Holiday Gift Guide: The Gifts Your Preschoolers Can't Live Without
Posted: Monday, November 10, 2008
by Stephany Springer
Christmas is an exciting time for preschoolers. Their excitement will be evident the moment the stores start putting up their decorations.
The preschooler in my life is already prepared with a list of wants longer than Santa's list. It corresponds with every commercial she has seen in the last six months. How odd!
How do parents know which gift will soon be a rip off compared to the gifts that are sure to delight. Each kid is different so each purchase is a risk. However, with this gift guide and your knowledge of your child, you will be set to making a memorable Christmas. Here is the list of items that I have found to be well worth the money.
This is a must have in my family for my preschooler if for no other reason then to save my own camera. Fisher Price and Vtech have some really cool, tough cameras that are made to last endless droppings of a preschooler. They both offer features that will surely delight the youngest user. There is the screen on the back just like your own. The pics are downloadable to a computer. There is also a Disney Pix Jr. Camera for this age that has images of their favorite characters show up on the screen. Who knows? You might be living with the next Ansel Adams. I have seen these costing around $45 to $50.
Computer
Perhaps the most popular new product is the Computer Cool School from Fisher Price. It runs for around $60. The computer features educational games for reading, math, art, music and science. It plugs in to your computer. The only drawback I see is that it only works on a PC and it takes up your computer time as your wait for your kid to finish.
Another option in this field are the endless labtops and electronic devices. The All In One Learning Desk from Fisher Price is one such device. It allows kids to practice writing, learn phonics, numbers and letters. It costs around $33.
Another cute device is the Tag Reading System. It is a pen and a book that kids can use to read a story or book. It has activities and games included. The nice thing about this product is that you do not have to lug around a big bulky computer. It runs for about $50.
I would stay away from the Smart Cycle unless you know for sure your kids will like it. Our cycle has set in the corner of our living room since last Christmas and has only been used once. It is bulky and not easy to store. My daughter found it to be kind of boring. It runs for $100.
Games
Preschoolers love games especially if they get to play with you. You are safe buying the classics like CandyLand and Chutes and Ladders. Another fun popular game for this age is Old McDonald Had A Farm, Uno and Go Fish. There are also some cute character game sets in Dora, Disney Princesses, etc.
Some new games that are sure to delight are Animal Scramble in which kids set up animals and a talking giraffe calls our an animal for the kids to race to and touch; and Rondo Vario in which kids build caterpillars based on color combinations from a dice. Both cost between $20 and $30.
Role Playing
Role Playing Toys are essential for this age. Kids love to dress up and pretend. You can go as simple or complex as you want in this field. Just buying a doll or cars will provide hours of entertainment for preschoolers. Legos or blocks is another one of those toys.
For those who want to go beyond the simple, toys for the kitchen are endless. If you haven't bought a kitchen, the Step 2 Kitchen provides realistic sounds and sites, but leaves the learning to the child. Step 2 also has a realistic 50's diner that comes complete with a cozy booth for two. A fun addition is Ice Cream Parlor. The ice cream looks very realistic and comes with cones and scoops. It costs $40.
Helmet Heroes is the toy that is sure to delight the boys in your family. The interactive helmet and handlebars let kids rev their engines and issue orders through the headset microphone. It cost $30.
Dress-up clothes are also an easy option for gifts. Stores have endless options from firemen, policemen to princesses.
Kids at this age begin to role play with action figures as well so don't be afraid to buy some of their favorite show or character.
Preschoolers are probably the easiest age to buy gifts for Christmas. Enjoy the time. Stock up on puzzles and games or any other basics and you will make your preschooler melt. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
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