30 Best Gifts For 4-Year-Olds

There’s no shortage of appealing toys in the world, but choosing the right gift for your kid’s age and developmental stage can be tricky. If anything, there’s almost too many options. That’s why a guide to the best gifts for 4-year-olds can be so handy for parents, grandparents, relatives, and anyone else with a preschooler in their life. You can narrow down the selection and find the perfect gift for your young kid, whatever their interests.

As it turns out, the best gifts for a 4-year-old include a little bit of everything, which is perfect for these kids who often have their own opinions about what they do (and do not) enjoy. There’s a ton of educational gifts, including STEAM toys that make learning about science fun. Seriously, setting up a marble run is extremely satisfying at any age. Montessori-friendly toys get their own section as well, featuring plenty of beautiful, wooden toys. There’s also a whole selection of dinosaur toys for kids who are all about those prehistoric creatures, as well as arts-based gifts to help spark your kid’s creativity. Basically, there’s sure to be a gift to inspire your kid’s imagination and enrich their playtime. Here’s what the best gifts for 4-year-olds in 2021 offer your favorite pre-schooler.

We only include products that have been independently selected by Romper's editorial team. However, we may receive a portion of sales if you purchase a product through a link in this article.

A wooden fraction puzzle that makes math fun

Made with wood and water-based paint, this toy introduces your kid to the idea of whole, half, third, and quarter fractions. This educational toy is a colorful, hands-on way to start exploring the concept of fractions from a young age.

An inspiring astronaut puzzle that encourages fine motor skills

This 24-piece puzzle, constructed from sturdy cardboard, can help your kid master fine motor skills. In addition, the fun picture invites them to reach for the stars, making this educational toy both informative and inspiring.

Tiny turtle finger puppet for big imaginative play

Featuring a moveable head and front legs, this little turtle comes to life with your child’s imagination. Plus, Folkmanis offers a puppet version of nearly every animal imaginable, from the axolotl to the zebra.

Montessori-friendly wooden superheroes your kid can design

This set includes two wooden superheroes and a set of 10 color pencils. Your kid can have a blast designing and decorating their very own superhero figures. Plus, people who favor the Montessori learning environment appreciate wooden toys for their durability, texture, and visual appeal, according to The Montessori-Minded Mom.

A Melissa & Doug reusable sticker pad for under $10

Featuring five scenes and over 150 different reusable stickers, this set from Melissa & Doug will keep your kiddo busy (and quiet) for quite a while. Farm animals, sea creatures, and even dinosaurs are all included.

Simple wooden stacking toys that teach your kid about construction

These 20 wooden stones, carved in various shapes, will help your kid learn about balance and simple construction. Made from pine, the stones also feature a few eye-catching swipes of paint, making this educational toy a pretty aesthetic choice for any home.

A beautiful & inspiring book about acceptance

This sweet poem about acceptance is brought to life with bright, poppy illustrations. It’s a lovely story you and your kid will want to read again and again.

An educational toy & puzzle with trucks for less than $10

Both a puzzle and a matching game all in one, this 24-piece toy has three different levels of play to “grow” along with your kid. Learn about colors while identifying different cool trucks.

STEM-approved building tiles that encourage creative exploration

With their bright colors, this selection of magnetic squares and triangles encourages kids to create all kinds of shapes in free-form play. This 3-D building tool helps develop your child’s creative, spacial, and tactile skills.

A garden growing kit to learn all about plant life

Packed with terracotta pots, saucers, soil pellets, and four different seed packets, this kit contains everything you and your kid need to start a garden. Seriously, all you have to provide is the water. Learn about plant growth (as well as tasty food choices) while growing cucumber, tomato, carrot, and basil seeds.

Flexible, fun suction cups for creative construction creations

These colorful, flexible little suction cups can be combined to create all kinds of imaginative creations. Plus, they make a fun popping sound when you pull them apart. And, like many of the best toys for children with autism, according to Romper, Squigz encourage sensory play.

A pet care playset that invites imaginary play

Designed with pretend play in mind, this 24-piece set invites your kid to feed and groom their new cat and dog toys. There’s even a sticker set with names for the pets, as well as a feeding schedule.

A multi-use toy for outdoor activities

The bouncy, stretchy nylon center part of these paddles brings your game of catch to the next level. Use the ring to bounce one of the included balls, or throw the entire thing like a Frisbee.

Simple, colorful modeling dough for creative sensory play

Made with flour, salt, and FDA-approved pigments, this modeling dough is a fresh new take on the classic kid’s toy. This pack includes a red and a green version to give your kid some colorful creative options.

Non-spill bubbles that make outdoor play less messy

A no-spill design and nontoxic bubble solution makes blowing bubbles a fun (and less messy) experience. This bottle of Fubbles includes 4 ounces of solution, and it’s refillable.

A squishy orb for sensory play

This seriously squishy toy is amazing for sensory play. Plus, the out-of-this-world color scheme makes the blob even more enticing.

Detailed spinosaurus figure for dinosaur super-fans

At 9 inches long and 3 inches high, this Spinosaurus figure is thankfully a whole lot smaller than the actual creature from the Late Cretaceous period. It’s a great model for kids who like accurate, detailed dinosaur toys, and the Safari Ltd site features a ton of different dino figures, from Allosaurus to Yutyrannus.

A frog umbrella for a non-toy gift that’s still super fun

With a 68 centimeter wide canopy, this froggy-filled umbrella will make rainy days a little more fun. It also features a safety runner and child-safe spoke tips to keep little fingers free from pinches or pokes.

Educational & artsy place mats to make dinnertime more colorful

This collection of three place mats invites your child to learn about everything from marching bands to countable ice cream cones. Food-safe and easy to clean, these place mats serve up a side of colorful original illustrations with every meal.

Sidewalk chalk shaped like pizza for creative & quirky outdoor play

This pizza-shaped sidewalk chalk is ready to help create your kid’s next masterpiece. Plus, the handmade product is non-toxic so your kid can scribble away safely.

A kid-friendly microscope for close-up STEM exploration

Designed for young kids, the durable microscope features 24 slides with pre-printed images. Kids can examine bird feathers and even (literal) bee’s knees up close. There are also blank slides so you can examine household objects very close up, bringing that STEM-based learning right into your own home.

Customizable dino finger puppets for prehistoric creative play

The 24-page instruction book is loaded with ideas for customizing your kiddo’s prehistoric finger puppets with air-dry clay, stickers, and plenty of paper accessories. The kit makes three puppets total, and there are over 80 pieces to choose from.

A natural face paint kit to spark your kid’s imagination

Made from ingredients such as beeswax and mineral pigments, this collection of six face paints can help your kid’s imagination take off. Will your little one transform into a cat, a superhero, or something else entirely?

Small plush dog for pretend play

At only 9 inches in size, this pup plush is the perfect take-anywhere size. Plus, the floppy ears and big nose are extra-cute.

A sandy sensory bin filled with sturdy construction toys

Filled with kinetic sand, this sensory bin invites your kid to dig, build, and simply play. Several construction trucks and sensory tools are included as well. It’s all the fun of creating sand sculptures without creating a huge mess in your home.

A portable art studio for creative play on-the-go

With a chalkboard on one side and a whiteboard on the other, this studio encourages budding artists to experiment with chalk, markers, and even magnets. Weighing about 6 pounds, this little studio is also super-portable.

A wooden marble run set for next-level building and construction fun

45 grooved and tunneled blocks, as well as 18 marbles, make up this incredible marble run. It encourages your child to learn about construction, gravity, and cause-and-effect.

Squishable plush llama for sensory & pretend play

Created for hugs and cuddles, this squishy llama is 15 inches tall. Made from all new materials (100% polyester fiber), the llama can be spot-cleaned if needed. Plus, there’s a squishable for just about every animal imaginable (and even some imaginary ones too), so you can grab your kid’s favorite creature.

A remote control dinosaur for your T-Rex fan

With both motion and sound features included, this T-Rex is at your kid’s command. The included wireless controller helps your kid tame the prehistoric beast.

Wooden baked goods for imaginative play

Featuring baked goods such as a donut, pastry, and slice of bread, this charming wooden toy inspires imaginative play. Made from beech wood, the crate is about 4.8 x 3.3 inches in size. In addition, this set meets the criteria of the best Montessori toys, which tend to be straightforward designs that help encourage fine motor skills, according to Romper.

For more gift suggestions for children of all ages, check out Romper's comprehensive list of the best toys for babies, toddlers, kids, and tweens.