38 Expert-Approved Toys and Gifts for 4-Year-Old Boys

This microscope is perfect for little scientists who are curious about nature. The talking microscope uses Bindi Irwin's voice and features over 100 different tidbits on plants, animals and more — they can learn about the slide in Fact Mode and test their knowledge in Quiz mode. When playtime is over, you can easily store the slides inside the microscope. Ages 4+

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A little owl tries its wing at being a brave knight — and is put to the test when he comes face-to-face with dragon. But he finds out he has more in common with his foe than he thought. “My 4-year-old learned that knights and heroes come in all shapes and sizes,” says one Good Housekeeping Institute parent tester. Ages 2 – 5

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If you're looking for a new building set, this one has long, grooved pieces that lock in with each other. The pieces are color-coded by length, so it's easy to follow along with the instructions and see how different models are built. Ages 4+

What do you get when you combine coding with cars? A fun filled game that will keep your kids entertained for hours on end. Our little testers found this toy helped explain coding in manageable bites without needing any computer science knowledge. Ages 4+

Not only is this interactive toy a Lab favorite, but it's also the best-selling globe on Amazon. With the free Orboot App, kids can develop social studies skills by learning various tidbits about different parts of the world (from animals and weather to monuments and more) by hovering their tablet each part of the globe. Ages 4+

It's all the fun of going to the car wash in a four-foot-long Hot Wheels play set that's ready to spark imaginative play. The coolest feature is that running the vehicles through the water changes the color of Color Reveal cars. Kids can move the robotic cleaning arms, but there's also a ramp, a loop and a spiral to make it a little more exciting! Ages 4+

There's so much packed into one little egg! It comes with three buildable dinosaurs, a dino vehicle, a play mat, lava slime and much more. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved digging. through the slime to retrieve all the pieces. Ages 3+

Kids use a toy, battery-operated drill to build and disassemble these playsets, getting a feel for how to take things apart and put them back together again. There are lots of different playsets, including a recycling truck, a plane, a rocket ship, a race car, a fire truck, a police motorcycle, a helicopter and a tractor for a barn set. Each one comes with two "buddies" who also act as screwdrivers. Ages 3+

You really can't beat a toy that teaches kids valuable life skills and costs less than $10. The kit includes a project book with 20 pages full of activities (think: mazes, puzzles and art) and a set of kid-safe plastic scissors. By using it regularly, it'll help your little one get acclimated to using scissors in a safe manner. Ages 4+

For a toy that works on social-emotional skills — something lots of kids can use help with these days — these bottles have all the fun of a fidget toy with a little feelings boost. Each. bottle has a different emotion and color, and the fluid goes through them in a corresponding way, and they can be used to start conversations about feelings. Ages 3+

Budding scientists will adore this kit which gives them the opportunity to create their own safe and exciting experiments while combining the excitement of magic and fun of science. Our little testers loved mixing up different experiments to do cool things like create a crystal wand or "magically" blow up a balloon. Ages 4+

Kids can experiment with mixing colors and combining shapes with this board, which illuminates his artwork as he creates it. By layering transparency sheets, they can come up with all sorts of designs. In addition to the board, it comes with three markers, 22 shape clings, and three “Complete the Scene” transparency sheets. Ages 3+

You'll be amazed — or maybe grossed out? — by how realistically these bugs scurry around. The bugs are remarkably lifelike and they even maneuver around objects. Five bugs are available in the pack, including a cicada, a cockroach, a Japanese beetle, a water scorpion and an assassin bug. Ages 3+

Since this toy's layout can be moved around plenty of times, there are endless possibilities so your 4-year-old won't get bored. The different colored blocks have various actions, like spins, drops and spiral funnels! If they like it, they can move on to more complex sets. Note: Since this toy uses marbles, it should be kept out of reach of children under 3 years old. Ages 4+

Reinforce those early math concepts with this activity set, featuring the characters from the Netflix series Numberblocks — though you don't have to be a fan to get a lot of out these cards. One parent testers said she couldn't believe how much math her kids were absorbing with this set, which includes 100 MathLink Numberblocks Cubes, 59 faceplates, 54 stickers, 11 numberlinks, 11 character cards, 15 double-sided activity cards, and an activity guide. Ages 3+

This two-foot-long truck was one the kids' favorites during the testing for the Good Housekeeping's Toy Awards a few years ago. They loved how it can ride over just about anything — even adults! And yet, it's remarkably lightweight. The car can be controlled from up to 250 feet away, and it includes a USB cable for easy recharging. Ages 4+

This fun game helps your kids develop language and word recognition skills thanks to the yellow chips with words and images on them. The red Zinger dispenses the chips, and the players race to fill up their board first. It has two levels of play, so kids can continue to enjoy as they grow older. Ages 4+

With bricks in all the colors of the rainbow and 15 different builds, this LEGO set will keep them entertained for hours. It features 950 pieces that encourage kids to explore their creativity with open-ended building and learn more about hands-on construction with guided builds. Ages 4+

Both kids and parents will love this Lincoln Logs building set, since parents might remember playing with this building set in their own childhoods. The set includes 111 pieces made of real maple wood that can be used to build structures like a cabin or two small houses with a bonfire. There are three different guides in the manual, but kids might have even more creative fun by building their own ideas. Ages 3+

Think of it as a kid-sized version of Wordle. Beginning readers can spin the letters and experiment with sounding out different consonant-vowel-consonant words. It also comes with 60 cards with pictures of words they can try to make. Ages 3+

This adorable set is the perfect way to introduce your 4-year-old boy to coding. Each critter has a set of arrows that help kids "code" its next moves. Kids can follow along with the storybook's directions at first, but they can eventually create their own coding rules for even more fun. There's even a play mode for kids to simply take care of the pets. If they don't like dinosaurs, you can also get the Coding Critters in the shape of a cat, a rabbit or a dog, and Learning Resources as also debuted MagiCoders, which come as a unicorn and a dragon. Ages 4+

For a toy that helps kids with social-emotional learning and regulating emotions, the Meditation Mouse is ready to help cool kids down. It comes pre-loaded with three modes of guided meditation: a daytime relaxation session, a nighttime soothing sounds mode, and a three-part bedtime wind-down exercise. Ages 2+

This elaborate set comes with 33 pieces, all with the detail and durability you'd expect from Schleich figurines. He can put his interest in paleontology to work as he sends the figures through the command center and viewing platform while using the crane to study and care for dinosaur figures. Ages 4+

This is a game of nerves: Rattlesnake Jake comes curled around a pile of gold pieces, and players have to steal them from him. But watch out, because his rattle gets more intense and then he strikes! Snatching the gold before the bite helps kids work on their fine-motor coordination, and Good Housekeeping testers who tried this game said it was always a "wow" moment when the snake struck. Ages 4+

If the kids dream about competing on Top Chef or The Great British Baking Show, this is the gift for them. It offers 50 easy recipes they can use to get started. In addition to instructions for how to make things like Ooey-Gooey Glazed Cinnamon Rolls or Totally Twisted Pasta with Cherry Tomato Sauce, it also offers tips from Good Housekeeping experts on kitchen tools and techniques. Once they've mastered these, they can move on to Good Housekeeping Kids Cook! Ages 4+

One potato, two potato, three potato — fun! With this set, kids will have fun mixing up the faces, pieces and accessories for a whole Potato Head family. The set comes with two adult-sized bodies, one kid-sized body and more than 40 pieces to swap in and out. Ages 2+

He'll never know what he's going to get when he unboxes this Squishmallows set, which comes with three surprise 8" plushes. He'll love how soft and squeezable they are. Ages 0+

With this set of beautifully colored magnetic tiles, any 4-year-old kid can spark creativity and build shapes with the colorful pieces. As kids get older and more advanced, this toy will still benefit them because they'll be able to create more difficult designs to keep them challenged. In the box, you'll get 32 pieces in various shapes, colors and sizes. Ages 3+

Parent testers were amazed at the way this clay doesn't dry out, so it can get a lot of use (which works the muscles in their hands in the process). The set comes with 15 colors including a range of skin tones, so they can make whatever they imagine. Ages 3+

This toy car set comes with a car carrier and three mini vehicles that help encourage motor skills and imaginative play. Our lab experts love that this toy company is so committed to sustainability — the cars are made of 100% recycled plastic, while the packaging is made with recyclable materials. Ages 3+

The Little Genius Starter Kit is a great addition to any kid's tablet because it combines fun games with educational tools. There are four games in total, like ABC's and Squiggle Magic, that will teach your kid valuable skills, like how to form letters and shapes. The set includes the Osmo Base, 19 cardboard costume pieces, 38 silicone pieces, a play mat and storage containers. (Not an iPad user? There's also a version compatible with Fire tablets.) Ages 3+

The Wonder Crew is halfway between a stuffed animal and an action figure. Together, your boy and his new buddy can be rough and tumble when it's time for adventure, or snuggly when it's quiet time. There are four Wonder Crew buddies, each with a different look. Ages 3+

After your 4-year-old puts this 3-D puzzle together, it can sit on a shelf as a piece of room décor. It's made from recycled cardboard and printed with vegetable inks. Ages 3+

Kids can use their spatial skills to put together this puzzle, which depicts a fun day at the park. The pieces are sturdy to stand up to rough preschool play, and the puzzle is just the right size at 24 pieces. Ages 3+

The set comes with 60 pieces, including an X-Wing starfighter and favorite Star Wars characters Poe Dameron and BB-8. He can even use these pieces with his other LEGO sets for even more creative play. Ages 4+

Kids can practice their alphabet and get a mood boost at the same time. Each flash card has an affirming phrase on it, like, "A is for amazing. I am amazing." Ages 3+

Bring Jurassic Park to your living room with this cool LEGO set that lets your little one work with Owen Grady and Zia Rodriguez to wrangle an escaped T. Rex. With 140 pieces including those to make a helipad, helicopter and collapsible fence, kids will have just as much fun building this set as they will playing with it. Ages 4+

It's never too early to start learning about finances, including savings and spending money. This wooden bank as a see-through face, so he'll be excited to see it fill up as he keeps track of his progress. Ages 3+