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If you’ve ever met a 4-year-old boy, you’ve probably noticed his favorite word is also a question: “Why?” or “How?” or “When/where/what/who?” Their curiosity and desire to learn and understand are some of the best things about them. Sure, all those “Why? Why? Why?”s get annoying at bedtime. (Please just go to sleep, kid.) But when you’re playing the long game, curiosity is a virtue.
You’ve also probably noticed these little guys are active. Really active. Luckily, kids learn through play — and at the rate they’re going, they’re going to be geniuses by the time they turn 5. In choosing the best gifts for 4-year-old boys, we wanted to select a variety of toys, books, and games that will encourage their inquisitiveness through fun playtime. And, as a parenting writer, and mom of two who just so happens to think there is no magic on this earth quite like being in the presence of a 4-year-old boy (it’s such an incredible age), it wasn’t so much finding what to include but figuring out how to find favorites.
From dress-up to board games to running his very own dinosaurs-and-car park (hey, it could happen… though Jurassic Park has shown us it might not go super well), he’ll have such a good time, he won’t even know he’s learning and growing. They’re only 4 for a little while, but the things they learn when they’re 4 will last a lifetime.
Radio Flyer Cyclone for Kids Cart
This arm-powered vehicle comes complete with 360 degrees of fun. Your boy can zoom forward, backward, and all around in circles with this ride-on toy. Not going to lie here: We wish it came in grown-up sizes.
Toyk Dinosaur World Racetrack Playset
Welcome to Dinosaur World! Your boy can configure the sturdy, interlocking, and easy-to-assemble tracks however he wants, then zip the battery-powered dino-cars along them.
The set comes with two dinosaurs, two dinosaur cars, four trees, a gate, and a bridge. (Batteries not included, but each car only takes one AA.)
If you have a 4-year-old in your life, your phone is almost certainly full of weird selfies and pictures they’ve taken. Reclaim your storage space by getting them their own camera.
It’s equipped with autofocus, a burly shell, video capability, and a dual-camera configuration (perfect for those up-the-nose selfies). Your child will love it.
Kinetic Sand Construction Site Folding Sandbox Playset
Is there anything more fun for little boys than digging in the dirt? When that’s not possible (or you just cleaned either your home or your kid), this construction set from Kinetic Sand is just the thing.
It comes with 2 pounds of sand, a dump truck, a crane with a wrecking ball, a brick mold, and a platform for the bricks. Our favorite feature? It all stores in the carrying case it comes in.
A great way to help kids not be scared of the dark is to make their nightlight fun. This one really gets preschool boys by making projections of neon dinosaurs.
It can hold them in place or rotate, and there are 16 different color and dimness choices for maximum comfort and fun.
Is your 4-year-old boy whining that he’s bored? Well, with this game, he’ll discover a whole new world in the house.
Each card prompts fun indoor scavenger hunt missions — can your kid find something with a pattern? Something smaller than his palm? The first person to find seven objects (and shout “Found It!”) wins.
Brickyard Building Blocks Educational Building Blocks
With this set of blocks, wrenches, wheels, nuts, and bolts, your child can make whatever he wants. If he needs some ideas, the guide of 42 designs for any level of engineer should inspire him. And with 163 pieces, there’s plenty to share with friends — all the best inventions were made by teams, after all.
Parents and other adults will probably remember playing this game as a kid and, yes, it’s just as fun as you remember. Perfect for solo play or competition, the goal is always the same: “Hook” as many of the 21 colorful, biting, spinning fishies as you can.
Chiyr Wooden Robots Stacking Balancing Block Puzzle Game
You’ve never seen your 4-year-old boy concentrate as hard as they will trying to get these robots to stack on top of one another. Yes, they’ll fail over and over, but eventually, they’ll figure out tons of configurations for stacking the robots. And it will just be a matter of determining the coolest way to do it.
This set of almost 500 Lego bricks is the perfect foundation (heh) for your child’s career as a master builder. With the traditional pieces in 35 different colors, as well as eyes, windows, wheels, and more, your boy can spend hours creating, innovating, and playing.
Everyone wins with this windbreaker: you get to give him a gift he’ll actually use, and he’ll get to run around the playground pretending to be Spider-Man. (Plus, it’s safe for the washing machine — though not the dryer — after he inevitably gets it dirty.)
He may not be quite ready for camping in the woods on his own yet. But this set comes with everything he needs to have a grand outdoor adventure… in his backyard or living room.
MAGNA-TILES 32-Piece Magnetic Space Construction Set
MAGNA-TILES are already a great gift for 4-year-old boys, so when you opt for the space set, you’ll officially hit the jackpot. Featuring 32 pieces, including a spaceship and astronaut, its bright colors are perfect for encouraging creativity and allowing their imaginations to soar to new heights.
This board is perfect for playing, resting, practicing balance, and gaining core strength. In other words, he’ll have a whole bunch of ways to play with this beautifully crafted heirloom toy.
Melissa & Doug Grocery Story & Lemonade Stand
This simple but beautifully crafted toy is perfect for the 4-year-old boy who’s always dreamed of having his own lemonade stand, or who really loves imaginative play. It has a reversible awning, storage containers for everything he needs, and a counter for all the business he’ll get.
LeapFrog Learn To Read 10-Book Mega Pack & Stylus
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Whether he wants to learn how to read or you want him to gain confidence while having fun, this is the gift for your 4-year-old boy. Using the stylus, which will play an audio version of the book aloud, he can follow along and read through each story
Some kid fads we don’t get, but we definitely get Squishmallows. They’re so cute and soft and, well, squishy! And of the Squishmallows, axolotls tend to be among the most popular. We love that “Tinley” is so colorful.
You’ve put it off for as long as possible, but there’s no more denying it: He’s outgrown his toddler bike. The shiny red frame and 16-inch wheels on this Huffy make it the ideal gift for 4-year-old boys.
Are you tired of picking up miniature cars everywhere you step? (Often after tripping on them or coming close?) The solution is simple: Make putting cars away as much fun as playing with them. This carrier is shaped like a truck and even has wheels of its own — the storage is as enjoyable as the toys it holds.
Bring the fun of shooting hoops inside (if you dare) with this arcade style hoop. It’s good for practice and fun, and helps develop hand-eye coordination. The easy-to-assemble set even comes with two basketballs sized for little hands.
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