As the holidays approach and the kids’ wish-lists starts growing, I thought it would be nice to get some advice from an expert—a preschool teacher. In this post, the first of a three-part series on tips for preschoolers, Kayla Poole was kind enough to share with me her answers to that pressing question: What are the best toys for this age? 

I am often asked my opinion about the “best” toys for kids. “What should I buy my toddler this holiday?” “What should my child entering kindergarten be doing in her free time?” “I want my kid to play but also be learning something!”

Guys, I know. I find this to be a nearly impossible question to answer adequately, as young kids are all so different, with varying interests and needs. Moreover, something appropriate for a two-year-old is very different than a toy or game for a four-year-old. That being said, I really sat down to think about the top recommendations I feel comfortable delivering to parents and inquiring gift-givers. This list is in no way comprehensive and based purely on seven years of practice as an early childhood educator. I tend to believe that less is more when it comes to toys. Children truly don’t need a lot to learn and discover: in fact, I stand behind my opinion that the most popular toy of all time for a toddler/preschooler is an oversized, empty cardboard box. So, there’s that.

Anyway, lest you care about what’s inside of that box, herein lie a few additional classics…

1. Masking Tape. Yes, tape. I always have several large rolls of colored masking tape out in my classroom writing center. It builds fine motor control and provides endless amounts of open-ended artistic exploration. It’s not terribly difficult to cut, making it appropriate for little hands just learning how to properly use scissors. I always plan a few more teacher-led projects around it (like this), but most of the time, my kiddos enjoy using it in their own creative ways (making envelopes with paper, layering designs, or just snipping away). You can purchase craft tape anywhere: I love this big wooden tape dispenser

for both its aesthetics and usefulness.

2. Playdough. It’s the best! I’m encouraging you to move beyond the iconic play-doh brand you all know and love by making your own. It is so easy and cheap to do (we make a fresh batch every week) and change it up by adding liquid watercolor, scent (such as peppermint oil) or even glitter. My kids love playdough and manipulate in so many incredible ways. I like to provide a variety of tools for them to use alongside it: think outside the box! For example, during a Dr. Seuss unit last year, we provided playdough with colored pipe cleaners

for the children to make wacky 3D sculptures. They LOVED it.

Here’s the basic playdough recipe we use in school. If stored in an air-tight container, it should stay fresh & malleable for several weeks:

• 2 Cups flour
• 1 Cup salt
• 1 Tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tsp. Cream of Tartar
• 2 Cups of water

Mix everything in large saucepan over medium heat until dough forms. Remove from heat and carefully knead on flat surface until dough is soft. Feel free to add food coloring or oil extract to change the color/scent. A few drops go a long way!

3. Books. Okay, so maybe this is cheating, but I couldn’t resist. I am a devout collector of children’s literature and consider it to be one of the key elements in any early childhood setting. There’s not much to say other than you can’t go wrong with a pile of great classic picture books. Go to the local bookstore and plop yourself down in the children’s section. Don’t be surprised if hours pass while you get lost in the stories and illustrations. The only way to create readers is to be one. (More specific suggestions on books for preschoolers.)

4. Wooden unit blocks. Every classroom or play space needs a set of these. We keep them on an open shelf all year clearly labeled for the children to freely take out and build. I also provide baskets of block accessories such as wooden people, tunnel structures, animals, cars and building toppers. Block-building instills fundamental skills in young learners including but not limited to: architectural & spatial planning, collaboration, fine motor development, balance, design, hand-eye coordination, creative thinking, shape identification, social & language skills, etc. etc. This list is never ending. Here’s a classic set, and here’s a more wallet-friendly smaller colorful set.

For gift-giving, this set is absolutely gorgeous!

5. Trains. I’m taking creative liberty here and also lumping in other vehicles such as small cars and trucks. My three and four-year-olds adore trains and regularly set up the most elaborate tracks all over our rug. There are so many great train sets out there, but my favorite is BRIO. (Track set here

, assorted trains here). Simple, classic, well-built and beloved. Ikea also sells a basic train set for under $20. Can’t beat that. [Ed note: Agreed on Brio. I’d add that if you’re gifting trains, ask what set the child has started, and add from the same brand—especially for bridges.]

6. Puzzles. I have a confession. I dislike doing puzzles. At clean-up time in the classroom, whenever there’s a puzzle that still needs to be put together, I call one of my students over to do it. For whatever reason, I’ve never had the patience for puzzles, but that doesn’t mean I don’t recognize their value for my kiddos. Completing puzzles strengthens hand-eye coordination, shape recognition, memory and problem-solving, among many other things. There are so many amazing, high-quality puzzles available everywhere. I love these chunky 3-D alphabet puzzles for their added challenge and pleasing aesthetic! Additionally, here is one of my favorite Waldorf-style wooden color wheel puzzles. Beautiful.

7. Magna-Tiles. Without a doubt, these are the number one manipulative my students continuously play with day after day, week after week, month after month. Transparent magna-tiles

, man. Buy a set, and I promise your kids will happily engage them in creative open-ended play from age two until at least age six. Don’t purchase less than the 120-piece set. You’ll want them all.

8. Sensory Table/Bin. Young children learn by doing. Humans in general best retain information when engaged with their senses. Sensory tables (or bins) are so awesome because they can be changed whenever you want. Sand, water, rice, dried beans, shaving cream, seeds, goop, etc. etc. I typically update mine every two weeks or so. Sometimes thematically (corn kernels with trucks after a trip to the farm) and sometimes not. Without fail, the sensory table is always a popular center during choice time. In the winter, we’ve added huge bowlfuls of real snow and droppers with warm water for the kids to explore the concept of melting. In the warmer months, we’ve made a fresh water “pond” complete with lily pads (laminated green shapes), rubber lizards & frogs, small boats, etc. to investigate the concept of natural habitat. Invest in a good-quality sensory table, and truly, the only limit is your imagination. (I’m not kidding: plug in “sensory table” on Pinterest and guaranteed you’ll get sucked down the rabbit hole).

Whew. If you read all that, you deserve a cookie. Happy playing!

Thank you, Kayla! Magna-Tiles are definitely going on a list for Santa (or grandma and grandpa) this year! 

Kayla is a full-time preschool teacher and professional portrait photographer specializing in natural, emotive portraiture of babies, children and families. She lives and works in the NY metro area. When she’s not scrubbing finger paint off her classroom walls or chasing toddlers around Central Park, she enjoys yoga, baking and traveling her with husband. Find her here: Website / Blog / Instagram / Pinterest

P.S. Previous holiday gift guides for kiddos!

Related posts: