The Ultimate 2023 Sinterklaasavond Gift Guide for Ages 3 to 5
Are you getting ready for the most exciting festivity of the year? Sinterklaasavond (pakjesavond) is just around the corner, and it’s the perfect occasion for Dutch families to come together, share love, and exchange gifts. If you’re new to this tradition, don’t worry, you’re in for a treat! Dutch children are known to be the happiest in the world, and you’ll soon find out why (watching Sinterklaasjournaal will also help you warm up to this tradition!).
To help make your Sinterklaasavond 2023 even more special, I have put together a list of my top picks for children’s gifts that are guaranteed to bring smiles to their faces. I’ve searched high and low to find the perfect toys and games your little ones will absolutely adore. So, let’s get started with the Sinterklaasavond 2023 gift guide and make this year’s celebration one to remember!
(Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning that at no additional cost to you, I will receive a commission if you click through and make a purchase – Click here to learn more.)
Sinterklaasavond 2023 Gift Guide for Ages 3 to 5
1. Building blocks and Construction sets:
Magnetic tiles, Magnetic toys, Lego Duplo sets, and Lego Classic sets
Magnetic toys
Building blocks and construction sets are a great way to encourage creativity and develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness in young children. My children enjoy playing with magnetic blocks and puzzles that they can build into different shapes and structures and then crash without worrying about breaking them. Additionally, magnetic toys are safe for younger children to play with, as my son was already playing with them when he was under two years old, although he mostly put them in his mouth!
For example, Magnetic Tiles and Magnetic Toys are popular magnetic toys that children enjoy playing with (my 3-year-old son is obsessed with them). You can add more element pieces from time to time. It is really fun to develop.
Lego Duplo and Classic sets
Slightly more complex building sets, such as larger LEGO Duplo sets, are ideal for this age group. In my experience, investing in many basic brick sets is better when buying Lego Duplo and Lego Classic sets instead of theme boxes. For instance, my daughter received a small Lego theme box on her birthday, which included instructions to make a unicorn and a car. However, she only played with it once and then lost interest. On the other hand, with the box of basic bricks, Lego Duplo, and Lego Classic sets, she becomes very creative, building various things for her dolls, cars, and animals. She always comes up with something different and new.
2. Pretend Play Sets:
Little Dutch wooden Kitchen, Label Label Kitchen, Ice cream cart, VTech Schep & Leer IJscokar, Portable Doctor Playset, Babypop, Barbie, The Barbie house, and Little Dutch wooden dollhouse
Kitchen sets
Encouraging imaginative play is important for children, and sets like kitchen sets, doctor’s kits, or tool benches can help them understand different roles and professions. Wooden kitchen sets are particularly nice to play with, as they look beautiful and are practical for children. When my daughter turned three, we bought her the Little Dutch wooden kitchen set, and even though she is now five, she still enjoys playing with it. When we have guests over, she always offers them something from her own “kitchen,” which is adorable. Another option to consider is the Lable Label kitchen, which is smaller but still exciting for kids.
Icecream carts
My children also love the ice cream cart. They always play with it, which has been one of their favorite toys for the past 3 years. Whenever other children come over, they also enjoy playing with it. I am confident that it would be a great gift option for you. If you want a different option for the ice cream cart, VTech Schep & Leer IJscokar is popular amongst children!
Doctor playset
Consider buying a portable doctor playset for your kids. It’s a compact and lightweight toy that can easily be taken on trips, keeping your children engaged on the go. Additionally, it’s great for stimulating imaginative play.
Dolls – Babypop and Barbie
Two of the most popular toys in this category are Babypop and Barbie. My daughter received her first Babypop before the birth of her younger brother, and it was a boy Babypop. She became obsessed with it, and even when I was holding my newborn son, my daughter mimicked me and cared for her Babypop. Playing with my daughter was such an adorable and fun experience. Nowadays, my daughter and her best friend enjoy bringing their Babypops together, going on picnics, putting their Babypops to sleep together, and playing mom. I find it so cute! As for Barbie, it is an iconic doll that all children play with at least once in their lives. Now, my daughter also has a Barbie house that she is obsessed with. It is fun to watch her play, bond, and learn.
Dollhouses
Two years ago, on Sinterklaasavond, we bought a wooden dollhouse for our three-year-old daughter. She loved it so much and played with it day and night. However, as she got older and started playing with bigger dolls, we realized that the dollhouse was too small for her needs. So, we decided to buy her a big Barbie dollhouse. The Barbie house is amazing and allows her to play with her Barbies, Duplo characters, and stuffed animals. Although it takes up a considerable amount of space in our house, it is worth it to see our daughter and her friends enjoy playing together. On the other hand, my son is still very happy with the wooden dollhouse we bought for our daughter.
Both of the dollhouses are well-made and durable for children to play with. I highly recommend the Little Dutch wooden dollhouse if you consider buying one. However, if your daughter is like mine and loves role-playing, then I suggest buying the big Barbie dollhouse for Sinterklaasavond!
3. Fun and Stimulation:
Cars, VTech Toet Toet car towels, Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage, Kinetic magic sand (and refills)
Car play towel and Cars
My son and his friends are obsessed with fast cars and other things that move quickly. When he turned 3, we bought him a car towel, and I immediately regretted not getting it for him sooner! It was a huge hit – he played with it from the moment he woke up until it was time for bed, running his cars over and over again on the towel. We even bought more cars that fit easily on the towel’s roads and turns. My daughter loves playing with it, too – it’s such a fun toy that kids can enjoy for hours. We have VTech Toet Toet car towels, and Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage is also a popular car towel play option!
Kinetic Sand
Children have an undying fascination with sand. Whenever you visit a sandy beach, you can observe children engrossed in playing with sand endlessly. They dip their hands and feet into the sand, cover their clothes with it, and make all sorts of shapes and figures. The sand feels soft and silky on their hands, but it’s hard to hold without letting it slip away. The only downside is that children may not want to stop playing with the sand, which can get everywhere. But what if you could recreate that same experience at home? You’re in for a treat if you haven’t heard of Kinetic magic sand (and refills) yet. My children love playing with this toy for hours on end. It’s like sand, but you can mold it into whatever shape you want, be it a castle or anything else your imagination can conjure up!
4. Art and Craft Kits (Ages 4 and up):
Loom, and Behave Premium Katsuki Kralen Set
Loom and Accessary crafting kits
My daughter loves using a Loom to make bracelets. Nowadays, she has expanded her crafting skills and is making keychains, necklaces, and gifts for her friends. She feels proud that she can create something without needing my help and occasionally even surprises me with a unique gift. Besides using the Loom, she also enjoys making bracelets with other components. (Behave Premium Katsuki Kralen Set) It is a lovely gift option for girls and boys (one of my daughter’s boyfriends asked to have “Loom” for his birthday gift as well. You see, boys also love playing it!).
This is the 2023 Sinterklaasavond Gift Guide For You!
The countdown to Sinterklaasavond 2023 has officially begun, and Sinterklaas is arriving on November 18th! If you’re unfamiliar with this amazing tradition, I highly recommend clicking here to learn more about it. To make this event even more exciting, I am pleased to share my top picks for children’s gifts that are sure to bring smiles to their faces during the upcoming Sinterklaasavond 2023. I have searched high and low to find the perfect gift ideas, and I am confident that these toys will be a huge hit with your little ones, just as they have been with my own children, who absolutely adore them! If you want to decorate your house to celebrate Sinterklaas like the Dutch people do, click here to get all the tips. Wishing you and your loved ones the best and lots of love this Sinterklaasavond!
