Best EVER gifts for preschoolers

WHAT THEY’RE INTO…

• Dramatic play like dress-ups with complex storylines

• Messy play with paints, water, sand and mud

• Physical play that tests balance, climbing ability and coordination

• Simple board games that teach turn-taking, rules and counting

• Songs, books, silly rhymes that bring out their sense of humour

My Giant Kitchen @ Eco Toys

UNDER $10

This beautifully boxed vintage Pin the Tail on the Donkey game is perfect for your little one’s next birthday party, $9.95 from childrensdept.com.au

UNDER $10

For the little girl who dreams of groovy painted nails but isn’t safe to be playing with lacquer…try these Duuet DIY Nail Art Stickers, $9.95, from Lark.

UNDER $10

The latest craze on the block are Scooter Snaps, from $2.99 for letters + $6.95 for straps from littlemarvins.com. Kids love to personalise their gear and now they can leave their scooter in the park or at the bike racks and everyone will know it’s theirs. It’s the modern-day version of ’80s spokey dokes!

UNDER $10

Perfect for the budding farmer, these Farm Hands Temporary Tattoos, $9.95 from entropy.com.au, are designed by Hector Serrano (who also created the excellent Robot Hands tattoos) – great party favours or for a fun puppet show.

UNDER $10

Promote creativity and keep all their art gear together – win, win! Disney Minnie Mouse Bowtique Deluxe Roll & Go Art Desk, $6, target.com.au

UNDER $10

Remember Hair Bobbles? Well now it’s time to introduce a new generation of little girls to these awesome coloured hair balls (not the cat kind) and bring back old school style, $3.95, from Lark.

UNDER $25

Apples to Pears Train Set in a tin includes a track and battery-operated train sure to provide for hours of fun, $19.95 from entropy.com.au

UNDER $25

The Transformobile Fire Truck, $24.95 by Edtoy will encourage creative building as they can interchange rotating magnetised pieces to make six different mini vehicles.

UNDER $25

For the mums who hate mess… Now your kids can have the fun of playing with sand without it getting everywhere. Kinetic Sand, $19.95, has special properties to make it soft and stretchy and it sticks to itself not you!

UNDER $25

If dinosaurs went to the beach and played in the sand, this is what it would look like…kinda. The Haba Digging Claw Beach Toy, $19.95, from Haggus & Stookles is just ace in so many ways!

UNDER $25

A handmade Tooth Fairy Pocket Pillow, $14.95, from nic-nac.com.au are a beautiful keepsake for your child to be used each time they lose a tooth. There is also a ‘Letter to Santa’ pocket pillow!

UNDER $25

Turn the stylish spotlight onto your next party or just make a rainy day go faster with the Super Masks and Party Crowns creative kids’ activity book, $14.95, from hardtofind.com.au

UNDER $25

Who says the Dark Side can’t be filled with light? Just the ticket for those night time adventures or lego-building sessions, a Lego Star Wars Darth Vader Head Lamp, $18.99, from thinkgeek.com

UNDER $25

A Balloon Ball, $14.95, by nic-nac.com.au is and awesome option for travelling – just fold up the cover and inflate balloon when you get there – and for rainy days as it’s soft enough for inside.

UNDER $25

The Zoo Mr Rex Wall Hook, $19.95, from childrensdept.com.au is made of super-sturdy polystone and metal and makes a fun, colourful addition to any childs room.

UNDER $50

When it’s cloudy with a chance of bad guys, it’s time to slip into your Superhero Raincoat, $49.99 from thinkgeek.com. It’s made of rubber and lined with cotton so it’s comfy and easy to wash off after a day of grime-fighting.

UNDER $50

Bucking against the tradition of girls’ toys being just about the sorts of things we think girls should be into – cooking, shopping, cleaning, dressing up – the Goldie Blox construction set and book series Goldie Blox & the Spinning Machine, $32.99, teaches girls about building and constructing. We love!

UNDER $50

Stackable storage boxes that look like giant lego blocks – geektastic! If you have a house full of games and toys, these Lego Storage Bricks, up to $49.95 from thinkgeek.com, will be just what you need.

UNDER $50

The Giant Inflatable Tiger Head, $39.95, by Big Mouth Toys at childrensdept.com.au is just the thing to pimp up your baby’s room or decorate and kids’ party. Don’t ask why, just inflate and have fun!

UNDER $50

A good board-style, turn-taking game that promotes memorisation, observation and colour and pattern matching. The Kid O Memory Match 16 is eight different games in one, $49.95, from kidostore.com.au

UNDER $50

Your mini Martha Stewarts will enjoy whipping up imaginary meals with true-to-life appliances sized just for them. Mixer, Blender and Coffee Maker make realistic sounds and feature an LED displays and flashing lights. $36 from potterybarnkids.com.au

OVER $50

Dora or Diego Electric Ride-on Trikes, $69, from catchoftheday.com.au are a great price for a motorised ride-on with accelerator pedal. It also features headlights and plays music. Go go!

OVER $50

Not only does it look good enough to eat, this Giant Inflatable Donut Pool Float, $45.95 by Big Mouth Toys, will make any pool party or day in the sun so much sweeter. What’s no to love?

OVER $50

So in the interests of balance (see GoldieBlox construction set) we’ve included a kitchen set – after all, all good inventions start out on the kitchen table! The Pottery Barn Kids Retro Kitchen, $329, has got to be one of the most amazing we’ve ever seen!

OVER $50

Fabulous for dress-ups or for all those hats, coats and bags that kids accumulate, the Children’s Tree Hangers, $59.95, by Lime Tree Kids will brighten up any room.

OVER $50

Encourage imaginative storytelling with this versatile cardboard puppet theatre which constructs and flat packs in minutes! You can use the light and screen to create a shadow puppet theature or remove for regular Puppetbox, $79 from tinyfolk.com.au

OVER $50

The Mocka Activity Table, $119.95, is a great place for kids to create and spread out without having to pack it all away for dinner. It comes with side storage slots down each side for all the bits and bobs, plus pull-out drawers for bigger items.

OVER $50

Dress-ups are key kickstarters for kids’ role-playing games and what little girl doesn’t want to be a pink unicorn at least once in her life? The Pink Ride-a-Unicorn Child’s Costume, $51, is made to size order.

OVER $50

Here’s one for the super-lucky little ones in your life. These oh-so-awesome vintage caravan replicas for kids. The junior dream house on wheels comes flat-packed (see, there’s fun for parents too!) and prices start at $1995. See Caravan Cubbies to order your mini-van.

WANT MORE?

• Check out our Gifts for New Dads for some hilarious and very handy ideas.

• Short of cash? We’ve got 50 thrifty ways to score FREE stuff & save.

• See Safe Santa’s Christmas checklist – which toys have been naughty not nice.