Three and four year-old kids love to pretend and make believe during their play dates with friends! Here are some great birthday gift options to keep them busy for hours AND keep them looking cool while doing so! (Note: Some of these items are bigger ticket items.  One idea is to go in with a few families to get one big gift that the birthday celebrant will love!)
Kidoozie Shop ‘n Cart, $39.99
Grocery shopping has never been more fun for your little one!  With their own cart, all the food, play money and more—they can set up their own shop at home!

Pacific Play Tents, starting at $30
These tents come in all shapes, sizes and themes, making play time exceptionally fun for your little one and their friends.  Some even come with tunnels, making for added adventure!

Schwinn Roadster Tricycle, $59.99

Nothing beats a shiny new bicycle and even your little one can get in on the action with this classic Schwinn Roadster.  It comes in red, blue and pink and makes an incredible present for any child in this age group.

Skuut Balance Bike, $90

This Eco-friendly wooden balance bike helps kids learn balance, steering and coordination before being able to transition to a regular bicycle. This multiple award winner helps build confidence among your little one before moving to a two-wheeler!

Deluxe Artist Easel by Battat, $135

For the little Monet in your house, this easel goes the distance as it is two easels in one—a chalkboard on one side and a marker board on the other.  With storage bins underneath, all of your little artist’s supplies have a place of their own.

City Threads Initial Tee at The Red Ballooon Company, $35

Chicago’s Red Balloon Company is the exclusive home of these tees in the Windy City.  Coming in all shapes and sizes, and with every letter in the alphabet available, these make a cute gift for any little one’s birthday—especially as they learn the letters of alphabet themselves!

VTech Kidizoom Camera, $35
Your little one can become the official family photographer with this real life camera!  From pictures to movies, the Kidizoom is sleek, durable and perfect for kids!

Kidkraft Uptown Espresso Kitchen, $200

A kids’ kitchen is one of our favorite toys and gift items.  This one is so urban chic,  looks just like so many of the kitchens in the downtown Chicago highrises!  The manufacturer’s recommended age on this toy is three, however we purchased it when our toddler was only one and a half—and it is one of her favorite toys. (If you do this, please be careful of any small parts and don’t leave your little one unattended during play.)  A toy kitchen goes a long way for pretend play and make believe.  This is one toy that we know, despite the price, will go the distance well into the toddler years and beyond!

Psychobaby Custom Shop Headphone Hoodie, $40
We know we’ve shown this item before, but it still remains one of our favorite gift items.  Any cool kid needs one of these hoodies, with their name on the back of course! It comes in all sizes (even baby!) and you can customize the color of the earphones and pocket ipod.  If there is one custom gift we love, it’s this one (just ask our friends as many of them have received them from us!)

Spiketus Rex Backpack Half Pack Size, $48
Mad Pax makes these awesome backpacks that are the perfect size for any little one under four.  They come in many different colors (and even bigger and smaller sizes.)

Zingo ThinkFun, $19.99
This incredibly fun game helps build your child’s reading and counting skills—while having fun with their friends!  The perfect birthday present for any little one in this age bracket.

Bump Club and Beyond celebrated our second birthday on March 3rd! In addition to our huge Ultimate Birthday Bash on March 11th at the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, we are going to be bringing you birthday resources all month long on our blog, Facebook,Twitter, Pinterest and more.