The holidays are a great time to be with family, to give and to receive and to spread joy to those around us. One of the best parts of the holidays is to hear the laughter of children and see the joy on their little faces when they open their gifts.
Holiday shopping can be tricky though, especially for kids that are much younger. There are many toy available now that have pieces that are not suitable for certain ages, even if that age group feels like they are old enough to play with those toys. Kids between the ages of 3 and 5 also need toys that stimulate mental growth as that is when the brain soaks up information like a sponge. These ten toy will not only entertain this age group, but will also stimulate the mind!
1.Leap Pad 2 Explorer
There are many electronic toys on the market now that entertain children while still educating them. The Leap Pad 2 has been one of the most popular educational toys for the past few years though. This toy teaches children reading, math, art, colors, shapes and many other basic skills that children aged 3 to 5 should be learning. Leap Pad comes in many colors and offers a wide variety of games that often feature children’s favorite cartoon characters which help kids spark an interest in the game. The Leap Pad 2 comes with a 15 inch touch screen and stylus, which also helps kids adapt to the technology of modern day. This great Leap Pad 2 can be purchased for $99.99 at Bestbuy.com
2.Kid-Tough See Yourself Camera
Fisher Price is known for making durable toy for kids and with this camera they have succeeded once more. Kids love taking pictures of themselves and the world around them. It helps them look back at life and makes them feel like a big kid. This See Yourself Camera allows kids to take pictures of themselves easily as they can see what they are taking a picture of before the take it! This little camera even allows kids to take video footage. With the help of an adult kids can even go onto the Fisher Price webpage and edit the photos and videos they took! This camera will with stand any drop, which makes it perfect for the 3 to 5 age group. This camera can be found on kmart.com for $69.99.
3.Up and Down Rollercoaster
Kids love to be dare devils as much as adults do which is why Step 2 created the wonderful Up and Down Rollercoaster. This rollercoaster is perfect for younger kids thanks to the many safety features it has. Each piece of the coaster locks into place, so it will not come undone while children are playing. The car even locks into place at the top of the rollercoaster until the child is securely in the seat and ready to go. The seat also has a high back so that children can lean back without falling out. After kids have made it to the bottom of the rollercoaster they can push the car back to the top themselves which will provide exercise and strengthen muscles. This great coaster is now on sale for $50 off the original price. So, this season get the dare devil of the family their own little rollercoaster for $87.99 on step2.com.
4.Easy Steer Tricycle
The tricycle is a timeless gift. Kids for generations have enjoyed their own tricycles and built their way up to riding a bicycle. The Schwinn Easy Steer Tricycle will adapt to the child’s age and progress. When the child is still too young adults can use the attached handle to control the steering and speed of the child. This feature will allow the child to get the feel of the tricycle so they will learn how to work it themselves. When child is ready parent can remove the handle and allow child to steer and pedal on his or her own. Tricycle even has basket on the back so kids can transport toys! This great tricycle can be found for 25% off or $74.99 on amazon.com.
5.Crayola Fold N Go Art Studio
Kids love to draw and paint which is great for developing their motor skills. The Crayola Fold N Go Art Studio duals as a desk and an easel for younger kids. Kid can sit down and concentrate on writing their alphabet, practicing their shapes, or drawing picture when the combo is desk form. This also makes a great area for kids to do their homework when they are old enough for school. Kids can practice mixing colors or work on a painting when combo is in easel form. This form also allows kids to display their art while it dries! The Combo comes with a chair and an area to store kid’s art supplies. This studio can be found on overstock.com for $34.99, a 44% discount off the original price.
6.Mega Blocks Play N Go Table
Building is one of top gifts for kids that has transcended generations. From Lincoln Logs and Legos to Mega Blocks kids seem to never tire of creating things with blocks. Mega Blocks are particularly great for little kids since they are bigger in size. This makes them easier to grab for kids and harder to swallow and choke on. The Mega Blocks Play N Go Table allows kids to build on their own table which helps creations stay together better. When kids are done playing the table turns into a storage container that is easily stored. The Play N Go Table can be found on fleetfarm.com for $29.99!
7.Kid Kraft Train Set With Table
The Kid Kraft Train set allows kids to pretend to be a train conductor on their very own table. Kids have complete control of the train’s path as well as the town that the train passes through. This set comes with 120 town pieces, the train, a crane, mountain, lake, waterfall and an airport. Kids will have fun for hours creating their own town and playing with everything. The table is large so kids have a lot of run for their imagination to run wild. The table also comes with 3 red bins that fit under the table to store all of the pieces when child is finished playing. This train set and table and be purchased for $119.99, a $40 price drop, at Meijer.com.
8.Vtech Switch and Go Dinos
Boys will love playing with the Vtech Switch and Go Dinos. These toys feature all of the great fun that Transformers do without all of the small parts, which makes it perfect for younger kids. This set comes with a red Brachiosaurus that transforms in a low rider car. Boys will love playing dinosaurs with this huge dinosaur, but will also love using this toy as a car. When the two are combined boys will have fun using their imagination to create a superhero. This toy will improve mechanical skills and is practically 3 toys in one! This great toy is now on clearance for $35 on jcpenney.com.
9.Laugh and Learn Tea Set
Girls love to have tea parties with their friends, family and stuffed animals which is why this little tea set from Fisher Price is one of the best gifts for a girl this season. This tea set has three modes that help kids learn and have fun. The educational mode teaches children the alphabet, numbers, colors and shapes. The music mode allows girls to listen to music that suits their age group and encourages them to play along. The imagination mode encourages girls to create their own party and have fun with their own imagination. This set comes with a tea pot, 2 tea cups, three toy cakes and a platter. This wonderful set is sold on target.com for $17.89.
10.Little Virtuoso Sing Along CD Player
Kids have no fear when it comes to expressing themselves with song, which is a great way to keep them confident and interested in music. The CD player will play any CD which lets kids choose their favorite types of music to listen to. It also has a no skip feature, so even when kids are rough with the player it will not scratch the CD. Player also comes with two detachable microphones which allow kids to sing with friends and enjoy karaoke play dates. Kids will learn to love singing and dancing which will carry on into later life. The CD Player has a built in CD case so all of the children’s CDs are easy to find whenever he or she wants to listen to them. This great cd player is currently on sale at walmart.com for $39, a $20 roll back!
These toys are great for holiday gifts, and will help the children work out their brains, enjoy their imagination and have fun for hours to come. This age group will only last for a short amount of time, which should be cherished. There is no better way to adore a child than to provide them with the tools they are going to need for the rest of their lives. These toys, in one way or another, will help children progress and have fun, which are the keys to a great childhood.
