These Are the Best Toys for 4-Year-Olds
They'll spark a preschooler's curiosity and development
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A bull in a china shop. A troll under a (playground) bridge. The loudest dude in the room. The highly animated reader. The messy explorer. These are just a few of the ways my family has tried to express the special kind of wildness that comes with raising our 4-year-old. As the fourth of five kids, he lets you know he’s there and doesn’t hesitate to explore (and sometimes destroy) anything from a forest full of unknown plants and creatures to a playroom that’s just been recently reorganized to perfection.
Of course, not all 4-year-olds are the same, and I’m sure some out there are much more tame. But they’re in a unique stage of development. They’re headed out of the toddler years but have yet to achieve the attention span of an elementary school student. It’s a sweet, exploratory phase after the terrible twos and the sassy “threenager” stages subside.
As you shop for toys for your favorite 4-year-old with their unique skill set and wonderful wildness in mind, here are the key categories to consider.
Puzzles & Games
“Young children learn by touching, manipulating objects, and exploring with their senses. I like toys that require kids to interact with the toy, to think, try different ways to solve a problem,” says Mary Carol Burkhardt, MD, of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Puzzles and games help with those problem-solving skills and can even be enjoyed with siblings or friends of different ages.
While my own 4-year-old can handle puzzles with 24 to 48 pieces, depending on his patience level that day, some kids can do more extensive ones. Games designed for this age can help support specific problem-solving and executive function skills, such as learning rules and breaking down projects into smaller tasks to complete.
Skilmatics Guess in 10: Animal Kingdom
This is a great game for parents or older siblings to play with 4-year-olds, combining critical thinking with bonding time. Tiles present questions such as “Where does this animal live?” and “How many legs does it have?” Players try to win seven game cards by guessing correctly. Little animal lovers won’t even know they’re learning through play.
Outdoor Toys
If you have a 4-year-old, you know just how much energy they burn. Outdoor play is one of the best ways to get them moving and make sure they’re well rested and ready for bedtime later.
“A large part of development is exploration of movement,” says Angela Seal, occupational therapist and director of occupational therapy at School-Based Behavior Consultation in New Palestine, Ind. Toys that encourage eye-hand coordination “allow a child to build a stable base to begin building fine motor skills.”
Ayeboovi Toss and Catch Game Set
It’s a childhood classic that never gets old. Learning to play catch with a Velcro mitt and tennis ball is a fan favorite that your 4-year-old will love to try. Pro tip: If you can spring for it, get the eight-paddle and four-ball package, so more people can join in the game. Plus, you can still play even after you inevitably lose a ball or two.
Building Toys
If my 4-year-old could persuade me to pull over at the next construction site, let him out, and get the supervisor to hand him some tools and a hard hat, he’d be happy. Blocks help promote a curiosity about building, of course, but at this age, he’s also ready for play tools that require a little more dexterity.
“A simple hammer toy with pegs requires a child to acquire a target when placing a peg with a gross grasp, push the peg in slightly, possibly with the pointer finger or with the first three fingers, grasp the hammer, and hit the peg while stabilizing the base with the other hand,” Seal says.
LEGO City Yellow Construction Wheel Loader Kit
The only thing better than playing with construction toys is building them first. This construction-themed set is a great first introduction to the Lego line, with a reasonable number of pieces for children this age.
Pretend Play Sets
Pretend play is one reason it’s so fascinating to watch children in this age group in a playroom, on a playground, or roaming outside.
“Preschoolers get good at predicting, telling stories, and imaginative play,” Burkhardt says. “These children might set up a zoo, store, or classroom if they have learned about those things. They will have more advanced roles, jobs, and interactions in those scenarios. This helps build relationships and also expresses creativity.”
I prefer playsets that can be used in multipurpose ways to allow a child’s imagination to run wild beyond prescriptive play. That being said, you can’t beat a great costume.
Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Dress-Up Set
This winner has less to do with pretend firefighting and more to do with the high-quality, imaginative, and age-appropriate design of the Melissa and Doug Role Play Costume line. I love these costumes because they come with some accessories—a must-have—with few small parts that can get lost in the playroom mayhem. And they’re highly accessible for this age group. For example, Velcro buttons make it easier for kids to take these on and off without yelling “Mommmm” a thousand times. Thank you VERY much, Melissa and Doug.
Sensory Toys
Sensory toys can help kids who need a little extra stimulation—think of a toddler’s busy board, with lots of activities, sounds, and colors. But the right toys can also serve as a calming tool, providing your overstimulated 4-year-old with a much needed break.
“Some children may also become overwhelmed by the sounds and visual input, causing overstimulation,” Seal says. “When overstimulated, a child may have difficulty with self-regulation, which may impact sleep, social participation, and/or overall behavior.”
Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset
It’s hard to beat playing with Play-Doh as the ultimate calming activity. On a rainy day or after a little too much screen time, this sensory toy can be relaxing for kids and adults. This ice cream playset integrates pretend play with dexterity and other physical skills, making it a multifaceted developmental activity. Just don’t forget to put those lids back on.
STEM Toys
STEM stands for science, technology, engineering, and math, and sometimes its buddy acronym STEAM shows up, which includes the arts. Related activities encompass things like nature exploration and a first glimpse of the tools scientists use. Let the questions that begin with “Why?” begin.
Lovevery The Connector Play Kit
Your preschooler’s first microscope, along with a slide wheel and specimen clip, might make you wonder why there are so many bugs making their way into your house to be examined. But these STEM items aren’t the only highlights of this age-appropriate kit, which also includes a daily helper board, an inventor adventure pack, and a tiny swing set with characters.
Books
Four-year-olds surely have their share of storybooks with trucks, ducks, trains, playmates at the playground, and other typical go-tos. But have they tried a book with no pictures?
The Book With No Pictures By B.J. Novak
The book itself says you might expect it to be boring, but then presents the rule that makes it one of the most hilarious books ever. Whoever is reading it HAS to say the word as it’s written. Even if that word is “Blork!” and other nonsensical terms. This makes for a lighthearted and silly bedtime story.
