What are you getting your 4 year old boys?

[winteroversummer]

My eldest DS has just turned four, and for his birthday he is having his first bike with stabilisers and some hot wheels and some slime making goodies.

I'm stumped for ideas for Christmas, what are you going to be buying for your 4 year olds?

He is into dinosaurs, volcanos, and gardening, but this all changes regularly

Paw Patrol, and Lego. And a pedal bike (he has a balance bike he is growing out of).

Mines asking for a lot of games he’s seen snakes and ladders, match a Martian, hungry hippos and gooey looey etc! Also become quite into the marvel superheroes so dressing up outfits x

Paw Patrol, Hot Wheels, and the Vtech Marble Blast, because he loves construction and marbles so a perfect combo

Playmobil has a volcano and dinosaurs set that looks great. I think Schleich do one too. My 4 year old loves volcanoes but unfortunately isn't into dinosaurs, he thinks they are creepy 😂.

My son turns 5 just after Christmas, but he wants a remote control recycling truck (Playmobil) and some Disney Cars diecasts for his collection, and I'm also getting him a Stomp Rocket and a Skateboard.

Last year he got Playmags, Disney Cars stuff, Playmobil Pirates, a wooden crane, colour changing cars, all been played with well, his interests haven't changed much.

A scooter
A vtech kids camera
Some playdoh and kinetic sand sets
Books

Kinetic sand construction site
Magic tracks
Vtech marble rush

Yoto player is always my suggestion for age 4/5. DS has a Tonie player which is used daily but if buying now I’d get a yoto.

DS loves Lego, playmobil, schleich animals and dinosaurs. I bought two dressing up outfits from Sainsbury’s and I’ve stashed some playmobil sets for him.

@ANP2020

Mines asking for a lot of games he’s seen snakes and ladders, match a Martian, hungry hippos and gooey looey etc! Also become quite into the marvel superheroes so dressing up outfits x

Gooey Louey is brilliant, hours of fun with that in our house.

DS loves goo jit zus at the moment so will get a giant one and a couple of mini ones, a Jurassic World dinosaur, Buckaroo and a book and character tshirt of some kind.

Yoto Player
Vtech kids camera
And probably more Lego

He already has a pedal bike (it was his present last Christmas) and I'm planning to get him a bigger one for his 5th birthday (in March) as it will probably be outgrown by then.

I find big presents easy but will need stocking filler ideas so following with interest!

Mine turns 4 in October. Between his birthday and Christmas he's getting Yoto player with quite a few cards, Playmobil rocket, a fishing game, the Encyclopaedia Prehistorica dinosaurs book, a small Lego tractors set and a jigsaw. He also loves dinosaurs and volcanoes and I was looking at the Playmobil set with these - I think he'd love it but it's quite expensive!

When DS was four the big hits were Lego, a toy kitchen and a train set. He loved the kitchen though we did have to play cafe a lot!

Stocking fillers ideas were dinosaur fidget toy, some quite realistic play money for his till, small mould your own dinosaur clay modelling kit, paintsticks and Gruffalo dobble (tried the normal dobble which we have but some of the pictures are too tricky for him to identify).

Yoto player is brilliant

Vtech kids camera is a great idea. My eldest had one when he turned 4 and I might get my youngest one too.

When my boys were 4, their favourite present was their own sellotape dispenser!

He had a tonie box for his 3rd birthday and I agree they're great. Will get a figure for it for his stocking, he also ad v tech camera for Xmas last year. He's sounding v spoiled now isn't he lol.

Playmobil set looks great, we haven't used play mobil before. It's different to Lego in that you don't build it, is that right?

Correct

My son prefers Lego tbh.

My just 4 year old loves cars so will get more hot wheels stuff for Christmas. He also loves kinetic sand. He got a garage and a pedal bike for his birthday so not sure what his main present will be.

Playmobil is good. You have to do a little bit of building. We have a lot of vehicles.

A festive toy box is a great idea.

You could buy toys from a toy store in town or a charity shop etc and fill it up with toys. Or you can order some new toys from Amazon and then completely stuff a stocking full with them. People like to sell old unwanted toys on Facebook Marketplace sometimes too, have a look on there to see what you can find.
You can also purchase kid friendly toys from Sainsburys or a book shop in addition. Make sure that the toys you get are wholly appropriate for a four year old however, if in doubt ask for advice from friends.

Lots of Lego!

Can I just ask any of you about the Yoto though, as I’m confused. I’ve looked at it a couple of times and it seems to be just a box that tells stories? Not sure what the big deal is. I’m obviously missing something! We love reading books together, so I’m not sure why I would encourage him to listen to this rather than actually reading??

I'm getting DS a Yoto Player because it's a "multifunction" device, I think he will enjoy the audiobooks but there's also Yoto radio and a podcast. It's not just stories; you can get music cards and meditations - I'm hoping the bedtime meditation will help him fall asleep. It also has a nightlight and a clock function so it will replace his nightlight which no longer works and his gro clock. Lastly you can get cards in different language and as a bilingual family that's a big selling point for us.

He actually already has a Toniebox (it was a gift) but it doesn't have all the extra features and the figures are more expensive than the Yoto cards. I think I'll keep it for his little sister as it seems better when they're younger.

PS Neither of these devices are meant to replace reading stories together, they are just in addition to doing that.

I agree, it’s in addition to reading together. If anything it replaces tv for us as DS will sit in his play tent and listen to a story to chill out rather than watch tv.

Playmobil has become more popular here recently. We had Covid a couple of months ago and it was a lifesaver. We’ve got the zoo and some police stuff but there’s so many options that you can go for what they are interested in. Once I set it up DS plays quite happily but Lego needs my input to do.

@mnahmnah
We have the tonie box which is the one with little characters to go on top. We use it before bed, so bath, books, bed with tonie box on and both DS fall asleep listening to it, they're 18 months and 4

Duplo push and go train set. I got some extra track off ebay and he's had hours of fun.
Magna tiles
Marble run

(Depending on your budget regarding the bike though, if you can, get one where you can either add the pedals at a later date, or can be removed from the one you have. Try him with it as a balance bike first, let him get his confidence and then stick the pedals on. Rather than stabilisers.)