4 Gifts that Inspire Creative Play: Four- to Six-Year-Olds

Being a teacher, I'm always on the lookout for educational toys, preferably ones that don't buzz, sing, flash, or do anything but just sit there until my kids bring them to life. Here are four cool gifts that are sure to please your preschooler or kindergartner. Warning: If your child is used to being entertained by the aforementioned buzzing, flashing toys, these simpler toys may take some getting used to (get down on the floor and show them how much fun it can be!), but the end result will be worth it! Toys should inspire the imagination, provide endless opportunities for creative play, and be adaptable to all sorts of scenarios our kids dream up! If you think about, a character toy (with a predefined personality and story) or a toy that goes crazy when your child just puts the ball in the slot doesn't really leave much to the imagination!

1. Melissa and Doug Folding Castle! This wooden castle opens up reveal stairways, rooms, and a working drawbridge, among other things!. Fun medieval towers make for exciting play for kids from ages 3 and up. You even receive three adorable wood and cloth characters and a wooden horse with your castle. Other figures can be purchased to add to the fun! I've found that my children have adapted the castle to fit other motifs such as pirates and dinosaurs! This toy castle reminds me of the wooden doll houses of the past - it's an heirloom toy that I plan to keep for the grandkids! Approximately $60.

2. Playmobil Pirate Ship! This plastic pirate ship with a captain and crewmates will be a delight for your child age 4 and older. Once you get it put together (a little time-consuming, I must admit), this pirate ship will lead to all sorts of fun swashbuckling adventures. Another very adaptable toy, in our house, it has served in such varied capacities as a car transport boat and the royal boat of the king and queen from above castle. Additional pirate crew can also be purchased! Approximately $30.

3. Legos! There are countless Lego sets around these days, but my favorite set is just a big bunch of Legos in a box that allows your child to build whatever their mind can invent! Fun With Building is one such set. Lego give ideas in a booklet but there are no predetermined themes, characters, shapes - just blocks, wheels, and platforms! Your kids can build houses, buildings, vehicles, animals, or just about anything else they can imagine! Approximately $20.

4. Art Easel! I can't find the exact one I bought at Sam's Club a few Christmases ago, but there are many fine children's easels available. I can't begin to tell you what are great purchase this has been - chalk board on one side, white board on the other, and a roll of paper that can be rolled down for additional art projects! This is a creative gift that inspires the budding artists, but it also provides a great way to practice writing numbers and letters, to learn shapes and colors, and to practice math. Play pictionary, draw mazes, play hangman, leave messages, all sorts of fun is possible! This is a gift that will remain relevant in your play area for years and years! One nice easel is Blick Kid's Easel which ranges in price from $54 for the white model to $180 for the natural. There are many very reasonably-priced options - three-sided easels for larger families, tabletop easels for portability, art table and chair sets, you name it! A great investment for tons of creative and artistic play!