Whether it’s birthdays or holidays, figuring out what preschool-age kiddos will enjoy is kinda like playing slots at Vegas. You might get lucky, or you might lose it all (your mind, I mean). 😀

I put together this post of tried-and-true toys that my 4.5-year-old has been loving for the past year! He’s a little engineer, and loves all things buildable. Lately I’ve noticed his imagination taking off which is SO fun to see! Everything shown and linked in this post are toys we ACTUALLY own. These are not just ideas or suggestions! These have a real preschooler’s stamp of approval. In his opinion, here are the best toys for preschoolers!

Lego City is a great starting point for ages 4 and up. The instructions are easy to follow, and can be mixed up for hours of creative fun! We have 4 of these sets and will be adding a few more to the collection for Christmas this year.

PlayMobile is another fantastic brand for preschoolers! The sets are fun to take apart and put back together. We have an ambulance and garbage truck that my 2-year-old is loving right now.

Lincoln Logs and Stem tubes are capable of keeping a preschooler occupied for at least an hour. I remember playing with Lincoln Logs as a kid, so it’s fun to pass it on to my boys!

Stem tubes are made by a variety of brands, but I’ve linked the ones we have. These are easy for little hands and fingers to push together. Even our 2-year-old is fascinated by them, and is able to create basic shapes.

Investing in a Playdoh set was one of my best decisions of the year! Both my older boys have spent countless hours at the dining room table, squishing and smashing and rolling. Sensory play at it’s best! We have a few different tool sets, and recently added Olaf and his sleigh to our craft bin.

Another favorite brand of ours is Melissa and Doug. You really can’t go wrong with their toys! Dress-up sets, magnetic cars, and Water Wow coloring pads are just a few of our most-used toys. They provide tons of imaginative playtime!

Green Toys and Tonka are two more brands that are guaranteed hits. Both of these brands are nearly indestructible. Our Green Toys boats have held up for 3 years with lots of bath time use!

Tonka Trucks are such a classic toy. We have the dump truck, fire truck, and garbage truck, and the boys have a blast racing them around the house and creating “building sites”. They are great for outdoor play as well! The boys love to use them on the patio and in the sandbox.

Hopefully this gives you some great gift ideas for the preschooler in your life. As always, here is the not-so-fun disclaimer: these are commissionable links. I earn a tiny percentage of the sale if you shop through the links provided.

Thanks for being here!