Four is an age of endless discovery, boundless energy, and growing independence. At this stage, attention spans are growing, friendships are forming, and imaginative play reaches new heights of creativity and complexity.
We regularly refresh this carefully curated collection to match these expanding abilities and interests. Each selection combines engaging play value with natural opportunities for learning, ensuring gifts that bring lasting excitement and enjoyment.
1.Play Tent and Tunnels
With vibrant tunnels, cube tent and teepee, this pop up play set by Weplay encourages hours of active and social play. The target wall game takes playtime up a notch.
The lightweight polyester tent assembles in seconds and folds into a compact carry case. Durable and safe, itâs ideal for indoor or outdoor use. Kids can crawl through tunnels, hide in tents and let imagination run wild. The variety of play spaces and activities make this an ideal gift for 4 year old boys who love active physical play.
- Vibrant tunnels and tents
- Target wall game
- Lightweight and portable
- Improves problem-solving skills
- Indoor/outdoor use
- Balls sold separately
2.Mickey and Minnie Mouse's Camping Adventure
This Lego camper van set comes with classic Disney characters like Mickey, Minnie, and Pluto for hours of pretend camping fun. It includes a toy camper van, car, and lots of accessories like sleeping bags, a campfire, food, and camping chairs. The set is easy to assemble using the included building bricks and offers an engaging play experience for kids.
Little builders will love acting out camping scenarios with the included minifigures. The accessories like the campfire, food, and camping gear inspire creative roleplaying as kids make their own campsite. Playing with the set develops fine motor skills, imagination, and storytelling abilities. 4 year old fans of Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse are sure to love this toy camper van set as a gift.
- Includes popular Disney characters
- Accessories for imaginative play
- Develops fine motor skills
- Inspires creativity
- Doesn't come with storage
3.Melissa & Doug Wooden Deluxe Barbecue Grill
This wooden barbecue grill toy set by Melissa & Doug includes everything a 4 year old need for pretend backyard cooking fun. The detailed grill features dials, a timer, smoker box, and side burner. It comes with wooden play food like steak, chicken, corn, and more that can be âcookedâ by flipping to reveal grill marks. Felt condiments, pizza with toppings, utensils, and accessories add to the realistic play experience.
As kids cook up meals with this toy grill, they build fine motor skills by manipulating the small pieces. Sorting the wooden food and lining up condiments promotes counting and organization. Playing restaurant develops their imagination and storytelling abilities. The durable wood construction makes this grill built to last for years of pretend play fun.
- Detailed wooden grill toy
- Sliceable wooden play food
- Promotes fine motor and counting skills
- Inspires creative play
- Small pieces require supervision
4.Kinetic Sand Folding Sandbox
Sensory play is important throughout the early years, and that includes age 4 too. Sensory play allows children to experiment with a whole range of different concepts and learn by being hands-on.
Kinetic sand is sand which can be easily molded and is extremely satisfying to use. The Kinetic Sand Folding Sandbox is ideal as it can simply be folded away when a child is finished playing with it, the box itself is a convenient, built-in storage solution and comes with 7 molds and tools. The kinetic sand itself is non-toxic and hypoallergenic so very safe for children to play with.
- Sensory play opportunity
- Convenient, built-in storage
- 7 molds and tools included
- Non-toxic and hypoallergenic
- Can be messy
5.Lego Classic Extra Large Stone Box
Lego is a real timeless classic when it comes to open-ended construction toys and it really is built to last forever. Many families have Lego from when their adult children were younger, which they pass on to grandchildren or keep in their home for children to play with when they visit; this just shows how long the appeal of Lego will last!
The Lego Classic Extra Large Stone Box features 1500 Lego elements for lots of open-ended play which will boost childrenâs imagination and creativity. The set also includes some construction ideas in case children need some inspiration to get them started.
- 1500 Lego elements
- Open-ended play
- Boosts imagination and creativity
- Develops construction skills
- Includes construction ideas
- Does not come with storage box
6.Theo Klein Bosch Workstation
Role-play is a way that 4-year-olds make sense of the social side of the world; they use imitation and acting to experiment with different situations and scenarios, which in turn helps them to develop appropriate ways of interacting and to âfileâ away and make sense of their social experiences.
The Theo Klein Bosch Workstation is an ideal toy for role-play as it is based on real Bosch products that the child may have seen a family member, friend or workman using and it comes with 40 accessories to support a whole range of play. This kind of play is perfect for supporting the development of fine-motor skills and dexterity in the fingers, hands and wrists too.
- Based on real Bosch products
- Encourages role-play
- Increases fine-motor skills and dexterity
- 40 accessories
- Larger item, requires space to store and play
7.Remote Control Stunt Car
Give the gift of fun and excitement with this remote control stunt car by Amicool. Designed for easy operation, even by young kids, this is the perfect toy for a four-year-old boy that is just starting to get into tech toys. The included remote will ensure seamless control as the car flips, spins and zooms across the room or backyard. The wide tires even make for a smooth ride on rough terrain like grass, dirt or snow.
Using the remote control will improve fine motor skills and develop hand-eye coordination as he figures out how to maneuver around obstacles. The sturdy design and flexible tires make this car age appropriate as itâs expected itâs going to take a few bumps and crashes. The 360-degree rotation capability and flip feature mean that even running into walls or furniture wonât stop the fun. It can completely flip upside down and keep on rolling. This gift will provide loads of fun while developing important skills.
- 360-degree rotation and flip capabilities
- Simple control, minimal buttons
- Develops hand-eye coordination
- Encourages outdoor play
- Rechargeable batteries donât run long
8.Retro Light-Up Pegboard
Dazzle young minds and spark creativity with this classic toy. Instead of having to create art on paper, this Lite-Brite will allow four-year-old boys to create 3D art that will light up their room and their imaginations. With its vibrant pegs and reusable templates, this timeless toy provides endless hours of artistic exploration. As children insert the pegs into the Lite-Briteâs illuminated board, they develop their fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination and color recognition. It also promotes concentration and problem-solving skills.
This toy encourages self-expression and boosts self-confidence as kids proudly share their illuminated masterpieces. They can choose from one of the included templates or create their own unique designs, encouraging artistic freedom and self-expression. Not only does the Lite-Brite stimulate creativity, but it also enhances critical thinking. Planning and organizing designs will develop logical reasoning and pattern recognition skills. The Lite-Brite is a toy that has stood the test of time, captivating generations with its magical light effects and artistic possibilities.
- Develops fine motor skills
- Enhances critical thinking skills
- Teaches pattern recognition
- Stimulates creativity and imagination
- Contains very small parts
9.Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage
Part of the popular Hot Wheels range, this set is ideal for imaginative play with toy cars. It has space for over 140 cars and is compatible with other Hot Wheels sets so play can really be extended as much as desired. Imaginative play with cars is another way for children to experiment with different social situations and develop their language as they often use language to narrate what is going on or give speech to different characters in the scene they are creating.
The Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage is over 3 feet tall so would make a really exciting gift for a 4-year-old boy which will help to improve his construction skills too.
- Over 3 ft tall
- Space for over 140 cars
- Compatible with other Hot Wheels sets
- Encourages construction skills
- Inspires imaginative play
- Expensive toy
10.Lego Marvel Spider-Man Webquarters Hangout
The Lego Marvel Spider-Man Webquarters Hangout is an action-packed gift for a 4 year old boy. This superhero set features Spider-Manâs headquarters with a giant spider building, Ghost Copter vehicle, basketball hoop, slides and more for endless imaginative play.
This set includes popular characters like Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider and Green Goblin for roleplaying superhero vs. villain scenarios. The creative accessories like a guitar, pizza and paint supplies spark social play. Expandable with other Lego Spidey sets, this 295 piece kit builds fine motor skills.
- Roleplay Spider-Man HQ with characters
- Encourages social and imaginative play
- 295 pieces for building skills
- Expandable with other Spidey sets
- Small parts require supervision
11.Hasbro Hungry Hungry Hippo
Playing games with family and friends is another great way for children to work on their social skills as they develop the ability to take turns, play fairly, follow the rules and begin to regulate their emotions as they win or lose. It also helps to build some social rapport and is a lovely way for family and friends to bond.
The Hasbro Hungry Hungry Hippo game is ideal for 4-year-olds as it doesnât require lots of strategies or critical thinking and has a fast pace. The game is ideal for improving hand-eye coordination and motor skills as children press the buttons on the hippos to make them snap their mouths open at the right time. Early maths skills are also supported as the balls need to be counted to determine who has won.
- Fun game suitable for the whole family
- Improves hand-eye coordination
- Develops motor skills
- Encourages counting and maths skills
- Supports social skills
- Requires additional players
12.Costume Superhero Cape Set
This Roko Superhero Cape set is a fun gift for any four-year-old boy who dreams of saving the day! The set includes four superhero capes, each with a unique design and four matching masks. The capes are made from high-quality satin fabric, which not only makes them comfortable to wear but also durable for endless hours of play.
Beyond the excitement of becoming their favorite superheroes, this cape set offers several benefits for a young boyâs development. Pretend play has been shown to enhance creativity, problem-solving skills and social interaction. As boys put on these capes and go on their amazing adventures, they develop their storytelling abilities and learn to cooperate with others during imaginative play sessions. The adjustable velcro neck closure not only ensures a secure and comfortable fit for growing boys but also improves fine motor skills as they learn to fasten and unfasten the capes. Whether itâs a playdate or a costume party, this cape set is perfect for the young superhero youâre shopping for.
- Stimulates imagination
- Develops fine motor skills
- Multiple capes for social play
- Includes matching masks
- Hand wash only
13.Brio World Travel Switching Set
Train tracks are a classic toy, offering a range of benefits for childrenâs development. For example, as children learn to connect pieces, they improve their hand-eye coordination, as they decide on the pieces they need, they develop problem-solving skills and as they plan their creation, they work on their spatial awareness.
The Brio World Travel Switching Set adds interest to train track play with two battery-powered engines based on trains from around the world. This encourages and develops an interest in different modes of transport. The Brio wooden tracks are also compatible with other train track sets.
- Wooden tracks; eco-friendlier toy
- Compatible with other track sets
- Encourages construction skills
- Develops interest in modes of transport
- Battery-powered trains; add interest.
- Requires batteries
14.Micro Scooters Mini Deluxe
Scooters are popular with children of all ages and by age 4 they can become a really useful mode of transport when the stroller is outgrown but walking is still too slow! The Micro Scooters Mini Deluxe is specially designed for younger children, aged 2-5 years, and has a handle that can be easily adjusted to the right height and plenty of grips on the scooter deck so itâs perfect for a 4-year-old boy.
Scooters are a great way to encourage outdoor, physical play to keep children active and healthy, and to help burn off some of that endless energy! Scooting also helps to develop balance, coordination, core strength and control.
- Adjustable handle height
- Suitable for ages 2-5
- Grips on deck
- Encourages outdoor physical play
- Develops coordination
- Requires protective equipment, e.g. helmet
