As moms, when we’re shopping for gifts for our boys or their friends or our nephews, we usually look for gifts that are beneficial as well as fun. But that’s not always easy.
Our top picks are always gifts that encourage learning, STEM skills, motor skills, creativity, outdoor or active experiences, or social interaction. With those criteria in mind, we’ve scoured the wide world of toys, games, and other fun to create this list of 25 of the best gifts for 4-year-old boys.
Ready to take your gift-giving to the next level? Read on to find the perfect match for the 4-year-old boy in your life.
- 22-piece mighty truck carrier
- 100% nontoxic
- Easy storage, transport, and cleanup
- 10-inch Bumblebee toy
- Sized right for small hands
- Easy to convert
- Super durable
- Meets U.S. safety standards
- Easy to use
- Over 2 feet tall
- Features a voice changer
- Very interactive
- Multi-terrain treads
- Long-lasting durability
- Fully functional digger
- With lights and sounds
- 6 inches tall
- Multi-sensory experience
- Washable ink
- 8 dinosaur-themed stamps
- Very affordable
- Easy-to-connect segments
- Motorized head
- Built-in sounds and blinking eyes
- Encourages critical thinking
- 130 magnetic building pieces
- Colorful and fun
- Brightly colored
- Easy to assemble
- 40 sturdy cardboard building blocks
Best Toys & Gifts for 4-Year-Old Boys of 2023
Here are 25 unique toy and gift ideas for 4-year-old boys.
1. Boley Mighty Truck Carrier
Big Truck, Big Fun
If your boy is in his motor phase, where anything from garbage trucks to sports cars suits his fancy, this 22-piece toy set will be sure to excite him.
It includes a big rig, 13 small multi-colored vehicles, and model traffic accessories. The rig has a handle for easy portability, and each car fits snugly inside, making stowing this set a breeze.
What’s cool is that it’s not designed to fit only Boley toys. Other brands, like Hot Wheels, will fit inside too. This toy set is 100% non-toxic and lead-free, and there’s also a satisfaction guarantee.
2. Transformers Rescue Bot Bumblebee
Best Gift for Manipulative Play
Transformers are one of those things that just never go out of fashion. Dads will probably love this one, thanks to its nostalgia. Little ones enjoy Transformers just as much as we do.
This 10-inch Bumblebee transforms between robot, megabot, and vehicle form. He also comes with two convertible pets that can attach to him in either mode. It’s like having three different toys.
To top it off, this toy produces lights and sounds to take it up a notch. Your 4-year-old will be roughhousing Transformer-style in no time.
3. Joyin Alphabet Transforming Robots
Fun Educational Toy
Your boy is now at the age where learning starts to take off, so educational play is important. This toy set is such a great idea. It’s simple, effective, and promises to combine learning and fun with ease.
This STEM toy set includes all 26 letters, and each transforms into a different robot. If that’s not enough, you can combine the Alphabots to create three even bigger, cooler robots.
This toy has gone above and beyond, promoting learning through play. With a little creativity, this education can go a long way.
4. Fisher-Price Batbot Xtreme
Favorite Superhero Toy
All boys love Batman, right? I don’t think you can go wrong with this one. To start with, this gigantic toy (over 2 feet tall) will get your boy excited.
It includes a little Batman character, a Batcycle, and the Batbot. The Batbot comes in two modes: normal and battle mode. In the latter, the bot’s wings and fists extend so your boy can handle it.
He can also be its voice with the cool built-in voice changer. Perhaps its most impressive feature is the 3-foot wingspan. It even fires projectiles and has an elevator for the Batman figure.
5. Rolly CAT Construction Ride-On Digger
Best Sandbox Toy
Here’s another one for boys who are endlessly fascinated by motors. Our boys love this CAT digger. And we love how ride-on toys are great for the imagination. They also develop your child’s sense of spatial reasoning and coordination.
This toy offers a lot of entertainment value. It comes with a functional and realistic dual-action lever and a scooping bucket. The shovel is fully rotational.
The wheels have extra grip for safety, and you can use this life-like toy to dig up dirt, sand, and even snow.
6. Windy City Novelties Light-up Walking Dinosaur
Best Dino Toy for 4-Year-Olds
The only thing better than a dinosaur is a robotic dinosaur. This toy might not be the shiniest, most sophisticated robot out there, but it wins in its simplicity.
Your 4-year-old will be highly entertained with the LED lights that light up its scales, eyes, and mouth in red, blue, and green. It also roars (as dinosaurs should) and is easily toggled on and off.
This toy is 6 inches in height and 12 inches in length. And it comes with batteries, which is always a bonus.
7. Melissa & Doug Dinosaur Wooden Stamp Set
Best Gift for Open-Ended Crafting
If your son is a dino fan, he might adore these colorful dinosaur stamps.
This art set includes eight dinosaur stamps, two ink pads (red and blue), and five colored pencils. It’s a sure way to promote your boy’s creativity. Stamps like these also encourage fine motor development.
The ink is washable, so you don’t have to worry, and everything in the set fits into a handy wooden storage box.
8. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar
Best Coding Toy for 4-Year-Old Boys
Coding toys for young boys can be quite a challenge to find, but this toy is a fantastic start.
Connect this little guy’s segments to control the direction he moves in. The aim is to get him from start to finish. It’s an excellent way to develop your boy’s problem-solving ability — it also helps that some building is involved.
The Code-a-Pillar has a motorized head and eight segments that are easy to attach and dismantle. It also lights up and has built-in sounds and blinking eyes — it’s quite the interactive toy.
9. Magblock 3D Magnet Building Tiles
Best STEM Building Set
STEM toys and gifts are great for both boys and girls. They are fun and educational.
This STEM toy not only encourages critical thinking but also assists with spelling, vocabulary, and imagination.
This play set contains 120 magnetic building pieces of varying shapes, including window frames, doors, gate pieces, and two car bases. It’s colorful and fun, and magnets are always fascinating to experiment with. You’ll probably have as much fun with this as your boy will.
10. Melissa & Doug Jumbo Cardboard Building Blocks
Simple Building
Who’d have thought cardboard toys would sell so well in this modern age? You’d be surprised at how innovative this simple idea is. It’s such a fun way to get your 4-year-old to play actively.
There’s not much to it. Your boy can use these giant cardboard blocks to build whatever his heart desires.
The set contains 40 colorful corrugated cardboard blocks of three varying sizes. This product has a 100% quality guarantee.
11. Mega Bloks First Builders
Foundation for Fun
This set of Mega Bloks is our favorite starter block set. It includes 28 multi-colored bricks, a wheeled piece for building vehicles, and a convenient table you can use as a base. The table legs fold in for easy storage or floor-play, and they snap right back into place when it’s time to play again.
These blocks develop fine motor skills, cognitive ability, and imagination.
12. Lego Juniors City Central Airport
Best Overall Lego Set
You didn’t think I’d exclude Lego from this list, did you? Lego is legendary, and with good reason. While you can save money buying alternative brands to their bricks, their play sets are one-of-a-kind and are well worth the investment.
This airport toy set is sure to captivate your little boy. It has a lot of detail and will keep them busy for ages. The set includes a functional conveyor belt, two planes, five Minifigures, and a total of 376 pieces — just the right amount to occupy a 4-year-old for a while without overwhelming them.
Once the set is built, your boy will love creating scenes and stories for more play.
13. Lego Star Wars Starfighter
Best Star Wars Lego Set
We couldn’t resist adding the Star Wars Rebel A-Wing Starfighter. Boys — regardless of whether they’re Star Wars fans — will have a great time building this set.
It comes with 62 pieces, making it a quick build, and includes two characters — a pilot and the beloved C-3PO. This set also includes a detailed instructional guide to help your child build the set so they can begin their intergalactic battles.
It’s age-appropriate for 4-year-old boys, but grown-ups can have fun with it too.
14. Selieve Walkie Talkies
Best Social Toy
These radios are great for imaginative and pretend play. Using these walkie-talkies, your boy and his friends can pretend to be cops, spies, pilots, Formula One drivers, and a whole lot more. These walkie-talkies look like simple toys, but their coverage can span three miles.
They also have a built-in LED flashlight for nighttime adventures and an earphone jack for when your boy needs more stealth. This set is voice-activated too. They could be fun for the whole family!
15. PlayMonster Wonder Crew Superhero Buddy
Best Doll for Boys
Dolls aren’t just for girls, but too many people still view them as girly toys. However, this one could break that norm.
The Superhero Buddy is a cross between an action figure and a stuffed doll. The creator, a therapist and mom, developed this line of toys to develop imagination and emotional capacity.
Buddy is a 15-inch vinyl doll that comes with a matching cape and mask for your son.
This toy won the TOTY “Doll of the Year” title in 2018.
16. Hasbro Spider-Man Action Figure
Great Power, Great Fun
You can’t go wrong with classic action figures for boys. Everyone likes Spiderman, and boys will love this model of him.
He stands 12 inches tall and has movable ball joints in his arms and legs. He’ll even say a few heroic words if you’re willing to splurge a little extra on the FX expansion pack.
This is just one in a series of collectibles. So if your son is a Marvel fan, this is an excellent place to start.
17. Little Tikes Jump ‘n Slide Bounce House
Best for Movement
Admit it. Adults dream of bounce houses in the backyard just as much as kids do. They’re colorful and exciting, and they get your blood pumping. What a fun way to keep your child active.
This model takes up a bit of room, but it’s worth it if you have the space. The mesh walls will keep your little one safe as they bounce, and it’s made from puncture-resistant material.
We love the durability of this bouncer. Our family has been using ours for over six years, with more than just a little rough play taking place in it, and it’s still going strong.
The bouncy house anchors to the ground with tent pegs to keep it sturdy even on windy days. The package includes the bounce house, a heavy-duty blower, a repair kit, and a storage bag for keeping it all contained when not in use. It can hold up to 250 pounds.
18. Little Tikes Easy Score Soccer Set
Outdoor Soccer Fun
Like many other toys on this list, a soccer ball is underrated. It keeps kids fit and develops their coordination and motor skills, among other things.
This set has everything you need for outdoor play. It’s colorful and easy to set up or disassemble, and the net height is adjustable. This set includes the goalpost, one ball, and a pump.
19. ToyVelt STEM Workbench and Tools
Best All-Inclusive Tool Set
Here’s a toolset that’s fantastic for imaginative play and works on your child’s concentration and cognitive abilities. It’s a STEM toy that will give them an early start to becoming a building genius.
The set contains a whopping 68 realistic and functional pieces. It includes an array of nuts and screws, a hammer, a saw, a vest, and a battery-operated drill (every boy’s favorite piece).
This workbench and all its pieces fit into a carrying case, making storage and travel a snap. Your little worker will be taking house calls in no time.
20. Fun Little Toys Wooden Tool Box Set
Best Wooden Tool Set
All boys love toolboxes, right? Now you can keep your little one away from dad’s by getting him his own adorable set.
This handy set contains 43 wooden tools, including a hammer, wrench, screwdriver, saw, nuts and bolts, and even a sweet little ruler. They all come in a handy wooden storage box to save you space when it comes to clean-up time.
Each piece is made from durable basswood and pine and is safe for kids.
21. Melissa & Doug Building Blocks Set
Best Wooden Building Blocks
In this modern age, wooden toys have become vastly underrated, but we love their durability and how they push kids to use their imaginations. This set has 100 pieces in four colors and nine shapes. The blocks are durable but light and safe for kids to play with.
Building with these blocks can inspire imagination and develop coordination and motor skills. The set also comes with a 100% quality guarantee. Melissa & Doug is a well-reputed brand for a reason — you probably won’t regret this option.
22. Stoie's Musical Instrument Set
Musical Genius
Music is important to kids, so if you can say goodbye to peace and quiet just for a short while, this is an excellent developmental choice.
As your boy plays the instruments, they will play on his motor skills, rhythm, and confidence. The set includes a xylophone, maracas, shakers, a tambourine, a harmonica, and more. It has 19 pieces in total, so your boy won’t get bored easily. Why not join him and start a family band?
It also includes a backpack that everything fits into snugly.
23. ImpiriLux Rocket Ship Tent Playhouse
Best Play Tent for Boys
My friend’s boy has a tent that he loves with his whole heart. I get the feeling that when he crawls inside it, it’s like he has entered a whole new world. Tents like this one are excellent tools for allowing them to pretend-play freely.
This tent’s design is wonderful and will catch your 4-year-old’s attention. If your son is going through an outer-space phase, this tent will be a big hit.
It’s easy to set up, is waterproof, and can fit up to three kids at a time. It also comes with a full satisfaction guarantee.
24. Wind Up Chatter Teeth
Silly & Smile-Inducing
These chattering teeth are so simple and ridiculous but funny at the same time. There’s not much to them; simply wind them up and watch them chatter away while they do a funny dance.
These things are pointless, but I have seen with my own eyes how entertaining they are for little boys. A bonus here is that they’re super affordable. If you’re working on a budget, this seven-pack will go a long way, and they’re also great for party favors.
25. BathBlocks Floating Airport
Best Bath Toy
This unique bath toy set adds so much fun to bathtime play while being innovative and creative. These floatable little guys take foam building blocks to the next level.
As if seeing this airport float wasn’t fun enough, you can design it any way you like. Kids can even stick the blocks to walls when they’re wet.
Your son can learn more about geometry, patterns, and cause and effect. Furthermore, they are resistant to mold and mildew, which is essential for bath toys.
Developmental Milestones for 4-Year-Olds
These age-categorized points describe the expected capabilities of a growing child (1).
By age 4, most boys should be able to do the following (2):
- Physical: Hop, balance on one leg, walk up and down stairs, kick, throw and catch a ball, walk backward.
- Communication: Understand simple grammar, speak in sentences of five or more words, communicate coherently, tell stories.
- Fine motor: Use scissors, copy letters and shapes, draw a person with at least two body parts.
- Cognitive: Identify colors, understand counting, identify a few numbers, have a linear point of view, follow three-part instructions.
- Emotional: Want to try new things, play with other children, pretend to be parents, negotiate, have a sense of independence and identity.
How to Choose Toys for a 4-Year-Old Boy
Generally speaking, toys that fit into the developmental milestones of a 4-year-old will be suitable for boys of this age. You don’t want to give them anything too challenging, physically or intellectually. At the same time, something too simple may bore them quickly.
These are some of the age-appropriate toys we looked for when creating this guide (3):
- Hands-on toys: Play-Doh, puzzles, puppets, building blocks, and car or train sets.
- Simple board games: Although 4-year-olds are capable of playing nice, they haven’t quite learned strategy or playing by rules. Simple games are a great way to teach them cooperation and turn-taking.
- Creative toys: Basic art supplies and musical instruments are suitable for 4-year-olds. They’ll also develop their fine motor skills and confidence.
- Ride-on toys: These are always exciting, especially for 4-year-old boys. Ensure you’ve taken acceptable safety precautions, like having supervision and protective gear.
- Fantasy toys: These don’t only include costumes. Anything that sparks your child’s imagination (like figurines or props) will do.
- Adventure, outdoor, or athletic toys: 4-year-old boys usually have loads of energy, so anything that keeps them active is great. If sports aren’t their thing, toys that allow them to explore will also be a hit.