Gift Ideas for 3 to 4 year olds
The wonderful thing about a lot of the Montessori aligned materials or toys is that they last through a variety of ages. There are definitely some that a child will master and move on, but with many other materials, the way that the child uses the materials evolves over time and suits a wide range of ages. I often observe this when we go to a friends home or they come to our home- we have some friends who are 3 or 4, and some that are younger- all of the children are using the same materials; yet, the way that they use the activities is much different. It seems that their play becomes more intricate and specific- especially with open ended materials- it is a joy to watch! All of this to say that these are some materials that may be suitable starting at age 3-4, but many of the things on our 2-3 list would probably also be great too! Observation is always key-- take some time to see what your child gravitates towards and how they use their materials, and see if any of these options inspire you :)
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Lots of people like the WayToPlay roads, but I have heard that they can be frustrating to connect. We have this set, and it is fantastic! In stock at My Toy Wagon (afflink)
Great for fine motor skills and concentration.
Perfect for children who love to pick up and store all sorts of treasures
Really sturdy looking lacing work, I like that they are opaque
So honestly, I saw pictures and thought Sumblox were sort of lame...who needs number blocks???-- but THEN, I saw a video of them being used, and I was amazed! The size of the number block is scaled with the value, which means that a 5 is bigger than a 1, and you can stack 5 ones on their side and their height will be level with the 5; or a 2 and a 3 stacked would also equal the same height as a 5. I don't know why, but it is mind blowing to watch! Crosscheck pricing with their US website.
We have this, and love it! My 3 really enjoys it, and the sound is lovely. This one is just under 15 inches tall.
This one has a pretty high weight limit and decent reviews.
Another Spielstabil: Love this line from Haba- here are the highlights from their site-
"Spielstabil Products are manufactured in Germany and are PVC free, Phthlate free and BPA Free.
The indestructible, colorfast sand & water toys from Spielstabil come with a 10 Year guarantee."
Perfect for outdoor play and and the beach!
This looks really beautiful, probably best for 3 and up. Explore the National Parks in a beautifully illustrated book!
This looks like a really cute one for ages 3 and up if you have a child that needs a little more directed play in nature.
We don't do battery operated toys, but we make exceptions! These are great for being able to recognize birds from their calls--the pages each feature one bird and have facts about each one!
The Magic & Mystery of Trees
A Beautiful book with a mix of illustrations and real images with many facts about trees and nature.
A Seed Is Sleepy
Another beautiful book all about seeds.
Food Like Mine
Photos of children and food from around the world with recipes that you can follow with your child as you learn about different cultures through food.
Eeboo Picnic Game Looks like a really cute board game for younger children.
Another great one for ages 3 and up. The images are beautiful, this could also be used for matching or language work.
This looks super cute, and a fun way to engage with kids while in nature, or make things interesting if you have a child who is prone to boredom. It says ages 3 and up, it seems that it would cover into elementary years.
6 Sets of life cycle figures and cards that match. This is listed as age 4 and up, but some 3 year olds may also be interested.
These look really neat for older kids who are into animals/animal track identification. Would be neat used in playdough or sand
Great for working on fine motor skills.
What we have been using for paint. These things are huge!
Nice thick paper that won't rip when paint is applied generously!
Wooden Clay Stamps
Great for working on pre writing skills
Also good for working on hand strength
Cute 20 piece Eeboo floor puzzle
Goki Wooden block matching set
Pretty cool wooden block matching work for ages 3-8, by Goki.
Melissa and Doug Floor Puzzle
Great 48 piece floor puzzle
Melissa and Doug Floor Puzzle
Very large 32 piece floor puzzle
Ultimate Construction Site Book
This book is stunning! So many flaps and moving pieces to explore and enjoy
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