Making the holidays special is a big goal for parents of preschoolers. Little ones have so much excitement about the traditions, seasonal foods and drinks, and the snowy winter weather. While parents love gifting children with presents off their wish list, they can also include gifts that help their children learn and develop new skills. Looking for gifts that challenge your child and delight them? We’ve got you covered.
TGS-Curated Favorites
Teachers and staff members at The Gardner School are constantly adding their top picks for games, toys, books, and more to our curated Amazon page! Here you’ll find an endless list of products for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers that will help support their education and growth at home. The commissions earned from any purchase you make through our page also helps us celebrate and support our hardworking teachers! So happy shopping, and thank you for supporting TGS.
Spectacular Stories
Helping your child expand their personal library is always a great choice—especially with so many amazing children’s books on the market. Books can be starting points for conversations about conquering fears or trying new things. This list of books written for children three and up helps children identify their feelings, practice relationship skills, and build their self-confidence!
Check out our list of the 8 Books Preschoolers Love for Repeat Readings for some more ideas for great reads.
Best Builders
Stacking blocks and snapping together DUPLOs encourages creativity and engineering skills in children. Go with a classic set for kids who like to build huge towers. Or, for a unique spin on building blocks, Magformers stick together using magnets. That extra boost can be helpful for young preschoolers who are still perfecting their fine motor skills. Fabric building blocks and stacking rings like the ones featured on our top picks list are also great options for infants!
Great Games
Setting up regular family time is an important tradition to put in place during the holidays. Many of us have warm memories of playing card games and board games by the fireplace with our extended family members. Preschoolers are a little young for some board games, but there are options to help include them in the fun. We love Animal Upon Animal, a delightful stacking game similar to Jenga that kids as young as age two love to play. Kids ages three and up can practice counting, addition, and subtraction while playing Hi Ho! Cherry-O. The classic game Chutes and Ladders has simple gameplay that will keep younger children engaged for hours.
Marvelous Music
Kids under age six love making music as much as they love to listen to it. In between repeat listening sessions of everything from “Baby Shark” to “Baby Beluga,” encourage your children to make their own music. At this age, kids love to bang on drums, hit a xylophone, or pick out notes on a tiny piano. Harmonicas, recorders, and slide whistles are instruments that take a little more skill but are a joy for kids to experiment with.
Amazing Art
For kids and adults, going to an art store can be like walking the aisles of a candy store. The shiny, colorful art supplies encourage creative expression in everyone—young and old. For your preschooler, Play-Doh or Sculpey clay can be rolled out, formed into shapes, and then smashed up to make new creations. This erasable doodle board is a great choice for helping young toddlers develop their drawing skills (with no clean-up required)! Although it seems unlikely, furniture store Crate and Barrel is known for its high-quality children’s art supplies, puzzles, and easels. Check out their latest offerings for art supplies that will stand the test of time.
Classic Cold Weather Gifts
Whether you’re snowed in at home or just enjoying the colder temperatures, you’re bound to find something on this list of winter items that will be fun for the whole family! Enjoy a pretend s’more from the comfort of your cozy home with this campfire playset, or calm down after a busy morning with these sensory tubes that will captivate your child while teaching them about the changing seasons.
Learning at Home and at Preschool
When it comes to giving your child a strong start to learning, educational gifts can make learning fun from a very young age. Choosing The Gardner School for your child’s preschool also makes a difference in the academic and social gains your child will experience. With our commitment to academics, our degreed and highly qualified teachers, our many on-site enrichment courses, and our inviting physical spaces, we provide the very best for the youngest members of our community. Schedule a visit today at The Gardner School nearest you to learn more!
