PBF Gift Guide 2024: Little Kids (Ages 3-5)

The holiday season is upon us! Anyone out there already done shopping? (You have my respect!) Haven’t started yet? I have a handful of things stashed away in a closet for loved ones but plan to do most of my shopping over Black Friday/Cyber Monday weekend. (It seems like it’s a 4-day sale affair these days, huh!?) If you’re like me, hopefully the timing of my gift guides this year will be right up your alley.

To kick off my gift guides, I’m starting with my easiest gift guides to assemble: Kid gift guides!

I absolutely love putting these gift guides together every year and pour a ton of time and effort into making them what I hope is a helpful resource for all of you shopping for the little ones in your life. (I swear my dream job would be people hiring me to shop for their children!) I’ll be sharing a children’s gift guide for bigger kids as well but today’s blog post focuses on gifts for younger children in the three to five year old age range. These are all gifts I’d feel very confident gifting to 3- to 5-year-olds based on my experience with our children and the surprises they’ve loved, but of course you know the kids in your life best!

As in years past, I’m dividing this years’ gift guide for kids into four categories:

Something they want (subdivided into a few additional categories)
Something they need
Something to wear
Something to read

This is the way I approach gifting to our boys as it includes a mix of practical gifts as well as the fun stuff they love. I hope this gift guide gives you some ideas for the little ones in your life!

NOTE: You may find most of these items rounded up in one place in my Amazon shop for easy browsing: Little Kid Gift Guide (ages 3-5)!

Gift Guide for Little Kids (Ages 3 to 5)

Something They Want

Physical Play:

• Ride-On Tractor: I cannot recommend this enough, as it’s Rhett’s (age 4) current obsession. It has two speed modes (plus reverse), the battery lasts a long time (we’re talking 90+ minutes and more than 2 miles) and Rhett absolutely adores pulling the little trailer around all over the place.
• Sports Cones: A simple gift they’ll use for years to create obstacle courses, goals, games, playing Capture the Flag, etc.
• Gymnastics Bar: For the budding gymnast or the kids who just loves to hang and swing around (aka our kids)! This bar was our boys’ favorite in their MyGym classes for the longest time. Pair with a gymnastics air mat for little ones who love to tumble, too!
• Plasma Car: These make my gift guides every year for good reason. We discovered them through the boys’ preschool and all of the kids are still obsessed and love flying around on them. (Hooray for toy longevity!) We also have this Amazon knock-off version and the differences are very minimal if you’d like to save some money.
• Little Tikes Bounce House: Our quarantine discovery and was worth its weight in gold for indoor winter playtime. This is the bounce house we got for Chase and Ryder when they were younger and it’s the perfect size for toddlers.
• Side-by-Side Push Car: A push car that seats two! If you have multiples (or even one kid who likes a little more room), this push car is a gem of a find for kids ages 1-4 (aka little ones who may be on a stroller strike). The bigger size is great for slightly bigger kids, as it lasts longer. Rhett still rides in ours!
• Balance Bike: I credit a combination of the Balance Bike + a small bike with training wheels for making it so easy for Ryder to learn to ride a big kid bike in less than 5 minutes (yes, truly!) when he was 4-years-old. It blew my mind and was night-and-day different from Chase who never really go into the Balance Bike. Rhett is also obsessed with our Balance Bike!
• Bike: We’ve loved this bike for the boys’ younger years and have it in two sizes. It’s passed the hand-me-down test and our smallest version of the bike (12”) has now been through three boys and held up well.
• Scooter: Our boys have all started on a three-wheel light-up scooter at first!
• Chasing Fireflies Game: Such a fun one for kids who love to seek and find.
• Adjustable Height Baseball Tee: For little batters!
• Zebco Fishing Rod: The rod all of our boys used to learn to cast and fish.

Imagination Play: 

• Cash Register: They’ll get years of play out of this one! Our boys use it to “sell” tickets to their concerts, animal rescue center and zoo and also as a grocery store/shop cash register, etc.
• Picasso Tiles: These will make every kid gift guide I create for all time. The BEST. If you don’t have magnetic tiles for your little one, let this be the item you get them this year. I recommend getting a pack with at least 100 tiles because your child(ren) will play with them for years and make increasingly impressive creations!
• Mini Bluetooth Karaoke Machine: Oh my gosh our boys cannot get enough of this thing. I cannot tell you how many “concerts” we’ve watched since we gave this one to Ryder a few years ago.
• Hot Wheels Transporters: This one for a splurge + This one for a lower price point. (Go for the lower price point option if your kids are on the younger side, as it’s a little easier to navigate.) Our boys have and love both so, so much. And if you’re looking for the ultimate Hot Wheels gift, the Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage my mother-in-law got for all three boys to share last year was truly the hit of Christmas! (Note: I think that one is best for ages 4+!)
• Costumes: You can never have enough! Costumes are the gift that keep on giving for hours of imaginary play.
• Musical Instruments: Another idea that will be used for years and years.
• Train Table/Activity Table + Trains: A big gift for sure but one we’ve had for 7+ years and an absolute favorite for our boys from ages 2-6.
• Pop-Up Play Tent: Great for imagination play! I cannot tell you how much time our boys spent in their pop-up rocket ship tent in their younger years. Bonus: It looks like a BIG gift to a little kid but it won’t break the bank. Also, one of Rhett’s friends has this air fort and he thinks it’s the coolest.
• Foamnasium Couch: Our kids drag these cushions everywhere. So great for fort-building, story time relaxation, imagination play, clubhouses, etc.
• Tonies: Great for quiet time and road trip entertainment. Our boys love listening to the stories from their favorite Tonies and often put on a Tonies story on to listen to for background entertainment. (Definitely get this carrying case to keep everything together!) Our youngers boys’ favorite Tonies characters: All of the Paw Patrol characters, Super Wings, Christmas Mickey Mouse, Daniel Tiger
• Walkie Talkies: For a three-pack of inexpensive walkie talkies, these have held up great for us over the years!
• Flexible Race Track: Kids can build and re-build these flexible race tracks to make a million different tracks. Our boys adore watching the cars fly around on their creations and they’re compatible with most other flexible tracks out there, so they’re a great gift you can build on over the years.

Educational / Creative Play:

• Lite Brite: This retro toy is still an absolute gem! Rhett (4) and Ryder (6) love it so much. This refill pack of animal templates is going under the tree for them this year.
• Marble Run: Marble runs are absolute magic kids. They entertain our boys for a LONG time which is a win in my book!
• Lincoln Logs: A toy I loved as a kid that holds up! My aunt got our boys two tins (and I’d recommend doing the same so they can maximize their creations) years ago and they are still a hit.
• Light-Up Terrarium: For any nature-loving kids out there, this terrarium is one that our boys loved and really enjoyed watching come to life.
• Munchkin Color Mix Bath Toy: This is one of my top recommendations this year, especially if your little one likes bath time. Rhett constantly requests a “color bath” and loves mixing colors and playing in the colorful water. We have these Color Buddies that also use the color tablets for a colorful bath. So fun!
• Screwdriver Toy Set: Please don’t hate me for the tiny pieces in this one, but if you have a kid who likes to build things and play with tools, this screwdriver play set is one our kids love.
• Biggie Beads: Think melty/perler beads but bigger! Great for fine motor skill development. This kit comes with everything you need (other than an iron but honestly we don’t even iron their Biggie Bead creations that often)!
• Surprise Inside Bath Bombs: Our boys flip for these and have a little collection of their tiny bath bomb surprises saved in a box that we bring with us to sports’ games, restaurants, etc. for on-the-go entertainment.
• Water Doodle Mat: Create fun pictures using only water! The mat size is nice and big but folds up easily. Just make sure you get one that comes with a little backpack for easy storage so you can keep everything together and organized.
• Create-Your-Own Window Art: For the crafty kids. Our boys enjoyed making these and tying them onto gifts for friends/family.
• Kid-Friendly Digital Camera: The gift we gave to a bunch of the boys’ friends for various birthdays two years ago. It’s a small camera that’s a HUGE hit for little kids, especially those with an interest in taking lots of pictures!
• Puzzles: We do puzzles in our house daily. These 4-in-1 wooden puzzles are high-quality and fantastic for younger puzzlers. We have every single one of them of them! Floor puzzles are also a huge hit in the younger years and this fire truck puzzle is one our boys reach for most often. And this is one of our boys’ favorite Christmas puzzles.
• V-Tech Rock and Bop Music Player: So helpful for us for toddler car entertainment! All three boys loved this one!
• Games: Snug as a Bug in a Rug (so cute and the game makes it so you can change the difficulty level as kids get older), Duck Duck Dance (an adorable game for toddlers that gets your little one laughing and dancing), Hoot Owl Hoot (a great game for collaborative play), Don’t Break the Ice (our kids get SO into this one)
• LeapFrog Learning Laptop: I swear this thing helped all of our boys learn their letters early. They still play with it and pretend to “work” on this laptop! It’s a go-to gift for me for a 2 or 3-year-old.
• Art Easel: So wonderful for endless creativity!
• Crayola Color Wonder: Mess free crafting! Our kids love these markers and paints.

Something They Need

• Colgate Hum Smart Toothbrush: If you have a reluctant brusher, I cannot recommend this smart toothbrush enough. Our kids flip for it and genuinely enjoy following the prompts in the corresponding app to brush their teeth and earn in-app prizes. (This is one I’d recommend for those closer to 4.5 years old and up.)
• Memberships/Lessons/Experiences: The best gift!!! Consider gifting a membership to a favorite children’s museum, lessons for a favorite sport or activity, a local zoo, etc.
• Silicone Water Bottle Name Bands: We love these name bands because they can be used on any water bottle and they help easily identify the boys’ water bottles with their name! We went the tie-dye route for their name bands because they stand out a little more in a sea of water bottles. Pair this with a new water bottle (YETI 12 oz water bottles are great for toddler/little kid years) for a fun gift idea!
• Name Puzzle Stool: A hit for little ones who need to be able to wash their hands/reach things by themselves. We have stools readily available in every room of our house with a sink!
• Daily Task Charts: Our boys are majorly motivated by these charts and they’ve been great for teaching responsibility.
• Rotating Snack Tray: A novelty for little ones! We save ours for travel or longer stroller walks with Rhett so it’s still a fun thing for him.
• Children’s Knives: For kids who like to help in the kitchen, these children’s knives let them safely slice softer foods (hard boiled eggs, toast, peppers, strawberries).
• Arts and Crafts Supplies: KwikStix Fast-Drying Paint Pens (the best for making posters/banners — we use our butcher paper roll all the time), Crayola Marker Caddy (great for small hands + organized markers), Window Crayons, Retractable Markers (to eliminate the frustration of losing caps), Crayola Twistables Crayons (for kids who get easily frustrated by broken/dull crayons) paired with a big-picture coloring book – our fav!
• Sporting Goods/Activity Supplies: A new soccer ball for a soccer player, a new leotard for a dancer, etc.
• Visible Task Timer: For kids who are motivated by a timer. We still use this all the time and I swear it helps with battles/expectations so, so much.
• Activity Bag/Kid-Friendly Luggage: For kids to keep their activity stuff organized (Etsy has adorable personalized options!) or for kids in families who like to travel. My mom got Chase his own suitcase one year and it was such a hit! We use it for travel but the boys like to use it for imagination games, too.

Something To Wear

• Crocs: Are Crocs not just THE BEST shoes for kids? They can put them on and take them off all by themselves, they can get them as dirty as they want, wear them with or without socks and make them fun and unique with little charms. Our boys’ favorite shoes!
• Clog Shearling Slippers: I got these Target slippers for the boys this year and they’re already wearing them around the house all the time.
• Shearling-Style Boots: All 3 of our boys have these Target boots. They’re so cozy and the side zipper is genius for little ones and makes them easier for them to get on and off on their own. And the sole is harder/more substantial than other similar boots we’ve tried in the past, making them more durable. LOVE them!
• Pajamas: We’re a sucker for matching holiday jammies in our house! The boys loved this print last year and we bought them the exact same pajamas in the next size up this year. This brand is also one of our favorites.
• Robe: I didn’t think our boys would care about a robe until they all started asking for one when they noticed me wearing mine all the time in the winter months. They adore their robes and I’ve had good luck finding them at Target or a local consignment shop. For a splurge-worthy option, these Pottery Barn sherpa robes are adorable and personalizable.
• Winter Jacket: We’ve had good luck with Patagonia jackets (they majorly pass the hand-me-down test), these packable Amazon jackets and these Amazon ski jackets.
• New Underwear/Socks: Not that fun but often necessary! I’ll add new underwear (our boys love this modal underwear) in the boys’ stockings and also love including fuzzy holiday socks for something a little more festive. (I almost always get them on sale on Black Friday online at Old Navy.)
• Winter Accessories: Hats, gloves, scarves, mittens… whatever they need!

Something To Read

• Daniel Tiger 5-Minute Stories (The chokehold these stories have on Rhett right now, I’m telling you! We have to read a “Daniel Tiggy Tigg” story before any other books to him every single night before bed.)
• Have You Filled a Bucket Today? (The best book we’ve found for teaching kindness in a way young kids understand.)
• How to Catch a Reindeer (Our kids adore any and all books from this series.)
• Little Blue Truck (We have and love them all)
• Little Excavator (Adorable and loved by all 3 of our boys)
• The Circus Ship (Such a gem of a book!)
• Dragons Love Tacos (This one cracks our kids up and the story makes it easy to emphasize silly parts as an adult reading it aloud)
• Pete the Cat (We love this take-along collection, as it has many books in one case)
• Pout Pout Fish (One of my personal favorites! Such clever rhyming!)
• The Gruffalo (Cute, funny and fun to read)
• Excellent Ed (Sweet story and a simple way to teach kids about individuality)
• Cars and Trucks and Things That Go (Don’t forget to search for Goldbug on each page!)
• Press Here (Creative concept and a very interactive read)
• The Snail and the Whale (You can’t go wrong with a Julia Donaldson book)
• Paw Patrol 5 Minute Stories (For kids who are Paw Patrol super fans)
• Are You My Mother? (One of my favs as a kid and still a hit)

Question of the Day

Any big-time winners in your house for little kids ages 3-5? Please share your best gift recommendations below!