Best Buys-Preschoolers
My favourite gifts for children 3-4 years.
Click on the images to take you to the online store with the best price.
I love sharing toys that i adore; to help inspire others.
If you love my guide and want to say thank you click the link below to shout me a coffee…
Pretty please buy me a coffee
If you have a toy recommendation that you think i should try please contact me via Instagram by clicking on the symbol below.
Handy hint
A lot of my products are found on Amazon. If you have an Amazon Prime TV streaming account don’t forget to link it before shopping to enjoy free shipping!!!! If you don’t have one then you should definitely sign up for a free trial (if only to get free shipping on all your holiday shopping!) You can get a free trial here!
Build a Garden
A great quiet time toy that has kept both my children busy in independant play for hours on end!
Spot it Jr.
An awesome game that can be played together as a family or independently.
Pattern Screws
Numeracy, Fine motor
A great little toy for helping children gain confidence at following instructions independently. Children choose a card and screw the coloured or numbered screws into the board to make it match. Great for number recognition and working those pre-writing hand muscles!
Boggle Jr.
Literacy
Your little one can start learning simple words by matching the letters to the card prompts. Later they can hide the word and try to spell it before checking if they are correct.
Wind up Car book
Literacy
This book is SO much fun! It comes with a little red toy car that magically drives on the roads of every page. Maisie is going to love unwrapping this on Christmas morning and i am sure it’ll get well used during quiet time!
Letter making
help your child learn and retain early writing skills through hands-on play!
Balance Beam
Gross motor, imaginative play
$5 Kmart steal!!! i highly recommend getting 2 or more of these as they fit together so nicely. Perfect addition to any obstacle course and pack away so easily. If these ever get discontinued by Kmart, Myhappyhelpers do a similar one.
Scooter
Gross motor, confidence, resilience
After a LOT of research and found the best options to be the Micro and the Globber. Having two wheels at the front provides stability without getting in the way of fast moving leg kicks. The steering is excellent on this scooter, Maisie zooms around at lightning speed without ever oversteering. It is far superior to her first scooter which was a bigW cheapie.
Pattern blocks
Shape recognition, problem solving, fine motor
Another oldie but a goodie. Great quiet time activity. Office works stock these for a slightly higher price but if you live near one you could save yourself shipping by going in store.
Tea set
Role play
I found it really hard to find a non-tacky ceramic tea set for Maisie until i found this gem! It’s a paint your own tea set from Kmart (we just left it white as its varnished nicely and Maisie prefers things to look “real”). We originally bought this for her first birthday but retrospectively we should waited a little longer to give it to her which is why i’ve popped it into this section.
Mr Pencil
Fine motor, literacy, numeracy
A great gift for a 2-3year old! We don’t own a lot of battery operated toys but this one is fantastic. Children can use the pencil or their finger to trace around shapes, numbers, upper and lower case letters. Perfect for long car or plane trips! It is cheapest on Amazon so that’s what i’ve linked; however, they do get slightly cheaper during bigW’s mega toy sale once a year.
Balloon cars and rockets
Cause and effect, gross motor, fine motor
This was one of Maisie’s favourite 3rd birthday gifts! After attaching the balloons, children can choose a vehicle to clip to the pump. After pumping up the balloons they press a button to watch it drive/fly. This toy can be played independently and don’t worry mamas it doesn’t make screeching balloon sounds.
Musical toothbrush
Sensory (sound), health & wellbeing
2 minutes is the recommended brush time for your children’s teeth. No doubt the longest 2 minutes of your day! This electric toothbrush has a couple of settings we love. The first is a fun song that lasts exactly 2 minutes. The second is audible instructions that tell children when to brush top, bottom and on each side… perfect for those independent little souls.
Play dough activity sets
Fine motor, sensory (tactile), literacy, numeracy
You’ll have to run to get your hands on these as sadly they’ve been recently discontinued! We have the letter, number and shapes/colours kit and they are excellent! they come with activity cards as well as heaps of dough!
Electric screw picture maker
Fine motor, numeracy, construction, creativity
Introduce your little builders to STEM development with basic engineering, construction play, pattern play, and early mathematical instructions. The electric drill is so motivating! Alternatively your little ones can use the manual screw driver and work those pre-writing muscles in their little hands.
Play dough tool kit
Fine motor, literacy, numeracy, imagination
A play dough toolkit that incorporates letters and numbers is a win in my book. The standard joy of play dough squishing and stamping with the added benefit of early literacy and numeracy exposure. Children can create words or number sentences using this kit as they get more proficient in their literacy and numeracy skills. I love that the kit also includes other tools so children can imagine and create anything they like!
Hairy Head
Science, fine motor
Maisie was actually gifted this by one of her little friends (along with a little pair of gardening gloves) and what a great gift idea it was! it includes felt pieces to glue and create your own unique puppy dog. The ‘hair’ started growing after only a few days. Maisie especially loves giving her pup a haircut with scissors once a week.
Metal slinky
Cause and effect, imaginative play, sensory (tactile)
If you ask Maisie what her favourite toy is she ALWAYS says her slinky!!! Quality matters when it comes to slinky’s. Light weight ones will easily get tangles and don’t “walk” down stairs and slopes well. They also don’t hold the nice rainbow shape. I have linked the one we have (look out for Aldi special buys as it pops up now and again).
Swim bag
Practical
I got both my kids Trunki PaddlePak’s this year for Christmas. They will be perfect for transporting all their swimming lesson things each week. They are roomy, waterproof and adorable! There are so many different designs to choose from, i just love them!
Smart Puzzle
Fine motor, imaginative play, literacy
I adore this little puzzle. It’s well made and comes in a handy storage case. Maisie enjoys flipping through the inspiration booklet and recreating the images, as well as using her imagination to create things on her own.
Dress up box
Role play, imaginative play, independence
Grab yourself a big chest, head to your local good will and fill it full of scarves, handbags, necklaces, hats and costumes. It will cost you next to nothing and provide hours of fun for your little one! The reason i prefer a chest over an open hanger is ease of pack up. Maisie can rip everything out and try on every single item, coving her toy room in the process, but when it’s time to pack away, it only takes 2 minutes and she can do it independently. We added a latch to the front of ours as it’s so overfull that we were struggling to keep the lid down.
Number Pop-it
Sensory (tactile), numeracy
We had this bad boy before the pop-it craze was even a thing! Maisie loves to play “find the number” with it. We take it in turns to say a number and the other person has to find it and push it down.
Hammer-it
Fine motor, creativity
I’ve seen a lot of ‘new’ versions of this classic toy where children use parts of vehicles (tap-tap vehicle for example). Personally I don’t love these versions because they are not only double the price but they also really limit children creativity to make what they want to. You just can’t beat the original! It is one of Maisie’s go-to quiet time activities.
Geo board
Creativity, fine motor, problem solving, numeracy
Ok, you can really tell i’m a Mathematics teacher by some of these toys. But they really are fun!
Jumbo water beads
Sensory (tactile)
I’ve added these to the preschooler section for good reason. While these are super fun they can be messy! They are easily squashed by rough little hands and unlike the small water beads these big boys will explode into a million pieces if dropped on the floor, making cleanup a nightmare. If mess isn’t your thing, i recommend sticking to the smaller balls.
Animal movement prompts
Imaginative play, gross motor
These are super fun and can be played with one or more children. Our favourite way to play is like charades!
Stepping stones
Gross motor, imaginative play
You’ll have to be quick to grab some of these, they are marketed down to half price which might mean they are on their way out. These are so good for obstacle courses both inside and out, as well as imaginative play. They stack inside one another for easy storage which is amazing!
Trampoline
Gross motor
We got this as an Aldi special buy and a year on it still looks brand new. We have been so impressed with the quality! We love that it’s low enough for Maisie to get up on her own. Let’s face it, kids aren’t the best at remembering to zip up the door but when she unavoidably falls out It’s not far enough to hurt her giving me the peace of mind to let her play on it independently. It’s got a decent weight limit meaning her friends can all bounce around together or one of us can jump on with her. We will eventually invest in an expensive trampoline (when both kids are older) but for now this has been perfect!
Pattern game
Numeracy, fine motor, instruction following
I’ve been dying to get this Melissa and Doug pattern board for Maisie for ages! It’s definitely going under the tree this year!
Water flutes
Sensory (sound), Science
These fun little whistles make different notes depending on how full you fill them. Maisie has them in the bath and she loves to experiment with different amounts of water.
Weighted number scales
Numeracy
This toy comes in just about every animal you can think of, so if you are after a particular one have a deeper look on eBay! The numbers are weighted perfectly to match the same number of little animals. Learn one to one counting and number recognition before moving onto addition and subtraction.
Felt fingers
Numeracy
A bargain little counting tool which also encourages children to practise their addition and subtraction skills independently. I set this up on her table for Maisie to use during quiet time.
Pattern buttons
Fine motor, problem solving
Maisie really enjoys games that incorporate easy instructions she can follow herself without me having to step in. She plays this one a lot during quiet time and as an added bonus it has helped to strengthen the pre-writing muscles in her hands and improve her fine motor functions.
Lite-Brite
Sensory (visual), fine motor, literacy, numeracy
Super fun in a dark room, this classic toy shines light into small glass tubes. Children build their fine motor skills while making patterns, pictures, letters and numbers.
Zingo game
Literacy, numeracy, turn-taking
I’m obsessed with Zingo games! They have so many to choose from (pictures, numbers, letters, words ect). We got Maisie the sight word game for Christmas this year and I cannot wait to play with her!
Kinetic sand ice-cream parlour
Role play, Sensory (smell, tactical)
This kinetic sand smells amazing! Just like real strawberry, vanilla and chocolate ice cream!
Water colour paints
Creativity
We adore this set! It has a wide range of colours and a practical metal case for storage.
Vet set
Role play
Maisie received this for her 2nd birthday but it is still a staple favourite in our house! She loves all the jars with lids and bandages that velcro on. The cone and needle get a good workout too.
Wipeable drawing mat
Fine motor, creativity, literacy, numeracy, travel
Stick it in your bag and whip it out when every you are in a cafe or waiting room! Maisie has a couple of these and she never seems to tire of them! each mat comes with a travel case and set of whiteboard markers. Once done you can wipe the mat clean with a baby mat ready for next time!
Tool Busy Bus
Fine motor
This adorable little wooden bus busy board can help children learn the practical life skills (using a screwdriver for example) while honing their hand-eye coordination and developing their fine motor skills. this is a Montessori inspired toy where children use “real life” tools which makes them feel important and trusted. It builds confidence by solving of real-world challenges.
Science Set
Cause and effect, science, fine motor
Super cute introductory science set. Includes a couple of fun activities. The test tubes and stand can be reused for years to come for coloured water dropper art (as seen in my instagram stories).
First Camera
Role play
If your child is anything like mine they love to role play taking photos! Maisie will love this as it takes both real photos and videos. It’s also shockproof and rechargeable.
Ball and Rod Magnetic set
Creativity, fine motor, literacy, numeracy
We recently purchased the 82 piece set and as soon as they arrived in the mail Maisie was in heaven. You can build 3D shapes as well as letter and numbers. Thanks to the balls you can also make rotating constructions which is really cool!
Foam letters and numbers
Literacy, numeracy
We love these! We started using them when Maisie was around 16-18 months old to teach her numbers. We stuck them around the edge of the bath or on the show screen each night. After she was confident with numbers we introduced letters. We play lots of different games with them for example we line up the letters or numbers with some missing. She fishes them out of the water and finds where they go. We use language like "bigger than and smaller than” to introduce the idea of value.
Magnetic Numbers
Numeracy
I really like these Melissa and Doug numbers because the magnets are strong and they are a great size to stick to posters when introducing number recognition. I like to blutac my posters to the fridge and let Maisie match the magnet numbers to the ones on the poster. This set also include operation signs which comes in real handy! Now that she is 3 she plays with these on a baking tray in her toy room and completes simple addition and subtraction problems on her own.
Educational Posters
Literacy, numeracy
Don’t waste your money on $30 posters. These Kmart ones are great and 6 for $2 is an amazing price! Stick them to your fridge for magnet matching or in the toilet room so that little ones can practise their skills while on the loo!
Magnetic letters
Literacy
These are our favourite magnets alphabet because it includes uppercase and lowercase for children to match. Similar to how we taught numbers, we also used the poster on the fridge technique to help Maisie learn letter names.
Scratch art
Fine motor, creativity, travel
Chuck one of these bad boys in your handbag and whip it out when you’re at a cafe (or restaurant, airplane etc). So much fun!
Learn to write book
Fine motor, literacy, numeracy
This book is really wonderful but don’t just buy this book, be smart and buy a folder with plastic sleeves and some white board pens too! Cut out the pages and slide them into the folder. That way your little one can complete the activities over and over again!!!
Osmo
Literacy, Numeracy, Creativity
OSMO is a magic fun-filled and award winning learning game. Children interact with actual hand held pieces & an iPad (or similar), bringing a child's game pieces and actions to life (No WiFi necessary for game play, so perfect for plane trips and hotels). Children learn about money, addition, subtraction, fractions, mental math, social interaction, listening, critical thinking, oberservation, creative problem solving & basic business concepts, all pitched at their level. Osmo sees and reacts to every real-life move. Geared towards children and love of learning.
Do you watch Numberblocks?
Numeracy
If your answer is no, then you should! It’s one of Maisie’s favourite shows and as a Mathematics teacher i can vouch for it’s educational quality! This game is Numberblocks come to life! Each of the 30 learning activities included are linked to the episodes on TV! It’s actually awesome! You need this toy!
Rocket Launcher
Gross motor
Maisie uses this bad boy a LOT! She jumps on the foot pump outside to make the rockets soar high into the sky. Inside, she pulls the pump off and blows down the tube herself which makes the rockets fly but keeps them at a more manageable height. These light up in the dark so head outdoors in the evening for an added layer of fun!
Drill set
Creativity, fine motor, problem solving
This is a toy that will last you child years! From imaginative role play using the drill around the house to strengthening those early writing hand muscles by screwing in the screws. To creating their own 2D pictures or following directions in the included inspiration guide, to being confident in creating 3D creations! This is Maisie’s favourite activity hands down at the moment!
Domino Train
Fine motor, cause and effect, independant play
This battery operated train drops dominos as it drives! It sets them out at the perfect distance making every domino fall a perfect one!
Rainbow board
Fine motor
Build those pre-writing hand muscles with this beautiful little rainbow board.
Construction pegboard
Literacy, numeracy, creativity
Follow the included directions to create letters, numbers and pictures, or just have fun making your own. These pieces snap in nicely so they won’t frustrate your child by falling off once in place. Yet another gorgeous quiet time activity that children can easily play independently!
Magnetic Match Rings
Fine motor, Problem solving, Numeracy (patterns)
Create magnetic patterns that match with the 40 challenging cards provided. When the rings are stacked they either attract the next ring or repel the next ring creating a space in the stack.
Magnetic dress ups
Life skills, independant play
Learn about different occupations and what they wear or just have fun making wacky combinations!
Body puzzle
Science (biology)
A bargain Kmart find! This puzzle will no doubt be a conversation started for your little one who will be dying to know what all the parts are called and what they do!
Balancing stones
Fine motor, problem solving
These are trickier than they look! Each Kmart set includes 20 wooden stones and card challenges. Children can start with the easiest stacks and work their way up to more challenging combinations!
Perfection
Patience, fine motor, numeracy (shape recognition)
I had this game growing up and i couldn’t wait to get it for Maisie. Set the timer and try to put all the pieces into their correct holes before they all jump back out! Hours upon hours of fun! Best part is they can play it on their own!!!
The famous WE DO game
AWARD WINNING SCREEN FREE CARD GAME - Disconnect. Reconnect. And have some good old fashioned fun with this award winning family game! WeDo is a boxed collection of 30 different activities designed to help families spend more quality time together. It's not easy keeping a toddler occupied - they are always on the go! The WeDo Game Toddler Edition provides fresh inspiration for parents wanting to spend more quality time with their little ones.
Fine Motor Pattern toy
Fine motor, numeracy (patterns)
I can’t believe i almost forgot to include this toy! it is one of our favourite on rotation right now! Children try to recreate patterns displayed on playing cards by using the tongs to drop wooden balls into a plastic test tube.
UPDATE- i can’t find this anywhere is year so i have linked a similar but different one.
Leap Reader
Literacy
Maisie’s favourite toy at the moment! it is amazing! Basically children can use the pen to read the books, meaning you’re free to do other things, hallelujah! There are lots of settings. Preschoolers can point the pen to read each word, helping them to undertand that each word has a different meaning. Maisie like to repeat each word back which helps her to recognise sight words without the pen. The next setting allows children to phonetically sound out words and blend to read them on their own. There are also awesome phonics activities in the back which are fully guided by the pen meaning children can do these with complete independence! It’s a pricer purchase but with the varying levels this toy will easily last children from 2.5 to 6+ years. The cost per use is tiny! Great for quiet time, car rides or airplane travel!
Dry erase tracing letters
Literacy, fine motor
A great Kmart find! You can use these to practise mark marking, pencil grip, letter recognition, phonics awareness or blending sounds to form words. If you only buy one set i highly recommend getting the lowercase one as these letter formations form the majority of words. Practising writing lowercase letters should take priority for this reason.
My first spelling game
Literacy
Learn to read and spell with this fun word building game. Match pictures and words. Two levels of play (match letters or spell on your own).
Barrel of Monkeys
Fine motor
A cheap little stocking stuffer that will help improve your child’s fine motor skills, patience and concentration span. Play together or add to your quiet time space.
Chutes and ladders
Numeracy, turn taking
A fantastic first board game! Helps with number recognition, counting, turn taking and is super simple and fun!
Scooter
We love this scooter! Maisie has had it since she was 2 and it’ll last until she is at least 6. It is super smooth, easy to steer, breaks easily and has light up wheels which she loves!
