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With three little ones, I often am asked for gift recommendations. I think I finally have it down as far as which toys get the most love and will be played with for many years.

I’m personally all about experiences over gifts, but sometimes that is just not something grandma wants to hear! She wants to see the look on her grand babies’ faces as they tear open the paper unveiling a new fun item. Understandable, I suppose.

So with that taken into consideration, I decided to put together a fun list of suggestions. These toys are low-tech and offer hours of fun, all the while developing skills or burning energy! Additionally, many of these are easy to find for great prices on Black Friday, Small Business Saturday and Cyber Monday. Be on the lookout!

30 GIFT IDEAS FOR TODDLERS AND PRESCHOOLERS

Inexpensive {$15 and under}:

• Puzzles
• Craft Kits from the dollar store {My kids love coloring those black fuzzy pictures}
• ALEX Toys Early Learning Sets – These are great for helping children to learn how to cut, paste, and craft. They have a great variety of kits available for under $10. 
• Stickers! I especially love these big reusable sticker pads from Melissa & Doug
• Books – You can never have too many 😉
• Play-Doh and coordinating accessories
• Animal action figures – I haven’t met a little kid yet who doesn’t enjoy playing with these. Bonus points if you get a great variety and provide a fun container for them to all go into! {This bucket set is super cute!}
• Dot Markers – These are amazing for the mom who doesn’t have time to clean-up the mess paint creates. Great for helping little hands to practice ‘squeezing’ skills.
• Bath Toys – Look for water scoopers and animals that can easily be cleaned!
• Games – Favorites for this age range include Hi-Ho Cherry-O, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders and Cootie {These often can be found for $5 on Black Friday}
• Mr. Potato Head – This toy never goes out of style. Many skills can be learned playing with it, too.
• Doodler Pro – This is an excellent toy for learning to draw, and it’s great in the car.
• Sleds, or any winter fun items.

Mid-Range Pricing {$16-$40}:

• Easel – Help young artists discover their budding talents. You can easily make this a larger gift by adding on paint supplies, paper and more.
• Shopping Cart – The classic Little Tykes red and yellow one is one of our home’s most used toys.
• Doll Stroller – It’s not just for pushing a baby. My kids love to push around their animals and transfer toys to different rooms using ours.
• Dress-Up…Anything! Fabulous for pretend play. You can never have too many ways to dress up. Think accessories too!
• Band In A Box – A great way to introduce your young child to the world of music. Kids love to play marching band and try all the instruments. {P.S. Forgive me moms…I promise this is the only toy on this list that makes noise!}
• LEGO anything. We especially love these big boxes that aren’t kits so the kids can create on their own items. {The Duplo brand is perfect for toddlers}
• Create an “Adventure Kit” with items like a bug house, a magnifying glass, a net and a cool flashlight {This age range LOVES flashlights! This one from Melissa and Doug is super cute.}
• High-Five Magazine Subscription {For ages 2-6} – This magazine focuses on your child’s development by giving you fun activities to complete together — stories, poems, crafts, recipes, games, and puzzles.
• Cash Register – The perfect toy for starting to talk about money.
• Gears Play Set – These are perfect for providing opportunities for young children to experiment with simple mechanics and science
• Bed Tent – These can be a great space for quiet/reading time, or for helping to transition a toddler into a twin size bed.
• Sleeping Bag – These can be perfect for snuggling up to enjoy a movie or reading time during winter. How cute would it be to pair with this pretend camping set too?
• Little Tykes First Slide – If you have a little one who loves to explore the park, this is an excellent toy for both indoors and outside.

More Pricey {$40+}:

• Plasma Car – These pedal-less car is a very highly rated toy. Adults can take a spin too, as it hold up to 220 pounds. Keep an eye out because these often go on sale on Amazon! My kids love ours.
• Dollhouse – Amazon has great ones for both boys and girls. {We have this one from KidKraft and it is high-quality and a less expensive than most}
• Magna-Tiles – These are amazing for kids of all ages and can grow with a young child to offer fun for years to come.
• Bounce House – The ultimate toy for burning energy! {This one from Little Tykes is highly recommended from friends.}
• Mini Trampoline – Another great idea for helping to burn off that energy.

What are your favorite ideas for gifts for young kids? Drop a comment and let me know!