Top Christmas Picks for Children Aged 3-5 years
Finding the perfect Christmas gift for preschoolers is fun, but there’s also a lot to choose from. So to narrow it down for you, we’ve put together our top picks that are fun, safe and packed with opportunities for learning and creativity. From roleplay to construction play, these gifts are sure to inspire curiosity, confidence and lots of smiles this Christmas.
Mighty Wheels – 10″ Mighty Fire Truck – Lights & Sound
Perfect for this age range, this action packed fire truck brings rescue missions to life with flashing lights, realistic sounds and a working water pump. Extend the ladder, squirt water from the hose, and put 4-wheel drive to work for hours of play and active fun that will help develop problem solving, imagination and hand-eye coordination. Durable, hands-on and full of excitement, it’s a gift that aspiring firefighters will love.
Butterfly Garden
Let little nature lovers experience the magic of metamorphosis with this set from Insect Lore. Over a few weeks, caterpillars grow, form chrysalides and emerge as butterflies ready to be released. The kit includes a pop-up mesh habitat, feeding pipette, instructions and a caterpillar voucher, giving children everything they need to care for the butterflies as they grow and develop. Great for sparking curiosity, responsibility and an interest in nature.
The Amazing Waxidoodles
Mess-free kits that encourage children to shape soft wax strips into pictures, letters, shapes and 3D models. Easy to mould and fully reusable, they help little hands develop fine motor skills, hand strength and creative expression. Open-ended and versatile, the sets inspire imaginative play and allow children to explore endless possibilities. A gift that is sure to keep little ones busy and inspired this Christmas.
Numberblocks® Dominoes Set
Great for preschoolers developing early maths skills. The 112-piece set comes in a handy storage tub with an activity guide and features colourful dominoes showing numbers as numerals, dots, segments and Numberblocks® faces. Children can practise counting, number recognition and early addition while developing fine motor control and problem solving skills. A playful twist on a classic game with real educational value.
My First Scalextric – Let’s Play! – Race Set
This Scalextric set is perfect for introducing children to the thrill of slot car racing. With two cars and a snap-together track that’s straightforward to set up, players can start racing in no time. Designed for younger children, the cars move at just the right speed to keep play safe and full of action. As they race, children build hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills and confidence, while also learning about friendly competition. Ideal for family play this Christmas and just the thing for action loving kids.
Magna-Tiles® Builder 32-Piece Set
Spark creativity and STEM skills with this set from Magna-Tiles®. Perfect for instruction free play, children can explore shapes, magnetism and geometry while developing logical thinking and problem-solving skills. With endless ways to build and no right or wrong approach, the set encourages imagination, confidence and independent play. Lightweight, colourful and easy to handle, it’s a hands-on gift that little builders are sure to return to again and again.
Mood Bears
These soft, cuddly bears help children explore and understand their feelings. Each bear has a bright colour and personality, representing emotions from happy and silly to nervous or sad. With a short poem and access to online resources, they offer gentle guidance and inspire imaginative play. Friendly faces make them perfect for everyday adventures, and they’d make a thoughtful gift to support emotional wellbeing this Christmas and all year round.
21st Century Pattern Blocks
This colourful set encourages creativity while supporting spatial awareness, problem-solving and fine motor skills. Children can create freely or follow guided designs, experimenting with symmetry, patterns and even basic fractions to learn new concepts as they play. Versatile and durable, it would make a fun and educational gift that will inspire curiosity in a hands-on way.
Preschool Busy Book
Keep little learners entertained with the JoyCat Preschool Busy Book. With 15 interactive themes covering letters, numbers, colours, shapes and more, it encourages concentration, creativity, logical thinking and fine motor skills through play. Durable and reusable, it’s perfect for home or on-the-go fun. A versatile and educational gift that’s sure to bring hours of fun and learning to playtime.