Check out these great gifts, gaudy gadgets, and terrific toys for preschoolers.
advertisementIs it a sit and spin toy, rocker, water bucket, or a helmet? The answer is YES! Winner of countless awards for its open-ended play, the Kid-o Bilibo offers great play value in a toy that was created after extensive study on the play patterns of children. Virtually indestructible, this toy will take all your active kid can dish out, while stimulating a child's imagination. Best for ages 2 to 7 years. By Active People
advertisementGear up for some imaginative play! This year Hess is offering twice the fun with a sleek race car featuring a compartment that opens to reveal surprise cargo--a smaller, faster racer! The race car has 29 lights with optional flashing mode and realistic sounds like ignition, acceleration, and horn. The mini racer has a pull-back racing motor and its own set of working lights. And you can start your engines right away as Energizer® batteries are included. Best for ages 3 years and up.
advertisementAt the pull of a lever one of four plastic tokens slides out the the castle: a green star, a purple oval, a yellow circle, or a red square. If it matches the player's game board, he or she keeps it, if not it's dropped in the top of the Candyland castle. Those are the simple rules to this new version of the classic game that builds matching and shape recognition skills. Sweet preschool fun! Best for ages 2 to 6 years. By Hasbro
advertisementLittle learners will click with this "laptop" that features a real working mouse and a colorful keyboard. With 30 activities that include both language and math building fun, plus games and music, this Tot & Go Laptop feels just like the real thing. It even has a handle and folds up for the wee little worker who wants to be just like Mom or Dad. Best for ages 3 to 6 years. By Vtech
advertisementHere's a new take on the classic game of memory that will leave little ones spinning... and learning! The well-made spinner has players find pairs by color, number or category. Words and pictures allow pre-readers to join in on the fun. Memorization, reaction and matching skills are built in this game that is a S'matching Good Time! Best for ages 4 years +. By MindWare
advertisementThis holiday season give someone you love a gift that combines their favorite Nick Jr. characters with an interactive learning environment! Nick Jr. Boost is brought to you by the creators of Nick Jr., people who really know kids. Designed for preschoolers through first graders and guided by national educational standards, Nick Jr. Boost is an online educational service that provides the same high-quality, Nick Jr. learning experience that children love and parents trust, with an extra bonus: it's totally personalized! Best for ages 3-5.
advertisementTime to round up the animals and get them back in the barn by matching colors or animal faces. A neat preschool edition to the wildly successful Uno card game, Uno Moo is great for building matching and color recognition skills with a fun barnyard theme. Preschoolers will love the big play-and-store barn and parents will enjoy the easy cleanup! Features 28 animal figures and a farmer figure that your child will want to play with again and again. Best for ages 3 years +. By Mattel
advertisementGet 'em while they're hot! Kid cooks will love this fun Play-doh set with buckets of burger-building accessories. Mold the pickles, mold the lettuce, plus burger patties, onions and more! Kids can press out realistic looking fries and even use a the handy "twist-a-chip" tool to serve up cool-looking potato chips. Set includes five cans of Play-doh plus molds, plate, press, plastic knife, rolling pin and twist-a-chip tool for tons of make-believe fun! Best for ages 3 years +. By Hasbro
advertisementIn The Ladybug Game adventure awaits around every rose bush. Early math concepts and counting are introduced among the garden plants as the four brightly colored ladybugs, Ella Yellow, Rickie Red, Tommy Teal, and Olivia Orange, go an an adventure that requires no reading, but teaches early word recognition through a clever combination of colors, numbers, words, and symbols. The Ladybug Game is sure to become a classic. Best for ages 3 to 6 years. By Zobmondo Entertainment
advertisementHundreds of bubbles at the push of a button? Bubble parties? Yes and yes! Why blow one or two bubbles at a time when you can pour any brand bubble solution into the large capacity bubble mix tank of the Bubble Machine and have an instant bubble bonanza!? It's great for birthday parties as kids (and dogs too) go wild over the Bubble Machine. Best for ages 3 years +. By iPlay
advertisementTons of fun for little artists, no mess or stress for Mom and Dad. With no ink or chemicals, the Aquadoodle Draw 'n Doodle mat provides hours of creative drawing fun with just water and your child's imagination. Color appears when water touches the big, 32 x 32 inch, reusable Magic Doodle Mat. Add the Magic Water Pen and watch as kids create incredible "water color" creations without the paint! Best for ages 2 years +. By Spin Master
advertisementIs he a pet or a predator? It's up to your tot to tame this cool interactive Screature that uses an infrared sensor to sense and "attack" his prey by squirting or "spitting" water! Who doesn't want a pet dinosaur? Activate the sensor on his back, and he lets out a prehistoric purr, but activate the sensor on his nose and he'll "snap." Really rile him up and he'll unfold his flaps and spit water out for surprising fun with an unsuspecting friend. Press both sensors together and this little dino will laugh. High-tech hijinks on Jurassic scale! Best for 4 years +. By Mattel
By Tim Walsh, author of Timeless Toys 
