Toddlers should be easy to buy for overall as they’re interested in everything, they outgrow clothing as quickly as you buy it, and keepsakes are important for the whole family in these fleeting years. With perhaps too many options, we’ve taken it upon ourselves to cross reference some of today’s leading experts and summarize our findings for you!
Toddlers need engagement and challenges
Fatherly.com shares an interesting interview with Rebecca Parlakian, senior director of programs at Zero to Three. Rebecca states:
“Three-year-olds are eager to solve problems and will make their own if needed. That’s why blocks of all kinds are fun choices for 3-year-olds who want to explore, create, and figure things out.”
Look into “pretend-play props that encourage feisty 3-year-olds to tell stories and act out roles, like puppets, pretend play costumes, and storybooks with simple storylines and vivid illustrations,” says Parlakian. “Finally, don’t forget that 3-year-olds like to move. Balls of all sizes, bowling sets, tunnels to crawl through, child-size rakes and shovels (so they can ‘help’ you), and wheeled toys to push and ride” all make great gifts for 3-year-olds.
They share photos with links to approximately twenty products that fit the above description – from $20 – $200. It’s worth checking out.
A few of our favorite creative toddler presents under $50
Here are a few that we hand picked ourselves from Amazon. And, no, we’re not getting any kickback. We just like sharing a good deal when we find it!
14 Piece Tegu Magnetic Wooden Block Set
Tegu is a building system consisting in a series of magnetic blocks and shapes appropriate for toddlers, girls or boys. It is an open-play manipulative toy with puzzle-like construction abilities. Safe and eco-friendly, Tegu toys are NATURAL WOOD, with water-based finishes and recycled packaging. They are naturally safe: no lead, no plastic and non-toxic.
Honeysticks Beeswax Bath Tub Crayons for Toddlers & Kids
100% NATURAL, NON TOXIC GOODNESS – Honeysticks beeswax bath crayons for toddlers are handmade in New Zealand with 100% pure New Zealand beeswax, soy wax and food grade, non-toxic pigments. These jumbo crayons are perfect for toddlers, kids and children from 2 years old onwards. Bring out the inner-artist early!
VTech Write and Learn Creative Center
Learning toy magnetic drawing board provides a fun way to get a head start on learning how to write with writing and drawing activities. Pre-K learning toy has animated Demonstrations that allow children to follow along and learn proper stroke order for uppercase and lowercase letters. Excellent value.
Learning Pad / Kids Phone with 6 Toddler Learning Games
Touch and Learn Toddler Tablet for Numbers, ABC and Words Learning. Educational Learning Toys for Boys and Girls – 18 Months to 6 Year Old. Kid education tablet is filled with toddler learning games that are fun and teach critical thinking skills, including letters, words, spelling, numbers, “Where Is?” Quiz.
Meland Magnetic Drawing Board
Kids Magna Drawing Doodle Board Erasable Writing Sketch Board Pad. Magnetic drawing board: newly-designed colored drawing board toy allows your kids to draw, write, or just scribble on it, encourages them Use their imaginations with this magnetic doodle board. Excellent value.
Bilingual Talking Poster: Music + ABC + 123s + Shapes + Colors Eng & Spanish + Songs
Perfect educational toys for 2 year olds and learning toys for 3 year olds. BILINGUAL LEARNING TOY FOR EARLY TODDLER DEVELOPMENT: English & Spanish vocabulary themed around the alphabet, numbers, animals, and everyday items. Great for 1 year to 3 year old.
LeapFrog My Own Leaptop
Learn about the alphabet, spell your name and more on a pretend play Leapfrog computer built for kids. Tap away in 4 learning modes—ABCs, Messages, Games and Music—and bop along to 16 songs and melodies.
For the “kid who has everything”. Think “keepsake”
Randesign has brought four generations keepsake gifts that are cherished for more than a single lifetime.
Our newest addition:
SuperSoft Personalized Teddy Bear – $40.00
Our SuperSoft Teddy Bear measures 15″ from head to toe. We monogram up to two lines directly on the plush animal. CPSIA compliant. Choice of two traditional colors: icy blue or plush pink! Hand wash, warm or cold water. And…as always – FREE shipping!
Randesign’s PersonalizedKidsPlates.com
We also offer a wide variety of melamine personalized, decorative plates that have been a big hit since 1975! With over 50 colorful designs for you to choose from and customize, you’ll find the right one for every occasion. At only $24 each – you can’t go wrong. But don’t take our word for it:
“I just received my plates for my 2 boys and they look so great!! I can’t believe they are identical to the one my parents bought me almost 30 years ago! So special, thank you. I attached a picture of my plate – it still gets used and is in such great condition. Talk about great quality! Thanks again!”
LYNDSEY 8/15/17
A final note…
The toddler years provide interesting times to buy gifts. It’s an age of curiosity and creativity – these traits need to be fulfilled and exercised. We think our recommendations bring some of the best value available online. But, these are also fleeting times to be cherished. An appropriate personalized gift will last a lifetime… and more.
Visit PersonalBabyProducts.com and PersonalizedKidsPlates.com to stay up-to-date on topics, tips and articles written especially for parents. We welcome you to share, repost and re-tweet our news, ideas and stories with your social network.
