by Jordan Green

Created on: November 04, 2009   Last Updated: February 10, 2010

Picture the wide-eyed astonishment and sparkling laughter. Bubbling over with enthusiasm and expectation for Christmas, kids are eagerly expecting Santa, and he won't disappoint! With 3 and 4-year-old children in the house, it's a treasure and joy to purchase gifts. They aren't pressured by peers thirsting for the $30 brand name toy, so exceptional gifts don't have to be a expensive "name-brand" bestseller.

Wonderful toys have three qualifications that rise to the top. First, they're bursting with color and imagination. Second, quality toys inspire learning and enhance creativity in curious preschoolers. And finally, sensational gifts for young kids don't break the bank. Good toys aren't cheap and worthless shatter-prone presents. Instead, great gifts provide affordable quality and boatloads of fun while teaching children and encouraging them to learn and grow.

Pursuing terrific 2009 Christmas presents for kids age 3-4, I scoured the internet for the finest deals this holiday season. If you're looking to bring a lasting smile to the little one in your life, these four options are a good place to start. As usual, a vast variety of new toys have recently hit the market, and these toys will leave your child beaming with joy.

Tired of games that require millions of batteries and affect your sanity with endless repetitive noises echoing through the house? Battery and noise free- except for the happy sounds radiating from your preschooler- timeless classic Candy Land has a new twist! Moms and kids are giving the color and shape matching Candy Land Castle Game rave reviews. Made by Hasbro, it's only $20 online. "Reach for the stars...and ovals and squares! Special gingerbread gameboards make it easy to recognize shapes and colors."

Simple stocking stuffers are often the biggest hit of all! Warm and furry puppets, like this ladybug listed on amazon, give children a good opportunity to develop, enhance, and practice using their imagination.

Four year olds like feeling grown up. They're ready to move onto to stuff "big kids get to do." The first bicycle is sure to be a monster hit, filling four year olds with a new found sense of freedom. Be careful and make sure the first bicycle is sturdy, not tipsy or leaning to one side.

The LeapFrog Discovery Ball is another great toy that makes learning fun and inspires creativity. This versatile ball is for kids 6 months to 3 years, teaching and reinforcing the alphabet to younger children. One disadvantage to giving this present is that the 3-year-olds will quickly outgrow this toy and move on to more other activities. The LeapFrog Discovery ball is $22 online at Walmart.

Take the time this Christmas to purchase gifts for little ones that grow minds, enhance creativity, and most of all, exploding with fun. Merry Christmas!

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