The holidays are a magical time, and for 4-year-olds, it’s prime time for pretend play and hands-on fun! If you're searching to find the perfect Christmas present or holiday gift for the 4-year-old child in your life, we’ve got you covered. We've compiled 10 of our favorite top toys for the 2022 holiday season that will delight your 4-year-old and also support their development.
The 10 Best Toys and Gifts for 4-Year-Olds
Scoop & Serve Ice Cream Counter
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: For a 4-year-old, the only thing more exciting than ice cream might be the chance to be in charge of it! Use the eight wooden scoops of different-flavored ice cream, six assorted toppings, two cones, plastic cup, ice cream scooper, tongs, and a wooden spoon for hours of pretend play. The scooper fits into a hole on top of the scoops to lift, stack, and release.
Fun feature: This realistic play set allows kids to choose: How many scoops? What flavors? Is it time for seconds yet?
Skills: Hand-eye coordination, creative thinking, and gross motor skills
How to wow: Set kids up to run their own ice cream operation by adding the Food Truck Play Tent.
School Time Classroom Play Set
Age: 4+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: With a drop-down teacher desk on one side and a student desk on the other, this innovative set allows kids to realistically play both roles!
Fun feature: The exciting array of supplies — including 2 double-sided write-on, wipe-off boards, 2 dry-erase markers, 9 reusable activity cards, 12 pattern blocks, 150 reusable stickers, a bell, timer, pointer, and lots more — enables kids to explore a favorite activity and continue learning even out of the classroom!
Skills: Vocabulary, social-emotional development
How to wow: Go for “extra credit,” by adding the Deluxe Double-Sided Tabletop Easel to enhance your child’s pretend classroom.
Chef's Kitchen - Charcoal
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds:
Easy to assemble, this play kitchen includes a refrigerator/freezer and ice maker, an oven and stovetop with dials that turn, a microwave with turning plate, a sink with moving faucet and handle, a grocery checklist, movable hooks, and ample storage. Budding chefs and home cooks are sure to enjoy years of make-believe meal-making!
Fun feature: Features an innovative working ice dispenser and two “ice cubes.”
Skills: Creative thinking, problem solving
How to wow: Add realistic accessories to the kitchen with this Kitchen Accessory Set.
Get Well Doctor Activity Center
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: The doctor will see you now! This wooden play space has everything kids need for imaginary visits to the doctor’s office! Kids can be the patient or the doctor, the receptionist, or the nurse. Not only is this kind of role-play excellent for easing kids’ fears about doctor visits, but it also encourages empathy.
Fun feature: Kids can sign in and check out with a credit card reader and card and fill out a reusable patient file! BONUS: There’s an easy-to-follow assembly how-to video!
Skills: Social-emotional development
How to wow: Make sure your little doctor has all the equipment they need to fix bumps and bruises with this 25-piece Get Well Doctor’s Kit Play Set.
Deluxe Tabletop Easel
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: From the magnetic dry-erase board, to the chalkboard, to the paper-roll holder, this easy-to-fold-flat tabletop easel leaves everything to the imagination! Preschoolers will love using the dry-erase marker and felt eraser, colored chalk, and seemingly endless (50-foot-long) paper roll!
Fun feature: This double-sided easel includes 36 letter and number magnets!
Skills: Counting, creative play, collaborative play, fine motor skills, color recognition, letter and number recognition
How to wow: Get creative on the paper roll with the 24-pack of triangular crayons!
My Magnetic Daily Calendar
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: This clever calendar encourages responsibility and good behavior by allowing kids to help post the day of the week, date, weather, and special events on the large magnetic board for all to see. There are fields for day, date, season, weather, temperature, activities, holiday, and mood.
Fun feature: A sturdy cord is attached for easy hanging.
Skills: Vocabulary, social-emotional development
How to wow: Make their calendar even more personal with these decorative Disney Mickey Mouse Wooden magnets.
ABCs 123s Deluxe Wooden Stamp Set
Age: 4+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: This set of 71 wooden stamps features upper- and lowercase letters, numbers, symbols, and punctuation. Also included is a four-color stamp pad with washable ink, and a 25-page stamp-and-learn activity book. Great for making cards, art projects, book covers, personalized notes, and stories!
Fun feature: Comes in a sturdy wooden box for storage.
Skills: Language and number, creativity, fine motor, problem solving
How to wow: Include a high quality drawing pad for the stamping delight of your little one!
Alphabet Sound Puzzle
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: This interactive puzzle helps kids see and hear the alphabet as they play! Plus, the colorful pictures underneath each piece help reinforce the relationship between letters and their sounds.
Fun feature: The puzzle pronounces the correct name of each letter when it’s placed on the puzzle board!
Skills: Language, problem solving
How to wow: After learning their letters, they can practice writing them out with this sturdy Spiral-Bound Sketch Pad!
Deluxe Sparkle & Shine Cleaning Play Set
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds:
Kids love imitating grown-ups as they clean! This 11-piece cleaning play set includes a broom, dustpan, sweeper-mop with removable cleaning cloth, lint brush, duster, sponge, spray bottle, and cloth towel roll. The pieces are sized for kids, built to last, and store easily on the wooden stand. Natural-wood handles add durability and a classic look; bright pops of color keeps lots of fun in the mix!
Fun feature: Includes reusable activity card
Skills: Gross motor, social-emotional development
How to wow: Give kids even more tools of the trade with the Let’s Play House Spray, Squirt, and Squeegee Play Set.
Shopping Cart Toy
Age: 3+
Why it’s a great gift for 4-year-olds: Kids love when toys look like the real thing, and this shopping cart is super realistic! With sturdy metal construction and pivoting front wheels, this kid-size metal shopping cart toy is the perfect addition to your play grocery store or kitchen.
Fun feature: Includes a folding seat for your childs' favorite shopping companion!
Skills: Gross motor, social-emotional development
How to wow: No wrapping required! Wrap a bow around Burrow Bunny, set him in the cart, and your gift is good to go!
Looking for more of the best Christmas and holiday gift and toy ideas for kids of all ages? Check out these blog posts:
10 Best Toys for Babies and 1-Year-Olds
