Duplo
I’m a pretty big fan of Duplo/Lego for a whole host of reasons. Firstly, I’m 90% sure that it is indestructible (although, maybe for this exact reason the most eco option would be to source second hand!) meaning that it’s great for littles who may have less patience, less spatial awareness and less dexterity for putting blocks together. Duplo is also easily cleaned and can have so many uses from small world and imaginative play, to number, letter and colour recognition as well as making patterns and early counting skills.
Pickler Triangle
Although suitable from crawling and useable well beyond the age of 3 I love recommending these to parents of preschoolers. Mainly because I’m aware of how hard it is to burn energy in young toddlers but also I know that as a society we struggle to provide our children with the opportunities to move their bodies. From around 6 months, the pickler can support little ones in learning to kneel, stand, and eventually walk and climb. They often come with the option for additional ramps that can be used as slides or bridges.
As well as being great when your stuck at home on a wet or snowy day, they can make great props for imaginative play and story telling (a prison cell, a secret den or even a bat cave!).
Aqua Doodle
Not ready for messy play quite yet? Then aqua doodle is a fun and mess free way to introduce your little one to mark making. Developing both their gross and fine motor controls, as well as providing them with opportunities to work on colour recognition. You can also use a variety of sponges and brushes with the Aquadoodle and it’s easily transportable making it great for play dates or as a screen free option when travelling.
Paint Sticks
If you’re ready for a bit more mess but don’t fancy the full blown explosion of mess that comes with poster paints then these paint sticks are a great gateway. They wind up just like a glue stick and are thick and brightly coloured. They are easy for small hands to hold and can be wiped off of most surfaces with ease. I’ve used them on windows before with no problems and when used on paper they don’t bleed or transfer and you don’t have to wait for them to dry either.
Music and Fairytale Books
Hopefully your preschooler is a big story reader (if they have spent any time with me they likely will be!) and now is a great time to introduce them to many of the classics. I also really love the “Story Orchestra” collection which pairs classical music with stories. They have a wide range including the Nutcracker and Swan Lake which I think are particularly fun ones to receive during the holidays.
Toy Food/Role Play
Between 1 and a half and 2 and a half years old, your little one will likely be beginning to show an interest in pretend play. This is how children begin to make sense of society around them by copying the words and actions of those around them.
Role play kits such as toy kitchens or small tables can be great at supporting your child’s growing imagination and can also provide opportunities for you to role model behaviour and social interactions. Even if your little one isn’t quite showing an interest in imaginative play, these toys can be fantastic for developing language in a concrete way.
Bike/Scooter
I’ve already said my piece on physical play opportunities for preschoolers, however I can’t say enough how beneficial it is for young children to have a scooter or bike (preferably a balance bike). Not only for burning off the aforementioned endless energy but also, they build a child’s sense of balance. Cycling, which requires both legs to work in synchronicity, helps to build coordination. Both scootering and cycling involve risk and help to build resilience in children as well as building their confidence which is a transferable skill for all areas in life.
Tunnel
Another brilliant way of encouraging movement in our preschoolers (do you sense a theme?) are pop-up tents and tunnels. Not only do they not take up much space when being stored but they also encourage crawling. Crawling is a fundamental stage of development and there is a growing body of evidence that suggests that crawling on both hands and knees supports cognitive as well as physical development way beyond the first two years of life. This is a skill that we want to continue to encourage, even if a child is walking as it builds strength in the hands, wrists, arms and shoulders.
Mini Garage/Small World
Between the ages of 1 and 3 children are in the process of figuring out their place both within the family unit and within the wider world. Play is the vehicle through which they can make sense of world around them. Toy cars and vehicles are often of interest to small children because they are familiar and part of the world around them. Small world play can also encourage development in many other areas such as fine motor control and language development too.
Musical Instruments
I know that musical instruments are part of my under 1’s gift guide but I couldn’t exactly leave them out of an under 3’s gift guide, and that’s why I’m sharing an instrument that is a little more unusual. This kalimba wouldn’t be suitable for a baby but would be great for developing a toddler’s fine motor skills. Not only that but for the more musically gifted adults you could introduce it or maybe even teach some simple tunes to your little one too!
Puzzles
Suitable from about 18 months, puzzles are great for developing problem solving skills. They can also help with building resilience and logic. Starting with wooden shape puzzles or 2-4 piece puzzles, I still find it pretty cool how by age 3 many children can complete a 50+ piece puzzle.
Board Games
In the same vein as puzzles, board games help children to develop logic and problem solving skills but also can help with their social and emotional development too. Whilst most toddlers don’t have the patience to sit through a whole game of monopoly, Orchard toys have a great variety of games that are suitable from 18 months. Simple skills such as turn taking can be developed alongside an adult.
I hope my under 3’s gift guide has been helpful to you- if you are a parent or care for a toddler I’d love to know if there are any things that you have bought for your child this Christmas that I haven’t shared here!
Happy holidays!
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