Best Gifts for 4-Year-Olds - Baby Chick

Best Gifts for 4-Year-Olds

Shopping for gifts for 4-year-olds can be challenging. Here is a list of our favorite gifts your growing toddler will love!

Updated November 22, 2023

by Catherine Lessman

Early Child Development Specialist
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The holiday season is here, and if you have toddlers at home, holiday shopping may already be on your mind. But, let’s face it — shopping for a 4-year-old can be challenging. They are at the age now where they have preferences, and it can be tricky to select gifts that aren’t too young for them but are also age-appropriate. The best gift to give your 4-year-old is to help their imagination come alive. Little ones love storytelling, pretend play, and exploration at this age. Parallel play becomes a thing of the past, and they begin to interact with others and play socially. We’ve rounded up the best gifts for 4-year-olds to keep their minds and bodies moving!

Gifts for 4-Year-Olds They’ll Love

1

Outdoor Play

Kids Gardening Set

Gardening Set

Ride-On Car for Kids

ride-on car

Bounce House

Bounce House

Balance Bike

Balance Bike
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Kids Gardening Set: With independence and imaginative play being the most prevalent in 4-year-olds, this gardening set is the perfect gift for creating a little gardening spot. Equipped with all the necessary tools, this set will help them feel like they grew something independently.

Ride-On Car for Kids: They will be the coolest child on the block with one of these rides. Giving them a sense of independence with this toy will make them feel more adult in no time.

Bike: Your 4-year-old may have mastered the balance bike or tricycle. Now it is time for the big wheels! A bike to practice on is an excellent gift for this time of year, so they will be flying by spring!

Bounce House: This bounce house will be a major hit! Your 4-year-old can use this gift outdoors to get some of their energy out. It is easy to set up and clean up, too! (You may also want to buy a helmet for added safety.)

Balance Bike: If your tot is not quite ready for a regular bike, balance bikes are a fun option. This Strider balance bike comes with a safety pad, is available in various colors, and is adjustable, so it will support kids up to 5 years old!

2

Quiet Time Toys

Weighted Plush Pillow Toy

Weighted Plush Pillow Toy

Foamnasium Blocksy Kids Couch

Foamnasium Blocksy Kids Couch

My Quiet Book

My Quiet Book

Sensory Bottles

Sensory Bottles

The Dough Project Play Dough

The Dough Project Playdough

Play Tent

Play Tent
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Weighted Plush Pillow Toy: You may have used a weighted sleep sack or blanket to help calm them as a baby. Why not also give them the tools to do so as a toddler? These adorable animal pillows will help comfort, de-escalate, and regulate your toddler when they struggle with big feelings.

Foamnasium Blocksy Kids Couch: If you are in the know, this is the hottest toy around these days. These specifically designed “cushions” allow your child to create and build creations all day without using your sofa as a base!

My Quiet Book: The title says it all! This book is a great resource and includes activities like counting and matching shapes/colors. Make it a special toy only used during quiet time, and your little one will look forward to everything inside.

Sensory Bottles: Children need an area to decompress and recenter. These sensory bottles are the perfect toy for your kid’s “calming corner.” It will allow your little one to relax, manage sensory overload, and reset before joining into play.

The Dough Project Play Dough: You’re never too old to play with playdough. And most 4-year-olds are still very much into play dough, so what makes a better stocking stuffer or gift than this rainbow pack? This natural play dough set comes with six boxes of vibrant colors.

Play Tent: Here’s another option that’s great for quiet play! This gift could make a great addition to a playroom or even an open space in your living room that your 4-year-old could use as their reading space.

3

Puzzles and Games

Disney Princess Matching Game

Disney Princess Matching Game

Spider-Man Chutes and Ladders

Spider-Man Chutes and Ladders

Candy Land

Candy Land

Take-Apart Race Car

Take-Apart Race Car
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Disney Princess Matching Game: Adding to their princess collection is always exciting! This matching game is a great way to introduce new critical skills while enjoying some Disney Princess fun.

Spider-Man Chutes and Ladders: Another simple game to start with your 4-year-old is Chutes and Ladders. This Marvel superhero version will be exciting to play while supporting your child’s developmental skills.

Candy Land: Introducing board games at this age is a great way to prepare them for school, teaching them about having patience, giving turns, and winning/losing. This classic, simple game is a great way to introduce this kind of play.

Take-Apart Race Car: If your 4-year-old likes to build and take things apart, this Take-Apart Racing Car Toy is a perfect gift! Included is a 30-piece construction set with 10 interchangeable modification car parts. They’ll enjoy using the drill to redesign it over and over!

Zingo: Bingo with a zing! This game involves matching and is an excellent way for your preschooler to develop critical skills. It comes with a “Zinger” that allows players to make matches and fill up their cards.

4

Arts and Crafts

How To Draw Everything

How To Draw Everything

Pom Pom Pictures

Pom Pom Pictures

Spirograph

Spirograph

Window Crayons

Window Crayons

5-in-1 Craft Kit

5-in-1 Craft Kit

Doodle Board

Doodle Board

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie
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How To Draw Everything: Learning the basics of drawing sounds like fun! “How To Draw Everything” includes steps for creating over 300 images, including how to draw various cute animals. This would make an excellent gift for a 4-year-old!

Easel: Many of our kids have been coloring on the tabletop; why not switch up your little’s artistic view with an easel? With two storage bins for art supplies, this easel will allow your little artist to create a new masterpiece daily.

Pom Pom Pictures: This new way of crafting will have your preschooler making some exciting creations! It’s no mess and helps them develop fine motor skills. All the craft materials you need come in the box, ready to go!

Spirograph: If you are a 90’s child, you know this classic. It is making a comeback and will allow your little one to create the grooviest designs.

Window Crayons: If your 4-year-old loves crayons, this gift will take things to a new and exciting level. Crayola offers a pack of five window crayons made for glass surfaces that are easy to wash off and add a new level of creativity to coloring time.

5-in-1 Craft Kit: Your little one can make over 15 crafts with this kit, including clay stickers, stamp art, and paper quilling crafts. It comes with over 100 craft supplies and easy-to-follow instructions with pictures.

Doodle Board: Unleash your child’s imagination with this LCD-display doodle board. This mess-free and durable coloring option is also a perfect activity to take on outings when you want your child to be entertained.

Crayola Scribble Scrubbie: This rainbow tub gift set comes with four pets your 4-year-old can draw creative designs on! Then, they can scrub the pets to erase and add new doodles. The set also includes a reusable playmat and washable markers.

5

Books

Hello World! Solar System Book

Hello World! Solar System Book

First Little Readers Series

First Little Readers Series

Pete the Cat Books

Pete the Cat Books

Fancy Nancy Storybook Favorites

Fancy Nancy Storybook Favorites

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection

Dr. Seuss's Beginner Book Collection
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Hello World! Solar System Book: Nowadays, the best way for children to learn is to read about it. This Hello World! Series is a great way to introduce them to new topics, especially space, which is all the rage.

First Little Readers Series: This fantastic early readers series will allow your preschooler to start reading independently with short and sweet versions of everyday classics. It will make a great gift for any 4-year-old!

Pete the Cat Books: If Pete the Cat hasn’t invaded your home library yet, it is time. This cool cat is one to keep up with. This phonics series is another perfect way to encourage reading at your preschooler’s level and pace.

Fancy Nancy Storybook Favorites: Miss Nancy is very Fancy and has loads of fun with whatever adventure she is on. This series takes most of the classic favorites and adds a Fancy Nancy twist!

Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Collection: This set of Dr. Seuss books comes with classics like “Green Eggs and Ham” and “The Cat in the Hat.” Your 4-year-old will love Dr. Seuss’ creative rhymes and unique illustrations.

For more great books for kids, check out these articles:

6

STEM

Rocket Ship Magna-Tiles Set

Rocket Ship Magna-Tiles Set

Brio World Railway

Brio World Railway

Wooden Blocks Set

Wooden Blocks Set

Lovevery Toys

Lovevery Toys

Eezy Peezy Fort Building Kit

Eezy Peezy Fort Building Kit

Flower Garden Building Toy

Flower Garden Building Toy
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Rocket Ship Magna-Tiles Set: If you have a child who loves to create with their Magna-Tiles, this set is for them! This brand makes many expansion packs to foster your child’s imagination and allow them to create even more spectacular creations.

Brio World Railway: All aboard! This classic train set can be elevated with so many more modern accessories. Building towns, tracks, and railway scenes will instantly lead to partnership and cooperative play.

Wooden Blocks Set: Building will forever be a favorite type of play, so why not expand on that with these wooden blocks? This gift will help your 4-year-old bring their castle towers to life! We also love that the storage lid prompts kids to match each block shape to the correct hole.

Lovevery Toys: Lovevery offers wonderful Montessori-inspired toys crafted with sustainable materials. This is a great gift option if you are looking for a more educational-style toy to encourage learning.

Eezy Peezy Fort Building Kit: Ignite their imagination with this fort-building kit! It has a whopping 139 pieces, including colorful tubes, balls, panels, and a flag. The sky is the limit to what your little one can create.

Flower Garden Building Toy: This build-a-bouquet STEM kit will allow your child to build and sort gorgeous flower blocks. They can mix and match pieces to create beautiful bouquets over and over again!

7

Sports

Mini Golf

Mini Golf

Frisbee Golf

Frisbee Golf

Little Tikes 3-in-1 Rebound Games

Little Tikes 3-in-1 Rebound Games

Bean Bag Toss Game

Bean Bag Toss Game
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Mini Golf:  Who needs to go to mini golf when you can make a course in your backyard?! This gift provides a complete set with everything your 4-year-old needs to play around your house.

Frisbee Golf: Maybe mini golf isn’t your child’s speed. How about a round of frisbee golf? This new game has hit popularity and might also spike your preschooler’s interest. Combining multiple sports and skills, frisbee golf is so much fun!

Little Tikes 3-in-1 Rebound Games: This set includes a compilation of rebound games: an arcade game, ping pong, and basketball. All the games involve a ball returning to you, which will help encourage teamwork and partner play.

Bean Bag Toss Game: This is the perfect indoor or outdoor game for kids. This fun bean bag toss will help toddlers develop hand-eye coordination, motor skills, number recognition, and counting skills.

8

Dress Up and Pretend Play

Kids Ukulele

Kids Ukulele

American Girl Doll

American Girl Doll

KIKO+ Wooden Camera

KIKO+ Wooden Camera

Melissa & Doug Vet Kit

Melissa & Doug Vet Kit

Melissa & Doug Grocery Store

Melissa & Doug Grocery Store

Classic Doll House

Classic Doll House

Play Kitchen

play kitchen

Play Tea Set

play tea set

Play Stroller

Play Stroller
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Ukulele: By age 4, many children are interested in music. And did you know music benefits children’s brains?1 You can help promote responsibility, performing, originality, and musicality with this personalized ukulele!

American Girl Doll: If you had one of these as a little girl or longed for one, now is your chance to get one for your child. The possibilities are endless, from their classic collection to modern-day heroes and more.

KIKO+ Wooden Camera: Say cheese! This adorable wooden camera lets your little one point, shoot, and push the cute star-shaped button to snap their pics. This gift includes a kaleidoscope lens and carrying straps for your 4-year-old.

Melissa & Doug Vet Kit: Teaching empathy and responsibility to young children is critical. This veterinarian toy kit will show them how to be responsible and care for animals in several ways.

Melissa & Doug Grocery Store: This adorable check-out station and storefront will elevate pretend play to the next level. Whether adding to your 4-year-old’s play kitchen or creating a storefront space, how great of a time does this gift look?!

Classic Doll House: This elegant dollhouse is a fun way to bring an old-school toy back to life. With this gift, your child can create their own home, family, and space, helping your 4-year-old’s imagination grow fast!

Play Kitchen: Toddlers love to imitate mom and dad, cooking imaginary food in their play kitchens. There are so many play kitchen options; no matter which you choose, you can’t go wrong! This one from Ikea is a great gift to support imaginative play for 4-year-olds and will be enjoyed for years.

Play Tea Set: Around this age, your toddler may start to be interested in setting up a picnic or tea party, making a toddler-appropriate tea set an excellent gift for a 4-year-old. You can find many options, from stainless steel to wooden tea sets like this one!

Play Stroller: Your little one will love strolling around the house with a play stroller. This fully functional stroller is perfect for pushing dolls and stuffed animals around and developing imaginative play.

9

Technology

Snug Play+ Kids Headphones

Snug Play+ Kids Headphones

Fisher-Price Learning Bot

Fisher-Price Learning Bot

Kids Fire HD Tablet

Kids Fire Tablet

Bumper Cars

bumper cars

Story Projector

Story Projector

Echo Dot Kids

Echo Dot Kids
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Snug Play+ Kids Headphones: Are you planning to travel with your toddler or use screen time while out in public? These headphones are perfect for your little ones’ heads. A comfy fit, they are perfect for your toddler to enjoy their media time in peace.

Fisher-Price Learning Bot: Here’s a real-life robot for your toddler! This learning bot is full of different skill sets that will occupy your toddler for hours while allowing them to learn how technology, socialization, and communication skills are paramount.

Kids Fire HD Tablet: This tablet comes with one year of Amazon Kids+, giving your kids access to thousands of apps, games, videos, Audible books, and educational content from PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Disney, and more. You can hand it over worry-free with the included kids’ case!

Bumper Cars: These seem to be on the hot toy list for 2023! Having a bumper car in your household will surely make your 4-year-old excited, making this a great gift. Just make sure you get enough bumper cars for everyone to play.

Story Projector: It might look like a flashlight, but it’s actually a projector! You can project your child’s favorite stories for the whole family to view. It comes with eight fairytale stories, allowing your preschooler to feel like part of a classic story on their bedroom wall.

Echo Dot Kids: This Echo Dot is perfect for children with big imaginations. Kids can ask Alexa to play music, read stories, and call approved friends and family. With easy-to-use parental controls, this smart speaker will allow you to rest easy!

It’s a beautiful time of year! There’s just something about making a holiday shopping list that certainly gets me into the holiday spirit! We hope this list of gifts for 4-year-olds helps you find that perfect gift. Here’s to a healthy and happy holiday season. Happy gifting!

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Catherine Lessman Early Child Development Specialist
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Catherine Lessman, aka Miss Catherine, is an Early Child Development Specialist and mom who takes an individualized approach in helping your child and family unit successfully achieve success in all… Read more

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