This post will provide you the best gifts for 4 year old boys – whether it be a birthday gift or a Christmas present these will stand the test of time. Kids can be tough customers these days. Sometimes kids can get a gift and get sick of it right away but not with these! These gifts are open ended gifts that will keep kids entertained and be used long term as they grow with kids and meet them at their developmental stage. Let’s Dive in!
1. Magnetic Tiles
Magnetic Tiles are at the top of the list because they are an unbeatable toy. They can be used to build structures or be stuck to the fridge in different patters. 4 year old boys love to build blocks with these tiles and use them along with other figurine toys.
2. Water Wows
These books come with a couple pages and a refillable paint brush that gets filled with water and reveals an image below. My collection of Water Wows can been increasing as my son loves to use them and they create no mess! They are also a great toy to use on a long car ride.
3. Wooden Train Set
This wooden train set is very high quality and is fun for kids to use the magnetic trains that come with the set. It can be configured multiple ways and comes with a ton of cute accessories. This is the perfect age for this toy because at 4, children will be able to learn to set up the track on their own and not need parental assistance – encouraging independent play.
4. Paint Dots
If you love the idea of letting a child paint but know that is a hot mess waiting to happen- paints dots are for you! These have closable lids to prevent them from drying out. This set comes with different colors and coloring books specifically designed to be used with paint dots but they can be used on any paper..
5. Dry Erase Boards
A dry erase board is a great open ended toy that allows kids to use their imagination and feels cool to write on! I also recommend buying these low-odor dry erase markers and these dry erase erasers to complete the set. Tip: we keep this board under the couch so its not always in sight if we don’t want it to be.
6. Books – Daniel the Tiger
The series of books by Daniel the Tiger is extremely beneficial for children to use as a learning tool to prepare for occasions they may be encountering at this time – going to school, going to the dentist, etc. They are also fun to read and have cute characters!
7. Play-Doh
If you want to be a child’s best friend- give them Play-Doh! Not only is this gift universal in that kids can literally create anything but it also help children continue to develop their fine motor skills and use their imagination. I recommend getting the basic playdoh rather than a themed play-doh kit which I’ve seen kids loose interest in pretty fast and is not easy to use.
8. Doctor Set
This set comes with fun doctor instruments and trust me when I say – kids LOVE getting to be the doctor and use those tools on their parents or siblings. This has also been a great way to get kids comfortable with doctor visits. These sets are timeless making them perfect gifts for 4 year old boys.
9. Learning Desk
My son did not start practicing writing letters until he received this desk for his Birthday. It is very age appropriate and has modules working on letters, colors, fruits, music and parts of the body. My son loves the fake phone that makes cute fake calls. Also it doesn’t have an annoying voice – you know – those annoying voices that make you regret buying a toy.
10. Slime
I know! Slime is the worst! But here me out – kids love it and have so much fun! Their little eyes just light up with excitement! In all seriousness, I don’t recommend this if you will be using in a carpeted area. Otherwise, slime is easy to come off hardwood. I have designated our dining table as the only place where slide is allowed and that has been helpful in keeping any slime contained. I love this slime because it comes with a bucket for easy storage. It was originally 3 different colors separated by dividers in the tub, but my son mixed it all so now its just purple 🙂
11. Kinetic Sand
If you just can’t will yourself to purchase slime, I highly recommend kinetic sand. This sand sticks to itself so there aren’t sand grains all over the place to clean up. It a very nice sensory experience without the mess. I highly recommend this kit that comes with the storage box.
12. Color Changing Cars
These cars change colors when placed in hot or cold water. It is especially fun when used with this car wash set that makes it seem like they are changing colors when the car is “washed”. This gift is especially great if you have a Cars (like the movie) fan on your list.
13. Science Set
This set is made up of 3 things purchased separately- large test tubes, kid droppers and food coloring. You use the test tubes filled with water to color the water different colors and move the water around using the syringe to create more colors! This can be a little messy so its usually an activity we do on special days. Make sure you put the food coloring in the tubes first, then kids put the water in the test tubes.
Christmas gifts for 4 year old boys can be challenging but this list will ensure your gift is fun, timeless and sparks joy in a little one.
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