Finding the perfect gifts for four year olds can be a delightful yet sometimes overwhelming task. At this vibrant age, children are blossoming with curiosity, creativity, and an eagerness to explore the world around them. They are transitioning from toddlers to preschoolers, developing more complex imaginations, and becoming increasingly social. To help you navigate the myriad of options, we’ve consulted early childhood education experts, sifted through countless customer reviews, and leveraged our own expertise to curate a list of the best gifts that are not only fun but also foster development and learning for four-year-olds.
Four year olds are captivated by storytelling, imaginative play, and hands-on exploration. They are beginning to understand narratives, differentiate between fantasy and reality, and engage in more collaborative play with friends. As Tovah Klein, director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, notes, “They tend to have clear preferences on what they like or want to do.” This is an age where their personalities are shining through, and their interests are becoming more defined.
Marie Conti, head of The Wetherill School, emphasizes the importance of toys that fuel this imaginative spark and growing understanding of the world. Dress-up clothes, outdoor play equipment, and STEM-oriented toys are excellent choices to encourage their exploration and development.
Below, we’ve compiled a comprehensive guide to the Best Gifts For Four Year Olds, categorized to help you find just the right present to spark joy and learning.
Top Gift Picks for 4-Year-Olds
Here are some of our top recommendations across various categories, perfect for birthdays, holidays, or just because!
Bestselling & Engaging Gifts
These gifts are popular for a reason – they capture the attention and imagination of four-year-olds, offering hours of fun and engagement.
Barbie Skipper’s First Job Target Doll
Barbie Skippers First Job Target Doll
Image alt text: Barbie Skipper Target Doll playset featuring Skipper doll in Target uniform with cash register, gift cards, and shopping accessories, ideal gift for four year olds.
For children who love playing store, the Barbie Skipper’s First Job Target Doll is an excellent choice. This Target-exclusive set brings the fun of a Target shopping experience into playtime. It includes a Skipper doll dressed in her Target uniform, a cash register setup, gift cards, a magazine endcap, play food items, and a reusable Target shopping bag. This playset encourages imaginative role-play and can easily be integrated into a pretend play town, fostering creativity and social skills.
Mini Explorer Voice Changer
Voice ChangerImage alt text: Mini Explorer Voice Changer toy in blue and orange, a fun and engaging gift for four year olds to explore sound and imaginative play.
The Mini Explorer Voice Changer is a fun and interactive toy that will provide endless giggles. This rechargeable voice changer features five different voice-altering settings: monster, alien, robot, ghost, and a regular microphone voice. Perfect for sparking imaginative scenarios and playful conversations, this toy encourages creativity and vocal exploration. Imagine the fun of hearing a tiny voice transformed into a robot or alien!
Crayola Less Mess Painting Activity Kit
Less Mess Painting Activity Kit
Image alt text: Crayola Less Mess Painting Activity Kit with washable paint sticks, stencils, and stickers, a perfect art gift for creative four year olds.
Unleash your four-year-old’s inner artist without the worry of major cleanup with the Crayola Less Mess Painting Activity Kit. This innovative kit features paint sticks that won’t spill, even when turned upside down, making it ideal for younger artists. The kit includes washable paint sticks, stencils, stickers, and paper, providing everything needed for hours of creative, mess-free fun. It’s a fantastic way to encourage artistic expression and develop fine motor skills.
Kinetic Sand Mermaid Palace Playset
Mermaid Palace PlaysetImage alt text: Kinetic Sand Mermaid Palace Playset featuring mermaid molds, kinetic sand in various colors, and shaping tools, an engaging sensory gift for four year olds.
Bring the beach indoors with the Kinetic Sand Mermaid Palace Playset. Kinetic sand is always a hit with this age group, offering a unique sensory experience and endless possibilities for creative play. This portable playset includes three colors of kinetic sand, mermaid-themed molds, and tools for shaping and creating sandcastles. Mermaid enthusiasts will love creating their own underwater worlds, developing fine motor skills and imaginative play.
Learning Resources Coding Critters Scamper & Sneaker
Coding CrittersImage alt text: Learning Resources Coding Critters Scamper and Sneaker set with interactive dog and cat toys and coding challenge cards, a STEM gift for four year olds.
Introduce early coding concepts in a fun and accessible way with Learning Resources Coding Critters Scamper & Sneaker. This engaging set allows four-year-olds to learn basic coding skills without a screen. Kids can program Scamper and Sneaker, the interactive critters, to fetch, play hide-and-seek, and more using the included coding challenge cards and interactive pieces. This toy is a fantastic introduction to STEM learning, promoting problem-solving and computational thinking in a playful manner.
Learning Resources Switcheroo Coding Crew
Switcheroo Coding CrewImage alt text: Learning Resources Switcheroo Coding Crew STEM set with screen-free coding challenges and colorful robot figures, an educational gift for four year olds.
Another excellent screen-free coding option is the Learning Resources Switcheroo Coding Crew. This STEM set builds upon basic coding concepts, challenging kids to solve missions and discover hidden tricks. With 46 pieces, children can program the Switcheroo Crew robots to perform various tasks, fostering problem-solving skills and logical thinking. It’s a perfect gift for keeping them entertained while learning valuable STEM principles away from screens.
Educational Toys for 4-Year-Olds
These educational toys make learning fun, supporting kindergarten readiness and developing essential skills.
Learning Resources Mini Muffin Phonics Activity Set
Mini Muffin Phonics Activity Set
Image alt text: Learning Resources Mini Muffin Phonics Activity Set with colorful muffin tins and letter muffins for early literacy learning, an educational gift for four year olds.
Prepare your four-year-old for kindergarten with the engaging Learning Resources Mini Muffin Phonics Activity Set. This muffin-themed set makes learning phonics interactive and fun. Children can match letter sounds, build vocabulary, and practice early reading skills using the colorful muffin tins and letter muffins. It’s a delicious way to develop foundational literacy skills through play.
Hape Dynamo Wooden Domino Set
Wooden Domino SetImage alt text: Hape Dynamo Wooden Domino Set with colorful dominoes, bridges, bells, and obstacles for building and STEM learning, an educational gift for four year olds.
The Hape Dynamo Wooden Domino Set offers a classic play experience with an educational twist. This set includes over 100 colorful wooden dominoes, along with special pieces like bells and bridges, to create elaborate domino runs. Building domino tracks develops engineering skills, spatial awareness, balance, and problem-solving abilities. It’s a timeless toy that combines fun and learning.
Mag-Genius Magnet Tiles
Magnet TilesImage alt text: Mag-Genius Magnet Tiles in clear colors, a 26-piece set for creative building and STEM learning, an educational gift for four year olds.
Unleash creativity and spatial reasoning with Mag-Genius Magnet Tiles. These 3D magnetic tiles allow children to build a variety of structures, from simple shapes to complex skyscrapers. Playing with magnet tiles enhances hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and problem-solving abilities. This 26-piece set is a great starter kit for hours of open-ended building fun and STEM exploration.
Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Image alt text: Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register with play money and scanner, an educational toy for four year olds to learn math and role-play.
Make learning math fun with the Learning Resources Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register. This interactive toy cash register encourages pretend play while introducing basic math concepts. It comes with play money, coins, a credit card, and an activity guide, allowing children to practice counting, making transactions, and developing financial literacy skills. It’s currently ranked as a top gift in money and banking toys on Amazon, demonstrating its popularity and educational value.
Engaging Play Sets for 4-Year-Olds
Play sets encourage imaginative role-play and collaborative play, essential for social and emotional development at this age.
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box
Classic Creative Brick BoxImage alt text: LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box with assorted colorful LEGO bricks for open-ended building and creative play, a timeless gift for four year olds.
A classic for a reason, the LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box is a must-have for any four-year-old. This set contains hundreds of LEGO bricks in various colors and shapes, providing endless possibilities for building and imaginative play. As expert Marie Conti points out, “If you’re buying Legos, just buy regular Legos.” This versatile set is perfect for sparking creativity, developing fine motor skills, and encouraging problem-solving.
Toyk Dinosaur World Road Race
Dinosaur World Road RaceImage alt text: Toyk Dinosaur World Road Race playset with flexible tracks, dinosaur figures, and cars for imaginative play, a popular gift for four year olds.
For dinosaur enthusiasts, the Toyk Dinosaur World Road Race is an exciting and versatile playset. This set features flexible tracks that can be configured in countless ways, dinosaur figures, and toy cars, allowing children to create their own prehistoric adventures. With over 15,000 five-star reviews on Amazon, this bestselling toy train set is praised for its easy setup and long-lasting entertainment value, fostering creativity and imaginative play.
Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set
Squigz Starter SetImage alt text: Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set with colorful silicone suction cup toys for building and sensory play, a versatile gift for four year olds.
The Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set offers a unique and engaging sensory play experience. These colorful silicone pieces feature suction cups that stick to each other and smooth surfaces, allowing children to build, connect, and create in countless ways. Squigz are great for bath time, travel, or quiet play, promoting motor skills, problem-solving, and creative construction.
Insect Lore Deluxe Butterfly Garden Gift Set
Deluxe Butterfly Garden Gift Set
Image alt text: Insect Lore Deluxe Butterfly Garden Gift Set with butterfly habitat and caterpillar larvae for a live butterfly growing experience, an educational and engaging gift for four year olds.
Encourage outdoor exploration and learning with the Insect Lore Deluxe Butterfly Garden Gift Set. This set allows children to witness the fascinating metamorphosis of caterpillars into butterflies firsthand. It includes a pop-up butterfly habitat and a voucher to redeem for live caterpillar larvae. Experts Tovah Klein and Marie Conti both recommend bug jars and insect boxes for this age group to foster curiosity about nature and the environment.
Hot Wheels City Transforming T-Rex Ultimate Hauler
City Transforming T-Rex Ultimate Hauler
Image alt text: Hot Wheels City Transforming T-Rex Ultimate Hauler toy truck that transforms into a T-Rex and race track, a fun and interactive gift for four year olds.
The Hot Wheels City Transforming T-Rex Ultimate Hauler is a dynamic toy that combines dinosaur fascination with car play. This hauler truck transforms into a roaring T-Rex with a built-in race track. It can also store up to 20 Hot Wheels cars, offering a practical storage solution along with exciting play features. This toy is sure to be a hit with Hot Wheels and dinosaur fans alike, providing imaginative play and organizational benefits.
Lovevery The Planner Play Kit
The Planner Play KitImage alt text: Lovevery Planner Play Kit with wooden calendar, weather station, and play clock for learning about time and planning, an educational subscription gift for four year olds.
For a gift that grows with them, consider the Lovevery Planner Play Kit. This play kit is designed to help four-year-olds practice thinking ahead and understanding the concept of time. As part of Lovevery’s subscription service, it delivers a curated set of 12 toys every three months, tailored to support developmental milestones. The Planner Play Kit is perfect for fostering organizational skills and an understanding of daily routines and planning.
Barbie Dreamhouse
Barbie Dreamhouse 2023Image alt text: Barbie Dreamhouse 2023 edition with three stories, slide, pool, and 75 accessories for immersive doll play, a dream gift for four year olds.
The iconic Barbie Dreamhouse remains a dream gift for many four-year-olds. The 2023 edition features three stories, 10 play areas, a pool with a slide (the longest Dreamhouse slide yet!), and 75 accessories. It even includes a pet palace for Barbie’s furry friends. This dollhouse provides a vast and immersive play space for imaginative storytelling and doll play, perfect for both solo and collaborative play.
Arts, Crafts & Creative Toys for 4-Year-Olds
Nurture artistic expression and creativity with these fun and engaging arts and crafts supplies.
Crayola Tie-Dye Chalk Eggs
Tie-Dye Chalk EggsImage alt text: Crayola Tie-Dye Chalk Eggs, a set of six sidewalk chalk eggs that create tie-dye patterns, a fun outdoor art gift for four year olds.
Get kids outdoors and creating with Crayola Tie-Dye Chalk Eggs. These unique chalk eggs create psychedelic tie-dye patterns with every scribble and doodle on sidewalks and driveways. Shop TODAY editor Bender recommends chalk as a great way to encourage screen-free playtime in warmer months, and parents will appreciate that it washes off easily.
Ooly Chunkies Paint Sticks
Chunkies Paint SticksImage alt text: Ooly Chunkies Paint Sticks, a set of twistable and portable paint sticks for mess-free painting and art projects, a creative gift for four year olds.
Enjoy the fun of painting without the mess with Ooly Chunkies Paint Sticks. These portable paint sticks require no water and are easy for small hands to grip. They provide vibrant color and smooth application, perfect for art projects at home or on the go. Encourage artistic exploration without the spills and drips of traditional paints.
Crayola 5-in-1 Dinosaur Creativity Kit
5-in-1 Dinosaur Creativity Kit
Image alt text: Crayola 5-in-1 Dinosaur Creativity Kit with dinosaur-themed coloring pages, origami paper, pop-up story pages, crayons, and markers, a creative and engaging gift for four year olds.
Dinosaur-loving four-year-olds will roar with delight over the Crayola 5-in-1 Dinosaur Creativity Kit. This kit is packed with dinosaur-themed art supplies, including coloring pages, origami paper for creating dinosaur figures, pop-up story pages to decorate, crayons, and markers. It’s a comprehensive set that fuels creativity and provides hours of dinosaur-inspired artistic fun.
Active Toys for Energetic 4-Year-Olds
Promote physical activity and outdoor play with these fun and engaging active toys.
My Sweet Love Umbrella Stroller for Dolls
Umbrella Stroller for DollsImage alt text: My Sweet Love Umbrella Stroller for Dolls, a lightweight and foldable stroller for pretend play and nurturing skills in four year olds.
Encourage nurturing play and light physical activity with the My Sweet Love Umbrella Stroller for Dolls. This lightweight and foldable stroller allows four-year-olds to role-play caring for their dolls, just like grown-ups care for babies. It can hold dolls up to 18 inches and is perfect for walks around the house or yard, promoting imaginative play and gross motor skills.
Target Toy Shopping Cart
Target Toy Shopping CartImage alt text: Target Toy Shopping Cart with miniature groceries and Target branding for pretend shopping play, an active and imaginative gift for four year olds.
Bring the fun of a Target run home with the Target Toy Shopping Cart. This miniature shopping cart is inspired by the real Target carts and comes with play grocery items like milk and ice cream sandwiches, even a toy coffee cup! Kids love imitating adults, and this shopping cart allows them to engage in imaginative shopping play while being active and on the move.
Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Rocket
Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow RocketImage alt text: Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Rocket set with glow-in-the-dark rockets and stomp launcher for outdoor active play, a fun and STEM-inspired gift for four year olds.
Encourage outdoor activity and STEM learning with the Stomp Rocket Jr. Glow Rocket. This toy gets kids moving and stomping to launch foam rockets high into the air. The glow-in-the-dark rockets add extra fun for evening play. Expert Marie Conti recommends outdoor toys like this to get kids active. It’s a shopper-favorite and a top-gifted item in toy foam blasters on Amazon, combining physical activity with an understanding of simple physics.
Little Tikes Easy Store 3-Foot Trampoline
TrampolineImage alt text: Little Tikes Easy Store 3-Foot Trampoline with handlebar for safe indoor and outdoor jumping fun, an active gift for four year olds to burn energy.
For indoor or outdoor active fun, the Little Tikes Easy Store 3-Foot Trampoline is a perfect choice. This trampoline is sized just right for four-year-olds and includes a handlebar for added stability and safety. Shop TODAY editor Rebecca Brown notes that it “really kept her busy for good stretches of time,” making it a great way for kids to burn energy and have fun while improving coordination and balance.
Games & Puzzles for Skill Development
These games and puzzles are designed to be age-appropriate and fun, promoting cognitive skills and family interaction.
Melissa & Doug Classic Card Game Set
Classic Card Game SetImage alt text: Melissa & Doug Classic Card Game Set with Go Fish, Old Maid, and Rummy for family game night fun, a traditional and engaging gift for four year olds.
Introduce your four-year-old to the joy of family game night with the Melissa & Doug Classic Card Game Set. This set includes three classic card games: Old Maid, Go Fish!, and Animal Rummy, all designed with child-friendly illustrations and simplified rules. These games are perfect for developing turn-taking skills, memory, and early game strategy.
Skillmatics Found It! Scavenger Hunt Card Game
Found It! Scavenger Card GameImage alt text: Skillmatics Found It! Scavenger Hunt Card Game for indoor and outdoor play, developing observation skills in four year olds, a fun stocking stuffer gift.
Make learning an adventure with the Skillmatics Found It! Scavenger Hunt Card Game. This game encourages four-year-olds to search for objects around their environment based on the prompts on the cards. It’s designed for ages 4-7 and helps boost observation skills and environmental awareness. Compact and engaging, it’s a great stocking stuffer or travel game.
Skillmatics Guess in 10 Junior Animal Kingdom
Guess in 10 Junior Animal Kingdom
Image alt text: Skillmatics Guess in 10 Junior Animal Kingdom card game for problem-solving and animal recognition in four year olds, an educational stocking stuffer gift.
Nurture curiosity and problem-solving skills with Skillmatics Guess in 10 Junior Animal Kingdom. This card game challenges players to guess the animal on the card by asking up to 10 questions. No reading is required, making it perfect for pre-readers. It comes with a handy storage box and is excellent for developing critical thinking and knowledge about the animal kingdom.
ThinkFun Zingo Bingo
Zingo BingoImage alt text: ThinkFun Zingo Bingo game with picture cards and word recognition for pre-readers and early readers, a fun and educational gift for four year olds.
Zingo Bingo by ThinkFun is a simple and engaging game perfect for four-year-olds who are learning about rules and early reading skills. This bingo variation uses clear images and easy-to-read words, making it accessible for pre-readers and early readers alike. It’s a fun way to develop matching skills, vocabulary, and game-playing etiquette.
Petit Collage Floor Puzzle
Floor PuzzleImage alt text: Petit Collage Floor Puzzle, a jumbo puzzle with large pieces for hand-eye coordination and problem-solving in preschoolers, an eco-friendly gift for four year olds.
The Petit Collage Floor Puzzle is designed perfectly for little hands. These jumbo floor puzzles feature large, easy-to-handle pieces and vibrant illustrations. Working on floor puzzles helps improve hand-eye coordination, problem-solving skills, and spatial reasoning. Made with environmentally friendly materials like recycled paper and vegetable-based inks, it’s a thoughtful and eco-conscious gift choice.
Pretend Play Toys for Imaginative Adventures
Pretend play is crucial for development at this age, fostering creativity, social skills, and emotional understanding.
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars
GeoSafari Jr. KidnocularsImage alt text: Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars, child-friendly binoculars for outdoor exploration and pretend play, an engaging gift for curious four year olds.
Encourage exploration and observation with Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Kidnoculars. These child-friendly binoculars are designed for little eyes, making it easy for four-year-olds to focus and explore their surroundings. Whether indoors or outdoors, kidnoculars spark curiosity about nature and the world around them, promoting imaginative play and exploration.
Melissa & Doug Wooden Cookie Bake Set
Wooden Cookie Bake SetImage alt text: Melissa & Doug Wooden Cookie Bake Set with sliceable cookies, toppings, and baking accessories for pretend kitchen play, a sweet and imaginative gift for four year olds.
The Melissa & Doug Wooden Cookie Bake Set brings sweet pretend play to life. This set includes 12 sliceable cookies, various toppings, a toy knife, spatula, cookie sheet, and oven mitt. It encourages imaginative kitchen play and helps children learn about kitchen safety and sharing through role-play.
Casdon Toys Dyson Ball Toy Vacuum
Dyson Ball Toy ReplicaImage alt text: Casdon Toys Dyson Ball Toy Vacuum, a realistic replica for pretend cleaning play, encouraging role-playing and responsibility in four year olds.
For little helpers who love to clean, the Casdon Toys Dyson Ball Toy Vacuum is a perfect pretend play gift. This toy vacuum is a realistic replica of a Dyson Ball vacuum, featuring a twist-and-turn ball and clear cylinder. It encourages role-playing and can make chores seem like fun, fostering a sense of responsibility and imaginative play.
Melissa and Doug Super Smile Dentist Play Kit
Super Smile Dentist KitImage alt text: Melissa & Doug Super Smile Dentist Play Kit with pretend dental tools and teeth for imaginative dentist role-play, an educational and comforting gift for four year olds.
Help ease dentist visit anxieties with the Melissa & Doug Super Smile Dentist Play Kit. This set includes pretend dental tools, teeth, braces, and examination accessories, allowing children to role-play as a dentist and become more familiar with dental instruments. It’s a great way to encourage imaginative play and reduce fear associated with dental appointments.
Melissa & Doug Pet Vet Play Set
Pet Vet Play SetImage alt text: Melissa & Doug Pet Vet Play Set with plush animals and vet tools for pretend pet care, nurturing play, and imaginative scenarios for four year olds.
Animal lovers will adore the Melissa & Doug Pet Vet Play Set. This kit allows children to play veterinarian and care for the included plush animals. It comes with a stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, tweezers, clamp, and other vet tools, providing everything needed for imaginative “house calls” and nurturing play scenarios.
Melissa & Doug Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter
Wooden Ice Cream CounterImage alt text: Melissa & Doug Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter with wooden ice cream scoops, cones, and toppings for pretend restaurant and food service play, a fun and engaging gift for four year olds.
For children who love playing restaurant, the Melissa & Doug Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter is a delightful pretend play set. This wooden ice cream counter comes with scoops, cones, ice cream scoops, and toppings, allowing children to scoop and serve their favorite pretend desserts. Playing “restaurant” is a key element of pretend play at this age, fostering social skills and imaginative storytelling.
Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse
Wooden DollhouseImage alt text: Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse, a three-story open dollhouse with furniture and accessories for collaborative and imaginative play, a spacious gift for four year olds.
The Hape All Seasons Kids Wooden Dollhouse provides a spacious and sturdy setting for imaginative doll play. This open dollhouse features three stories and plenty of room for solo or collaborative play. It includes furniture and accessories, and fun details like a slide, sparking endless storytelling possibilities and creative scenarios.
Dolls & Stuffed Animals for Comfort and Companionship
Dolls and stuffed animals offer comfort, companionship, and opportunities for nurturing play and emotional development.
Squishmallow Hugmees Bluey Plush
Hugmees Bluey PlushImage alt text: Squishmallow Hugmees Bluey Plush, a soft and huggable Bluey character plush toy for comfort and cuddles, a popular gift for four year olds who love Bluey.
For the four-year-old who loves cuddles, the Squishmallow Hugmees Bluey Plush is an A+ gift. Squishmallows are known for their ultra-soft and huggable texture, making them perfect comfort items for home, travel, or movie nights. This Bluey character plush is sure to be a hit with fans of the popular children’s show.
Tee Turtle Reversible Axolotl Plushie
Reversible Axolotl PlushieImage alt text: Tee Turtle Reversible Axolotl Plushie, a two-sided plush toy that expresses happy and angry emotions, a unique and emotionally intelligent gift for four year olds.
Help four-year-olds explore emotions with the Tee Turtle Reversible Axolotl Plushie. This unique plush toy is reversible, showing a happy face on one side and an angry face on the other. Inspired by the viral TikTok octopus plushie, the Axolotl is a fun and engaging way to help children learn about and express their feelings.
Warmies Weighted Sloth
Weighted SlothImage alt text: Warmies Weighted Sloth plush toy with lavender scent for soothing warmth and comfort, a calming and sensory gift for four year olds.
Provide soothing comfort with the Warmies Weighted Sloth. This plush sloth can be microwaved or cooled to provide 2-3 hours of gentle warmth or cool comfort. It is also scented with real dried French lavender, offering anxiety relief and a calming sensory experience. Weighted plush toys can be particularly comforting for children, aiding in relaxation and sleep.
Slumberkins Yak Kin
Yak KinImage alt text: Slumberkins Yak Kin plush toy with board books and affirmation card promoting self-acceptance, an emotionally supportive and educational gift for four year olds.
Slumberkins Yak Kin is more than just a plush toy; it’s a tool for emotional growth. Each Slumberkins character comes with a story designed to promote emotional development. The Yak Kin focuses on self-acceptance and comes with two board books and an affirmation card to reinforce positive self-talk. Slumberkins are now also featured in an Apple+ series, adding to their appeal and educational value.
Healthy Roots Gaïana Doll
Healthy Roots DollImage alt text: Healthy Roots Gaïana Doll with natural curly hair that can be washed and styled, a culturally inclusive and educational gift for four year olds.
The Healthy Roots Gaïana Doll is designed to celebrate natural hair and cultural diversity. Created with curly girls in mind, Gaïana has washable and styleable natural hair, teaching children about different hair textures and promoting positive self-image and representation in toys.
Best Books to Read with 4-Year-Olds
Books are always a wonderful gift, fostering language development, imagination, and a love of reading.
“The Sour Grape,” by Jory John and Pete Oswald
"The Sour Grape"Image alt text: Book cover of “The Sour Grape” by Jory John and Pete Oswald, a children’s book about emotions and forgiveness, a thoughtful gift for four year olds.
“The Sour Grape” is the latest installment in the popular “food group” series by Jory John and Pete Oswald, which also includes “The Good Egg” and “The Bad Seed.” This book addresses the theme of holding grudges and how negativity can be overcome. It teaches children about emotions and forgiveness in an engaging and accessible way.
“The Three Billy Goats Gruff,” by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen
The Three Billy Goats GruffImage alt text: Book cover of “The Three Billy Goats Gruff” by Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen, a humorous retelling of a classic fairytale, an entertaining book gift for four year olds.
Mac Barnett and Jon Klassen bring their signature humor and style to “The Three Billy Goats Gruff.” This modern retelling of the classic fairytale is filled with funny moments, absurdity, and a touch of suspense, making it an irresistible read-aloud for four-year-olds. Nina Lindsay from the Association for Library Service to Children emphasizes the importance of funny books to make reading enjoyable for children.
“Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness,” by Maria Gianferrari and Pete Oswald
"Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness"
Image alt text: Book cover of “Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness” by Maria Gianferrari and Pete Oswald, a children’s book introducing mindfulness through a dog’s perspective, a calming and educational gift for four year olds.
“Being a Dog: A Tail of Mindfulness” by Maria Gianferrari and Pete Oswald is a kid-friendly introduction to mindfulness. This book encourages children to live in the moment, using a dog’s sensory experiences as a relatable example. It even includes a guided breathing exercise to help children practice mindfulness techniques, promoting emotional regulation and calm.
“Luna’s Green Pet,” by Kirsten Pendreigh and Carmen Mok
"Luna's Green Pet"Image alt text: Book cover of “Luna’s Green Pet” by Kirsten Pendreigh and Carmen Mok, a children’s book about creativity and pet ownership alternatives, a heartwarming gift for four year olds.
“Luna’s Green Pet” by Kirsten Pendreigh and Carmen Mok tells a heartwarming story about creativity and problem-solving. When Luna’s family has a no-pet policy, she creatively adopts a wilted plant named Stephanie as her pet. This book is a charming story about finding solutions and caring for living things, and it even includes instructions for caring for your own plant pet, appealing to both children and parents.
“Knight Owl,” by Christopher Denise
"Knight Owl"Image alt text: Book cover of “Knight Owl” by Christopher Denise, a children’s book about bravery, kindness, and problem-solving, an inspiring gift for four year olds.
“Knight Owl” by Christopher Denise is an inspiring story about bravery and kindness. Owl dreams of being a knight, despite his small size. When faced with a dragon, he uses his intelligence and kind nature, rather than force, to resolve the situation. This book teaches valuable lessons about problem-solving, courage, and the power of kindness.
Meet the Experts
Our gift recommendations are informed by insights from early childhood education experts:
- Tovah Klein: Director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development and author of “How Toddlers Thrive.”
- Marie Conti: Head of The Wetherill School in Gladwyne, Pennsylvania, and a board member of the American Montessori Society.
- Nina Lindsay: Director for the Association for Library Service to Children.
We also incorporate the real-world experiences of parents and gift-givers through customer reviews and the expertise of the Shop TODAY editors to ensure our recommendations are practical and well-received.
Explore more gift ideas for children of all ages in Shop TODAY’s comprehensive gift guides.
