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 math game for preschoolers
It's never too soon to start curating your kiddo’s counting skills. And with this CoolToys Monkey Balance Game, your child will be able to know their numbers by the time they enter school. Half Monkey In The Middle, half seesaw, the game is simple. Simply pick a number from 1-10, and have your child put the correct amount of monkeys to balance out the seesaw. The 65-piece set includes 19 monkeys, numbers, 30 double-sided cards, a monkey scale, and more. You can use the cards like flash cards to reinforce your child’s understanding of numbers, and their love of monkeys.
An inspiring astronaut puzzle that encourages fine motor skills
This 24-piece astronaut 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. It measures 12 x 10 inches, and is constructed from strong cardboard, so you won’t have to worry about the pieces bending or breaking. It might even spark a conversation about space, planets, constellations, and where we fit in this universe — or just how cool it would be to be an astronaut. You can even teach your child about other planets, how old stars really are, and what it would really be like to experience zero gravity.
Tiny turtle finger puppet for big imaginative play
Listen, turtles aren’t the cuddliest of creatures, but this one from Folkmanis Puppets definitely is. Featuring a moveable head and front legs, this little turtle puppet 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. Your turtle puppet can play some serious games of peek-a-boo, as your child learns to maneuver the turtle’s head in and out of its shell. And unlike a real turtle, this one can totally sleep with your little sweetie. For even more learning, you can teach your child about how turtles create their own shells, so that your child learns to come out of theirs.
Montessori-friendly wooden superheroes your kid can design
When you think of superheroes, probably people dressed as caped crusaders come to mind. But not these two guys, who are definitely durable. This set from Crate & Kids 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 texture, and visual appeal, according to The Montessori-Minded Mom. They’re also very eco-friendly, since they’re non-toxic and sustainable, too. And since your child can use the pencils on the robots, they can give them real human emotions, like happiness, sadness, or even anger.
A Melissa & Doug reusable sticker pad for under $10
Featuring five scenes and over 150 different reusable stickers, this sticker 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. What makes this reusable sticker set so cool is that it features full-color backgrounds that are all about animals. Kids can visit a farm, traipse through a prehistoric landscape, or put their animal stickers on a desert oasis, a jungle, or even swim in the deep blue. The stickers are made from vinyl and easy-to-peel, so your child can play with them over and over again for even more adventures.
Simple wooden stacking toys that teach your kid about construction
Oftentimes, kids’ toys look just like that — kids’ toys. Not the Janod Sweet Cocoon Stacking Stones. 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. And because the stones are small, they’re easy to store away after your child is done playing. The best part is that there’s no one way for your child to play with this toy, so your child can turn them into people, cars, trains — whatever their imagination comes up with.
A beautiful & inspiring book about acceptance
It’s never, ever too soon to teach your child about inclusivity, diversity, and loving people for exactly who they are. This idea is brought home beautifully in the book, I’ll Walk with You by Carol Lynn Pearson. This sweet poem about acceptance comes to life with bright, poppy illustrations. It illustrates the point that no matter what someone looks like, where they call home, how old they are, what they can (or can’t) do, well, none of that really matters. It’s a lovely story you and your kid will want to read again and again, and can empower your child to learn acceptance at an early age.
An educational toy & puzzle with trucks for less than $10
Help your child understand the difference between their primary colors with the Playhouse Match It UP! color matching and puzzle card game. Your child will not just learn their pink from their purple, but they’ll also boost their number skills, as well as sort out shapes, and rhyme words as well. The game is meant for kids ages 2-6, and can be played alone or with up to four players. The game also converts into a floor puzzle that can build your child’s problem-solving skills, too. This is a game that can grow with your child, so you’ll be able to build in some learning while you play together on the floor..
STEM-approved building tiles that encourage creative exploration
Move over, boring old blocks. Kids can build bigger (and better) things with these Magna-Tiles Clear Colors set. 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, spatial, and tactile skills. So what will your kiddo create? Will it be a castle, a car, a cat, or a person? The options are totally limitless, and the tiles totally encourage complete creativity. They’re also super pretty, too, since they look like stained glass — but are safe to play with.
A garden growing kit to learn all about plant life
Give your child the gift of a green thumb when you buy this Garden Growing Kit from The Black Toy Store. 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. The kit includes plant labels, so you won’t confuse your carrots with your cucumbers. To give your veggies and herbs something pretty to grow in, your kiddo can color the terra cotta pots with the already-included paints.
Flexible, fun suction cups for creative construction creations
At first, Squigz toys kind of look like packing parts from other toys that you might be tempted to throw out. But nope, these colorful, flexible little suction cups are the actual toys. They can be combined to create all kinds of imaginative creations, and can be used to build tall towers, or other creations. Plus, they make a fun popping sound when you pull them apart, and who doesn’t love toys that are squishy and make cool noises? Plus, Squigz toys encourage sensory play, so you might find your child playing with them everywhere they go. They might also work well as a fidget toy for kids who like to hold something in their hands.
A pet care playset that invites imaginary play
If you’re not ready to commit to a real pet, this pet care playset from Melissa & Doug can be a good first step. 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. Here’s what you get with the 24-piece set: food bowls, pretend food and treats, grooming supplies (they even vibrate), and a checklist to make sure that your pretend puppy goes to all their training sessions. And if your child does well taking care of their pretend pet, well, it might not be long before you have a real four-legged friend in your home.
A multi-use toy for outdoor activities
Bedtime isn’t going to be boring any longer, thanks to Lazer Fingers. You attach each laser to your child’s finger, turn off the lights, and prepare to be wowed by the display. The mini finger light setincludes four .75 x .5 inch lights with elastic bands, so they won’t slip off your child’s fingers mid-show. Each light projects a different color (think blue, green, red, and white), and whether your child aims the lasers at a wall or the ceiling (and not, ahem, at their sibling’s face), it’s bound to make bedtime a blast. Just be sure to take off the lights before your kid goes to sleep, so that when you say lights out, you mean all of them.
Simple, colorful modeling dough for creative sensory play
You’re probably way familiar with that *other* dough that kids can use to play and mold with. But this Eco-Kids Eco-Dough 2-pack just might make you think twice about the dough you’re dishing out to your kids to play with. 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, and is the perfect color dough for Christmas playtime. It’s recommended for kids ages three and up, but just make sure that your child doesn’t decide to take a taste of the dough, since it’s not edible.
Non-spill bubbles that make outdoor play less messy
You buy a big ol’ bottle of bubble liquid, thinking that your kiddo will be occupied for hours…and then they go ahead and spill it while trying to get the wand into the bottle. Well, you won’t have those worries with the Fubbles No-Spill toy. A no-spill design makes blowing bubbles a fun (and less messy) experience. This bottle of Fubbles includes 4 ounces of solution, and it’s refillable. You can play with it outdoors or even inside, and you won’t have to use your mop to clean up afterwards. The bubbles are also non-toxic so your child can safely pop the bubbles without any problems.
A squishy pizza for sensory play
It’s your kiddo’s favorite food in the whole entire world. But they can’t exactly sleep with their slice of pizza…. until now. This Snugglemi Snackers – Pizza is perfect for playtime, and bedtime, too. The happy slice of pizza plush toy also sings, too, which might inspire some serenading from your little sweetie. And if your child’s pizza slice hits the floor, you should spot clean it (and not put it in the washing machine) so that the pepperoni doesn’t pop off. But because it’s so cute, we can’t guarantee that your child won’t want to nibble on it from time to time.
Detailed spinosaurus figure for dinosaur super-fans
There are some things that kids just crave playing with — like dinosaurs. But while playing with a real T Rex isn’t reality (or, you know, safe), 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 lot of research and attention to detail goes into crafting each dinosaur so that they are as realistic as possible.
A frog umbrella for a non-toy gift that’s still super fun
Rainy days deserve fun umbrellas. But instead of giving your child your boring black one to carry, With a 68-centimeter wide canopy, this froggy-filled umbrella will make rainy days a little more dry. It also features child-safe spoke tips to keep little fingers free from pinches or pokes. The dome design also means that your child will be covered as they skip through the raindrops — or trudge right through the puddles on their way to school. The green handle perfectly matches the rest of the frog design, and is the perfect size for your child’s hand to be able to hold their own umbrella.
Educational & artsy place mats to make dinnertime more colorful
Makeover mealtime with this collection of three place mats which invite your child to learn about everything from marching bands to countable ice cream cones. One placemat even shows how, in five simple steps, you can make syrup, waffles, breakfast, and more. Food-safe and easy to clean, these place mats serve up a side of colorful original illustrations with every meal. To ensure that the placemats stay pretty, you might want to avoid popping them in the dishwasher. But the most important part of the placemats is their dedication to diversity, and a child’s ability to see themselves presented in the mats.
Sidewalk chalk shaped like pizza for creative & quirky outdoor play
There’s nothing worse than giving your child a fresh, brand-new box of sidewalk chalk… and then seeing them split as soon as your child tries to use them on the ground. That’s what makes this Sidewalk Chalk Pizza so perfect. It’s designed to be used on gritty surfaces (like a concrete sidewalk, asphalt, or even slate). 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. And even though those pepperoni slices look so delish, this sidewalk chalk is not edible.
A kid-friendly microscope for close-up STEM exploration
This Kids First Big & Fun Microscope is the bee’s knees — literally. That’s right, you can actually see what bees’ knees look like, along with the leaves of a flower, and the strands of a feather and more with this dynamic microscope. Designed for young kids, the durable microscope features 24 slides with pre-printed images. There are also blank slides so you can examine household objects very close up, bringing that STEM-based learning right into your own home. You can even use one of three different magnification levels so that you can see all the images up close. The extra wide eyes pace and light up slide stage means your child will feel like a real scientist looking through the scope.
Customizable dino finger puppets for prehistoric creative play
You can always buy a dinosaur from the toy store — or you can craft one yourself. That’s what the My Dino Finger Puppets book and craft kit can do. The 24-page dino instruction book is loaded with ideas for customizing your kiddo’s prehistoric finger puppets with stickers and plenty of paper accessories. But if you thought that you’d be using plastic to make these pretend dinosaurs, think again. It’s clay that air dries that will be the base for these puppets. You can choose from red, blue, or green clay to craft your dinosaur. The kit makes three puppets total, and there are over 80 pieces to choose from. You can craft an egg for any of your dinosaurs to rest in while your child learns some real-life facts about dinosaurs.
A natural face paint kit to spark your kid’s imagination
It doesn’t have to be Halloween or a carnival for your kid to get their face painted. The natural face paint kit from Uncommon Goods is made from ingredients such as beeswax and mineral pigments. The 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? If you’re worried about what your child is putting on their face, the kit uses mineral-based clay, shea butter, and castor seed oil. It’s not made with any heavy metals, parabens, or harmful additives, so your child can paint away without any problems.
Small plush dog for pretend play
As if your child needed one more plush to play with, it’s got to be Mini Patrick The Pup Plush Dog. At only 9 inches, this pup plush is the perfect take-anywhere size. It’s also small enough to fit into your child’s bed without taking up too much room. It can easily fit into a backpack or (ahem, your diaper bag) without making you wish you had left it at home. Plus, the floppy ears and big nose are extra-cute. Patrick might find himself perched at your child’s desk, on their bed, even on the dining room table. In short, this mini version means you can take this precious pup anywhere your own little pup goes.
A sandy sensory bin filled with sturdy construction toys
Sure, you could construct your own sensory bin, but why would you when you can buy this construction zone sensory bin from Toyology 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. With the kit, you’ll get 2.5 pounds of soft sensory sand, tools, and toys to make this bin a big hit in your home. And when your child is done playing, you just pop on the lid and put it away.
A portable art studio for creative play on-the-go
It’s not always feasible to always be carrying around crayons and paper for your child to draw with. But this anywhere tabletop chalkboard and magnetic whiteboard set means that your kiddo can be creative no matter if you’re at the playground or at a restaurant waiting for your apps to arrive. It has a chalkboard on one side and a whiteboard on the other and comes with chalk and a wooden magnet in case your child prefers to draw on paper. It’s small enough to be completely portable, and is recommended for ages 3 and up. You just might find yourself doodling with your little darling, too.
A wooden marble run set for next-level building and construction fun
With proper supervision, marbles can be a cool toy for kids. For a toy that teaches hand-eye coordination, you can’t beat this marble run set. By placing marbles on the track, you can teach your child some serious physics as they understand why marbles build up speed as they go down to the bottom. Not only that, but if your child is still learning their colors, this toy can help with that, too. Kids can race more than one marble at a time and watch them hit the bottom base, which keeps the marbles from rolling all over the floor — and from you slipping and flying on them.
Squishable plush llama for sensory & pretend play
Ladybugs are a sign of good luck, which is why the Squishable Ladybug II can be a cute toy for your kiddo. This ladybug measures about 15 inches, and is made from polyester fiber. It’s designed for children ages 3 and up, but really, you’re never too old to have a little ladybug plush toy. It can be a perfect lovey for your lovely little one, or it can even be used as an impromptu pillow. But if you thought that you might only be buying just one plush, be prepared to purchase more, since the Squishable line is completely collectable.
A remote control dinosaur for your T-Rex fan
There’s one thing to play with a plush dinosaur or a poseable figure. But it’s another thing to completely control the movements of a T Rex. That’s exactly what your child can do with this Discovery Kids Remote Control RC T Rex Dinosaur. You can make the dinosaur walk by touching the left button, and get it to roar and attack with a simple push of the right button. But that’s not all; the dinosaur’s legs, arms, head, and neck all move with each and every step that your T Rex takes. Your child will feel like they’ve stepped right into a Jurassic Park movie for sure.
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. Inside the crate of goodies your child will find a slice of bread, a roll, a pretzel, a donut, and a tempting pastry. The toys are finished with a water-based lacquer that is safe for your budding baker to play with.
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.
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