Best toys for 4 year olds 2024, tried and tested by parents and children
We've trialled and tested toys for 4 year old boys and girls, from educational and role playing toys to outdoor and wooden toys.
When buying toys for your child, you always want to find something that benefits their development, while also bringing plenty of fun and laughter.
According to our Helen Brown, author of Parenting for Dummies, this is the time when your child is developing "greater self-control and ingenuity, and much higher degree of empathy – wanting to be a 'helper' or comfort those who are sad. They enjoy playing with other children their age, especially play where they can pretend to be grown-ups, TV characters or superheroes and act out imaginary scenarios."
Related: MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024: Winners revealed!
She adds: "At 4, your child's pretend play is getting more and more complex. As well as being a way to try on different roles, like doctor or astronaut or teacher or rock star, make-believe play – with playsets and child-size replicas of household objects – is also a way to act out emotions and explore feelings."
Finally it's a time when your child's finger dexterity and hand-eye coordination is much improved which means: "they can do more complex puzzles and art or craft activities, and play with toys that have smaller parts."
So, with all that in mind, whether you're looking for something imaginative, educational, or just plain fun, here's the best toys for 4 year olds.
Best toys for 4 year olds at a glance
Best interactive toys for 4 year olds
- L.O.L Surprise Magic Flyers,
£36.99£19.99 - L.O.L. Surprise! Tweens Costume Surprise,
£29.99£19.99 - Thomas & Friends Talking Cranky Delivery Train Set,
£59.99£51.99 - Pets Alive Mama Duck & Baby Surprise,
£29.99£23.99 - Polly Pocket Pollyville Resort Roll Away Playset,
£59.99 £39.99 - Toniebox, £79.95
- Yoto Player, £89.99
- Goo Jit Zu Hero Creator Pack,
£19.99£16.99 - The Gross Bucket,
£29.99£24.99 - Daisy The Yoga Goat, £50
Best educational toys for 4 year olds
- Learning Resources Space Rover, £54
- Kid K'NEX Oodles of Pals, £31.99
- Spotty Sausage Dogs, £11.93
- PlayHouse - Play Tray Sea and Dino Set,
£64.99£44.99
Best role play toys for 4 year olds
- Barbie Dreamhouse Playset,
£169.99£149.99 - Gabby’s Dollhouse Cat Friend Ship,
£50£34.99 - Octonauts Above and Beyond Octoray Playset,
£69.99£16.99 - Paw Patrol My First Guitar Paw Patrol,
£19.99£9.99 - Moana Singing Doll, £29.99
Best skills-based toys for 4 year olds
- Casdon Kenwood Mixer, £27
- Rubble & Crew Bark Yard Crane Tower, £59.99
- Smoby Gabby's Dollhouse Ice Cream Factory, £40
Best budget toys for 4 year olds
- Galt Velvet Picture Animals, £5.49
- WWF Wild Scenes Tiger's Hang Out, £9.99
- Animigos World of Nature Guinea Pig, £11
Jump to:
- Best interactive toys for 4 year olds
- Best educational toys for 4 year olds
- Best role play toys for 4 year olds
- Best skills-based toys for 4 year olds
- Best budget toys for 4 year olds
What are the best toys for 4 year olds?
Best interactive toys for 4 year olds
1. L.O.L Surprise Magic Flyers, £36.99
Available at: Amazon, Argos and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4| Size: 10.16cm x 20.32cm x 22.86cm | Batteries: 3 x Lithium Polymer batteries (included)
The L.O.L. Surprise Magic Flyer is a fairy doll that will fly out of its case and spin up in the air by itself. Each L.O.L Surprise Magic Flyer comes in (reusable) bottle-shaped packaging. To activate the unboxing sequence, you child taps the logo, the bottle then shakes, rocks, and lights up before opening to reveal a L.O.L Surprise Doll that flies out of the packaging. The flight is then hand guided, meaning when your child holds their hand underneath the feet of the Magic Flyer the doll goes higher into the air. The doll will land by itself once finished, and it can be put back into the bottle to be "unboxed" as many times as you like.
I really like the way it flies because it flies really high and it’s really cool to watch. It’s really exciting to see how it hatches out the heart and it starts shaking before it starts flying out with its wings.
2. L.O.L. Surprise! Tweens Costume Surprise, £29.99
Available at: The Entertainer and Bargain Max
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4| Batteries: 4 x AA (included)
This one is all about the unboxing. As soon as you tear open the package, the inflating process begins as a mysterious shape begins to grow, you can then pop it open to reveal a surprise L.O.L Tween with their own inflatable pet. There are 4 pets to collect including a puppy, a kitten and a bunny, plus the L.O.L Dolls in their iconic costumes.
I really, really love how the dog has purple and pink hair, and how it blew up – that was my favourite part. I like the doll because it has blue eyes like me. Yes, I would play with it again.
3. Thomas & Friends Talking Cranky Delivery Train Set, £59.99
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3 | Size: 69.3cm x 132.7cm x 50.5cm | Batteries: None
Bring Brendam Docks to life with this Thomas & Friends motorised train and track set that includes songs, railway sounds, and real character phrases from the Thomas & Friends: All Engines Go! series. The set includes 14.5 feet of track which Thomas can travel around, whileCranky the Crane can spin 360 degrees and help to load and unload cargo. In a move that will delight all fans of the show, the characters recognise and talk to each other on the tracks. There are also 325+ songs, sounds and phrases to soundtrack kids’ imaginative play.
My favourite part is Cranky, because he can pick up things with his claw. I want to keep playing with it and get another train track to make it bigger. I want to collect all the trains. It's my favourite toy.
4. Pets Alive Mama Duck & Baby Surprise, £29.99
Available at: The Entertainer and Amazon
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4| Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
This Mama Duck is ready to hatch her own family! Inside you'll find the Mama, her nest and 4 eggs – but how many will become ducklings? Open up each egg to reveal the surprises inside, then attach your ducklings to the Mama's tail and watch them follow her around. Plus, there's a potential rare golden duckling to find.
Poppy plays with Mama Duck daily at the moment and has now put her in her bedroom. She loves to say the colours of the ducks, lines them up and counts them. She tells me she loves Mama Duck because she is ‘so soft and cute’ and ‘loves her singing’
5. Polly Pocket Pollyville Resort Roll Away Playset, £59.99
Available at: Very, Argos and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: H35.5cm x W28cm x D18cm | Batteries: None
The case-shaped playset opens to reveal a miniature world which holds a 3-story hotel with an elevator, an arcade, a spiral slide, and speedbumps that activate playset features. Included are four dolls, a vehicle and 25 accessories, all in tiny form. There’s also an extendable handle on the exterior of the case, meaning you can take the playset with you around the house and on the go. The Pollyville Resort Roll Away also doubles as a storage unit for Polly compacts.
Polly Pocket is one of her top toy brands and she plays with my collection from 30 years ago, so it's really special, for us both, for her to be building her own collection and enjoying toys that were so dear to me as a child.
6. Yoto Players and Tonieboxes, from £79.95
Yoto available at: Yoto and Amazon
Tonies available at: Tonie, John Lewis and Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Batteries: Rechargeable
Yoto Players and Tonieboxes are both remarkably similar and hugely popular – which is why we've decided to group them together. These players offer a brilliant screen-free solution to keeping your kids entertained. By simply inserting a Yoto Card or Tonie figure, the speaker will play the matching story, audiobook, album, science lesson, nursery rhyme, and so much more.
Both of these speakers scored highly with our testers, and we've even examined them in depth in our Yoto vs Tonies review. But for now all you need to know is that they're brightly coloured, easily portable speakers with hundreds of stories and adventures available.
7. Goo Jit Zu Hero Creator Pack, £20
Available at: Argos
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: None
You can now make your own Goo Jit Zu Hero from scratch. Simply mix water, plenty of goo and a few fish and pump it into the figure, then watch as it comes to life. Once filled, your Goo Jit Zu's body can be stretched to three times its size.
“Making it was really fun and at the end I liked that you could move all the bits that were inside it and stretch it. I like the weird noise he makes when he has liquid in him. I would play with it again and I am going to refill it again soon.”
Our child tester, 7
8. The Gross Bucket, £29.99
Available at: Hamleys and Argos
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: 3x AAA (not included)
This playset is only for the strong stomached as it features a huge range of "freaky figures" and "creepy compounds" from inside the Fast Food Fryer. From mouldy milkshakes to smelly sauce, each of the 9 compounds is certain to gross you out, and inside 8 of them is a collectible creature.
My son is 7 and he really enjoyed opening and playing with this toy. He loved that there was different slime and bath bombs, and all the various aspects to it. He enjoyed making his sisters smell the smelly sauce and seeing their reactions. He said it was the best toy ever and would definitely recommend it and said it was a 10/10.
Kirsty, mum to Theo, 7 years
9. Daisy The Yoga Goat, £50
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Batteries: 4xAA
Meet Daisy, the interactive toy goat featuring over 60 sound and motion combinations. To begin play, simply flip the switch on her belly and pet her back. Then you can hear her giggles and yoga phrases and watch as she starts to perform poses like Downward Dog (or goat I suppose). She can also perform 3 minute meditation seconds and will gurgle up the water you giver her.
Best educational toys for 4 year olds
10. Learning Resources Space Rover Deluxe Coding Activity Set, £50.29
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4 | Size: 24.99cm x 24.51cm x 8.51cm | Batteries: Yes (not included)
Looking for an out-of-this-world coding adventure? This is a screen-free set where young coders-in-training build their own maze, plot a coding path with cards, then send their rover out to grab magnetic space rocks, avoid rough terrain, and return safely back to base. The set comes with 20+ coding challenges and STEM activities for kids, outlined in a mission handbook that also contains space facts.
This toy is exciting, interactive (without screens) and excellent quality. The ability to create an endless number of unique tracks for the rover means that it will be played with for several years.
11. Kid K'NEX Oodles of Pals, £32.62
Available at: Amazon
Age: 3+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: Varies (different pieces) | Batteries: None
This construction set has 116 brightly coloured pieces from which you can make over 60 different creatures and vehicles. It includes spinning wheels, tractor scoops, big feet, googly eyes and curly tails and comes with a picture guide. The chunky pieces click together really easily and our child tester Arthur, 4 (pictured above), had a lot of fun creating "funny animals with googly eyes and horns".
12. Spotty Sausage Dogs, £10.97
Available at: Amazon and Orchard Toys
Age: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: L5cm x W19cm x H14cm (box) | Batteries: None
Who can build the sausage dog with the most spots on its tummy? This counting game comes with 40 sausage-dog cards, a spinner, 7 coloured discs and instructions. It's a fun game that's good for maths and matching skills and you can play it again (and again). We like that it has 2 different endings: 1 slightly more complicated than the other – and involving some additional colour-matching.
13. PlayHouse - Play Tray Sea and Dino Set, £64.99
Age: 3+ | Best for age: 4-6 | Batteries: None
This table set provides hours of endless creativity, with 2 themed play mats – 1 sea, 1 dinosaur – plus a sand pouch, shaping toys and minifigures.
I love the magic sand and hiding the dinosaurs inside. I had fun putting my Paw Patrol pups on top, too. The mats are really cool and I got to put the different animals – like the sea animals – on there. I can’t wait to play with it again today and tomorrow!
Best role play toys for 4 year olds
14. Barbie Dreamhouse Playset, £169.99
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Size: L157cm x W70.1cm x H114.3xm | Batteries: 3 x AA (not included)
Host the ultimate Barbie pool party with the iconic deluxe Barbie Dreamhouse. Discover an incredibly spacious floorplan with 3 levels, 10 different play areas, integrated lights and sounds, a working lift, a 3-storey spiral slide and over 75 accessories and customisable spaces. There’s also a puppy figure included with plenty of pet-friendly features such as a doggie door, pet elevator and pet slide and pool.
I've never seen my daughter so excited for a new toy and it really is a Dream House. She has been playing with it every day since it arrived. It offers endless opportunities and hours of imaginative play so overall I personally think it is an amazing playset.
15. Gabby’s Dollhouse Cat Friend Ship, £50
Available at: Amazon, Argos and The Entertainer
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: L47.3cm x W16.5cm x H29.8cm | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
For fans of Gabby's Dollhouse, this latest addition to the range takes Gabby and her cats out onto the ocean for a sea adventure. The cruise ship comes with 18 pieces, including a pool with a smoothie bar and a photobooth. It also comes with Gabby and MerCat figures, and there's also one extra Dollhouse Delivery accessory to open – just like Gabby does at the beginning of the show.
Freya was so excited to open and play with this and wasn't disappointed. She especially loved the colour changing pool and the portholes which can be turned to show different times of day so she could put the characters to bed.
16. Octonauts Above and Beyond Octoray Playset, £69.99
Available at: Amazon and Argos
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: L14cm x W52cm x H39cm (in HQ mode) | Batteries: 3 x AAA (included)
This sturdy playset on wheels transforms from the Octoray jet transporter (pictured above, right) into a big Octonauts HQ (pictured with our child tester Ethan, 4, above left) with a drop-down ramp, working lift, lights and sounds. It comes with Captain Barnacle, a detachable Mini-Ray for him to fly off in on his adventures, 3 creature figures (Chinese Sturgeon, Giant Salamander and Panda) and a mission card, so there's plenty of fun to be had.
I think this toy has a vast amount of play potential. My little boy was so excited when it arrived and then he played with it all day, even carrying it up to his bedroom when it was time for sleep! It inspires such open-ended imaginative play.
17. Paw Patrol My First Guitar Paw Patrol, £19.99
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: L52cm x W17cm x H5cm | Batteries: None
This fun and lightweight guitar is perfect for your budding musician. Made from plastic and with six nylon strings, it's easy to hold and play and can help your child take their first steps into the world of music. Ideal for both encouraging pretend play and improving dexterity, it also comes with an introductory guide to help them learn the basics of tuning and chords. Plus, it has a colourful design featuring your favourite members of the Paw Patrol: Chase, Marshall and Skye.
The guitar is really well made, it is sturdy enough for rough housing toddler who likes to pretend she is in a rock band jumping around! The strings are thick enough it doesn’t feel they would snap easily, again great for toddler use.
18. Moana Singing Doll, £29.99
Available at: Hamleys
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 4+| Batteries: None
Before heading off to watch Moana 2 in cinemas, why not treat your child to this singing doll version? The heroic, wayfinding princess is wearing a brand-new red and white dress, complete with sea glass necklace and flower crown, plus, if you press her torso, she'll sing the song "We're Back" from the upcoming film.
Best skills-based toys for 4 year olds
19. Casdon Kenwood Mixer, £24.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: L26cm x W15.5cm x H19.5 | Batteries: 2 x AA (not included)
Baking is always a hit with kids, and this mini version of the iconic Kenwood mixer has a real mixing action for realistic play and even bona fide baking. It also comes with a ‘K’ beater, whisk and spatula. The battery-operated motor has 2 speeds (it can also be operated by hand using a lever) and the mixer arm also lifts up like on the real thing.
It's just like a grown-up cake mixer.
20. Paw Patrol Rubble & Crew Crane Tower Playset, £59.99
Available at: John Lewis and Very
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 3+ | Batteries: 3 x AAA (not included)
This set is a must for fans of construction and Paw Patrol. At 60cm high it has so many cool features like a working claw attachment, a compound moulding area, a lift and more. The set also comes with a Kinetic Sand, a toy bulldozer, construction toys, and a Rubble action figure in his iconic construction uniform. Perfect for imaginative play and unlocking fine motor skills, it was a hit with testers.
Oliver has really enjoyed playing with this toy. He loves Paw Patrol and Rubble, and loves the moving parts and the sounds that it makes. He really likes that the moving parts that hold the Rubble figure actually hold the figure in place, and it doesn't just fall off if when moving around.
21. Smoby Gabby's Dollhouse Ice Cream Factory, £50
Available at: Argos
Age suitability: 3+ | Best for age: 4+ Batteries: 2 x AA (not included)
This epic colourful ice cream maker is not only a part of the Gabby's Dollhouse universe, but it also comes with 20 accessories, including an ice cream maker, waffle iron, sauces and so much more.
My daughter has really enjoyed this toy and particularly enjoyed constructing it and adding the stickers, that is definitely where she was the most excited. I definitely think she will keep coming back to it and will play with this lots over the years, she has very much enjoyed making us all ice creams!
Best budget toys for 4 year olds
22. Galt Velvet Picture Animals, £2.99
Available at: Amazon
Age: 4+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: L21cm x W14cm x H1cm | Batteries: None
In this little spiral-bound pad, there are 10 cheery animal pictures, set on a velvet background, for your little artist to colour in. The way the images are set on the velvet means that, if your child goes over the lines, it won't show.
23. WWF Wild Scenes Tiger's Hang Out, £12.99
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 4+ | Best for age: 4 | Size: 13cm x 11.2cm x 12.5cm| Batteries: None
Help a child grow a habitat for tigers using real grass seeds. WWF Wild Scenes are made with 100% recycled plastic and aim to teach kids about growing and nurturing plants, as well as safeguarding endangered wildlife species. It also includes a tiger-friendly miniature play habitat complete with a shady tree canopy. Using the seeds that are included with the pack, kids can grow and nurture their own grass in the habitat (you will need to source your own soil though). While some patience is required with this toy while you wait for the grass to grass to grow, two toy tigers are included that you can play with in and out of the set.
My child was very interested in playing with it, planting the seeds, and checking to see if they had grown. As a parent I like the educational side of this toy.
24. Animigos World of Nature Guinea Pig, £13.40
Available at: Amazon
Age suitability: 0+ | Best for age: 4+ | Size: 20cm | Batteries: None
Calling all animal lovers! Fans of small furry creatures will love to add Animigos World of Nature Black and White Guinea Pig to their toy collection, as it’s a replica soft toy guinea pig that, at 20cm, is identical to the real thing in size and shape. As well as being a soft and cuddly companion that’s easy to carry around the house, the Guinea Pig is designed to help inform kids about wildlife and teach them about looking after pets before you invest in the real thing. It comes with a booklet filled with information about guinea pigs, which is a great way for fact fans to learn all about their favourite animal.
She has managed to involve it in ALL play and taken it to bed with her. It's been stuck under her arm since she opened it! It's very lifelike so great for role play as well as being a comforter.
How to choose toys safely
- Look for the CE symbol as this is used by manufacturers to show the toy meets all the relevant regulatory requirements
- Also keep an eye out for the British Toy and Hobby Association's (BTHA) 'Lion Mark' – although this is voluntary it means that the toy has to meet safety requirements to be a member
- Pay attention to the age suitability of the toy
- Avoid toys with loose fabric, hair that sheds easily or small parts that detach easily as these can be a choking hazard
- Check toys over time for sharp points or edges. If they have become dangerously worn considering getting rid of them or having them repaired if possible
We've got more top tested and rated toys here...
Authors
Gemma has two decades of experience in digital content. She is mum to a preschooler, and aunt to 4 children 5 and under. She is particularly passionate about sleep (for babies and parents) and loves testing out gadgets, technology and innovation in the parenting world.
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