7 Best Toys for 4 Year Olds (Boys & Girls)

Hot Wheels City Track Set

Our Top pick brings some high-speed excitement. The Hot Wheels City Ultimate Garage Playset is a massive multi-level track set that includes a parking garage, ramps, and even a dragon to race through. (Two Hot Wheels cars come with it.) Kids can load cars into an elevator, send them down a steep ramp for “loop” stunts on the next level, and even battle a dragon at the top level by launching cars at it.

The set can store over 50 cars, and it even connects to other Hot Wheels tracks. Assembly takes a bit of help from an adult, but once it’s up, it’s hands-down one of the most fun playsets for car-loving kids.

This toy is perfect for inspiring imaginative play in a four-year-old, especially those who love vehicles. It’s like a race track, puzzle, and storybook all in one: kids can race cars, strategize how to topple the dragon, or just stage pretend parking garage scenarios. It encourages cooperative play, too – siblings or friends can take turns sending cars down the tracks.

While it’s a bigger investment (and a bit advanced), many parents say this Hot Wheels garage becomes their child’s favorite toy. From a learning perspective, it teaches cause-and-effect (how fast cars go down ramps) and fine motor skills (placing tiny cars into the lift). Given its scale and features, it certainly ranks among the best toys for 4 year olds boy or girl who are into action and engineering. With this set, even a rainy afternoon turns into a full-blown racing adventure!

Melissa & Doug Get Well Doctor Kit

For the little caregiver in your life, consider this Melissa & Doug 25-Piece Doctor Kit. The set includes realistic plastic medical tools (stethoscope, blood pressure cuff, syringe, reflex hammer, thermometer, eye chart, etc.), plus bottles, bandages, and appointment cards, all that a toy doctor would need. Everything fits into a handy bag for easy cleanup. The pieces are chunky and sturdy, sized just right for little hands. Playing with a doctor kit lets a child pretend to listen to a teddy bear’s heartbeat or measure mom’s blood pressure.

At age four, pretend play is at full throttle, and a doctor set is one of the best toys for 4 year olds who love make-believe. It encourages nurturing behavior and empathy as kids “take care” of sick patients (be they dolls, stuffed animals, or siblings). It’s also a sneaky way to reduce anxiety about real doctor visits, touching the toys can make going to the doctor less scary.

From a developmental standpoint, this kit builds language and social skills: children ask questions, describe symptoms, and sort through medical instruments. It even gently introduces early science/health concepts (like measuring and hygiene).

PicassoTiles

This is a magnetic construction set that’s a hit in classrooms and homes; PicassoTiles 60-Piece Magnetic Tiles. These are see-through, colorful plastic shapes (squares, triangles, etc.) with magnets on the edges. The set of 60 pieces lets kids snap blocks together to build towers, tunnels, castles, airplanes, anything they imagine. Because the tiles are magnetic, they click easily and securely in place, so even a 4-year-old can build tall 3D creations without them toppling over. The set also includes a carrying case for storage.

This kind of toy is great for 4-year-olds because it teaches basic STEM concepts through play. Children learn about shapes, colors, and symmetry as they build. Magnetism adds an element of science (exploring what sticks together). It also greatly boosts fine motor skills and creativity: little fingers get stronger from grasping and twisting the pieces.

Educators praise magnetic tile sets for enhancing spatial reasoning and engineering thinking. Plus, PicassoTiles are compatible with other brands of magnetic blocks, so families can expand the set over time.

JOYSTAR 12-Inch Balance Bike

Active kids need active toys, and a balance bike is a fantastic way to encourage physical confidence. The JOYSTAR 12-inch Kids Bike (for ages 2–5) is essentially a small bicycle without pedals or training wheels (though it includes optional training wheels that can be attached). At 4, many children are ready to learn to ride.

With this bike, kids sit on the saddle and push along with their feet. It teaches balance and coordination naturally, without the complexity of pedaling at first. The JOYSTAR bike has a sturdy steel frame, safe solid tires, a bell, and a simple handbrake. It even comes in fun colors (pink, blue, or mint) and designs.

A balance bike is a great “cool boy toy for 4 year old” (and girls, too!). It provides active outdoor fun, helping kiddos burn energy and strengthen leg muscles. Unlike scooters or trikes, a balance bike lets a child learn to balance on two wheels from a young age.

Pediatric therapists often recommend balance bikes because they build gross motor skills and confidence. Rides around the yard or park can become thrilling adventures for a little one. By mastering a balance bike, most kids have an easier time transitioning to a pedal bike later on.

LEGO DUPLO

Our first pick is a classic builder set perfect for preschoolers: the LEGO DUPLO All-In-One Box of Fun. This colorful kit comes in a handy storage “lego block” case and includes 65 large DUPLO pieces, like long bricks, window frames, plus a DUPLO boy figure and a puppy.

For a 4-year-old, this LEGO set is wonderful because it combines learning with play. The bigger DUPLO bricks are easy for little hands to grasp, helping fine motor skills. Building with these bricks lets children practice counting and sorting by color. As they stack and connect pieces, they learn basic engineering (how things balance and fit together).

Educational experts note that creative building kits like DUPLO help preschoolers develop problem-solving and planning skills. The fun figures (the boy and puppy) also encourage storytelling and role-play.

Crayola Pip-Squeaks Mini Markers

An arts and crafts set is always a winner, and Crayola Pip-Squeaks Skinnies Mini Markers are tailor-made for small hands. This 64-count box comes with a rainbow of short, chunky markers. The barrels are just the right size so little fingers can hold them comfortably; these are a bit shorter than regular markers, making them easy for 4-year-olds to manage.

They’re also washable, so the inevitable coloring on skin or clothing isn’t a big problem. The bright assortment includes many colors and even a few extra “kids’ choice” colors named by children themselves.

For a preschooler, these markers are fantastic for fostering creativity and fine motor development. As your child draws, colors, and scribbles, they’re practicing pencil grip and wrist control. They can trace letters, draw shapes, or illustrate stories (like a house, sun, or family). Creative art activities at this age boost self-expression and confidence.

Learning Resources Gear Set (100 Pieces)

To strengthen engineering skills, we love the Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears! Deluxe Set (100 pieces). This set comes with colorful interlocking gears, rods, bases, and a hand crank. Kids can arrange the gears on pegs and then turn the crank to watch all the gears spin in motion together. It’s like building a simple machine. The pieces are large and easy to snap together, perfect for a 4-year-old’s dexterity. There’s even an activity guide with ideas, but kids will also invent their own configurations.

This gear building set is beneficial because it lets 4-year-olds experiment with cause and effect. When they attach gears of different sizes, they learn that spinning one gear moves the others. This teaches early physics in a hands-on way. The process of connecting gears also demands focus, patience, and fine motor control. Many educators recommend gear sets for young children because they foster creative problem-solving and basic engineering concepts.

Plus, building these colorful structures is satisfying and fun: kids can create anything from spinning flowers to motorbike wheels. This toy grows with the child, too-a 4-year-old will stack a few gears, and as they get older they can create more complex contraptions.