Melissa & Doug Dress Up Sets starting at $16.79 (2– 6  years) – A big box full of dress up clothes was the kids’ big present two Christmases ago.  I filled it with lots of random items (shoes, jewelry, masks, hats, boas, etc) as well as a few complete outfits.  For that, Melissa & Doug’s selection has always been my favorite.  Go for their Delux Role Play Costume Bundle or check out their chef, Fire Chief, and pirate outfits as well as this very cool, non-M&D, astronaut getup.

 

Bruder Construction Vehicles $19.99 and up (3 – 8 years)

If you’ve got a true vehicle lover at home then you know they can NEVER get enough construction vehicles to push around the floor (or around the sandbox). The Brudler versions are each realistic, high quality options that won’t disappoint. They cost more but they hold up and both my sons (2 and 8) are seriously smitten with how well their crane truck works as well as the sheer size of it.

 

Play-Doh Case of Colors $7.99 along with Play-Doh Clay Center with Storage Case $39.99 (2 – 10 years)

Although not completely mess-free, Play-doh really is the ultimate quiet time art toy.  It’s unbelievably engaging to kids of all ages and, as long as you prep your space well with a table cloth or large placemats, allows for quick and easy cleanup. Of course you can always make your own, but I like to also have a few tubs of the pre-made stuff on hand for when we don’t have time. I also highly recommend the clay center with storage case. It’ll give your kids tons of tools to keep them occupied and you a handy place to store them all when they’re done.

 

Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Books $4.24 (3 – 10 years)

My parents gave the kids a couple of these reusable sticker books a few years ago for Christmas and they’ve been a consistent stand-by for us every since.  Each of the books contain a series of background pages and hundreds of various sticker clings that can be positioned over and over on them.  There are tons of book themes to choose from too. They are surprisingly useful on long car rides (despite their large size) and we always grab them when heading to someone’s house who doesn’t have younger children and, therefore, is without toys to entertain younger children.

 

*Post contains affiliate links.

 

Still want more ideas? Don’t forget to check out all 15 of the MPMK Gift Guides, organized by your child’s age:

• The Best Toys for Babies

• The Very Best Toys for Two-Year-Olds

• Go-To Gifts for Preschoolers

• The Most Exciting Gifts You Can Give a Kindergartner

• Go-To Gifts for Elementary-Aged Kids

 

For the hottest toys of the year see:

• Check Out the Hottest 20 New Toys of 2016!

• 50+ Toys for Kids (Ages 2 – 14) for $20 or Less!

 

TOYS ON SALE!

See Which Toys that Made the List This Year Are Currently On Sale – UPDATED DAILY!

 

Plus, the rest of our guides organized by interest:

• Best Toys for Fostering S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Skills

• Best Toys for Staying Active Inside and for Getting Outdoors

• Best Toys for Art & Craft Lovers

• Best Kid Games for Family Game Night, Playing with Siblings, or Playing Alone

• Best Learning Toys for Quiet Time & Independent Play

• Best Building & Construction Toys (Including Best LEGOs)

• Best Dramatic Play Toys

• Best Toys for Vehicle Lovers

• Best Toys for Doll & Princess Lovers

• Best Toys for Baby

Tens of thousands of parents use these lists every Christmas to find the perfect gift!

If you like these recommendations, I encourage you to pin or bookmark them for later when you’re ready to start shopping.  I would also love it if you forwarded the list on to your parenting friends or shared it on facebook – trust me, your friends will thank you for the help and you get to be the cool mom (or dad) with all the best resources. It’s a win-win.