Gift ideas · Age 4
Gifts for 4 year olds
Four year olds are all in on pretend play, big movement and doing it themselves. The best gifts are sturdy, simple and don't need a grown-up to run them.
Skip: Kits with tiny pieces or lots of steps. At 4 they want to do it themselves, and they can't yet.
Remind me beforeor
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Safe bets for most 4 year olds
- 1Magnetic tilesOur pick: Magna-Tiles Clear Colors, 100 piecesOut of the bin and building in seconds. Get more pieces than you think. Find it
- 2A balance bikeOur pick: Strider 12 SportMost 4 year olds are ready, and it makes a real bike easy later. Find it
- 3A dress-up binCapes, hats and old clothes of yours. Mixed, not matching. Find one
- 4Play-Doh and a few real toolsOur pick: Play-Doh 10-pack of colorsA rolling pin and cookie cutters beat the fancy sets. Find it
Match how they play
- 1A big bin of DuploOur pick: LEGO DUPLO Deluxe Brick Box (10914)For a builder. Big pieces that small hands can press together. Find it
- 2A bug catching kitOur pick: Nature Bound Bug VacuumFor an explorer. The backyard gets a lot more interesting. Find it
- 3A first board game, like Dinosaur EscapeOur pick: Dinosaur Escape (Peaceable Kingdom)For a competitor. Everyone wins or loses together, which is easier at 4. Find it
- 4A microphone with a speakerOur pick: Singing Machine Party Machine MicFor a performer. Every song gets a show. Find it
One we made ourselves
Their own Pipsqueaks deckOur card battling game for a grown-up and a 4 to 7 year old, printed at home with the buddy they pick on the box and their name on every card back. Every card is a picture, so nobody has to read. See it free, print it for $4.Make their deck →
Find gifts that match how they play
The gifts that get used match how a kid already likes to play. The quiz takes two minutes. No account needed, and adding a name is optional.
More gift ideas
Gifts for 3 year oldsAge 3Gifts for 5 year oldsAge 5Gifts for ages 4 to 6, by play typeAges 4 to 6All gift ideasBy age and by how they playCard games for 5 year oldsEasy ones with a regular deck, free
Holiday gift lists
Christmas gifts for kids that last past New Year'sChristmasStocking stuffers for kids that actually get usedHolidays
Buying for the grown-ups too? Gifts they'll still own, scored on warranty and repair: for dad, for mom, under $100.
Print it before the partyHalloween Party Games for Kids: picture bingo, a monster hunt and pin the face on the pumpkin. 11 pages, $5.Get the printable →
