Gift ideas for a kid, 3 to 5

Narrow these down by budget and occasion with the gift finder.

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Typically under $15

Gift ideaWashable markers and jumbo crayonsChunky, washable art supplies are made for small hands and come off walls and clothes. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaReusable water reveal coloring padsMess-free coloring with just water; the pictures fade as they dry, so the pages work again. Good for car trips. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaLarge-piece floor puzzleBig pieces on the floor are easier for small hands than a table puzzle, and the finished picture is huge. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaWooden lacing beadsThreading beads builds the hand skills kids use later for writing and buttons. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaReusable sticker activity bookPeel-off scenes they can rearrange again and again; good for waiting rooms. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaMagnetic drawing boardDraw, slide to erase, draw again, with no pens to lose and nothing to clean. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaDinosaur figure setDinosaurs are a favorite for a reason; a bucket of them goes everywhere. Typically under $15 Search on Amazon →

Typically $15 to $25

Gift ideaPretend play food setCutting play fruit with a wooden knife keeps pretend cooking going for months, with or without a play kitchen. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaBedtime picture book setA stack of read-aloud picture books gets used every night, by the whole family. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaCooperative board game for preschoolersIn cooperative games everyone wins or loses together, so little kids learn to take turns without tears. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaAutomatic bubble machineTurns any afternoon in the yard into a party; no dipping wands, no spills. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaPlay sand set with moldsMoldable play sand holds its shape and stays in the tray, so sandbox play works indoors. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaToddler musical instrument setShakers, a tambourine and a xylophone: an instant band for little ones. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaVolume-limited kids' headphonesFor car rides and tablets. Look for an 85 dB volume limit, which is the usual guideline for kids. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaStar projector night lightProjects stars on the ceiling; many have a timer so it switches off after they fall asleep. Typically $15 to $25 Search on Amazon →

Typically $25 to $50

Gift ideaMagnetic building tilesOpen-ended building that grows with them: towers at three, houses and marble ramps at six. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaKids' tool benchPretend tools and a workbench let them "fix" things alongside a grown-up. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaDress-up costume trunkA box of costumes gets years of use: pirates, doctors, chefs, whatever today is. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaThree-wheel kick scooterThree wheels and lean-to-steer make it stable enough for a first scooter. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Gift ideaIndoor play tentA tent is a reading nook, a hideout and a fort in one. Typically $25 to $50 Search on Amazon →

Typically $50 to $100

Gift ideaBalance bikeLearning to balance first makes the switch to pedals much easier later on. Typically $50 to $100 Search on Amazon →

Budgets are what these kinds of gifts usually cost, not prices; Amazon has the current price.

Made by FitzTopPicks: printable party games, puzzles and activity pages.