"Oh, the magic of 4-year-olds! Ripe with energy, curiosity, and creativity, 4-year-olds are officially out of the toddler stage and on their way to becoming kids. Not to mention, so much life happens at age 4. Perhaps theyâre welcoming a new sibling or are attending preschool for the first time. Teachers will thank their parents for encouraging independence nowâfrom tying their shoes to learning to put their own things away.
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It can be tough to nail down the best gifts for 4-year-olds when there are so many possibilities. Thatâs why we crafted this guide as a resource for all of the best options. Your soon-to-be 4-year-old is unique and deserves a special gift to celebrate their upcoming milestone.
How we chose the best gifts
There are moms with kids of all ages on The Everymom team. Theyâve conquered the baby phase, changed all the diapers, and celebrated 4th birthdays. On top of that, our commerce and editorial teams are always on the hunt for the best products for kids, moms, and families. If thereâs a new must-have, must-try, or must-see in the kids or parenting space, weâre on it. Real-life experience combined with knowing the current trends allows us to put together a well-rounded list of gifts.
What makes a great gift for a 4-year-old?
Between the ages of 4 and 5, not only do kids start to enjoy being helpers, but they also learn to comfort others who are hurt or sad (heart swoon). Their burgeoning imagination, growing independence, and developing empathy are something special to witness and cultivate. And toys can support this growth.
When it comes to birthday gifts for 4-year-olds, there are so many possibilities. Costumes and pretend props can enhance their play even moreâand theyâll likely want parents or other caregivers in on the action. Four-year-olds can also participate in family game night and put together puzzles on their own. Their motor skills are developing from wobbly toddlers to confident (although now slightly more cautious) kids. So active gifts to get the wiggles out are great buys as well.
Taking all of this into considerationâas well as budget and availabilityâwe looked to our favorite brands and beyond to collect all of the best options for gifts for 4-year-olds. We know thereâs something perfect for your little one, so read on for gift options under and over $50.
Gifts for 4-Year-Olds Under $50
Kids can learn the value of saving with this personalized bank for allowances, gifts, lucky pennies, and more.
Kids can live out daring rescues with this fire chief costume that comes with matching accessories. It includes a jacket, helmet, badge, fire extinguisher, bullhorn, and reusable name tag. Sized for kids ages 3 to 5.
Police officer costume also available!
Help them increase their spelling skills with this wooden toy. Theyâll pair alphabet blocks with illustrated word cards to promote both brain development and hand eye-coordination.
Yes, slime is polarizing for parentsâbut kids love it! And this extensive set is perfect to support their creativity.
Got slime stuck on clothes? We have the hack to get it out.
This awesome set includes a colander, pot with lid, two pans, two wooden utensils, and rack for a ton of screen-free play! Perfect for little ones who always want to lend a helping hand in the kitchen.
If your little one loved Inside Out 2, theyâll be over the moon for this weighted comfort plush shaped like the adorable Embarrassment character.
With adorable calming colors, this floor puzzle will pique little onesâ curiosity on the world and the animals throughout it. Plus, theyâll feel so accomplished once they complete it!
Four-year-olds love to move! And we love how this pogo toy is a way to release all their energy that doesnât take up too much space.
10+ colors available
Whereâs Waldo? just got a whole lot better! This custom book takes the classic search-and-find book and makes it even more exciting by personalizing it to your little one.
Speaking of books, why not continue to grow their library with these exciting pop-up books? Read the classic fairytales like you never have before.
Make pretend play even more exciting with this eye catching metallic dragon cape.
This gift was made for little ones who love doing âexperimentsâ and love stuffed animals. The spell book and potion creates a real mist to reveal an interactive Mixie creature kids can control with their magic wand.
Gifts for 4-Year-Olds Over $50
Teach your little one how to make momâs morning cup of to-go coffee with this cute barista play set that includes a built-in play espresso maker, drink dispenser and frother, wooden play food pieces, and more!
The perfect easel for tiny artists who love expressing their creativity. There are countless ways to use this easel as one side is a chalkboard and the other is a white magnetic board.
âAn art easel is one of those wonderful gifts that grows with your child. As a toddler, my daughter used to âpaintâ our easel chalkboard with water and occasionally paint a picture. Now that sheâs older, she still loves to paint, but has also used their easel as a lemonade stand sign! I also love that this high-quality easel can easily blend in with any decor.â
â Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
If youâre on the hunt for a big ticket item, look no further than a play kitchen. This one is easy to assemble and promotes imaginative play, all while fitting seamlessly in your home thanks to the modern-looking design.
Watch your child build their engineering, science, and problem-solving skills with a marble run.
This fun playhouse is suited for indoor or outdoor play, comes with twinkling lights, and can fit up to three children at a time.
Fire up imaginative play set with a wooden BBQ grill, smoker, and pizza oven, wooden and felt play food and condiments, and more!
Another fun gift for indoor or outdoor use, this special wooden swing promises hours of active play.
Four-year-olds are developing their critical thinking skills more than ever before. The Examiner play kit by Lovevery helps them do just that by providing abstract concepts for them to analyze in a way thatâs engaging and exciting.
Magna-Tiles keep kids entertained for hours with open-ended building and creating. Plus, theyâre a gift they will use for years to come.
âMagna tiles are STILL the toy of choice in my house. Both of my sons love using their imagination to create everything from cities to zoos, to garages and more. Magna Tiles are bar none the most used toy in our home and one our whole family enjoys playing with. The ability to truly create anything and add more specialty sets makes these a great toy to collect and grow with.â
â Ally Pagar-Wolf, Chief of Sales & Marketing
Why You Can Count on Us
The Everygirl Media Group has brought valuable content to our readers for 12+ years. In 2018, The Everymom set out to ensure that all moms know theyâre not alone. If you find yourself seeking advice on how to style the latest fashion trend or searching for the best kid-friendly coffee table, we have the answers. And if youâre wondering whatâs actually worth it from a sale or looking for a review of the hottest new kidsâ product, weâve got that covered too. From our annual Registry Awards and beloved holiday gift guides to the shopping round-ups you find on our site every day, The Everymom commerce team is well-versed in sifting through thousands of products to curate a digestible list for you. We combine our own experience with in-depth research to bring you a selection that meets our high standards for both fashion and function.
Kathy Sisson, Senior Editor
A mom of two, Kathy is passionately committed to sharing the honest, helpfulâand often humorousâstories of motherhood, as she navigates her own everyday adventures of work, marriage, and parenting. She honed her creative and strategic skills at advertising agencies in Detroit and Chicago, before pivoting from marketing to editorial. Now instead of telling brand stories, sheâs sharing her own, with articles published across popular parenting sitesâincluding hundreds of stories on The Everymom.
Brett Nicole Hayden, Editorial Assistant
As the Editorial Assistant, Brett works with the editors of The Everymom on the content creation process by updating stories, sourcing images and graphics, and pitching and contributing her own articles. Her favorite topics to write about are culture, relationships, and living. Sheâs also The Everymomâs resident baby names and family movies expert!