30 Best Gifts for 4-Year-Olds, Endorsed by Real Parents

Cue the nostalgia for ’90s parents everywhere. Biggie Beads are essentially giant Perler beads, the colorful melty beads you know and love from your childhood. Since they’re bigger, parents say Biggie Beads are easier for 4-year-olds to grasp as they build patterns and all kinds of unique creations. You can even pair the beads with assorted templates and trays to make the process even easier.

What our tester says: This activity buys me at least 30 minutes (parents everywhere know what a win that is), but here's a pro tip: Don't let kids dig through the big bucket. Instead, pour a handful into a small bowl, so you won't be cleaning up little beads for days.

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Parents say this three-wheeled scooter is—hands down—the easiest way to zap boredom. The two front wheels, wide kickboard, and lightweight design make it exceptionally easy for toddlers to master balance and coordination. With just a little bit of practice, they’ll be zooming around the neighborhood on long walks together. For extra allure, we recommend the version with LED wheels—you know the 4-year-old set gravitates to anything that lights up!

What our tester says: This scooter was key for transitioning away from the stroller, because my son actually wanted to ride it, not sit in his seat. And because it's not quite as bulky as a bike, it's easy to take on the go, too. We take ours, well, everywhere—the park, on road trips, you name it.

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Marble runs are a really fun way to teach 4-year-olds more about cause and effect, but most of the plastic versions are very flimsy, which only leads to frustration. (Four-year-olds are notoriously heavy-handed!) This version is so much more stable, but just as fun. Not to mention, what parent doesn't love a toy that pulls double duty? This one is an art easel too.

What our tester says: My son was so excited when this box showed up, and I'm happy to say, the novelty hasn't worn off, since the possibilities for creating something new feel endless. My 6-year-old uses it for drawing all the time too.

My 4-year-old couldn't figure out a jump rope for the life of him, but he absolutely loves bouncing around on this kid-friendly pogo stick. The foam base is nice and stable, but they still get plenty of bounce to keep things fun. This is a go-to birthday party gift in our house—especially since it's the perfect price point for classmates (and not another Lego set).

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A fun stocking stuffer, this light-up board comes with six neon markers suitable for coloring on the plastic screen. A black background complete with a built-in light makes any design instantly shine. Think of it as a Lite-Brite without the tiny pegs that are easy to lose track of and the limitations of the grid—so way better for this age. When your little one wants to begin again, simply wipe it clean—baby wipes or paper towels do the trick!

What our tester says: This drawing board is lightweight and easy to hold, but also stands upright—perfect for displaying their proud creations. I also love that the markers tuck into the back for easy storage.

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Like a sports game straight out of the future, this flat battery-powered soccer ball contains a fan that sends it gliding over hardwood, tile, asphalt, and even carpeted floors. And don’t worry: With a 360-degree foam bumper on each of the two included balls, your furniture is safe.

What our tester says: It’s a great energy buster on rainy days. I was a little worried about my baseboards at first—my kids send these things flying!—but I haven't had a problem yet. The foam has held up great.

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They may technically be pajamas, but animal onesies, like this unicorn, are magical for kids. Trust use: They'll want to wear theirs any chance they can get. The zippered one-piece is easy to get on and supersoft; plus, it’s machine-washable—a win for parents.

What our tester says: My kids wear these (they have dino versions) to sleep, on play dates, and definitely for pajama day at school—just like half of the other kids who come out of the elementary school those days!

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At this age kids start to get curious about their parents' habits—and some might want to experiment with nail polish. You can feel better about putting this paint on kids’ nails, since it’s odorless and 100% nontoxic polish. The kit comes with three vibrant colors and a set of 3D nail stickers.

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Stepping on a Lego is sort of a rite of passage for parents, but this activity table lowers your chances just a little bit. The small wooden table, which is the perfect height for older toddlers, comes with 200 assorted building blocks, plus a 30-piece wooden train set. And at 16 inches high, it's the perfect height for kids this age to kneel at.

What our tester says: It's the perfect size for our playroom, yet there's so much play potential. My kids huddle around ours multiple times a day.

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Magic, indeed. Four-year-olds who love to color will delight in this spin on the classic craft. Instead of creating with markers or crayons, they’ll use a wooden stick to scratch off a thin black coating on the paper to reveal an epic rainbow design. This particular set comes with two spiral books packed with the special paper, stencils, wooden sticks, and a box to keep their creations safe.

What our tester says: My kids (and all of their friends, for that matter) can't get enough of these. They all make them for each other as little presents—it's pretty cute…and, better yet, it's an activity that buys me a fair amount of time.

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Toddlers love to stomp, and this is one time you don’t have to say no. Simply load the foam rocket onto the launcher, then your child can give the inflatable pad a big ol’ stomp to send the rocket high into the air. Parents say you won’t believe how many hours your kid will spend launching rocket after rocket. And don't worry, the rockets themselves are soft enough to use indoors without issue.

What our tester says: Even my 2-year-old twins can dabble with this toy, but the bigger kids really send the rockets flying. We use our indoors and out; they love it either way. And I've never had an issue with the rockets damaging anything or hurting anyone.

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Have a pint-size performer on your hands? Parents and grandparents alike say this is the kind of toy your kid will cling to the second they tear open the package. The microphone connects to all kinds of streaming services—YouTube, Spotify, and more—via Bluetooth, so your little one can sing along to all their favorite songs. It even has four controls to change the sound of their voice; choose from high pitch, low pitch, chipmunk, and echo.

What our tester says: Honestly, my kids use this more to change their voice and say silly things than sing. But I don't mind—they have a blast. It's also a very portable toy, which is great for any family vacations.

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If you have a child who boycotts bedtime hard, this unique night light is worth a try. It comes with a remote that allows you to toggle through all different colored lights and even plays music. Hanging it is a cinch, too. It comes with a no-damage suction cup complete with a hook.

What our tester says: We don't use any of the extras, like music. My son just plays around with the remote, staring at different colors, until he dozes off, and that's fine by me, since it allows me to make my dinner in peace.

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Four-year-olds are usually a little bit too old for basic peg puzzles but too young for more complex jigsaws. This 48-piece floor puzzle strikes a happy medium. The durable wooden pieces are just as easy to hold as the more basic ones but have a more complex design to engage their ever-developing problem-solving skills. It even comes with a guidebook with fun facts about outer space.

What our tester says: I had to help my son at first, but now he does the whole thing on his own—and keeps asking to buy more puzzles.

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You probably remember playing Candy Land as a kid—the game is a classic for good reason. It’s pretty sweet to look at, for starters, but it’s also simple enough for the youngest to make their way through the magical world to the finish line: the candy castle.

What our tester says: This was the first game my son and I successfully played together, and it was such a fun experience for both of us. Don't pass over it for being basic—at this age, that's perfect.

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This game of chance will have the whole family belly-laughing as each person plays a rudimentary version of Russian roulette with the crocodile’s teeth. Playing is easy: Just pick a tooth and hold your breath as you press it down, hoping the crocodile won’t snap his mouth down on your fingers. (Don’t worry—even the most cautious moms told us it’s gentle enough for toddlers.)

What our tester says: I remember playing some version of this when I was growing up…and loving it. It's really cute to see my kids get so into it too.

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Learning is so much more fun in workbook form, especially when said workbook is from famed Highlights. Inside, your kiddo will find hours worth of age-appropriate exercises covering the ABCs, sight words, phonics, numbers, shapes, colors, and more. There’s tracing, mazes, matching games, dot-to-dots, and scavenger hunts galore.

What our tester says: It’s the perfect toy to bring on the go, whether that’s to the waiting room at the doctor's office (key for keeping them away form those toys!) or an airplane trip to Grandma’s. I only wish there were more mazes; my kiddo can't get enough of the mazes!

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Today’s STEM toys go way beyond robots, and parents say this flower-garden-building set is a fantastic imaginative toy that provides hours of fun. The 130-piece kit includes 25 stamens, 45 flowers, 50 leaves, 8 bases, and a watering pot. As your little kid assembles their own little garden, they’ll hone hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, and engage in pretend play.

What our tester says: There are a lot of pieces, but that's part of what makes this toy special. My girls love swapping out the petals and stems to make new “arrangements” and the case helps keep things contained.

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Is there any 4-year-old who doesn’t like stickers? This coloring-book alternative challenges creative kids to build a beautiful picture out of stickers; all they have to do is follow the numbers in sequence. Books are themed; select anything from unicorns to zoo animals, whatever strikes their fancy the most.

What our tester says: I am not a mom who likes arts and crafts—so many of those art supplies are way too messy—but this one I can totally handle. I just have work on suppressing my tendency for perfectionism and let them have at it, haha!

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You may know and love Lovevery's Play Kits from your child's baby days, but what you may not know is the brand recently expanded their offerings for 4-year-olds. For the older set, there are four kits, all of which are created by child development experts to match the exact stage your pre-K kiddo is at. Offerings are all made of high-quality materials, like wood, and each box comes with a comprehensive guide for parents to show them how to get the most mileage out of each box.

What our tester says: We tried all four boxes and loved them all, but I was especially impressed by the Persister, which really focuses on letter recognition and early reading.

If the 4-year-old in their life already has a wooden play kitchen, help them expand their offerings with this colorful wooden foot cart from Melissa & Doug. The adorable play set is the perfect size for this age group, and comes with more than 40 play food pieces: salty pretzels, sweet popsicles, ice cream cones, and all kinds of condiments to dress up their creations during imaginative play.

What our tester says: One of my friends has this cart in her kitchen. It's pretty enough to look at all the time, and it keeps her kids busy while she cooks or socializes. A win-win!

While it's true that the average 4-year-old probably already has a bin of Magna-Tiles in their playroom, it's just one of those toys (kind of like Legos): You can never have enough. And now the brand offers cool add-ons, like this construction set, that make great complements to the standard tracks to help expand your little one's imagination.

What our tester says: We've always loved Magna-Tiles, but these add-ons have really expanded the possibilities, which has helped keep my kids' attention for years on end. Everyone—1-year-olds, 5-year-olds, and even my 9-year-old niece—love Magna-Tiles.

This little tube is full of fun surprises. Kids start by pulling out a mystery princess doll covered in a special “color reveal” coating, as well as three additional surprise bags. Then, with an adult's assist, they fill the tube with water, place the small doll inside, and give her a little swirl to see exactly which of the six Disney figurines they got. Inside the bags, they'll uncover complementary accessories.

What our tester says: Princess parties are all the rage right now, because the 4-year old girls are ob-sessed. They also love any of those surprise toys that require unboxing, so this great gift is a total win-win.

A dollhouse is a home run for the girls who love to play pretend, but many of them come with very little pieces that are still a little tricky for 4-year-olds to maneuver. This one solves that problem, since it's jumbo—about four feet tall and four feet wide—giving your kiddo (and a friend or two!) more space to play. The wooden dollhouse comes with more than 30 accessories, from furniture to decor, to unlock play potential from day one.

What our tester says: Is it big? Yes, but it's so worth it. The bigger size makes it easier for my 4-year-old to play. And, even better, there's room for both of my girls to sit and play together!

The Lego sets are tempting, we know, but steer clear of the more complicated ones for the 4-year-olds in your life. At this age they can't follow the directions on their own, the small pieces are hard to construct, and they don't understand that the finished product is more of a fragile display piece than a toy. The more basic set, like this one featuring the beloved Mickey and Minnie, is much more their speed. They'll still probably need some help, but it's a lot more manageable overall—and that directly translates to fun factor.

What our tester says: A word of advice: Pay close attention to the ages on Lego sets. As it was labeled, this one was perfect for our Mickey-loving 4-year-old, even if we did still have to guide him along the way.

A set of dress-up clothes is another great way to tap your child's imaginative side. This set of six comes with costumes for role play both boys and girls will gravitate to, from community heroes to princesses. It also boasts accessories to elevate play time—think wands, handcuffs, stethoscopes, and more. One of the things parents love the most? Everything is machine-washable. And did we mention the set comes with a durable storage box?

What our tester says: These costumes are constantly out of their storage box, but I consider that a good thing, because my kids (and their friends) absolutely love them. They'd wear them to school and errands if I'd let them.

Like stepping stones for your playroom or basement, this simple toy not only encourages creativity but also helps your kiddo hone their gross motor skills. There's so much potential too: The stackable set can be used for fan favorites like The Floor is Lava, to create obstacle courses, to build towers and furniture, or to simply balance.

What our tester says: I love that these stack up really neatly in the corner of the room, but end up everywhere once the kids take them out. Really, that's a good thing! My kids get so creative with what they use these fun, foam stepping stones for.

Does your 4-year-old need some quality winter gear this Christmas? The easiest way to make clothing exciting to a pint-sized human is to make sure it has their favorite characters all over it. This favorite from Hanna Andersson takes things a step further with design details that transform them (well, sort of!) into their favorite character.

What our tester says: We don't have this exact hoodie, but it definitely would have the same effect as our dino onesies—a.k.a. an instant favorite. Plus, I can totally vouch for the quality of Hanna Andersson's stuff. Everything is supersoft and durable…we've had a few favorites for years.