Unique Gift Ideas for Preschoolers

Headed to a preschooler's birthday party? Needing a Christmas gift for a child of preschool age? I've struggled in the past with what to purchase for my 3 1/2-year-old son's friends on their birthday or for family during the holidays but through time, I've learned what tends to work. Looking for that unique gift that your preschooler will actually use? Here are some ideas:

Indoor Playground Membership/Tokens:
Where I live in Southern, NH, we have a few different indoor play areas for children to enjoy. These areas can be broken up into two separate categories; those that take tokens, and those that do not. At the places that take tokens, you can purchase these tokens and then wrap them up for your preschooler. For a girl, you can wrap them in a change purse, for example, and for a boy, you can place them in a ziploc bag and then place this bag in something like a small superhero lunch box. Even if the preschooler you're buying for isn't in need of a lunch box, I imagine they'd enjoy playing with this box day-to-day. My son adores placing objects into boxes to carry around with him. For an indoor playground that does not use tokens, you can purchase your preschooler a membership for a number of months. Many places have this option. And if they do not, you can print out their logo on the computer and attach money to this sheet of paper as explanation. You've just paid for a couple visits to their favorite indoor playground - a great gift for any child itching to get outdoors in the winter months, especially.

Classes:
Willing to spend a little extra money? You can take the above idea a step further and purchase your preschooler a class of their choosing. Do they like to jump and do somersaults? Get them a gymnastics class at a place that offers classes for children of preschool age. A great gift! Are they into arts and crafts? Purchase them a gift of art - a preschool art class. There are all kinds of ideas here...karate, music, dance. Check what your community has to offer. Many communities also offer programs for preschoolers through their recreation department for a reduced rate to residents.

Playdates:
Don't have a lot of money to spend but want your child or your child's friend to remember a great time? Consider hosting a play date at your house. If it's for your own child, consider what your preschooler loves. A girl into princesses? Invite a couple of her girlfriends over. Inform them that they can dress up in their princess best. Purchase inexpensive crowns to wear (dollar store, perhaps?) and make something such as cupcakes that your princesses can decorate on their own - be sure to add toppings in your princesses favorite color, too! Needing a gift for your child's friend? This play date idea will work! Invite your preschooler's friend over for a play date at your house - a boy that likes superman? Let them both take our their capes and run around saving the toys from mayhem. Make superhero pizzas for lunch by letting the boys place sauce and cheese among other toppings of their choice on a bagel or english muffin. Superhero Super Fuel!

Coupons:
Looking for a gift for your preschooler specifically? Consider coupons. You can make them by hand by cutting out rectangles of paper and decorating them for your child. You can then place such sayings on them as "good for one game of catch with Daddy," or "good for one trip to the ice cream store." Your child can then "cash" them in when they would like that particular gift.

Toys are wonderful and children love them for sure, but these are alternatives to your every day gift for preschoolers.