According to the BNS Board of Directors & Staff

With the winter holidays approaching, we thought it would be fun to ask our Board of Directors and teachers about their favorite gifts for the preschool set. We were particularly curious about gifts that prove to be a hit with the kids but that parents love equally for their educational, imaginative, (or quiet!) value. If you’re thinking about what to get the preschooler in your life, look no further! And you can even purchase some of our ideas through the links provided and Amazon will donate a percentage to BNS. Just sign up for AmazonSmile and select Bannockburn Nursery School as your charity. Without further adieu…

1. Magnetic building blocks, such as Magnatiles or Magformers. Kids and parents love them. They encourage creativity and STEM skills.
2. Building blocks of any kind. Try these jumbo cardboard blocks for a change of pace. Kids can build large structures, encouraging not only pretend play, but gross motor skills. And of course, you can’t go wrong with classic wood blocks or these in fun colors and shapes.
3. Legos. It’s a classic. You can get a box of bricks to encourage the kids to come up with their own creations or buy one of hundreds of building sets, like this Star Wars one or this veterinarian trailer kit. You can even get a Lego subscription box!
4. Playmobil sets. Wonderful for loads of imaginative play and so many sets to choose from. This school bus set is a BNS favorite.
5. Kinetic Sand. All the fun of a sand box with out a shoe full of sand.  Get them in a variety of colors like blue or purple. Or go with your standard sand color.
6. Books! So many good books to choose from, here are just few of our favorites- Rosie Revere, Engineer, Iggy Peck, Architect, Get out of My Bath, Corduroy, and The Snowy Day. Also, check out the following authors recommended by our Sprouts teacher: Karen Beaumont, Anna Dewdney, Anne Rockwell, Kevin Henley, Donald Crews and Nancy  Tafuri.
7. A fun reading nook to read those new books in. You can get creative with this one. BNS parents have created calming and quiet reading areas using bean bags, kid sized chairs, and swings like this one. Add a pop-up tent for even more reading nook coziness.
8. Board games. Some BNS favorites include Zingo, The Sneaky Snacky Squirrel Game, Pancake Pile Up, Busytown, and Connect 4.
9. Pop-up tunnel. Encourages pretend play and helps them get out all of their energy in the winter months.
10. Water balloons. Fill with warm water and draw targets on the sidewalk with chalk. Hours of cheap fun.

Have some great ideas of your own? Leave them in the comments section. Happy gifting!