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You may be wondering why anyone needs to research the best educational gifts for 4-year-olds, considering how very articulate most children are about their likes and dislikes by this age. But then again, maybe you’re the type of parent who isn’t wondering this at all, as you’ve been researching everything you can to encourage your child’s development since they were in the womb (or before?). Whichever kind of parent you are, we’ve got you covered with this toy list.
Best Toy Gifts for 4-Year-Olds at a Glance
Best Overall: Polly Pocket Seaside Puppy Ride Compact, $16
Best Safety Scissor Gift: Ever Direct Scissor Skills Activity Pad, $17
Best STEM Gift: Magna-Tile Clear Colors 37-pieces Set, $60
Best Balance Gift: Piccalio Surfer Balance Board, $109
Best Montessori Gift: Akoko Kids Store Montessori Learn to Tell Time Toy Clock, $27
Best Coloring Gift: Crayola Color Caddy Craft Kit, $22
Best Gift for Learning Feelings: Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple, $10
Best Card Game: Briarpatch Kids On Stage, $19
Best Storytelling Gift: My Story Stones Rocks, $9 each
Best Counting and Sorting Gift: Learning Resources Mini Muffin Match Math Activity Set, $22, was $25
There are a few important things that make some gifts educational for 4-year-olds and others not — and we’re not talking about whether they feature the right Octonauts or Bluey characters. This is a kind of crossroads age, when kids still learn mostly through play, like 3-year-olds and everyone younger than them. But as they near age 5, they’ve also got to start gearing up for real academic learning. Kindergarten, if not already here, is on the horizon. The developmental milestones we’re used to seeing — social abilities, fine and gross motor skills, etc. — come along with the beginnings of reading, writing, and counting.
What Are Good Gifts for 4-Year-Olds?
By age 4, according to the CDC, most children are more interested in playing with other kids than they have ever been before. They’re starting to understand rules of interaction, too — and that means they’re ready to play all kinds of games together. Simple board games and card games make sense to them, for example. And perhaps more interesting are the games of make-believe that they’ll invent with each other without any intervention on your part.
The “educational” toys we recommend here, and more you’ll see on the market, aren’t going to turn your 4-year-old into a genius mathematician who can read Tolstoy. Dropping extra money on STEM toys for your child doesn’t necessarily translate into high SAT scores down the road. For millennia, children had very little but sticks, rocks, and rags, and they managed to progress into functioning adults. But if kids are having fun and their caregivers are interacting with them, then they can more easily absorb information and learn problem-solving skills that they’ll use later in life.
Now, a quick caveat about milestones and “normal” childhood development: Kids learn at different rates, and their brains and bodies are complex machines that are different from each other. So when we talk about the best educational toys for 4-year-olds’ development, we simply mean a majority of children and don’t imply judgment if your kid is into something deemed more appropriate for older or younger children.
What Are Popular Gifts for 4-Year-Old Girls?
“When considering gifts for 4-year-olds, I always encourage focusing on open-ended toys that promote imaginative play,” explains Claire Law, a teacher, relational psychotherapist, and the senior contributor at Four Minute Books. “At this age, kids are starting to explore symbolic thinking and storytelling through pretend play. Dolls, dollhouses, play kitchen sets, and dress-up clothes allow children to inhabit different roles, act out real-life scenarios, and express themselves creatively.”
Law also suggests building and construction toys like wooden blocks, Magna Tiles, or Legos for either gender. “These develop spatial reasoning, problem-solving abilities, and fine motor skills as little ones figure out how to design and build their creations. Puzzles are also fantastic for cultivating patience, concentration, hand-eye coordination, and a sense of accomplishment when kids put the pieces together successfully,” she adds”
What Are Popular Gifts for 4-Year-Old Boys?
When looking for a gift for boys, think items that support robust physical development, think about gifts that get kids moving and active. “Ride-on toys like push cars or pedal vehicles are perfect for strengthening gross motor skills and getting some energy out,” Law says. “Balls of all kinds inspire running, throwing, and kicking – excellent outlets for physical play. You can even find child-sized sports equipment like plastic golf clubs or a toddler basketball hoop.”
That said, we used milestone lists from the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics to guide us with these choices.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Mattel is a SheKnows sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
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Polly Pocket Seaside Puppy Ride Compact
Image Credit: Polly Pocket This Polly Pocket toy is specifically made for children ages four and up. It includes a fidget exterior on the adorable beachy cruiser (the dog’s ears and arms move). The set also comes with two micro dolls, 12 accessories, and five different secretaries that the toy transforms into for endless playtime.
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Cut It Out
Image Credit: Ever Direct Scissor Skills Activity Pad The Scissor Skills Activity Pad offers 20 pre-printed activities that enhance children’s fine motor skills. The set includes plastic safety scissors that help encourage proper cutting form so little ones don’t hurt their hands.
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Build STEM Skills and Creativity
Image Credit: Magna-Tiles Magna-Tiles never get old, no matter how old your child is. They’re the best for building and knocking down over and over again. Plus, they never break or shatter, meaning they’ll last for years to come. Kids also love their rainbow colors and various shapes.
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Piccalio Surfer Balance Board
Image Credit: https://piccalio.com/ By 5, kids can usually balance on one foot for at least 10 seconds. But how long can they stay upright on this cool surfer balance board? The best feature? You can also test your own skills out on the board since it has a higher weight limit.
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Understanding Time
Image Credit: Akoko Kids Store It’s never too early to begin teaching kids how to tell time, and this Montessori learn to tell time toy clock is right on time. It has a simple wooden design that’s easy for little eyes to understand. It also features an engraved dial.
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Drawing People
Image Credit: Crayola At this age, kids are just beginning to tap into their creativity, which means you need plenty of crafting supplies on hand to keep them busy. This Crayola color caddy, priced at $22, has over 90 pieces including washable markers, crayons, safety scissors, and more, all designed to foster your child’s creativity.
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Deciphering Those Big Feelings
Image Credit: Learning Resources The Learning Resources Big Feelings Pineapple is a unique toy that helps children explore a wide range of emotions. With its 26 face pieces, from smiles to frowns and everything in between, it offers a comprehensive emotional learning experience. The toy is also two-sided, allowing children to place tons of faces on the friendly pineapple, enhancing their creativity and engagement.
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The World Is Their Stage
This nine-player card game is fun for the whole family. Its goal is to nurture communication skills and creativity in children three and up — no reading is required. It comes with 100 cards, a spinner, and the time to pack it all away.
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Storytelling Time
Image Credit: MyStoryStonesRock These cool rocks are hand-drawn with colorful and vibrant characters. Each Rock has a story to tell, and your big four-year-old will love asking them to make their own.
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Counting and Sorting
This mini muffin tin isn’t for baking. Instead, kids can use it to sort and count in a fun way. The set includes two dice, squeezy tweezers (to improve motor skills), 12 double-sided sorting circle inserts, 60 mini muffin counters, and an activity guide.
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Constructive Screen Time
This Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit for the Fire Tablet provides comprehensive screen time for four-year-olds. Many games and activities loop in math, physics, and counting into their “mindless screen time.”
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Let Me Circle Back to You on Those Stats
Image Credit: Fisher Price Children love imitating what they see, so if your little one watches you work and wants to put in 9 to 5 hours, we have just the thing. This adorable pretend laptop has four fabric “apps” that kids can stick to the screen to make it look like they are getting plenty of work done. The set also includes a wooden smartphone and headset for them to answer important calls. And don’t forget about the much-needed “coffee.”
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Anti-Bored Games
Image Credit: ThinkFun The ThinkFun Zingo! Family & Kids Board Game is “Bingo with a Zing!” the brand said. The package provides kids with a friendly Zingo card that helps teach them how to use, spell, and read. There are two boards with different levels, one for competent readers and one for those for those who are just learning.
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Leap Into Reading and Writing
Image Credit: LeapFrog This reading pen from LeapFrog helps sound out words and guides letter strokes to enhance comprehension.
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Dino Escape
If they’re really into dinosaurs, treat them to this fun game. The Peaceable Kingdom Dinosaur Escape Cooperative Memory Game tests your memory in order to help your dinos get to safety on Dinosaur Island!
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Doll House Furniture
Hape’s dollhouse furniture is made from durable, soft, and smooth wood. Four-year-olds will love decorating their dollhouses with new decor. You can snag multiple sets starting at just $15!
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Bouncing Ball
Kids love bouncing around, so gift them this fun ball so they can jump from one spot to the next. It’s sturdy and made from durable materials to prevent popping. It’s a breeze to conflate since it comes with an included air pump. The brand confirms that it’s also tested to US safety and phthalates standards.
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Pretend Diner
Image Credit: Melissa & Doug Melissa & Doug nails it every time with their famous wooden toy sets. This one is another to add to your cart. It comes with everything children need to create their own diner at home, including menus and money. Order up!
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Bendable Figures
Image Credit: Fat Brain Toys This set of four stretchy silicone play figures is bendable and moveable so kids can get their silly moods and creativity out. It’s a wonderful distraction for fidgeting and bursts of energy. Each figure has a suction cup at the bottom to keep it sturdy.
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Building Gears
Image Credit: Learning Resources For over 25 years, Gears has been loved by kids of all ages. The stem builders are easy to fit together to create hundreds of combinations. Little ones will love working independently or with friends.
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Balance Beam
Need a gift idea for a gymnast? This foldable balance beam is one of our favorites! The beam has an anti-slip base and carrying handles for quick storage.
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