BEST TOYS FOR 4-YEAR OLDS
Four to Go!
1 for the Money,
2 for the Show,
3 to Get Ready, &
When did they get so big?
Strollers and baby gyms have gone the way of bikes, games, and art projects.
Life is getting even more colorful. We can't wait to see what's next!
Little Red Riding Hood
Smart Games
Why We Love It
Use puzzle pieces to build Little Red Riding Hood a path to Grandma's house. Second level of play incorporates the Big Bad Wolf. Builds spatial reasoning and problem solving skills.
Space Voyage Craft
Hape
Why We Love It
Wooden craft project with 6 colors to paint a rocket and submarine that double as picture frames. Builds creativity and fine motor skills.
Caterpillar Lacing Cards
Chronicle Books
Why We Love It
Colorful, durable lacing cards featuring favorite Eric Carle designs help littles build dexterity and focus. Cards are reusable.
WOOM 3 Bicycle
WOOM
Why We Love It
Comes with a hefty price tag, but WOOM fans can't get enough of this bike. High quality, extremely lightweight, and a low center of gravity for easy balancing.
Maze-O Maze Maker
Maze-O
Why We Love It
Littles construct mazes (and build creativity and spatial reasoning) with this awesome set. Follow the designs on the activity cards or create your own.
Hisss
Gamewright
Why We Love It
Draw cards and match colors to complete the most snakes. Boosts matching, spatial logic, and turn-taking. Great first game.
Color-a-Cape
Great Pretenders
Why We Love It
A great art project that leads to dramatic play. Plus it's washable, so kids can color it again and again!
Stegosaurus Mosaic
Hape
Why We Love It
Use colorful wooden circles to create an adorable dinosaur. Excellent rainy day craft. Builds eye-hand coordination and fine motor skills.
First Science Kit
Thames & Kosmos
Why We Love It
Let's get to the lab! Follow one of the 10 activity cards or use the tools for open-ended scientific exploration. Includes information for caregivers (and a handy storage case!).
Adventure Treasure Ship
Epoch
Why We Love It
The Calico Critters are off to sea! Kids' imaginations set sail on this adventure. Ship includes slide, climbing rope ladder, and other accessories. Make sure to add critters!
Magna-Tiles Deluxe Set
Valtech
Why We Love It
These sturdy magnetized pieces inspire open-ended creative play. Excellent for shape recognition and motor skills. Deluxe set includes a car, door, doorframe, and arch.
2-Sided Puzzle with Markers
Kidwerkz
Why We Love It
Sweet completed puzzle on one side, blank puzzle for kiddos to color on the other. Also includes seek-and-find items. Boosts creativity and problem solving.
Hoot Owl Hoot!
Peaceable Kingdom
Why We Love It
A cooperative matching game. Little ones help the owls fly back to their nest before the sun comes up. Promotes turn taking and teamwork. Two levels of play.
Pop-Up Dollhouse
The Met
Why We Love It
Hardcover book opens up into a two-story, eight-room dollhouse, complete with furniture and play figures to fuel little imaginations. Easy to transport.
Robots Magnetic Wooden Blocks
Tegu
Why We Love It
High quality magnetic wooden blocks. This comical monster duo inspires building and open-ended creative play. Builds fine motor skills. Pieces work with other Tegu sets.
Blocks Rock!
Blocks Rock!
Why We Love It
Kids race one another to re-create a block structure. Great exercise in spatial reasoning and mental rotation.
Ogodisk Mezo Set
OgoSport
Why We Love It
Outdoor fun with hand-held ball trampolines. Large target area plus thin handle for little hands. Great for active play and gross motor skills. Try with water balloons!
Melody Doll and Book
American Girl
Why We Love It
Beautiful American Girl doll along with the first paperback book in her series. Story set in 1960s Detroit in the midst of the Civil Rights Movement.
Make-a-Cake Mixer Set
Melissa & Doug
Why We Love It
Cute mixer comes with recipe and ingredients. Items are primarily wood and very durable. Encourages pretend play.
Dig It Up! Dinosaur Eggs
MindWare
Why We Love It
Calling all paleontologists! Littles "excavate" a dinosaur from a clay egg using a chisel. Nurture a love for science with this excellent group activity. 12 eggs in the set.
Gears Robot Factory
Learning Resources
Why We Love It
Engaging gears set. Little engineers get right to work building this play robot factory. Boosts fine motor skills and cause-and-effect comprehension.
Ice Cream Truck Building Set
Lego Juniors
Why We Love It
Great combination of building and pretend play. With 136 pieces, it's a challenging but not overwhelming build. Includes two figures and cute ice cream products.
Construction Vehicles
Green Toys
Why We Love It
Sturdy set of vehicles encourages pretend play. Works well for beach or snow. Compact size for easy travel. Multiple kids can join the fun. Made from 100% recycled materials.
Match It!
4 Letter Words
Learning Journey Int'l
Why We Love It
Self-correcting puzzle introduces littles to spelling and reading with kid-friendly images. Boosts letter recognition.
Let's wrap this up (beautifully).
Special occasion coming up?
We'll hand-pick a selection of gifts for your one-of-a-kind kiddo. That way you can focus on the fun.
