The Best Toys for 4-Year-Olds That Are Educational and Engaging

B. toys by Battat B. Pet Vet

5

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The Pet Vet Kit encourages imaginative play while introducing core concepts like animal care and responsibility. The brightly-colored set includes a clinic, two plush pet patients, and plastic medical instruments like a stethoscope, syringe, and thermometer. 

The clinic, which has a fold-out exam table and four consultation rooms, acts as a storage container for the included accessories and has a built-in handle for portability. Our tester loved features like the keys that secure the doors and help promote the development of hand-eye coordination. 

Through play, kids will become familiar with the various tools a vet uses on pets by performing check-ups on the cat and dog toys that come with the set. While the exam rooms are small, kids can use the medical instruments on any animal in their toy menagerie.

WowWee Baby Shark's Big Show! Shark House Playset

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Enter the world of Baby Shark with this interactive and adorable play set! Four-year-olds can have Baby Shark slide down the slide, swing with friends, or jam out to songs with the included karaoke machine. The included 25 pieces, sounds, and light-up parts leaves tons of room for imaginative play.

BravoKids LCD Writing Tablet

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Four-year-olds can foster their creativity and release their inner artist with this mess-free tablet that can be used anywhere. Little hands can practice numbers, letters, colors, and more with the stylus or draw and color as they please without wasting paper or making a mess with paints or crayons. Bring the tablet on the go during long road trips or running errands to keep toddlers entertained and engaged for hours.

Just Play Blue's Clues & You! Check-Up Time Blue

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Blue needs a checkup, and your 4-year-old can come to the rescue with this interactive plush of the iconic character. Toddlers can listen to Blue's heartbeat, take her temperature, give her medicine, and talk to her to make her feel better. The doctors in training can learn more about taking care of animals during hours and hours of engaging and educational play.

Crayola Table Top Easel Art Case for Kids

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Whether the little one in your life has a knack for creativity or just wants to experiment with art, Crayola's Table Top Easel Art Case is a great option. The set is fully equipped with all of the essentials that'll make it easy for kids to create a masterpiece.

The case includes an assortment of paints and painting tools, as well as paper and a storage case. There's also a built-in double-sided easel, so it's easy to use if your little one wants to paint with a sibling or friend as well.

Yookidoo Submarine Spray Station

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This submarine spray station will have them begging to stay in for some serious splashing fun. The battery-operated toy (four AA batteries are required but not included) attaches to the tub. Water comes in through the submarine and is circulated up through the diver shower head, which can then be sprayed into two funnels that produce fun, mesmerizing effects with spinning wheels, fountains, and googly eyes.

Playmobil Large City Zoo

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Playmobil's Large City Zoo is a great option if you're looking for an activity that'll entertain the whole family. The 213-piece set allows users to explore the zoo and learn about different species around the world with ease.

Ideal for ages 4 and up, the set includes six figures, a selection of animals, and tons of other accessories to enhance the experience. From walking the penguin habitat to viewing giraffes, all you and your little one have to do is grab and map begin the adventure.

Peaceable Kingdom Alphabet Bingo!

3.8

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This is Bingo, but with a twist. Instead of a caller shouting out numbers, players reach into a bag and pull out a letter. If the letters are on their card, they mark them. Once someone gets four in a row, they should “Bingo!” and win.

Each space on the cards has a picture of something that starts with the letter. For example “F” has a flower and “O” has an owl, so not only is the game great for teaching letter recognition, but it helps with letter sounds as well.

Melissa & Doug My Magnetic Daily Calendar

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If you are looking for one of the best functional toys for a 4-year-old, look no further than this magnetic calendar. Here your child will learn more about the days of the week, seasons, months, holidays, temperature, and more. Besides being a fun way to teach your child, it also helps set up a daily routine for them, so they know what to expect every day.

Educational Insights Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Pick-It-Up Truck

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This innovative set comes with an operational drill. Of course, it's low speed and plastic, so while your child should always be supervised using it, it's intended for children. It also features a truck, wheels, bolts, and two toy figures. Kids can even use the drill to operate the truck's arm.

HABA Little Friends Vacation Camper Play Set

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Even if you can't physically take your little one camping, this play set will kinda make it feel like the real thing. The set includes a vehicle, camper, two chairs, and a toy figure. The camper door opens and closes and the awning is even detachable.

VTech LeapFrog Scoop & Learn Ice Cream Cart

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Kids can play ice cream scooper as they serve up delicious treats for their friends, family, and stuffed animals. It comes with four flavors of ice cream, three toppings, three flavors of syrup, and six order cards. There’s even a bell to let people know they’re coming or that their order is up. The cart also plays music and features more than 200 fun phrases.

Basic Fun Cutetitos

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Kids can't get enough of mystery toys, and the Cutetitos are yet another example of the trend. Hidden in each sealed bag is a cuddly stuffed animal wrapped in a soft blanket that's meant to look like—you guessed it—a burrito. The 12 animals include Chihuahito, Catito, Puppito, Sealito, Pigito, Walrusito, and more. Each one also comes with a collector's card listing its name, birthday, and species.

Magna Tiles Magna-Tiles 32-Piece Solid Colors Set

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These transparent, multi-color magnetic building tiles are something your children will likely play with well into the tween years, with the structures getting increasingly complicated. The 32-piece set comes with a mix of two sizes of squares and three types of triangles, but you'll likely want to spring for an additional set to cut down on sibling squabbles and increase the design possibilities. 

Llama Llama Red Pajama

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Some classics are, well, classics for a reason. They're just forever timeless. And that's why Llama Llama is a great read. The book revolves around Baby Llama who just needs mama's reassurance during bedtime. Kids will love the illustrations all while learning about comfort and patience.

Micro Kickboard Micro Mini Original

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Featuring a "lean-to steer" design, this lightweight, durable scooter means that kids will need to shift their weight right or left into turns. It's suitable for children up to 44 pounds, and the three-wheel profile and low, flexible deck help kids feel stable from that first push-off.

USA Toyz Glow Race Tracks

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The only thing cooler than a race track is a race track that also glows in the dark. This one comes with 360 pieces in a rainbow of colors, two light-up LED cars, two balls (they can get pushed by the cars during races), and fun touches like a suspension bridge, gas station, and road signs.

Think Fun Zingo

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Zingo features a "Zinger" box that kids can take turns pushing, and when they do, two tiles pop out. The tiles all have familiar words like "shoe" or "clock," with corresponding pictures for the kids who can't read yet.

Each child gets a bingo-like card with nine squares, and as the tiles show up, they can grab one if it matches a square on their board. As with bingo, the kid who fills their card first wins.