At four years of age, many little ones begin to feel big, younger children are for them “little ones” and they don’t stop talking, running and exploring everything they find around them.
So, we can take advantage of the interest that our children show to discover the world and look for strategies so that they develop all their potentialities to the maximum.
Toys for a four-year-old are a great alternative, since they stimulate the areas that the little ones need the most at this stage. Remember that the first years of our children’s lives represent a decisive period in their sensorimotor and cognitive development, as well as in the acquisition of language and habits. In this article we explain it thoroughly and will help you choose the best toys for your 4-year-old boy.
Table of Contents
1. GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope
This microscope is ideal for young scientists who are fascinated by nature. The talking microscope, which offers over 100 distinct facts about plants, animals, and more, is voiced by Bindi Irwin. Children can learn about the slide in Fact Mode and then test their knowledge in Quiz Mode. When playtime is complete, the slides can be easily stored inside the microscope.
Price- $40
2. Orboot Augmented Reality Interactive Globe
This interactive toy is not only a Lab favorite; it is also the best-selling globe on Amazon. Children can improve their social studies abilities with the free Orboot App by learning numerous facts about different sections of the world (from animals and climate to landmarks and more) by skimming their tablet over each section of the globe.
Price- $60
3. Sticker Suncatchers
Allow your child’s imagination to run wild with this kit, which employs peel-and-stick stickers (no glue!) to create vibrant characters to hang in the window. Additionally, the suncatchers teach children about colors and forms, and their placement helps with fine motor coordination.
Price- $15
4. Musical Crossroads Matching Game
This tabletop game allows your 4-year-olds to exercise their memory and matching skills. Additionally, the images have a musical theme, which allows children to learn about various sounds and instruments.
Price- $20
5. LeapStart Go System
To assist children in preparing for school, this educational device from LeapFrog teaches them everything they need to know through books, video, and audio. Children can tap the mini-LCD screen to watch videos, zoom in, and more. The subjects covered span from math and reading to solving problems and more, but there are thousands of tasks ranging in difficulty from preschool to first grade.
Price- $75
6. Scissor Skills Activity Pad
You just cannot beat a $5 toy that teaches children essential life skills. The kit contains a project book with twenty pages of activities (think mazes, riddles, and painting), as well as a pair of child-safe plastic scissors. By using it frequently, you can assist your child become accustomed to safely using scissors.
Price- $10
7. Coding Critters
This cute set is the ideal approach to introduce coding to your 4-year-old kid. Each critter features a series of arrows that assist children in “coding” its subsequent movements. Children can first follow the storybook’s instructions, but they can eventually invent their own coding rules for added enjoyment. There is even a play mode for children where they can just look after the pets.
Price- $30
8. Zingo Bingo
This enjoyable game helps your child build language and word recognition skills through the use of yellow chips that feature words and images. The red Zinger distributes the chips, and participants compete to fill their boards the fastest. It features two levels of play, ensuring that children may continue to have fun as they get older.
Price- $20
9. Playstix Construction Toy
If you’re in the market for a new building kit, then, this one has long, grooved pieces that lock together. The components are color-coded according to their length, making it simple to follow along with the instructions and observe how various models are constructed.
Price- $25
Things you should consider before buying toys for your little ones
If you are looking for a birthday gift for a little one or you want to give your child a toy with which he will have the most fun now that he is four years old, think of something that will help him to continue developing his psychomotor skills and that stimulates his intellect without leaving to amuse it. Also keep in mind certain aspects such as those that we advise you below.
1. Manufacturing materials
The materials with which the toys are made indicate their quality, resistance and durability. It is better to choose toys made of ecological wood or, if they are plastic, that are made of PP (polypropylene), PS (polystyrene) or ABS (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene) and that are free of BPA (bisphenol A). Also, make sure they have non-toxic paints.
Also, make sure the toy materials are easy to clean. Depending on the manufacturing materials of a toy, it can become a cradle for infections or allergies. In the case of children with rhinitis, for example, it is preferable that you avoid buying stuffed or cloth dolls, since these harbour a large number of dust mites.
2. Security
Toys, like all items we buy for our children, must be safe. In addition to being made with materials that are not toxic or dangerous for the health of our little ones, we must choose toys that due to their shape, texture and finishes (preferably rounded) do not represent a danger to the integrity of children.
There are several ways to check if a toy is safe. For example, the CE mark that is printed on the outer packaging indicates that the toy meets the safety, health and environmental protection requirements of the European Union.
3. Suitability
A toy for a four-year-old should really be suitable for the age of the child. The shape and dimensions must be consistent with the manipulative capacity of children at this stage of their life. Therefore, the toy must be adjusted to the size of the hands and the height of these little ones. Also, the weight must be bearable by children.
On the other hand, the difficulty and purpose of the toys must be adapted to the level of motor and cognitive development of children. As we have explained in this article, we should not force a child to skip stages. This is counterproductive and often creates gaps in their learning, which sooner or later has academic, social or emotional consequences.
Versatility
In addition to choosing a quality, safe and suitable toy for your children, we recommend that you think about the variety of uses that can be given to it. Better look for toys that can be used in different spaces and situations and that allow your little ones to invent creative games. Why a great toy, but so big that it can’t be moved anywhere?
It is important to think about all the aspects or situations that we will have to face when our children have the toy in their hands. They probably want to take it everywhere at first. Also, if you have a pool or frequent one, they may want to bring their toy with them and get it wet! In this case, a waterproof toy is better.
The Bottom Line
We find all kinds of toys for 4-year-olds. They come in different sizes, formats, colours and materials. Geometric figures, days of the week, vowels, basic vocabulary in English, among others, are some of the concepts that you can work with your little one through these toys. Most serve to stimulate their mind and 5 senses. So, we should always look for toys which serves all these purposes.
