A Few of My Favorite Things: Birthday Gift Ideas for 4-Year Olds

Our first party of the new school year is this weekend which means I've been doing a lot of thinking about what makes a good birthday gift for a 4-year old preschool friend. I don't know about you, but I like to set a limit of $20 for birthday gifts for all but our closest friends and family. I like to try to find gifts that are a little out of the ordinary, but pretty universal in their appeal because unfortunately with 21 kids in Nadia's class, there's just no way that I know the individual interests of each and every kid whose party we attend. Since it seems silly for me to keep this ongoing list running in my head without writing it down and sharing it, here you go! Click on Read more below for my list of gift ideas for four-year olds, all under $20!

For boys and girls

• Felt Tales - I'm getting the Riding School set for a little girl who is a pony lover, but the Happy Birthday one is pretty cute and universal in its appeal. There are lots of others to choose from if you know more specific interests of the child, too!

• Playmobil Shopper Carrying Case - I don't know many four-year olds who aren't infatuated with teeny tiny toys. These Playmobil Carrying Cases are great because all the teeny tiny pieces have a place to live! Nadia has the Shopper and loves it, but there's also a Pirate Set, a Knight Set, a Firemen Set, a Farmer Set, and a Police Set. If you want to spend just a little more, throw in a Playmobil accessory to match the set. It will definitely fit into the carrying case, and you can usually find some to match the theme for under $5.

• Melissa and Doug 48-piece floor puzzles - Again, you can go for a specific interest, or choose one that's a little more universal in its appeal.
• Melissa and Doug 48-piece wooden jigsaw puzzles - These are great puzzles, too. I've found that the big pieces are easy enough for Nadia to put together on her own, but challenging enough that it takes her at least a few minutes to do!


• Brain Quest Cards - Nadia LOVES these cards. Make it a complete set for the birthday kid by buying both the Preschool and the Kindergarten decks.

• Bubber - You can get a Play and Create Starter Setfor under $20. Bubber is a fun new sculpting material that most kids don't have and is not so messy that you'll never be invited to another party! Nadia and I played with some at the toy store the other day and it was a lot of fun!

• GAMES - Don't go for the basics like Candyland, but search around for more out of the ordinary titles like our favorites Hiss or Sequence for Kids.

• BOOKS - You can't go wrong with a copy of a family favorite. Again, stay away from the most popular titles like Fancy Nancy and Where the Wild Things Are, but instead show-up with Leonardo the Terrible Monster, my all-time favorite children's book.

• Wild Republic Morphs. Nadia's preschool has some of these that the kids play with during free play before school starts. They are incredibly popular with boys and girls alike!

• Shadow Books from Babalu, Inc. - We've never experienced one of these shadow books personally, but you can read Nichole's review of them here. The Time for Bed - Secret of Shadows seems like the perfect title for a boy or girl.
  
  For the girls
  
• Polly Pocket - I was skeptical about Polly Pocket because frankly, I don't want to sit around dressing little dolls, but Polly Pocket toys are easy enough for four-year olds to do! You have lots and lots of different affordable choices, too.

• Dress-up Clothes - You can never go wrong with dress-up clothes. Target has some great Fancy Nancy and Disney Princess choices all for under $20.
  
  For the boys
  
• Citiblocs - I know I'm putting this for the boys, but I'm just guessing that they are going to be more fired-up for a set of blocks than a girl would be.
  
  That's my list. I'd love to hear some more great under $20 gift ideas for four-year olds. Toys your kid loved at that age, or gifts that you've given that you've known to be a big hit! Party on!