Hi friends! Okay, it’s come to my attention that many people are done with their shopping, and I need to post these earlier in the year, but for those of you still looking for ideas, I have some for you! 

This gift guide slightly overlaps with my toddler and baby gift guide, but not too much.  There are some definite differences that I felt need to be separated from big kids but also not quite a toddler thing.  I sourced ideas from primarily what KJ likes, his preschool friends, and family for a well-rounded list.  If you have a preschooler who loves something, please share it in the comments below!  The categories below are separated into something they want, something they need, something to wear, and something to read.  Hope it helps with ideas!  

Something They Want

•  Plasma Car – KJ received this for his third birthday but didn’t start really riding it consistently until right around his fourth birthday.  However, this is also on my toddler/baby gift guide because KK can ride it almost by himself at 18 months, and I know he will be able to do it by 2 years old.  First child vs. second thing, I think. Anyways, best $90 ever spent! He literally rides it all over the house every day and I can tell it’s an outlet for him when he may be feeling antsy, energetic, or even a bit destructive. 
• Dancing Flamingo – this is totally random, but we gave this to a friend’s daughter who turned 3 this year, and she LOVED it.  She happens to be really into flamingos so it might have been specific to her, but I added it to the list anyways!
• Bike and Helmet – we got a bike for KJ this year on this fourth birthday!  He’s learning to pedal and ride it like a champ! KJ is on the taller side, but we went with a smaller 12-inch bike so that it would be easier to learn. We plan to upgrade him to a taller bike as soon as he gets comfortable.  This way, KK can have the 12-inch when he is ready!
• Dino Eggs – KJ really enjoyed these break-apart dino eggs he go for his birthday! They’d make a fun gift for any preschooler!
• Magnatiles –  KJ received some for his third birthday from his Grandparents, he’s hit or miss with them, but since so many of our friends’ kids love them, I put them on the list! My nephew LOVES them since he was about three years old. My best friend’s kid got really into magnatiles this year at 5 years old, so it might just be something some kids are late bloomers on. 
• Power Wheels – After doing an insane amount of research, we went with Jeep Power Wheels for a ride-on toy.  The basics of my research were that you want a good amount of ride on time, you want to reverse/forward, you want a brand name you trust (or it will crap out), and extra frills mean it will break early or decrease ride- on time.  This power wheels jeep version hits all the buckets and is recommended on many blogs as a strong choice! So we went for it!
• Grow Sponge Animals – my kids, especially my preschooler, LOVES these probably more than anything else.  He saves the sponges and has a whole village of them he plays with when his little brother is sleeping.  For 10 bucks, you can’t really beat the value.  PS We also did them in the bath with warm water. 
• Kid Chair – I can’t tell you how much the kids love their own little chair to sit in when they get screen time or family movie time.  My in-laws got this one for KJ and got another one for KK for Christmas this year. My only complaint is that potty training wasn’t kind to it, and it would be nice if there was a washable/water proof option.  Also, for a more aesthetically pleasing chair for your living room, this one looks nice while still being at a good price point. 
• Bean Bag Toss – an entertainer for sure!  
• Preschool Prep Tablet – a great way to reinforce preschool lessons!
• Real Bug Discovery Kit – I’m so excited to give this to KJ for Christmas, he’s gonna flip! 
• Color Lab Kit – we got a color lab kit from Loveevery which was a huge hit this year.  You could put the same type of kit with these test tubes, dyes, and syringes.  Highly highly recommend it! 
• Go Fish – a classic, and for a good reason!

Something They Need

•  Amazon Backpack – this backpack is great quality for a beginner backpack, comes in lots of designs, and is perfect for your preschooler who needs to carry things to and from school or activities. It has a chest strap, so it doesn’t fall off them, and they can actually wear it. 
• Bentgo Leak Proof Lunch Box – great for school lunch or outings at the park.  We’ve had zero issues with this bento box, and I love that it comes apart easily for cleaning and can be put in the dishwasher!
• Montessori placemat – love this placemat because it’s HUGE and because it introduced the concept of setting the table.  I’m sure that I could have taught KJ to help set the table when he was much younger, but I had multiple young children and no energy for that or the potential mess.  But this year, he’s started helping me set the table at dinner, and the placemat helped him catch on quickly to what everyone would need at the table.  
• Hydroflask – by far, my favorite hyrdroflask of KJ’s is the one his grandparents bought him.  It doesn’t leak when traveling and keeps liquids cold! UPDATE: The new model seems to leak, but we might have gotten a dud.  

Something To Wear

• Pajamas are ALWAYS appreciated by parents of preschoolers!  
• Nonslip socks – I’ve purchased this same brand of socks 3 times for KJ.  They have grippers on the bottom that long outlast the socks themselves!
• Amazon baseball hat – KJ loves his amazon dino hat! Surprisingly, I’ve never had an issue getting him to wear it. 
• Tracksuits – nothing has gotten more use over the years than KJ’s tracksuits.  He grew out of his 2T suits, so his grandparents gave him some 4T for this year.  Nothing is cuter than a little boy in a tracksuit. I don’t know why. It just is. Now KK is wearing his older one!
• Old Navy Puffer Jacket
• Old Navy Snow Suits – if you watch the sales can get these for around $20 bucks, which is a steal compared to other places for the same item! Since my kids see the snow like 1-2 times a year max, these are perfect!

Something To Read

KJ now enjoys sitting through longer books, not quite chapter books, but longer stories now.  Here are some of his favorites:

• This Rabbit Belongs to Emily Brown
• The Little Engine Who Could
• The Poky Little Puppy
• The Poky Little Puppy Pumpkin Patch
• Search and Find Dinosaur Book
• Fish Out Of Water
• Are You My Mother? 
• Put Me In the Zoo
• The Beginners Bible (We have been gifted several children’s Bibles over the year, but this is by far the winner as far as holding KJ’s attention.  KJ loves it!)
• Blank Board Book – my Aunt (who was a third-grade teacher and later a middle school art teacher) MADE a book for KJ when he was around 2, and it’s still one of his favorite books.  This is a great thoughtful gift if you are crafty and can draw.  (I would not fall into that category ha ha)