Gift ideas for your favorite 4 and 5 year olds
As a preschooler, my son loves many of the same types of toys as he did as a toddler, including building toys, puzzles, and play pretend toys. But these toys are a bit more advanced and have more pieces – and are honestly a bit more fun to play with.
The toys on this list are best for ages 4 to 5 years old. Everything on this list are toys that we own or have asked for this holiday season for our 5 year old.

Disclosure: One Little Small is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. The links in this post are affiliate links, meaning if you go through them to make a purchase I will earn a small commission. I selected the products in this guide because of their quality and not because of the commission I receive from your purchases. The decision is yours, and whether or not you decide to buy something is completely up to you.
Preschooler Gifts
Lincoln Logs
Some toys are a classic for a reason – and Lincoln Logs is one of the greats. This set gets as much use in our house as the Legos and MagnaTiles. If your child loves building toys, Lincoln Logs is a must have!
Obuby Kids Fort Building Kit
We asked for this fort building kit after spending a rainy spring building blanket forts with our son our of blankets and pool noodles. This is definitely a toy to play with together – it’s a bit too complex for a 4 year old to build all on their own – but it is fun for everyone!
The Floor is Lava Game
I have heard a lot of good things about The Floor is Lava game. And I thought it was perfect for my little guy who loves moving and jumping.
Etch A Sketch
Another classic childhood toy that has been a hit in our household is the Etch A Sketch. My 5 year old has a blast making pictures, and only needs help erasing his drawings.
LEGO City Farmers Market Van Set
One milestone I didn’t see coming was the transition from LEGO Duplos to regular, big kid LEGO sets. The millennial mom in me was *so proud* when my son picked out this LEGO City Farmers Market Van Set. Plus, it comes with the LEGO version of all the fruits and vegetables your preschooler won’t eat.
Paint by Sticker Kids: Christmas
My son received a few Paint by Stickers books for his 5th birthday, and we BOTH have enjoyed doing them together. This Christmas edition of Paint by Stickers Kids is the perfect gift to put under your tree.
Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center
This design and drill toy is perfect for any tool-loving kiddo. My son can spend an afternoon creating different pictures with the colored screws and drill. It’s a lot of fun!
Animal Friends Deluxe Kids Hand Puppets (6 Pack)
One thing we love to do in our house is to build a stage with the fort builder toy above and put on a puppet show. I added this set of hand puppets to my son’s wish list because he loves animals and they were well-rated.
Big Gifts for Preschoolers
Seckton Kids Digital Camera
Santa brought this digital camera last Christmas, when Ben was 4, and he absolutely loves it! He takes it with us on our adventures, and creates his own movies at home with his Godzilla toys. If your preschooler loves using your phone to take photos and videos, do yourself a favor and add this kids digital camera to cart.
Foamnasium Blocksy Mini
If you don’t have the space or budget for one of those in-demand, large buildable couches, check out this one from Foamnasium. We purchased the Blocksy Mini for my son’s 4th birthday, and he still has a lot of fun with it – without taking up half his room.
Hape Quadrilla Wooden Marble Run
Marble run toys are great for this age. If you’re looking for a bigger gift, consider this one from Hape. It is more complex to setup than the plastic version – this gift is best for ages 4 and up. It’s unique, has cool add-on pieces, and is fun for the whole family.
Kids Science Kit with Lab Coat Set
This year for Christmas, Ben has asked for a science lab kit. This Kids Science Kit with Lab Coat Set from Learn & Climb has over 20 experiments, includes lab coat and safety goggles, and is rated for kids ages 4-6 years old.
Banana GT Balance Bike
Balance bikes are a great gift for older toddlers / young preschoolers. We bought this balance when my son was 3, but he wasn’t very interested in riding it until closer to 3.5 years old. If your child isn’t quite ready for a full-sized bike, you may want to check out a balance bike instead.
Thank you for checking out my gift guide for preschoolers. I hope you are able to find the perfect gift for your three and a half, four or five year old in this list of toys my son has loves so much.
If you enjoyed this gift guide, make sure to check out my full collection of holiday gift ideas for kids, including Gift Ideas for Babies, Gift Ideas for One Year Olds, Toddler Gift Guide, Hanukkah Gift Guide and Stocking Stuffers Guide.