Fourth Birthday Gift Ideas

In less than two weeks, D will be four. Unlike previous birthdays, D really grasps the concept of her birthday this year. As she has been witness to a number of beautiful birthday celebrations in her Montessori classroom, she has been eagerly awaiting her special day for months. This is also the first year she has very clear wishes for her day, from what kind of cake she wants (watermelon) to the decorations (also watermelon) to gifts. The following list is extensive and I expect to pick just a few of them for D. This list is a combination of ideas I’ve gotten from D as well as ones I’ve researched and seen enjoyed among friends and family. I hope your soon-to-be 4-year-olds love one or a few of these too!

Cooperative Board Games - In the past few months, board games have been one of D’s top requests when she and I have a little solo time together. Although she loves some of the classic games like Go Fish and Chutes and Ladders, I am a big fan of the cooperative games where we share a common goal. Peaceful Kingdom makes quite a few. D loves Stone Soup and I plan to gift her Race to the Treasure this year.

Arts and Crafts - D, like many children her age, loves to create. Sometimes the most joy and focus comes from using simple arts and crafts supplies to come up with something completely imaginative and new. These types of craft boxes are great for that. Other times, a more purposeful craft can be fun. I’m excited to introduce perler beads (template, beads, tongs) and this DIY chimes kit.

Jumbo Puzzles - This is an age where puzzling can really take off. A favorite for preschoolers is the giant floor puzzles as these provide both an extra challenge and an active component! This search and find 48-piece ocean floor puzzle looks fun and I love the Little Likes Kids floor puzzles, which come in a variety of sizes depending on your child’s puzzling skill level.

Musical Instruments - Musical instruments are a great gift for all ages, but at this age, children can actually begin to follow a tune and put notes together to make simple songs. One way for children to create songs is by following color patterns using these hand bells. A kid-size guitar with only 3 strings is a great instrument to start playing for fun, or even a small ukelele!

Blocks and Gears - With vivid imaginations and capable little hands, four is a really fun age to get into more complex building sets. From legos to gears to marble runs to forts, there are endless possibilities and kits for building. The best toys are the ones that can be used and enjoyed independently and creatively! Magnetic blocks such as Magnatiles and Tegu blocks are also a favorite!

Magazine Subscription - Receiving her Highlights High Five magazine in the mail is one of D’s highlights each month. The magazine is packed full of stories, games, and activity ideas. This year, I’m adding the National Geographic Little Kids magazine to our wish list as well!

Show/Event Tickets - Often what our children want more than anything is special time with us. One exciting birthday surprise could be a date to a special local event or show happening near you. Examples include a temporary exhibit at the zoo, a play at the local children’s theater, a kids concert, or a ballet performance. Another non-physical gift idea is a membership to a local zoo, aquarium, or kids museum!

Real Tools - While pretend play is big at this age, nothing beats the real deal. Whenever possible, we can give our kids real, functional tools to engage with and learn from. Favorites include binoculars, a two-way microscope, a real knife for meal prep, or a toolbox.

Pedal Bike - D has the Woom 2 and we love it. It’s great because the pedals can be removed to make this into a balance bike first. Once your child has the hang of a balance bike, it’s a seamless transition to riding with pedals! Most kids I know have made this transition between 3.5 and 5 years old. Be sure to get on the wait list for this bike!

Ask your child! Every child has their own interests and at this age, is more than capable of letting us know what their interests and wants are. The older our children get, the more unique and tailored their interests become, and it’s our job to support those interests rather than our own!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Montessori-Inspired Third Birthday Gift Ideas

As D’s third birthday approaches next month, I feel all kinds of emotions. Turning three is a big one in the Montessori world, as she transitions from the unconscious to the conscious mind (more on that soon). I can see such a shift already in how she thinks, plays, communicates, and asks questions. This birthday list was really fun to put together as I imagine all the joy she will find in new kinds of materials, games, and toys. I hope these ideas are helpful for those of you with a soon-to-be three-year-old in your life! I imagine many of these toys will be enjoyed throughout the next few years!

For more ideas or for those with younger siblings, don’t miss these Second Birthday Gift Ideas and First Birthday Gift Ideas!

Birthday Gifts

Marble Run Construction or Marble Tree - We have a musical rainbow tree and it is completely mesmerizing for both me and D. It is fun to experiment with different kinds of marbles and balls which affect the sound and speed. The beautiful marble run construction set reminds me of a favorite toy I had as a child, but this version is definitely a level up!

Face Memory Game - I love this set of wonderfully diverse face cards. These are perfect simply as a matching and discussion activity, but even more fun as your child learns how to play the game of Memory with you!

Pizza Kit with Pizza Day Book - Who doesn’t love pizza? This little set is great for young children who enjoy helping out in the kitchen. Your child can now make their very own pizza and even slice it themselves! Pizza Day is a favorite book to go along with it.

Hand Bells - As far as musical instruments go, these are on the end of least difficult to hear at home. :) Not only are these fun for preschoolers to play, but they can learn about scales and even play songs eventually! If you have two sets, they can match the notes to each other.

Sneaky Squirrel Game or Count Your Chickens Game - This is the age when your child might really start to get the hang of “board” games. I’ve heard wonderful things about both of these games, which incorporate turn-taking, colors, numbers, and a lot of fun.

Layered Puzzle - Layered puzzles are always popular with toddlers, and this multi-layered puzzle takes it up a notch for preschoolers. With 22 pieces and four layers (one for each season), it will be a nice challenge for this age group.

Flower Press - This is a beautiful gift for children with spring and summer birthdays and those who love to collect flowers! Not only is the act of pressing flowers fun for children in and of itself, but the pressed flowers can be used for all kinds of arts and crafts projects.

Fort Building Silk and Clips - This is such a fun set to take your child’s fort-building to the next level. Children can use the large clips to buld a fort anywhere (even outside), and the large silk adds beauty wherever it goes.

Scooter - This is one of D’s favorite new activities, both indoors and out. While the balance bike is a necessity, the scooter is a fun and speedy alternative to mix it up on your many neighborhood and park adventures!

Grimm’s Rainbow - Like all Grimm’s wooden toys, this is worth it. We have had our rainbow for over a year and it is used in so many ways - as tunnels, bridges, or slides, for color matching and nesting, and whatever else your child imagines. This beautiful classic toy never leaves our shelf.

Geoboard - The geoboard is fun for children and adults alike. As your child gets more practice with it, they can follow patterns and make shapes. I love that this one is entirely made of Birch. Pulling the rubber bands over the geoboard is wonderful fine motor practice (especially for putting on socks and shoes!)

Jigsaw Puzzle - Depending on your chid’s puzzle experience, this might be their first “real” puzzle and a nice challenge for them at this age. It is a puzzle that you might start out doing together as they gradually master it on their own. I love the beautiful scenes that these Petit Collage puzzles make.

Imagination Magnets - Did anyone else love tangrams as a kid? These are similar to that, but with a magnetic board for creating. I love that these little shapes allow for creativity as well as following the patterns provided.

Dollhouse with Wooden Dolls - This is the age when pretend play really takes off, and this dollhouse is perfect for children who enjoy “playing house”. I picked this one for D for it’s size, aesthetic, and open concept. A variety of dolls could work in this house, but we picked the Hape wooden dolls as they are bendable, wooden, and have details in their faces and clothes.

Measuring Tape and Toolbox Book - This real wooden measuring tape will provide endless possibilities for your tool-loving preschooler. Children at this age love to measure and it’s a great pre-math exercise! This is one of our favorite books about tools to go along with it.

Birthday Books

(click pictures for links)

Happy Birthday to the special three-year-old in your life!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Montessori-Inspired Second Birthday Gift Ideas

After posting my First Birthday Gift Idea post, I received many requests for a second and third birthday gift list as well, and I’m happy to help! You can expect the third birthday gift idea post in the next couple of weeks. I know how hard it is to shop for little ones, even your own! I hope this helps consolidate the choices for those of you with a soon-to-be two-year-old in your life. These gifts are almost all toys and tools that have been well-loved between the ages of two and three in our home. Many of them will be enjoyed well past the age of three!

Wheelbarrow - Toddlers love “maximum effort” activities, which allow them to put forth their whole body and energy into something with purpose. Your toddler will enjoy filling the wheelbarrow with all kinds of nature treasures and helping out with the outdoor chores you do!

Grimms Blocks - Grimms wooden toys are pricey, but they will last through the years. There are endless ways to use these open-ended blocks. It doesn’t hurt that they look beautiful in your home too! These are great for birthdays of any age.

Mini Cooking Set and Rolling Pins - These are D’s most-used kitchen utensils for real baking and cooking projects with me. Though these can be used for pretend play or play dough, they are completely functional too. Either of these would pair well with The Montessori Guide’s picture recipe ebook!

Sensory Bin Wooden Tools - This is a beautiful set of tools and bowls for sensory play. D loves the wooden scoopers and box with a lid for scooping and pouring rainbow rice and sand. The tongs are great for picking out hidden objects or transferring items between bowls.

Community Helpers and Vehicles - Toddlers find such excitement from fire trucks, school buses, and the helpers associated with them. This is a simple and fun matching activity, and the wooden vehicles roll, providing lots of opportunity for “driving” around the house.

Shape Latch Board - This is a wonderful combination of shape sorter and latch board. Toddlers love locks and latches, so they will enjoy the challenge of opening each door to find the hidden shape. Lots of opportunities for repetition here!

Bath Pipes and Cogs - These are hands down the best bath toys we’ve ever had. As mentioned above, pouring water never gets old. The pipes and cogs stick to the bath tub wall and can be arranged in any number of ways.

Soft Dress-Up Doll - Between the age of two and three, D really got into pretend play with her dolls. These beautiful and plush dolls are perfect for carrying around, pushing in the stroller, and dressing up. They are pricey but a perfect gift for a little one. I also appreciate the diversity of dolls from Hazel Village.

Bead Stringing - Lacing beads was and still is an activity D enjoys on repeat. I especially love this set, with the novel shapes and fun colors. The wooden end makes it easier for toddlers to string on the beads - just be sure to tie a knot on the other end so the beads don’t slide right off!

Fine Motor Tool Set - Sensory bins are a hit with the two-year-olds, and the right tools make all the difference. This simple set from Learning Resources provides tools for transferring a variety of materials, and provide excellent practice for using real scissors, and later, writing.

Farm Nesting Blocks - Djeco is one of my favorite, more whimsical, toy brands for kids. We don’t have this exact one, but it combines a few toddler favorites: stacking, nesting, and hiding objects inside boxes! I love the little farm animals that come with these, which provide opportunities for open-ended play as well.

Toob Figurines - Not a week goes by we don’t use a set a Toob figurines for some sort of activity. From matching to sorting to pretend play, these are well-utilised and loved. You can find Toob figurines for animals, vehicles, flowers, and all kinds of categories!

Pouring Set - Maybe even more popular than locking and latching is pouring water. Once your toddler has mastered pouring water into a cup, this provides a few added challenges with different vessels and a small funnel. This set is also perfect for flower arranging!

Doll Stroller - To go along with a new (or old doll), a stroller is sure to be a hit. I had no idea how many uses it would provide for D. She loves pushing her babies in it, but also her stuffed animals, random objects, and “groceries”. It is in constant use.

First Animal Matching Puzzle - These have been D’s favorite kind of puzzle since her second birthday. With just two pieces each, these are on the easier end, and a great intro to “real” puzzles. I especially like that these are real images of the animals rather than cartoons.

Basic Train Set - This is the perfect first train set. It’s easy enough for toddlers to put together themselves and the colors brighten it up. Even with a minimal amount of pieces, there are a variety of ways to arrange the tracks, with hills and loops. It’s a perfect one to add onto over the years to come!

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For birthday book ideas, check out the First Birthday Gift Ideas, as well as our favorite Montessori books. For even more gift inspiration, check out my holiday guide for babies and toddlers!

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!

Montessori-Inspired First Birthday Gift Ideas

I honestly can’t believe S is almost one. It goes by even faster the second time! To distract myself from feeling sad about how fast he’s growing up, I’m working on birthday gift ideas! Each of these items is something that either D loved at 12-24 months, or something that we are gifting S for his first birthday next month. I hope these serve as inspiration for you or for your relative/friend looking for a gift! At the bottom you will find a few favorite first birthday books as well. Happy Montessori gifting and Happy Birthday to the special little one in your life. :)

Note: If you are looking for more traditional Montessori materials, I recommend checking out The Montessori Guide, which offers month-by-month Montessori toy and activity suggestions from birth to 24 months. You can even buy a gift card for a new mom or mom-to-be!

Gift Ideas

Scoot Around Bike - I gave this to my nephew for his first birthday and both him and his brother loved it. I’m hoping we will get the hand-me down for S! It’s nice because it can be ridden both inside and outside.

Washable Doll - Nothing has been more loved than D’s dolls, and I can already see S’ interest in them too. As baby washing has been one of D’s favorite activities, I am getting S his own washable baby doll too. That way the baby can go in the mini pool, get a bath, and just not worry about it getting wet in general!

Sensory Shape Puzzle - This shape sorter/puzzle is a fun variation on the classic, with several themes to choose from. I love the sensory aspect of this, and I am a big fan of Tender Leaf toys in general! They are a favorite of mine to gift.

Toddler Apron - I plan on getting one of these for both my kids for their birthdays this year! I just love the design and the practical nature of them. You can find more designs on this website as well. These aprons are perfect for helping in the kitchen as well as doing art and water play.

Hide and Seek Board - This was one of D’s favorite toys for quite a long time. In the beginning, she enjoyed simply opening the doors and taking the magnets out. As she got clsoer to two, she enjoyed matching the magnets with the correct door. A fun way to fulfill a toddler’s love of opening and closing!

Hammered Flatware Set - This is a beautiful set that I plan to gift S. It is hard to find quality silverware for babies and toddlers, but this one fits the bill. This paired with the sweet plate below would make a lovely gift for the Montessori baby or toddler in your life.

Drum - I already purchased this for S for this birthday, and I know he’s going to love it! This is the best of the baby/toddler drums in quality and sound. I am sure D will want to be stealing this as well!

Grimm’s Nesting Cups - Grimm’s toys are pricey, but like many of our favorite wooden toys, they are enjoyed for years. Young toddlers love to stack, nest, and transfer, and these are great for all of those activities. As they get older, they are perfect for color sorting activities as well.

Family Photo Book - I made one of these for D around S’ age and it’s still on her bookshelf in her room. It’s probably her most loved book ever. In the midst of what we are experiencing in the world right now, this is especially meaningful. love this one because you can update the photos as families grow and change.

Natural Wooden Blocks - These have been a staple in our house for a couple of years. The blocks are beautiful, natural, and just the right size and shapes. These were the first blocks D built a giant tower with, and now both kids enjoy building with them (and knocking down of course).

Wooden Animal Plate - These are also very sweet and a fun gift for new(ish) eaters. We have a couple of fun animal plates from TimberChild, and it’s always a special treat when breakfast is served on a bear!

Hammer and Roll - We have a hammering toy, but if I had to buy a different one, this would be it. I just love the look of it, and how the balls roll out on a slant. Plan Toys never disappoints!

Wooden Animals - Though we often give and get an abundance of stuffed animals (which are also loved), these wooden animals are a less common but favorite in our house. They are fun for language activities, open-ended play, and later, pretend play.

Push Wagon - This was one of D’s big presents for her first birthday and it was soloved. I will be bringing it back out for S soon. There are lots of great walker wagons, but this one is sturdy and heavy, and therefore great for new walkers. As D got older, she enjoyed putting her animals and toys inside to push around.

Personalized Name Puzzle - I gifted this to D for her first birthday. It’s as much decor as it is a toy! I love having it out on her shelf in her bedroom. Heirloom Kids is another one of my most loved small shops.

Books

The Wonderful Things You Will Be

Everywhere Babies

I Wish You More

I Love You Through and Through

On the Night you were Born

10 Little Fingers and 10 Little Toes

Note: This post contains affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of these links, you won’t pay anything extra, but I will get a small commission, which helps keep this blog going. Thanks for supporting Montessori in Real Life!