Top Ten Gift Ideas for Pre-School Boys (Or Girls)

There are so many different kinds of toys to choose from, how do you know what is good to buy and what is a waste of money? Well, I have a very rambunctious 3 year old little boy so I did a little research on the toys available now. Please take into consideration that each child is different and some toys may not be suitable for them. My son may only be 3, but he tends to like toys for 5 year olds and really enjoys playing with older kids. So with this in mind, I'm going to give you some ideas for what I think would be the top 10 gift ideas for 3 year olds of all stages.

Here is the list along with a breakdown of "appropriate" or "suggested" age, the estimated price, and what the toy does (if needed).

1)Any train set on a train table. EX: The DELUXE Wooden Train Table by Imaginarium. Price: $119-$149. Where to Buy: Toys R Us. Description: This table comes with 101 pieces including the track, trains, people, and various props such as buildings and trees. I gave this to my son for his 3rd birthday and he hasn't stopped playing with it since September! Even though this set is not an actual Thomas the Train set, he didn't care and he played with it like it was. PLUS, the Thomas trains and pieces do work on the track made by Imaginarium, so you can incorporate them as well.

2)Boys Trike. EX: Pixar's Car's Boys Trike. Price: $49.99. Where to Buy: Toys R Us. Description: This bike is listed for boys age 2-4. The wheels are wide in the back so if he cruises around a corner really fast he won't flip as easily. The trike shows Lightening McQueen and comes in red. I bought this for my son over the summer when it first came out and he LOVES riding it EVERYWHERE.

3)Play Kitchens. EX: Little Tykes Inside and Outside Cookin' Grill Kitchen. Price: $139-$155. Where to Buy: Meijer and Toys R Us. Description: Listed for girls AND boys ages 2-10. This play kitchen has 2 sided play, meaning the kitchen on one side and an outdoor grill on the other. The refrigerator is magnetized and it also has electronic sounds for the appliances. It also comes with an accessory pack of play food and a chef's hat and also a small picnic table. This could be the best distraction for kids while mom (or dad) is cooking in the real kitchen! My son is getting one for Christmas this year, and I was able to find it on sale at Meijer for only $119.

4)Transformers.Price: Ranges in price from $7.99-$90.00 depending on the size and "generation". Where to Buy: Anywhere they sell toys. Description: Most list age 5 and up, but my 3 year old can play with most of them, minus some pieces. But these are not just for the kids…they are also for the parents that used to play with them as a kid! They have the original Transformers and the next generation as well. Also, for those that like Star Wars and GI Joe, they make sets where the kids (or you) can hold battles with all of them! That's right….Star Wars Transformers…imagine.

5)Video Gaming Systems. EX: V-Smile and V-Smile Pocket. Price: V-Smile is $49-$59 and V-Smile Pocket is $69-$79. Where to Buy: Anywhere they sell toys. Description: The pocket version is the hand-held system and the regular V-Smile is a console system. They both take the same cartridges which are normally priced around $19.99 but sometimes you can find them on sale or on clearance for ½ off. Age range is listed as 3-7 for the console and 5-8 for the hand-held, but my son is getting the hand-held for Christmas so he can take it with him in the car, and you can get the extra cable to connect it to the T.V anyway. What's better than a gaming system where they are also learning as well?

6)Diego Talking Rescue Center. Price: $34-$39. Where to Buy: Anywhere they sell toys. Description: Diego is kind of like the male version of Dora, but her rescues animals. Recommended for ages 2-5. This set comes with animals, Diego, a vehicle, a helicopter, the rescue center tree house, and a talking Diego size computer with Diego's voice spitting out info about animals that need rescued.

7)Swords. Price: Depending what brand, size, and material, they range in price starting at around $9.99. Where to Buy: Anywhere they sell toys. Description: Swords can be found in any material from wood to plastic to foam, and can be found under different brands like Pirate's of the Caribbean. My son uses his sword to act like he's He-Man, so it is just a regular silver colored sword made of plastic materials. You'd be surprised how many hours of fun they can have with something so cheap and their imagination.

8)Race Cars. EX: Shake 'n Go Speedway by Fisher-Price. Price: $34-$39. Where to Buy: Toys R Us, Wal-Mart, Meijer. Description: Ages 3 and up. Easy to put together and easy for little hands to use. All they have to do is turn on the switch on the cars, shake, and put on the track. The track also has a finish line that monitors the cars and talks as well. My son has had hours of fun with this since last Christmas. Now they also make Shake 'n Go semi trucks. The cars are okay to use on the carpet as well. Just be aware that this takes A LOT of AA batteries.

9)Bob the Builder. EX: Follow Me Scoop. Price: $24-$29. Where to Buy: Toys R Us, Target. Description: Ages 3-10. This is kind of cool if your kid likes Bob the Builder and the remote controlled Tonka trucks. It's kind of like having both in one toy. This one can be used 2 ways: Scoop can follow Bob where he goes or there is a 2 button control.

10)Anything with Singing and/or Music. EX: Star Station Entertainment System by Fisher-Price. Price: $54-$59. Where to Buy: Toys R Us and other stores where they sell toys. Description: Almost all 3 year olds LOVE to sing and/or dance. This little device gives them the best of both worlds! All you do is plug it into your T.V and not only do they get to hear themselves sing, but it has a built in camera that displays them on the screen as well. Talk about an ego boost!

So there you have it. Most of the toys on the list I can account for as giving hours and hours of play and entertainment to your pre-schooler. Most children this age love to role play, sing, dance, and use begin to play games and video games. Not all of the toys listed above are educational, but I believe they need to get a break from actual learning from time to time in order to use their imaginations. Hopefully this short list will give you some great ideas and your pre-schooler can be entertained for hours as much as mine has been. Plus, you'll find a little extra time for yourself to do something you want or need to do as well. Happy Holidays!