Here are our gift ideas for four year olds based on typical development and the way children this age generally explore the world through play.
At four children are showing interest in socializing with others and begining to understand the importance of social interactions, roles, and rules. Activities with friends start becoming organized and they continue working on their social skills. New interests spark their curiosity and existing ones are further explored. Pretend play is huge and includes a rich degree of fantasy. All forms of play become more complex as they keep stretching their imaginations and continue to learn and grow.
Ways to Play: Breaking down the big categories of play by the types of activities children engage in
Here are our 2021 top toy picks for 4 year olds (not in any particular order). Scroll down for more on each recommendation and the associated developmental benefits:
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*Products mentioned on this page are meant for preschoolers under adult supervision. (Manufacturer's age recommendations are noted)
Lego
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 Build Your Own Creative Toys, Kids Building Kit, 790 Pieces (4 years & up)
This classic open-ended creative set is full of endless possibilities. Its an amazing 790 piece starter set with a wide range of colorful bricks and special functional pieces like windows, doors, and wheels. It comes in a handy storage box to help keep things organized. This free build kit invites kiddos to explore hands-on creativity and imaginative play.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Strengthens problem solving
Focus and concentration
Natures creativity
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Jigsaw Floor Puzzles
Little Likes Kids Jumbo Jigsaw Floor Puzzle. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Little Likes Kids - Splash Park Jumbo Puzzle - 48 Piece Jigsaw Floor Puzzle - Multicultural (4 years & up)
This adorable jumbo floor puzzle is intended for preschoolers and themed around the importance of playing together. The pieces are big and thick, making them easy to manipulate and connect. We love the diversity represented in the eye-catching original artwork. It's bright, colorful, and shows families of mixed race and ethnicity having a blast in a splash park.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Visual perception skills
Celebrates diversity
Focus and concentration
Encourages communication and language development
Strengthens problem solving
Sharpens memory skills, attention to detail, spatial memory
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Dress Up
Great Pretenders T-Rex Hooded Cape. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Great Pretenders 56705, T-Rex Hooded Cape (3 years & up)
Dramatic dress-up designed to be thrown on quickly is always the BEST! This T-Rex Dino cape features soft textured velour, realistic eyes, 3D stuffed detailing on the hood, a long trailing tail and big felt teeth. The lined hood and Velcro closure makes this cape durable and easy to put on any child (designed for all children, with and without special needs). It's also machine washable.
BENEFITS:
Natures creativity
Builds confidence
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Skills Building Game
Peaceable Kingdom Feed The Woozle Game. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Peaceable Kingdom Feed The Woozle Preschool Skills Builder Game (3 years & up)
The Woozie loves eating some crazy hairy and fuzzy treats. In this cooperative game, kiddos take turns trying to feed this very hungry monster all the silly snacks before they are gone. There are also fun challenges (like hopping, marching, dancing) they'll need to complete as they feed said monster. There are 3 levels to this game and no reading is required.
BENEFITS:
Focus and concentration
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor(big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Coordination and balancing skills
Learns counting
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Builds confidence
Cultivates social skills
Encourages communication and language development
Stomp and Catch Board
edxeducation Joey Jump. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
edxeducation Joey Jump - In Home Learning Activity for Kids Physical Play - Stomp and Catch Board - Learn to Catch - Build Coordination
This simple textured board is a great way to develop agility and coordination as kiddos stomp. launch, and catch over and over again. It can be played alone or with others. encourages physical activity indoors or out, and can withstand lots of energetic stomping.
BENEFITS:
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Coordination and balancing skills
Builds confidence
Encourages communication and language development
Balancing Stem Toy
TrueBalance Coordination Game. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
TrueBalance Coordination Game Junior | Handheld Balance Toy for Adults and Kids | Improves Fine Motor Skills (4 years & up)
The goal is simple... stack the discs, but getting the independently rotating magnetic discs to line up just right takes a lot of concentration and coordination. The Junior version is made for smaller hands and has less discs to balance.
BENEFITS:
Strengthens problem solving
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Coordination and balancing skills
Learns STEM concepts
Focus and concentration
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Magnetic Building Sets
Magna-Tiles® Magnetic Blocks. Click the photo to see the price on Magna-Tiles
Magna-Tiles® Clear Colors 32-Piece Set (3 years & up)
An absolute staple in our playroom, Magna-Tiles are the original magnetic building tiles. They are at the intersection where math, science, and creativity meet. The magnets are fully encapsulated and provide the perfect amount of pull, enough to hold your builds together but not so much that they pinch little fingers or make it difficult to pull the tiles apart. We adore them for the countless hours of creative open-ended play and playful learning opportunities they provide.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Engages the senses: enhance auditory, tactile and visual sensory development
Strengthens problem solving
Focus and concentration
Learns shapes, colors, STEM concepts
Natures creativity
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor (big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Encourages communication and language development
Builds confidence
Yoga Cards
Yoga Pretzels Yoga Pose Cards. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Yoga Pretzels: 50 Fun Activities for Kids & Grownups (4 years & up)
Our little one is learning yoga at her Montessori school and loves it! Its a wonderful mind/body practice that can develops children's strength, flexibility, concentration and build self-esteem. This box of activity cards includes multiple categories with step-by-step illustrations to get kiddos breathing, bending, posing, twisting, and stretching with yoga. It comes with 50 cards, booklet, and durable storage box.
BENEFITS:
Coordination and balancing skills
Builds confidence
Focus and concentration
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor(big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) movements
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Encourages communication and language development
Strategy Squeezer Game
Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game. Click photo to see the price on Amazon
Educational Insights The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game (3 years & up)
Forest friends are hungry and need help foraging for snacks. Little ones practice sorting, matching, taking turns, and fine motor skills with this adorable preschool game. To play, kiddos spin the spinner, pick up the matching colored acorn with the Squirrel Squeezer, and place it in their log. Watch out for sneaky squirrels. The spinner can also land on "steal an acorn" or "lose an acorn" so a bit of strategic thinking can help keep your forest snacks safe. The first to collect five delicious acorns wins.
BENEFITS:
Hand-eye coordination
Focus and concentration
Visual perception skills
Develops physical strength; engaging fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Learns colors, counting
Strengthens problem solving
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Builds confidence
Cultivates social skills
Encourages communication and language development
Healthy Hopper
Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper. Click the photo to see the price on Amazon
Flybar My First Foam Pogo Jumper for Kids, Fun and Safe Pogo Stick for Toddlers, Supports up to 250lbs (3 years & up)
Children love to bounce! It's lots of fun and can also help develop their balance, coordination, and gross motor skills. This bungee jumper gets kiddos hopping around inside and outdoors on thick durable foam that's gentle on floors and squeaks with every bounce. Fabulous for getting the wiggles out and can support up to 250lbs!
BENEFITS:
Develops physical strength; engaging gross motor(big muscles like arms, trunks, and legs) and fine motor (small muscles like fingers, and hands) movements
Hand-eye coordination
Coordination and balancing skills
Builds confidence
Spatial skills (where objects are in relation to each other)
Encourages communication and language development