36 Best Toys and Gifts for 4-Year-Old Boys, According to Kids and Experts

Once you've got a 4-year-old on your hands, you've left toddlerhood behind and are entering preschool age, but that doesn't mean there aren't a slew of cool toys to entertain them with. Your little ones will be eager to learn, experiment, try new things and understand more about the world around them. Now's the time to encourage them to look into new interests and incorporate learning with play.

Most 4-year-olds are eager to try their hand at problem solving or experiment with new tasks that require a greater attention span that will keep them occupied for longer than the usual 15 minutes. They're also going to being questioning more about the world around them, explains Rebecca Parlakian, M.A., E.D., a parenting expert from Zero to Three, an organization that focuses on kid development during the early years. Tasks that require planning ahead and better motor skills will keep them interested and occupied and help exercise their new abilities and interests.

"The best toys at this age include construction toys that allow them to build and problem-solve — think about plastic interlocking blocks, gear toys, domino runs, magnet tiles and other similar choices," Parlakian recommends. "If your child already has wooden blocks, consider expanding the set with new block types like turrets, arches and cylinders to spark their building play. Pretend play props, like costumes, a tea set or construction tools encourage role-playing. With more control over their fine motor skills, art supplies like paints and brushes, markers and other similar items can also be a big hit. And finally, simple board games and activities like dominoes and memory cards are also fun for preschoolers."

Luckily, when it comes to these types of toys, the Good Housekeeping Institute has no shortage of expert favorites and award-winning products that will keep your little ones engaged while exercising their brain. To find the very best gifts for kids (including Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award winners), scientists evaluate the toys for safety and durability, then hand them over to our kid testers who make sure these toys are fun to play with. Our list of the best toys and gifts for 4-year-old boys is made up of the hottest new toys on the market, including winners of our 2022 Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, former Toy Award winners, best-sellers and editors' picks. These are the best toys and gifts for 4-year-old boys in 2022: