Christmas gifts for preschoolers: 20 ideas

A good Christmas gift for a preschooler is something the child can play with independently and that fits in with what they already enjoy playing with: puzzles, building toys, pretend play, crafts, a book or an experience together. For children under 3, the toy should have no small parts, and anything they’ll take to preschool, such as a new backpack or water bottle, needs to have their name on it.

Here you’ll find 20 ideas sorted by type of play, an age-based table, a simple rule for how many gifts are enough, and what to check before you buy.

Christmas gifts for preschoolers: 20 ideas

Preschool accepts children from around one year old until they start school, so the age range is wide. The ideas below suit most children aged 2 to 5. Check the age label on the packaging of the item you choose.

Build and play independently

1. Puzzle. Start with a few large pieces and increase the number as the child gets the hang of it. A puzzle made with a family photo also makes a personal gift.
2. Building blocks or construction toys. Wooden blocks for the youngest children, larger building sets with more pieces for children who build from their own ideas.
3. Vehicles and a car track. A wooden truck, a train set or a garage track. Children who play with cars every day rarely tire of having more.
4. Doll or figurines. A soft doll, a doll’s stroller or a couple of animal figures can easily become the main characters in a child’s own stories.
5. Pretend play: kitchen, shop or doctor’s kit. Preschool-age children imitate what adults do. A toy kitchen or a cash register is often used for years.

Create and make crafts

6. Craft kit or pegboard beads. Great for the Christmas break. Beads are small parts, so keep them for children aged 3 and up and away from younger siblings.
7. Crayons, child-safe scissors and a large drawing pad. Many four-year-olds are eager to have scissors of their own. Choose a pair with rounded tips.
8. Play dough or modeling clay. Easy to get started with, and the child can play for a long time without an adult needing to guide them.

Games, books and quiet moments

9. Memory game or a first board game. Simple rules and short rounds. A memory game with pictures from the child’s everyday life is extra fun.
10. Picture books. A new book in a series the child already loves, or a flap book for the youngest children. Books can be passed down and shared.
11. Flashlight or story projector. Popular in the dark days of December. Check that the battery compartment is screwed shut (see the safety section below).
12. Musical instrument for children. Drum, xylophone or tambourine. Great for children who sing and dance at home.

Outdoors and on the move

13. Snow sled or sliding mat. A Christmas gift they can use right away if it snows during the school break.
14. Scooter or balance bike with helmet. Give the helmet in the same package so it becomes a natural part of the bike.
15. A forest discovery kit. Magnifying glass, a small net and a jar for looking at bugs. Suits children who already go on outings with preschool.

Experiences and time

16. Homemade vouchers. "A pancake breakfast with Dad," "Build a blanket fort with Grandma," "Pick the movie on Friday." Free, and the child remembers the time you spend together.
17. A ticket or annual pass. Swimming pool, museum, indoor play center or children's theater. Wrap the ticket in a box along with something small related to the visit.
18. A term of classes. Swimming lessons, dance or rhythm classes, if the child has already shown an interest in something.

Practical gifts for preschool

19. Their own backpack or water bottle. For days out. Let the child choose a color or design they recognize as their own.
20. A stuffed animal or a small blanket for nap time. Many children nap with something of their own. Check with the preschool first to find out what they can bring.

Choose based on age and how the child plays now

The age on the package is a safety limit, not a definitive guide. Look at what the child does almost every day: do they build, talk to their figures, sit for a long time drawing? Get more of that. The table offers a starting point.

Age	What play often looks like	Ideas from the list
1 to 2 years	Explores, puts things in their mouth, likes sounds	Picture book (10), large wooden blocks (2), drum (12). No small parts.
3 years	Imitates adults, starting pretend play and simple puzzles	Puzzles with few pieces (1), toy kitchen (5), vehicles (3), modeling clay (8)
4 years	Longer imaginative play, wants to cut and create	Dolls and figures (4), children's scissors and crayons (7), pegboards (6), balance bike (14)
5 years	Follows simple rules, builds according to their own plan	Memory and board games (9), larger building sets (2), discovery kits (15), classes (18)
6 years	Attends preschool class, likes rules, challenges and longer projects	Games with rules (9), puzzles with more pieces (1), craft projects (6), experiences (17)

Why a separate row for six-year-olds? Children start preschool class in the fall term of the year they turn six, when compulsory schooling begins, according to the Swedish National Agency for Education. So a six-year-old is usually no longer a preschooler, but many people look for Christmas presents for siblings of both ages at the same time.

How many Christmas presents does a preschooler need?

Not many. A three-year-old can't open and play with ten presents in one evening, and most of them end up in a box. A simple rule that usually works:

• Something to play with: something from the building or pretend-play list.
• Something to create with: crafts, crayons or modeling clay.
• Something to do together: a voucher, a ticket or a game.
• Something practical: backpack, bottle, sled or helmet.

Does the child have lots of relatives who buy presents? Split up the list between you, so Grandma can get the experience and the godparent the craft kit. That means fewer duplicates.

Christmas gift on a small budget

Many toy stores have dedicated sections for gifts under 200 kr, but the cheapest option is often something the child uses up and wants more of:

• Crayons, stickers, bubbles, and a new drawing pad.
• Secondhand puzzles, games, and books. Count the puzzle pieces before wrapping it.
• Homemade vouchers and a homemade advent calendar with 24 small activities instead of 24 things.
• A group gift from several adults: one bigger item the child has really wished for instead of several small ones.

If you're unsure what the child already has at home, a gift card for a bookstore or a swimming pool may be better than a guess. The parents can then choose something suitable.

What to check before you buy

This is based on the Swedish Consumer Agency's advice on toys. The most important things for preschool children:

• CE marking. The toy must be CE marked and have warnings and instructions in Swedish, as well as the manufacturer's or importer's contact details.
• Small parts, small balls, and long cords are not suitable for children under 3. Also consider younger siblings in the same home and the fact that preschool groups often include children of different ages.
• Button cell batteries can quickly cause severe chemical burns if a child swallows them. Choose toys with a battery compartment that is difficult for children to open, for example, one secured with a screw.
• Strong magnets can cause serious intestinal injuries if a child swallows several. Avoid construction sets where small magnets can come loose.
• Secondhand: check that the toy is intact, no parts come loose, and seams are secure. Older soft plastic toys may contain substances that are no longer permitted.
• Online stores outside the EU: EU safety requirements and consumer protections may not apply there.

Keep receipts and order confirmations. Online purchases normally come with a 14-day right of withdrawal, according to the Swedish Consumer Agency's Christmas gift advice.

Christmas gifts for preschool: label them

Some Christmas gifts leave the house as early as January. Those are exactly the things that go missing: the new water bottle that looks like three others on the shelf, the mittens left in the sandbox, the backpack hanging on the wrong hook, and the cuddly toy that went home with a friend after nap time.

• Ask the preschool first about toys from home. Many groups have rules about what children can bring, and a cuddly toy for nap time is often the only exception.
• Mark items before the first day, not after something has already gone missing. A picture the child recognizes also helps children who can't read their name.
• Backpack and water bottle: use a larger label where it can be seen. The bottle should be dishwasher-safe; see name label for a water bottle.
• Comfort toys and mittens: put the label on the care label, not on the fabric. Here’s how to label a soft toy: name label on a soft toy.

Lappu’s self-adhesive large name labels are suitable for backpacks and bottles, while the regular ones go on the care label inside mittens and comfort toys. Let the adhesive cure for about a day before the first wash. Read more about everything that usually needs a name in the guide to name labels for preschool.

See Lappu’s name labels

And what about a Christmas gift for the teachers?

It’s optional, and no preschool expects anything. What teachers usually appreciate most is a specific thank-you: a drawing from your child, a few lines about something that happened during the fall, or a group gift from all the families, such as a gift card the staff can use together. A group collection also means no family has to contribute more than they want to. The same ideas work as an end-of-year gift in June.

Frequently asked questions

What do children want for Christmas?

Preschoolers usually ask for more of what they already play with: more cars, another doll, a new puzzle, or craft supplies. Ask your child, but also pay attention to what they actually do at home. A shared experience rarely makes it onto the wish list, but it’s often what the child talks about afterward.

What does a 6-year-old want for Christmas?

A six-year-old is in the preschool class and often enjoys games with rules, puzzles with more pieces, craft projects that take several days, and things to do outdoors, like a scooter with a helmet. Many also want something that feels grown-up, like their own backpack for school.

How many Christmas presents should a preschooler get?

There’s no right number, but a few thoughtful gifts work better than many. A simple rule is one thing to play with, one thing to create with, one activity to do together, and one practical item. You can also split the ideas among relatives.

Are there Christmas calendars for preschoolers?

Yes. Preschools often use activity calendars with a game, a song, or a little experiment each day. You can do the same at home: 24 small activities, such as baking, going on an adventure, or reading a new book, instead of 24 things.

What can you give preschool as an end-of-year gift?

A drawing or card from your child, a group gift from the families, or a book for the classroom that the next group of children can enjoy too. It’s the thought that counts, not the price.

Can a child take their Christmas present to preschool?

It depends on the preschool. Many have rules about toys from home, while a comfort toy for nap time, a backpack, and a water bottle are usually fine. Ask the staff and label anything your child brings along.