4 Year Old Birthday Gift Ideas

Find fun, educational, and budget-friendly birthday gift ideas for 4-year-olds in this gift guide, categorized by type, such as electronic toys, gross motor skills, pretend play, and creative exploration.

Buying gifts for a four year old is so much fun! They are picking up new skills at lightening speed, are able to tell you what interests them, and are for the most part, extremely social and enjoy the company of others.

When shopping for your four year old think of the toys you currently own. If you already have a set of blocks, chances are you don’t need another. Consider your child’s interests and developmental needs too. We like to have a mix of gifts for our four year old that includes electronics, sports toys, pretend play, and creative exploration (and maybe a few new outfits too!).

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Four Year Old Gift Guide

Find the perfect gift for a 4-year-old! Explore fun, educational, and budget-friendly birthday gift ideas that inspire creativity and learning.

4 Year Old Birthday Gift Ideas for Camera’s and Electronic Toys

There are some really AMAZING technology products that allow children to learn with technology as a tool. Here are some of our favorites for preschoolers:

Fisher Price Kid-Tough Digital Camera

LeapFrog My Own Leaptop

LeapFrog Text and Learn

LeapFrog® Tag Reading System

LeapFrog LeapPad1 Explorer Learning Tablet,

4 Year Old Birthday Gift Ideas for Gross Motor

I bought a parachute for my daughter when she was 4 and have been surprised at how many times we have used it for playdates! Scooters, basketball hoops, and even a bike makes a great “big” gift for four year olds that encourages exercise and healthy habits.

10′ Parachute Mini Micro Scooter

Play Like a Pro Basketball Set

4 Year Old Birthday Gift Ideas for Pretend Play and Learning

Dress Up:

My son got a set of dress up capes for his 4th birthday. THEY WERE A HIT and have been worn MANY times! They are easy to put on vest-cape combo with a tie in the back around the waist. We also have several other community helper costumes in our dress-up box for the kids to pretend with.

DC Comics Boys Action Trio Superhero Costume Set

Action Trio Costume Set

Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Set

Blocks and Vehicles:

Melissa & Doug Pattern Blocks and Boards

KidKraft Wooden Block Set

Bruder Mack Granite Dump Truck

Lego Brick Box Pink

Lego Brick Box Blue

Dolls and Accessories:

4 years old is a great time time for “big kid dolls!” Your child will enjoy playing mamma or daddy, feeding the doll, and taking care of it. These pretend play interactions develop creativity, vocabulary, and life skills. Children really do learn through play!

North American Bear Company Rosy Cheeks Big Sister Brunette

HABA 15″ Steven Doll

North American Bear Company Rosy Cheeks Big Sister Tan

Dolls can be used to model health habits and positive behaviors through role playing. I know when my 4 year old was scared of the dark, we would first tuck his doll into bed and let the baby doll know that he was safe and sound because we were nearby. Then we would do the same for our 4 year old. Soon, he was tucking in his baby and the fear of going to bed in the dark subsided.

In my kindergarten classroom, I used to have a doll highchair, bed, and kitchen area for pretend play and learning.

Doll High Chair

Doll Bed

Doll Buggy

Preschoolers are now able to help dress the dolls on their own, which is great practice for building fine-motor skills. If you have dolls already in your house – wonderful! Consider adding a few doll clothes and accessories to your collection.

Another GREAT gift for 4 years olds is a doll house. We were gifted the Fisher-Price Loving Family Grand Dollhouse. It’s nice because the sides fold up to take up less place when we are not playing with it. Our friends have Melissa & Doug Hi-Rise Dollhouse and Furniture Set. My eight year old still points out the Calico Critters sets and house every time we pass it in Target and I have a little buyers remorse. She is nearing the end of the doll house phase, and I wish I would have purchased it when she was younger.

4 Year Old Birthday Gift Ideas for Creative Exploration

When in doubt, I always go with craft supplies for a four year old. Most craft supplies are used up and need replacing over time! A monthly craft box subscription creates a gift that will keep on giving creative experiences all year long!