The 24 Best Toys for 4-Year-Old Boys of 2023

Best Toys for Four-Year-Old Boys — Verywell / Sabrina Jiang

At 4 years old, your child may have many specific interests that he can play with for hours at a time. By this age, children should still be developing important milestones, like engaging in pretend or collaborative play. You want toys that are developmentally appropriate, fun, and fit your budget.

To get started, consider your kiddo's interests and watch those age recommendations for safety purposes. Whether your budget is on the lowfiner end or you're able to splurge, there's something here he will love. We carefully considered value, design, toy safety, and any age recommendations when reviewing products.

Here are the best toys for the 4-year-old boy in your life.

Our Top Picks

Selieve Walkie-Talkie Set at Amazon

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Tender Leaf Toys Doctor and Nurse Set at Amazon

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Joystar Totem Kids Bike at Amazon

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Prextex Police Car and Race Car Radio Control Toys at Amazon

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Obuby Sprinkle & Splash Play Mat at Amazon

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GLM Brands Kidtastic Dinosaur at Amazon

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Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot Matching Game at Amazon

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Tender Leaf Toys Tool Bench Set at Amazon

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Little Tikes TotSports T-Ball Set at Amazon

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Melissa & Doug Wooden Grocery Store at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
Why Trust Verywell Family

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Walkie talkies never get old, even with today's advanced technology, and that's why the Selieve Walkie Talkie Set ranks so high on our list. This pair can transmit up to 3 miles in a nature setting and 1 mile in a residential area, so his best bud down the street can have the second unit.

They are small, making them the right size for little hands, and have an easy-to-push button to activate. Each handset has a built-in flashlight, a light-up screen, and requires four AAA batteries.

Price at time of publication: $36

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For the medical hero in training, this doctor and nurse kit comes with all the essentials for taking care of someone, including a bandage, stethoscope, thermometer, syringe, a bottle of medicine, a tube of cream, scissors, a heart, a hat, and a canvas bag to store it in. The toys are made from rubberwood and are best for kids 3 years old and up.

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If you are looking for the wow factor when gifting the 4-year-old in your life, a bike might be their favorite toy to date. Children typically learn to ride a bike between the ages of 3 and 8, so 4 years old is a great way to get an early start.

This model comes in different frame sizes to suit their age and height. The adjustable seat helps get a custom fit for their comfort level. Let them cruise around with training wheels for a bit, and when they are ready, take the wheels off and watch them fly.

Price at time of publication: $130

4.3

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These cartoon remote cars are great for kids as young as 3, but your 4-year-old will love them, too. The set comes with two cars, two drivers (a policeman and a race car driver), and two remote controls. They also make sounds, play music, and flash their headlights.

Great for honing kids' fine motor skills, these cars are great for any kid who is into things that move.

Price at time of publication: $35

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For the kid who can’t get enough time outside, this splash pad will keep them occupied. It’s safe for kids as young as 12 months, but it has a 68-inch diameter, so it’s definitely not a small baby toy. The mat is soft to stand on but made from durable materials so it won’t easily pop.

Price at time of publication: $14

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If he’s a fan of building and dinosaurs, this little kit will be a hit. There are over 100 parts in the box, but the dinosaurs are already put together so kids can play with them right out of the box and take them apart later (to then put them back together again).

Price at time of publication: $25

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This board game is great for kids between 4 and 8 years old because it’s collaborative and helps teach strategy, taking turns, and working as a team. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun! The game can be played with as little as 2 or as many as 4 players, so it's great for a family game night.

Price at time of publication: $16

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Boys who love a good DIY project can start to practice their skills with this toy bench that is great for kids 3 years old and up. It stands just under 28 inches tall and has 18 pieces, including saws, screws, a toolbox, a hammer, wrench, and more.

Price at time of publication: $163

4.7

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It doesn’t get much more classic than this toy T-ball set. You can adjust the height of the tee to fit your child, and it is designed with a hole on the base for easy hanging storage. The set comes with the tee, bat, and five balls. This set is best for kids between 18 months and 6 years old.

Price at time of publication: $20

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Your kiddo can open up their own little grocery store with this checkout lane that comes with a moving conveyor belt (hand-cranked), scanner, cash drawer, credit card machine, and bagging area. It also has plenty of shelving space to display items for “sale.”

Price at time of publication: $249

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This double-sided easel is great for families with kids 3 years old and up that don’t have a lot of floor space to spare because it sits on top of a table. One side of the easel is a whiteboard, and the other is a chalkboard. There is a spool of paper that you can tear off for coloring. It comes with magnets, chalk, a dry-erase marker, and an eraser.

Price at time of publication: $55

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Dinosaur lovers will have a ton of fun with this kit that comes with nine dinosaur figurines, a mat, and a carrying case. The mat measures 31.5 inches x 27.6 inches, leaving plenty of room to invite friends to play. The carrying case fits all the figurines and the mat (folded up) and has a handle so your kiddo can transport it easily.

Price at time of publication: $36

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This kit comes with eight books and one “Me Reader” which reads the stories to your child (much like old-school books on tape). Each button on the reader has a color and shape which corresponds with a page in the books so your child can read along and work on their colors, shapes, and matching skills. These books are best for kids between 3 and 7 years old.

Price at time of publication: $33

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This is basically the dream table for kids 3 years old and up who like to play with trains or build blocks. It has jumbo drawers that pull out and have enough space to store their big toys. The top of the table is large enough for multiple kids to play around it, whether together or separate.

Price at time of publication: $195

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This game is fun and educational, the best combo! It’s best for kids between pre-K and 1st grade who are working on learning sight words for reading. Instructions are easy to follow, and the game can be played with two to six people.

Price at time of publication: $22

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If you have a little fan of cars and trucks on your hands, this is the toy for them. The flatbed truck has a crane with a magnet attached that allows it to lift the cars up and place them nicely on tracks. The kit comes with one truck and four cars and is perfect for kids between 3 and 6 years old.

Price at time of publication: $25

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This kit comes with 110 pieces and is safe for kids 3 years old and up who love to build but are a little burned out from their LEGOs. Each tile has magnets along its perimeter which allows your kid to build 3D towers, buildings, and whatever else they can dream up.

Price at time of publication: $130

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This little construction worker costume is made for kids between 3 and 6 years old, which means your 4-year-old is the perfect age to enjoy a game of pretend with it. The set comes with a hard hat, orange vest, tool belt, safety goggles, and tools.

Price at time of publication: $22

4.2

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Whether they have a fascination with physics or just need to get some aggression out by stomping, this toy is for them.

It’s a solo-play game with a rocket launcher that’s powered by your kid jumping on a pad (which forces air to the launcher); the harder they jump, the higher the rockets will go. Each pack comes with the launcher and four rockets.

Price at time of publication: $17

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You get two games in one with this pack that comes with Let’s Go Fishin’ and Go Fish. The card set has everything you need to play the legendary card game, and Let’s Go Fishin’ comes with 21 colorful fish who rotate around, opening and closing their mouths, while up to four people (4 years old and up) try to catch them with little fishing poles.

Price at time of publication: $23

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At nearly 4.5 feet tall, this playhouse doubles as an adventure-filled rock ship tent. It's big enough for three kiddos to launch to space in and can be set up in just minutes. Parents and caregivers will love the lightweight zipper carry bag for easy storage and portability.

Price at time of publication: $25

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For a video game that's fun and educational, check out this video game from LeapFrog. The Gem Festival is coming up but the keys to Clever Castle are nowhere to be found, so it's up to "LeapLanders" to find the keys. Along the way, kids will learn about numbers, colors, and more.

No internet is needed for this video game, either. Simply plug in the HDMI game stick and USB plug into a television and start playing with the wireless controller.

Price at time of publication: $35

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No screens are needed for these coding critters! These adorable bunnies teach STEM concepts to preschoolers while still having fun. With 22 pieces included, children can code with their new friends in the special storybook for an adventure no one will forget. And, if your kiddo's new friends get hungry, they can even feed, pet, and take care of them.

Price at time of publication: $43

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No job's too big (literally!), including this transforming tower that stands at 3 feet tall. Based on the Paw Patrol movie, children can launch vehicles down the ramp as lights come to life for the map, badge, ramp, and more. While this is more of a splurge-worthy gift or item, the tower comes with at least a dozen pieces, like figures and clip-on backpack.

Price at time of publication: $160

Final Verdict

There is something for every interest on this list, but if you’re not sure what your favorite 4-year-old boy likes, you can't go wrong with the Hoot Owl Hoot board game (view on Amazon), Magna Tiles Metropolis Set (view on Walmart), or the Stomp Rocket (view on Amazon).

What to Look for When Buying Toys for 4-Year-Old Boys

Safety

When you’re purchasing a toy for a 4-year-old, use the age recommendations on the packaging as a guide. While you may be tempted to age up, remember that these guidelines are made for safety and usability. If the toy or game is too complicated, it likely won’t be played with.

If your 4-year-old will be riding on any vehicle like a scooter or bike, always remember a helmet. Not only should helmets be a safety requirement, starting the habit of always wearing a helmet on any vehicle is a smart and safe choice.

Milestones

At 4 years old, your kiddo will likely be meeting lots of exciting milestones. At this age, they can often show greater independence, self-control, improved reasoning, and critical thinking skills. Pediatrician Dr. Heather Shafi says, “by four years old, children are primed to learn their social relationship with others.” There are some great toy ideas that will help complement the skills they can focus on.

The Little Tikes T-Ball Set (view on Amazon) or Zingo Sight Words (view on Amazon) are both fun for different reasons. Dr. Shafi says, “4-year-olds can count and follow directions so doing sports activities and playing simple board games can be a fun family activity.”
While early reading through practice like the Spiderman Me Reader (view on Amazon) is great, “parents should not feel the need to focus on academics and flashcards,” shared Dr. Shafi. Develop a love of books, reading, and letters, and the learning will come.
Children learn through play, so this is what your kiddo should be doing. Encourage all types of play, especially those that foster independence.

Types of Play

As kids get older, they often have the skills to move from solitary or parallel play to more cooperative play. This can be through both guided activities and imaginative play. There are so many toys that promote imaginative play, like a play table, doctor’s kit, or grocery store, like the Melissa & Doug Wooden Grocery Store (view on Amazon).

“By allowing children to lead in imaginative play, such as 'house,' 'school,' or 'grocery store,' they can improve both their communication and cooperative play skills,” explains Dr. Shafi.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Ashley Ziegler is a staff and freelance writer who covers lifestyle, home, parenting, and commerce content for a variety of platforms. She’s a wife to a public school administrator, mom to 1-year-old and 3-year-old daughters. In addition to regularly scouring the internet to find the best things for herself, Ashley spends multiple hours a week researching, comparing, and writing about products specifically for kids and families.

More Toys and Gifts for Kids

When it comes to toys and gifts for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top gift and toy picks for every age and stage here: