A Fine Parent

A Life Skills Blog Exclusively For Parents

100+ Popular Gifts for Pre-Schoolers (Ages 3 – 5 Years Old)

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(This article is part of the Gift Guides series. Get free article updates here.)

I don’t know about you, but it seems like lately I spend half my time searching Amazon for the perfect gift for my kids, or nieces and nephews, or my kids’ friends. It is enjoyable, but I have one major problem.

My problem is, I get sucked into hopping from one popular toy to another and looking at the reviews forever.

Suddenly two hours are gone from my day and I still don’t know what to buy.

So we at AFineParent.com decided to do the work for you!

Here is a list of the most popular gifts for your little ones, their friends, nieces, nephews, grandkids and more.

And the best part?

They are all from Amazon, they all have a 4+ rating from tons of reviews and most are available through prime shipping, so even if you are shopping at the very last minute, you might still be able to get them in time!

Many of these I gave to my own children. A lot of them I specifically picked because we use them in the primary class of my Montessori preschool. Some of these are “classic” enough that you may have played with them when you were little!

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100+ Popular Gifts for Elementary School Kids (Ages 6 – 11 Years Old)

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(This article is part of the Gift Guides series. Get free article updates here.)

There are so many toys out there.

So. Many.

So just how do you know that this toy is the right toy for your beloved little son, daughter, niece, nephew, cousin, godchild, or grandchild?

Because we’ve done the work for you!

And the best part?

All these toys are from Amazon, they all have a 4+ rating from tons of reviews and most are available through prime shipping, so even if you are shopping at the very last minute, you might still be able to get them in time!

Many of these I gave to my own children. Some of these are “classic” enough that you may have played with them when you were a kid!

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100+ Popular Gifts for Middle School Kids (Ages 11 – 14 Years Old)

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(This article is part of the Gift Guides series. Get free article updates here.)

gifts_for_middle_school_kids_mainIt was so easy to buy my kids toys when they were younger, but when they became middle schoolers I had no idea what they wanted!

Well, I did know they wanted tech, but wasn’t there other kinds of toys and gifts that middle schoolers would love?

So we did a ton of research.

I found gifts to encourage creativity, learning, self-discovery, reading, healthy eating, parent-child connection, and outdoor play.

And the best part?

All these are from Amazon, they all have a 4+ rating from tons of reviews and most are available through free 2-day prime shipping, so even if you are shopping at the very last minute, you might still be able to get them in time!
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5 Things Every Parent Should Know at the Start of the School Year

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(This article is part of the Positive Parenting FAQ series. Get free article updates here.)

Start of the School Year - MainThe days are getting shorter. Ads for notebooks and backpacks are showing up in my inbox. Amazon sent me a personal invitation into their #2 pencil emporium. The frenzy of summer is coming to a close and a whole different frenzy is about to begin.

It’s the start of the School Year.

Nooooooo! My children cry in horror, seeing a crisp, new notebook peeking out of our shopping bag.

For some of us this is old hat. We’ve been there. Done that. Got the t-shirt.

For others, this is the first time you are sending your precious babies out into the cold, cruel world of school.

As a mom of 9 and 12 year old boys and the Director of Admission of a preschool, I’ve seen this day from many different sides and angles. Here are 5 bits of wisdom that we, the teachers and school staff, would like every parent to know irrespective of whether this is your first ever first-day-of-school, or you are a practiced veteran.

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How to Become a Steadfast and Gentle Guide for Your Kids

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(This article is part of the Positive Parenting FAQ series. Get free article updates here.)

Guide for Kids: Main ImageI am living with Mount Etna. In tween form.

Any hint of criticism sets off the rumbling. Add an admonishment to the top – BOOM – we have an eruption.

Are you sure you’ve done your homework?

BOOM

You lost your house key?

BOOM

Stop picking on your brother!

BOOM

Are you on your computer? Again?

BOOM

For a while there we were having loud, shouty arguments about everything under the sun. He was prickly and defensive and not a joy to be around.

It would be easy for me to write this off as teenage hormones and tell him he needs to stop being so sensitive. It would be equally easy for me to paint myself as a blameless and suffering supermom, but I know that communication is a two-way street.

But what can I do? I do active listening. I let him fail to develop a growth mindset. I try to back away from the bubbling lava of his hormonal temper. But no matter what I do I seem to trigger more eruptions out of my tween Mt. Etna.

Something was missing. In fact, it was 2 somethings.

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