The 25 BEST Educational Toys for 4-Year-Olds (2023)
Looking for educational toys for 4-Year-Olds?
I have a list of my favorite toys to help teach your toddlers right at home. These are also wonderful toys to use in the classroom if you are a teacher.
Let’s get started with the best educational toys for 4-Year-Olds.
#1. Leapfrog Mr. Pencil Backpack
This educational toy for 4-year-olds is great! I love it that it works on the letters of the alphabet and writing skills.
It’s also nice because it can be neatly organized, and it’s easy to take on the go in the car.
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Focus on learning about 1-2 letters until your child starts recognizing some of the letters. Keep on repeating those letters they know, along with 1-2 new letters!
B. Practice building writing skills. Start by practicing writing lines and then challenge your kids to try to form some letters or even shapes.
C. Practice beginning sounds with your child to help start building reading skills.
RELATED: Alphabet Activities for Preschoolers
#2. Skillmatics Alphabet Puzzles
This educational toy for 4-year-olds couldn’t be better. I love that the kids can work on putting puzzle pieces together, letters, and beginning sounds.
Plus, learn about animals! Your kids will love playing with this toy to learn the alphabet.
Grab 20% off your order by using the code DEENA20
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Start with giving your child 2-3 puzzles to choose from to put together. If they can do that, start adding more puzzle pieces to make it more complicated.
B. Work on phonics by talking about what each letter sound makes when they are building the letters.
C. Identify the animals in each letter that they build. Discuss if they are mammals, reptiles, amphibians, insects, or birds!
#3: Magnet Blocks
Magnet blocks are one of my favorite educational toys for 4-year-olds. They are one of the best open-ended toys out there for all ages.
Kids can use their imagination to create new things every day with these blocks.
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Let them play! See what they want to build with these blocks. Letting the kids play and explore to see how these blocks work is so much fun.
B. Use a chalk marker to write the letters of the alphabet on the tiles. This is a great way to review the alphabet. We matched upper and lower case letters together.
C. Color Sorting- work on fine motor skills and color sorting by making squares of each color. Have your child use kid-friendly tweezers to sort craft poms in each box.
RELATED: The 50 BEST Kid’s Toys (2023)
#4. Alphabet Sound Puzzle
This educational toy for 4-year-olds is helpful because the puzzle tells kids what each letter is! This puzzle can also grow with the kids when they are starting to work on beginning sounds.
My kids learned the alphabet because of this puzzle. We worked on these letters once a day just for 10 minutes!
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. If your child knows some of the letters of the alphabet, ask them to find individual letters that they know on the puzzle. If they are beginning to learn, talk to them about each letter, it’s always better coming from you.
B. Phonics: Talk about the pictures behind the letters, tell your child what it is if they don’t know, and make the sound of the beginning letter to help them understand what sound the letter makes.
RELATED: 9 Effective Ways To Teach Your Toddler The Alphabet
#5: Vtech Desk
This educational toy for 4-year-olds couldn’t be cuter. Your kids will love sitting at their own desk to explore everything it has to offer.
This desk can transform into a chalkboard or even an art easel for your kids to create with! I love it!
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Review the letters of the alphabet with them on the mat. You can ask them where the letter is, and they can point to it!
B. On the human body mat, ask your kids to name each part of the body to see if they can identify each one.
C. Work on counting skills with the counting mat and number recognition.
RELATED: Ways to Teach Your Child Numbers
#6. LEGO Duplo My First Number Train
Duplo LEGOs are great for little ones who love to build! This is a wonderful educational toy for 4-year-olds because they can work on learning numbers.
When the kids are a little older too, they can put their numbers in the correct order. I love when toys can grow with kids.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Tell your child what each number is on the blocks when they are playing with it.
B. Put a few number blocks in a line and ask them to find a specific number.
C. If your child is old enough and knows how to count, have them count to ten while you put the number blocks in sequential order.
D. If your child knows how to count and knows their numbers, have them try to put the numbers in order!
#7: Train Table
Our train table has been one of our most beloved toys throughout the years. Even now, we have transformed it into a LEGO table since my kids are older now.
The best part is, is that this train table comes with a bunch of accessories and storage.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Work together with your kids to build a train track that they will love!
B. Teach your child vocabulary words with all the fun accessories included.
C. Let your child enjoy some imaginative play.
RELATED: The BEST Open-Ended Toys
#8: Wooden Number Puzzle
I can honestly say that both of my kids learned their alphabet and their numbers by using Melissa and Doug puzzles.
This is a great educational toy for 4-year-olds to practice numbers and counting! Again, this puzzle can be used when the kids are older since it goes up to the number 20.
When your child feels the numbers and can put them in a specific spot, they start to memorize what that number is.
It’s just a matter of repeating the information over and over again so they remember it.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. When your toddler picks up each number, tell them what it is, and talk about the picture behind it.
B. Focus on the same 1-2 numbers each time you play with the puzzle until they start recognizing those numbers. Once they begin remembering some numbers, you can move onto 1-2 more.
C. Say each number to them out loud in order so they start understanding number order.
#9: Leapfrog Ultimate Ready for School Tablet
Your kids will love to have their own learning tablet! They can even put their own headphones in.
This tablet has over 1,000+ learning games and books! It makes for a great educational toy for 4-year-olds.
How this toy can help your child learn
A. Let your child explore- this is a tablet you can feel good about because it’s all educational material inside the tablet. There are also parental controls you can set!
B. Learning apps- there are some great learning games in this tablet, but there are also ones that you can purchase as well to keep the learning going.
C. Take on the go- this is a great toy to take in the car, on a plane, or to a restaurant to entertain your little one.
RELATED: Travel Activities for Kids
#10: Crayola Chemistry Set
So there’s another term out there in education land called STEAM. The only difference between STEM and STEAM is the A for Art.
The Crayola Color Chemistry Set focuses on both science and art with it’s 50 different experiments that you can try, including making your own colorful volcano, bouncing colored bubbles glow in the dark worms, and of course, slime!
Age Level: This toy does say that it’s for 7+, but my daughter was doing the experiments with us at age starting at age 3.
Adult supervision is needed for them to do these safely and correctly!
I will advise that some of these activities can be quite messy! Place an art tray down to help with the cleanup.
How this toy can help your child learn
A. This toy helps your children learn about mixing colors to create a new color! Kids can discover how to combine two colors to make a new color.
B. By doing experiments like the erupting volcano, your child will learn how mixing certain elements can cause a chemical reaction.
#11: Osmo
When I talk to teachers that have Osmo in their classrooms, every one of them has said GREAT things about it! This is currently on my list of things that I want to purchase as well.
Osmo is an interactive gaming system for learning! Say what?!
Yes, kids love Osmo because they are playing games. I don’t know about you, but I don’t feel too badly about some screen time when it engages my kids in learning.
When children play with Osmo, they are doing hands-on learning games that involve math, science, and art! The tablet doesn’t come along with the Osmo; a piece goes on top of your tablet.
Want to learn more about Osmo? Take a look at the following review!
#12: Skillmatics Search and Find Mats
This search-and-find activity mat is the perfect educational toy for 3-year-olds!
Actually, my kids are 5 and 8, and they still love this, so you can tell they are pretty neat.
Get 20% off your order with Skillmatics by using the code DEENA20
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Build vocabulary- your kids can learn new vocabulary words by searching for the images provided in the key on the mats!
B. Writing skills- practice writing skills by having the kids create a circle around the pictures they find.
#13: Rainbow Color Sorting Set
It’s a wonderful educational toy for 4-year-olds to build their fine motor skills!
This rainbow sorting set is also a great way to review colors with your child.
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Color Sort- Use the kid-friendly tweezers to sort the objects in the correct color in the rainbow. This will help build fine motor skills!
B. Have the kids use the cards to create a pattern. This is a great math activity to show your child what a pattern is and how to complete a pattern.
C. Use the cards provided to practice addition problems! This is a simple and fun way for kids to learn beginning math skills.
#14: Fine Motor Letter Locks
These alphabet locks work on letter recognition, beginning sounds, phonics skills, and fine motor skills. It’s the perfect educational toy for 4-year-olds!
This toy will grow with your child since there are so many different learning skills involved!
These letter locks work on connecting which upper case and lower case letters go together by putting the correct key in the lock! The lock won’t open unless the right key is placed inside.
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. For younger children, pick 3 letter locks and put them in a line. Ask your child to find a specific letter if they know their letters already.
B. Explain to them that there are upper case and lower case letters. They may see either of them when you read stories to them. Even though they may look different or smaller, they are still the same letter.
C. Show them the lowercase letter key for whatever letter lock you are asking them to find. Talk to them about what letter it is and how they can unlock the lock with the key!
E. Repeat and show once more the upper and lower case letters before you move onto the next letter.
#15: Learning Basic Life Skills Set
My son goes to a school that focuses on real-life lessons, and these dressing boards are something they use.
This is a wonderful educational toy for 4-year-olds to start practicing basic life skills!
Learning how to use fine motor skills to be able to zip a zipper, button their clothes, and tie shoes can be difficult and take some time, so this is why these boards are good to practice from time to time to help them learn!
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Focus on one board each time you play with this toy unless your child is picking things up quickly; then, you can introduce more.
B. Start with easier skills, like snapping or buckling, before moving on to zipping and tieing.
C. For the lacing and tieing boards, try using a poem like, “Over, under, pull it tight, make a bow, pull it through to do it right.”
#16. Vtech Write and Learn Creative Center
This is a great educational toy for 3-year-olds that will grow with them as they get older!
When it comes to writing, it’s a little more complicated because kids need the chance to practice with worksheets. However, there are a few toys out there that are great for early writing skills!
The writing center has 6 activity modes to practice upper and lower case letters. It also has fun stamps and stencils so kids can practice making shapes and different objects as well.
How to help your child learn with this toy
A. Show your child how to hold a pencil before they begin!
B. Have your child choose which letter they want to practice writing so they can see what it’s supposed to look like on the screen above the writing center.
C. If they are just beginners, have them hold the pencil along with you to get a better understanding of how the letter is made.
D. Have them practice writing the upper case and lower case letter on the writing center together so they can start connecting that they are the same letters even though they look different.
E. You can also practice writing numbers, their name, and making shapes!
#17: Cash Register
Looking for a fun way to introduce the concept of money to your little ones? This is the perfect educational toy for 4-year-olds to teach them about money.
A toy cash register can be used for so many different play scenarios to show your child about the different coins, dollars, and how to give change.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Coin sorting- Coin sorting activities are a great way to introduce the concept of money to your kids. I have a Money Learning Packet available for you to work on these skills with your kids. Use the coins and the dollars to bring these worksheet activities to life to help your kids learn about money.
CLICK HERE to grab your FREE Money Learning Packet
B. Play store- This can be any type of store! The grocery, ice cream shop, restaurant, Starbucks, Target are some of our favorite pretend scenarios. Have your child ring up the items, type it in the cash register, and then return change if needed! This is a play-based learning strategy that will help teach the concept of money.
C. Add money- While playing store, switch roles, and have them be the person who buys the products. Work together with your child to add the money to see if they have enough to buy each item. Inside the Money Learning Packet, there are also activities to add pennies, dimes, quarters, and dollars, along with this fun who has more activity!
RELATED: Teaching Resources
#18: Shape Beanbags
Kids want to PLAY and LEARN. These beanbags are the best educational toy for 4-year-olds to help them learn shapes and locomotor movements.
Adding some movement patterns or gross motor skills into learning will keep kids interested for a more extended time, which is essential when trying to teach them!
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Scatter the bean bags around a room and ask your child to find specific shapes. You can make this a little more active by asking them to skip, gallop, side slide, run, walk, hop, or leap from bag to bag.
B. Create a starting line and place all the bean bags at the line. Set up three bins (laundry bins or storage bins). Write a 2,4, and 6 on a piece of paper and tape it to each storage bin. Have your child use an underhand or overhand throwing strategy to try to make a bean bag into one of the containers. Before deciding to throw the bag, ask them what shape it is. This can be a great math activity for older kids to add up the points that they earned at the end!
C. Place all the bean bags at the end of one hallway in your house. Have your child start at the opposite side and have them run to get a specific bag that you tell them to.
I honestly have so many ideas for this toy, if you need more, comment on this post, and I have plenty of fun ways to incorporate physical activity in teaching your kids!
RELATED: Tag Games for Kids
#19: Shape Sorting Clock
This shape-sorting clock works on so many different learning skills! It’s a great educational toy for 4-year-olds.
Practice number recognition, shapes, and the clock.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Review shapes- Go over the shapes that your child knows and see if they can find where it belongs on the clock. Then, go over some new shapes! This clock has a lot of new shapes!
B Numbers- Help teach your child what each number looks like on the puzzle piece. Then, show them where it belongs on the clock.
C. Explain the clock- when your child is older, start teaching them how to read the clock!
RELATED: Shape Activities for Kids
#20: Educational Insights Interactive Globe
This is a great educational toy for 4-year-olds that will grow with them as they get older.
We just got this globe a few months back, and we really enjoy learning about all the different countries.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Exploring the globe– Let your child use the interactive pen to click around the globe and start learning about different areas of our world!
B. Buttons to learn– Use the buttons at the bottom of the globe to guide learning. There are 5 functions (nature, continents and oceans, countries, cities and capitals, and U.S.A Cities and States.
C. Questions– There is a find it mode on each of the categories on the globe! This tests kid’s knowledge about what they have learned, and you can earn points! I love this way of checking for understanding.
#21: Cleaning Toys
Kids love helping out the adults, especially when it comes to cleaning.
This educational toy for 4-year-olds will provide your kids with so many hours of fun.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Show your child how to use each cleaning toy and what it would be used for. This is so helpful for real-life skill learning.
B. Have your kids help you clean the house! They will love feeling like a big kid and working together with you.
#22: Balance Bike
One toy that I wish I would have purchased when my kids were little is a balance bike. It makes it so much easier for kids to learn how to ride a bike when it comes time.
This educational toy for 4-year-olds is great to help them build balance skills, coordination, and strength.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Help your child learn how to ride a bike by practicing on this balance bike indoors at first. Once they get more comfortable, you can head outside.
B. Show them how to steer the bike so they know how to move the bike around when they want to turn.
C. This is an adjustable bike that can grow with your kids. It’s for ages 2-6 and can be adjusted to fit your child’s size.
#23: Water Table
Are you looking to have some summer fun with your little ones? A water table is your perfect outdoor toy for 4-year-olds.
Playing with water always adds more fun to any play. Kids just gravitate toward it!
How you can help your child learn with this toy
Materials to extend learning: water beads, fine motor tools, tear-free soap, sponges, or toothbrushes.
1. Free play- Sometimes, you don’t need to plan a specific activity. Just let the kids lead the play! Let them enjoy just splashing in the water and creating their own fun. They may learn some new ways to play as well!
2. Add water beads- Water beads are such a fabulous sensory play filler! With this specific water table, they would be SO much fun. Kids can work on pouring and scooping skills. You can also add some fine motor toys so the kids can work on building those tiny muscles!
3. Toy wash- Grab some of your little one’s favorite toys and put them in the water table. Add some tear-free soap inside the water table so they can wash their toys. Give them a sponge or a toothbrush to clean the toys! Make sure to have some clean water available in another container or bowl so they can wash off the soap.
RELATED: Outdoor Toys for 3-Year-Olds
#24: Sprinkler Splash Pad
This is such a wonderful outdoor educational toy for 4-year-olds. My mind is racing with all the fun learning possibilities that can happen with this toy!
Your toddlers and preschoolers will love splashing around on this little splash pad on warm summer days.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
1. Letter search- While playing outside with this toy, practice some letter recognition! While they are playing, ask them to stomp on certain letters. Some other ideas are to have them find the letters of their name, and you can even have them find the letters of the alphabet in order!
2. Cover the letters- With some water toys, have your little one cover-up the letter you shout out! They will love searching for the letters through the water. For beginners, start in one section and just do a few letters that are close to each other. For older toddlers, you can say any letter!
3. Animal sounds- Practice animal sounds by having your little one step on the animal, you say. When they step on it, have them pretend to be that animal by making the sound it makes or even doing movements!
RELATED: Alphabet Activities For Preschoolers
#25: STEM Building Blocks
STEM building blocks are TOO much fun!
There are so many different objects that you can build and create with these blocks. What I love most about these is that toddlers can even use the tools to make designs! My 3 year old helps me build what he wants, and he is always very eager to do it himself.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Create objects in the booklet- There are 42 designs provided in this booklet for you and your little one to create. There are things like animals, cars, letters, and numbers. What a fun way to practice letter and number learning! These are varied levels of designs for a variety of ages.
B. Race vehicles- Create two types of cars and race them around the house. You can even make a painter’s tape track like the one you see below to make the race more realistic!
C. Design your own ideas- One of my favorite things to do with these blocks is to let kids create whatever they want. Often, we end up creating homes or vehicles for their toys to ride or play in!
RELATED: STEM Toys For Kids
#26: Bob Books
Got a kiddo who is really interested in reading? Bob Books are the perfect first reader books for kids.
This educational toy for 4-year-olds is great for kids to start putting those letter sounds together to form words.
How you can help your child learn with this toy
A. Read to your child- reading to your kids is one of the most important things you can do with your kids! It will help teach them vocabulary, they will learn about different topics, and get to spend time with you.
B. Show them how to sound out letters to make words! Most of the words in these books can be sounded out, there are a few sight words as well that they can learn.
C. Let them try to read! Once they start getting the hang of how to sound out the letters to put them together, see if they can make a few words.
There are more Bob books available as well for older kids. If you like this set, you’ll love the next levels as well.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
There are tons of toys out there, and trying to pick the right toy can be challenging because you want your child to like the toy and be able to use it for years to come.
I hope you were able to find some great educational toys for 4-year-olds in my article!
I would love to hear about any learning toy that has worked for you and your family! Every child learns differently, so certain toys may work for some children and not others.
If you need more ideas on how you can help teach your children with these toys, please comment below!
Happy learning!
Deena
