Win the Day With These Toys and Gift Ideas for 4-Year-Olds

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When it comes to choosing the best gifts for 4-year-olds, it's all about the toys. Don't be that grown-up who gifts clothes! (Unless, of course, it's an Elsa costume.) Preschoolers are all about piling sand into a bucket and calling it a cake, building things just to smash them into a million pieces, and smearing glitter glue on everything. They crave outlets for creativity and ways to burn off all that extra energy. Given all that's going on in their little bodies and big brains, what toys would make the best presents?

"When selecting a gift for any kid, you should always be sure that the product is age-graded appropriately and takes into account what you know about the recipient: their interests, what they may already have, and their personality," says James Zahn, senior editor at The Toy Insider, and father of two daughters. "You should also consider what you know about the parent or guardian and ask yourself, 'Is this something that they will approve of?'" (Maybe skip the slime-making kit.) Resist the temptation to buy something meant for a slightly older age group; it's best to avoid the frustration from the child if they're not ready for a specific toy.

Below, we've compiled our picks for the best toys for 4-year-olds, based on Zahn's recommendations, editor testing, and online reviews. Read on for more gift guides by age!

Tee Ball Set

It's never too early to start working on hand-eye coordination! (That's not entirely true, but you know what we mean.) This isn't the tee ball toy you grew up with, either. Bennol's tee ball set comes with an "auto-launcher" that tosses the ball in the air so kids can get a fresh hit in every time.

Whack a Mole Game

If the 4-year-old in your life has a sibling or just a lot of friends, consider this classic game — with a twist. LURLIN's version of whack-a-mole will help develop fine motor skills and improve concentration. There's even a single player mode for when the little one is alone.

Toy Puppy Set

Little boys and girls love to play pretend, and they can do just that with their own puppy to feed, brush, and play with. Click N' Play also makes a kitty version of this cute toy. Either way, you'll be saving money on kibble.

Kiddos

Kids don't typically learn to tie shoelaces until age six, which means these elastic lifesavers are technically a gift for their long-suffering parents, as well. U-Lace's patented design turns all their sneakers into slip-ons! They come in tons of colors and patterns.

Time for School Baby Doll Set

Yes, Baby Alive dolls are still a thing! Get them the gift of a doll that drinks water and pees, because this truly never gets old. This doll is "back to school"-themed, but Baby Alive has all kinds of dolls for every kid.

Shady Baby Feels: A First Book of Emotions

At four, kids are just starting to identify a range of emotions they're feeling on a daily basis. That process is exactly what parents Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade wanted to focus on in their follow-up to Shady Baby, a book they wrote based on their experience with their own daughter.

Set of 3 Puzzles

The Aya & Pete book series has seen the main characters go to Paris, Mexico, London, New York, and now, your 4-year-old's living room table. Including three individual puzzles, this sweet set will take kids around the world (or at least to three new locations) in 108 pieces.

Wooden Pretend Play Toy Kitchen

Boy or girl, this wooden play kitchen is the perfect addition to any playroom. We love the sink, shelf, and oven, which can act as storage when the kitchen is not in use. Pots and cooking utensils are also included.

Dinosaur Toys Science Playset

Although 4-year-olds know dinosaurs no longer roam the earth, this award-winning dino research station can transport them back in time. This set comes with dinosaur figurines, the researcher figurine, and plenty of other accessories.

Transforming Garden Treehouse Playset

Inspired by the Cotton Candy Tree in the popular Netflix show, the Gabby-obsessed 4-year-old can play with this Gabby's Dollhouse set at home. The garden treehouse comes with furniture, figurines, and accessories for fun, imaginative play. It also features lights (batteries included) and a spinning thumbwheel that reveals a secret room.

Goopow Kids Camera

Indulge the 4-year-old's creativity with this digital camera, which takes both photo and video. It comes equipped with an LCD screen and takes HD-quality shots. The photographer can also choose from 28 different kinds of scenes to enhance their pictures. Note that a grown-up will have to help toddlers upload the photos onto a computer.

Solar System Kaleidoscope

A tried-and-true classic, the kaleidoscope makes for one of the best stocking stuffers. This one features the solar system on the inside, as well as on its outside container. The 4-year-old can look through the eyepiece and experience some colorful magic, stimulating their sense of sight.

Andy: The Code & Play Robot

Sneak some education into their playtime with Andy the coding robot! He may look advanced, but Andy is designed to help preschoolers start to understand codes.

RELATED: 15 Best Coding Games for Kids That Are So Worth the Screen Time

Submarine Spray Station Bath Toy

Convince the 4-year-old to love the bath with this super-cool submarine spray station toy. It attaches easily to the side of the tub with effective suction cups. Water goes through the toy, circulated by a gentle water pump, for the best bath time fun. (It will need batteries, which are not included.)

Kids Construction Toys Truck Set

Construction vehicle fun, this set comes with 76 total pieces for the budding engineer. This pack includes a crane, a trailer, a steamroller, a bulldozer, a forklift, a snowplow, and a truck. Improving their hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills, and cognitive ability, the 4-year-old will enjoy hours of play. A much-needed storage box is included that can also be converted into an interlocking play mat when not being used to contain the pieces.

Unicorn Pop Purse

This 2-in-1 toy features fun pop-its, which are the latest kids' obsession. The unicorn bag can hold small items while also providing some much-needed distraction. Choose from several different bag designs like bunnies, rainbows, and fish, as well as various unicorn colors.

LCD Writing Tablet

Perfect for when kids are on car rides, this LCD writing tablet will be a great diversion. It comes with a pen to create their drawings. Once done, press the button to clear the screen and start over. It's truly like magic!

Classic Medium Creative Brick Box

This classic yellow box of LEGOs comes with 484 pieces. Players can create everything from cars to homes, from farms to flowers. Sparking the child's imagination, the sky's the limit.

Little Traveler Bingo

Introduce the 4-year-old in your life to the concept of bingo. This matching game can be played on trips so kids can match landmarks, food, vehicles, and animals during their travels. The box comes with a handle for easy transport.

Color Reveal Vehicles

Simply add water to the Hot Wheels Color Reveal container, and watch two matchbox-sized cars or trucks be revealed. Try cold and warm water for two different designs! The activity is almost like a fun science experiment. Then, long after the cars are revealed, they can continue to play with them as they do, and add them to their growing Hot Wheels collection.

Learn to Build Unicorns Toy

The 3D puzzle is so on-trend right now. With pieces that remind us of Roblox, this set creates a rainbow and unicorns. An instruction booklet will help the 4-year-old build. But, be prepared for them to ask for your help as this toy is meant to be challenging.

Mini Deluxe Magic

The best scooter for little kids around, the Micro Kickboard is a must for every 4-year-old. This version also comes equipped with light-up handlebars and wheels for safety and pizzazz. Without requiring them to turn, the rider on the Micro Kickboard simply needs to lean to steer while also working on balance and coordination. You can also adjust the height of the handle bars to accommodate the child. Choose from purple, aqua, and navy blue color options.

Unstoppable Me Affirmation Cards

At age four, kids start to really develop their sense of self. These Unstoppable Me Affirmation Cards can help them reach for the stars. Aiming to encourage self-love, these cards will be a nice reminder for them to take pride in themselves.

Care Like Greta Eco-Friendly Glass Water Bottle & Sticker Kit

We love the Kids Craft LeadHer collection of DIY boxes themed around inspiring female heroes from all different walks of life. This reusable water bottle craft kit is made for ages 4+.

Rainbow Pack

Easy to DIY and mold, this Clixo set comes with 39 flexible pieces of shapes and spinners for the 4-year-old to build fun creations. All they need is a little imagination. They can make flowers, creatures, wearable accessories, and more — the possibilities are endless.

The Figgy

Kids' seating that also doubles as a fort: you couldn't find a more fun multi-tasker. The Figgy can stand alone as a low children's sofa. But when a 4-year-old wants to play, its cushions can easily be transformed into other things, like houses, spaceships, and more. All you need is a little imagination. Each piece comes with a zipped cover that can be cleaned easily in the wash.

13" Talking Bluey Plush

"This is the age when kids become very passionate about their favorite characters, so look for cuddly stuffed versions to serve as new bedtime companions," suggests Jennifer Lynch, toy trends specialist with The Toy Association.

Straight from the best kids' show ever, Bluey is a spunky dog that has captured the hearts of both kids and their parents. This plush sings and says nine different phrases for interactive play.

Wooden Building Blocks Set

This building set comes with 100 different pieces of various shapes and sizes. When stacked together and built, the 4-year-old can create impressive structures in infinite ways. This toy will help improve their gross and fine motor skills, as well as their hand-eye coordination.

Rainbow & Kindness Crate

We are absolutely obsessed with this sweet set. In it, you'll get the softest rainbow plush with a happy face, and a lovely collection of 52 kindness cards that inspire kids to spread kindness in various ways. Making for a perfect gift, the cards and stuffed toy come perfectly packaged in a wood crate with a ribbon.

Rainbows & Unicorns Blanket

Since the 4-year-old has graduated from their baby blankie, this "more mature" replacement can be used for all sorts of play. Whether they're playing house, pretending to have a picnic, or using it for a fort, this customizable Kicks By Sammy blanket will be a nice addition to their imagination.

Shop more toys and gifts for kids

Looking for more of the best gifts for kids? Check out our guides for every age:

• Gifts for babies: Best Baby Gifts | Baby Boy Gifts | Baby Girl Gifts | Best Gifts for 6-Month-Olds

• Gifts for toddlers: Gifts for 1-Year-Olds

• Gifts for preschoolers: Gifts for 3-Year-Olds | Gifts for 5-Year-Olds

• Gifts for big kids: Gifts for 6-Year-Olds | Gifts for 7-Year-Olds | Gifts for 8-Year-Olds | Best Gifts for Girls

• Gifts for teens: Best Gifts for Teens | Best Gifts for Teen Girls on Amazon

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