25 Gifts for Preschoolers (That Won’t Be a Waste of Money)

These 25 gifts for preschoolers are sure to be a win-win — a win for the child and a win for you!  

Earlier this week, I posted a list of 25 gifts for toddlers that won’t be a waste of money. I told you that before I became a parent, I was easily tempted by toys that were bright, flashy, and fun, but that now that I am a parent, I’m much more selective.

I know the feeling of being overwhelmed by toys, so if I’m going to buy a gift for a child, I want to keep his or her parents in mind. Plus, I want my money to be put to good use – not wasted on something that’s going to keep their interest for about two seconds. (If you’re a parent, you know exactly what I mean. Sometimes it’s tempting just to give them a cardboard box – it often entertains them longer than the gift itself!) 

For more about what I consider to be a “good” use of my gift budget and a “waste,” be sure to read the first installment of this gift guide series. 

Be sure to check out my toddler gift guide, but now it’s time for my favorite gifts for preschoolers!

25 Favorite Gifts for Preschoolers (That Won’t Be a Waste of Money)

1. Water Bottles (like the Camelbak or Contigo style)

I don’t know about your preschooler, but Aidan gets such a kick out of drinking from Mommy & Daddy’s water bottles. He thinks he’s pretty big stuff. But it’s not always a good size for his little hands or his backpack. So this year for Christmas, we’re going to get him his very own water bottle.

2. Electronic readers

Aidan got a LeapFrog LeapReader two years ago for Christmas and a Me Reader last year, and he has gotten a ton of use out of both! Of course I prefer to read to him myself whenever possible, but it’s pretty nice for those times when I’m occupied. It worked wonders on our road trip this past summer!

3. Books

As I mentioned in my last gift guide, I am always a fan of books for Christmas! For some of our favorite books, check out 5 Books That Will Inspire Your Kids to Greatness  and Aidan’s Favorite Things {3-Year-Old Edition}.

4. KiwiCo Crate

I LOVE KiwiCo crates. I love giving them as gifts, and I love when my kids receive them as gifts. They’re super fun non-toy gift options that foster creativity, ingenuity, and a whole host of other learning skills.

My favorite thing about them is the variety of crates they offer — for different ages AND interests — and the fact that you can choose how many boxes you want to gift. You can even buy gift cards!

*Edited to Add* Little Passports

Since I first wrote this post, both our boys have received Little Passports subscriptions as gifts, and they (and we) love them! It’s now one of my FAVORITE and most recommended gifts for preschoolers.

They are THRILLED when they come in the mail each month, and their LP “suitcases” are one of their most treasured possessions.

Each month’s package is filled with interesting facts and fun activities from around the world, and we’ve been super impressed with the quantity and quality of what’s included.

Five stars. Highly recommend.

5. Puppets

A lovely (and wise) couple from our church gave Aidan a set of puppets as a sibling gift when Andrew was born. He LOVES those puppets. We play with them at least a couple times a week, and he talks to them as though they are friends. It’s the cutest thing.

6. LEGOS

If you’ve followed The Merry Momma long, you’ve probably picked up that we are a big fan of LEGOs. (I included them in The Best Brain-Boosting Toys You May be Overlooking, Aidan’s Favorite Things {3-Year-Old Edition}, and 25 Gifts for Toddlers (That Won’t Be a Waste of Money ). Aidan can spend hours building all kinds of creations, and I love that they use his imagination and can easily be tossed in a tote when he’s done with them.

7. Easel/magnetic letters

Aidan got this easel and a magnetic letters set last year for Christmas, and we had a lot of fun with it (until Andrew started putting all the letters in his mouth). And the best part is that it doubles as a preschool tool!

8. Preschool activities

We are doing preschool at home this year, so I’ve been collecting some fun learning materials when I find them. Even if you’re not doing formal preschool at home, it doesn’t hurt to have some extra learning opportunities!

9. Magazine subscription

Magazine subscriptions are another fantastic non-toy gift idea. My mom got Aidan a subscription to Ranger Rick Jr, and it started coming a few weeks ago. He has looked at it almost every day since then!

10. Passes

One of my favorite non-toy gift ideas is passes – passes to the local movie theater, science museum, children’s museum, etc. It’s a fun experience for the kids, it’s a great opportunity for family bonding, and it won’t clutter up the house!

11. Bible/Devotional

In my job, I’ve helped a lot of parents and grandparents pick out Bibles for kids, and I’ve seen how special a rite of passage their first Bible can be. We got Aidan a Beginner’s Bible last year for his birthday, and it is one of his most treasured possessions.

A first or new devotional would also make a great non-toy gift!

12. Magnetic Paper Dolls

These are not your mother’s paper dolls. The magnetic dolls and clothes sets are reusable for hours of dress-up fun.

13. Camping Gear – Tent, Sleeping bag, flashlight

We got our niece a tent, sleeping bag, and flashlight set one year for Christmas, and she spent many a night sleeping in it. Aidan got this Paw Patrol sleeping bag last year for Christmas, and he gets pretty excited to get his out from time to time, too.

14. Movies for family movie night

Every Sunday evening, we have a family tradition of eating supper in the living room while we watch a movie. Finding a good family-friendly movie can be tough, so we always appreciate new ones. Here are some of our favorites so far:

Check out The Best Gifts for the Whole Family for more gift ideas the whole family can enjoy.

15. Kids’ furniture

I included kids furniture in my list of toddler gifts, but I think it’s a great non-toy idea for preschoolers as well. My parents have a Spiderman chair a lot like this one that Aidan loves to use when he’s there.

16. Magnet Tiles

I first learned about Magformers from Aidan’s daycare, so I got him a set for his birthday (though his is the ALDI brand 😉 ). They are truly as fun as you may have heard!

17. Magnetic Tangrams

Keep your preschooler busy while boosting their brain development with these Melissa & Doug magnetic pattern blocks. They can make one of the designs on the included cards or design their own.

18. Musical Instruments

Admittedly, the noise level of some of these might be a bit … high. 😉 But music offers soooo many benefits for kids’ brain development, I think it’s worth it.

19. Board games

Aidan is just starting to understand directions enough to play board games, and I am pretty excited for all the family bonding that’s going to take place! So I would love it if he received a couple games for Christmas. (Hint, hint 😉 )

20. Busy boxes

I got one of these Busy Boxes for my niece last year for Christmas (she was just a couple months shy of 5), and she has had a blast with it. I initially thought my sister might kill me for giving her something with tons of little craft pieces, but she approved after she saw how much fun it was. There are 16 different projects that you can do, but it’s really only limited by the child’s creativity! If you have a crafter (or a busy beaver), this giant busy box from ALEX toys is a must!

21. Play-doh

We don’t have any Play-Doh at our house yet, but Aidan plays with it all the time at Grandma’s. It’s a fun way to keep him occupied for an extended period of time. It’s definitely in the running for a Christmas present idea this year.

22. Sketch pads, crayons, color wonder

My son is totally into drawing pictures and creating artwork right now, and we have been going through a LOT of paper. So for Christmas this year, I think he’ll be getting a sketch pad (or 50) for Christmas.

23. Calendar

Teach your preschooler days of the week, months, seasons, weather, and more with this Melissa & Doug first calendar. They will feel like big kids with their very own calendar like Mom & Dad.

I hope that gives you a few ideas of practical gifts for preschoolers that will do them some good and last longer than a day. These are gifts that they will play with over and over again or will enrich their lives in some way. Trust me, as a mom of two, I would be happy if my boys were on the receiving end of any of these gifts. And you will be happy that you will not have wasted your money! 

Do you have any favorite gifts for preschoolers that didn’t make my list? Share them in the comments below! 

For more gift ideas:

• The Best Brain-Boosting Toys You May be Overlooking
• Aidan’s Favorite Things: A Master List of Toddler Top Picks
• 25 Gifts for Toddlers (That Won’t Be a Waste of Money )
• The Best Gifts for the Whole Family