17 Of The Best Toys For Four-Year-Olds, Tried And Tested By Real Families

When it comes to real-life toys, it doesn't get better than the Casdon Kenwood Mixer. This mixer can actually mix pancake batter, cake mix and icing. Inspired by the famous Kenwood Mixer, this mini-me works and looks like the real thing - and it's perfect for making cupcakes.

This educational kit gives you and your child an unforgettable opportunity to watch caterpillars change into chrysalises and then emerge as beautiful painted lady butterflies. Your little one will be able to raise and feed their very own butterflies and then release them into the wild.

Caterpillars are available from March to mid-September only. However, you can pre-order out of season.

Each of the WWF Wild Scenes playsets includes seeds to show children how to grow and nurture their own plants whilst encouraging them to learn about protecting the habitats of endangered. This giant panda set is our favourite.

This is our favourite eco-friendly toy because Wild Scenes' toys are made with 100 per cent recycled plastics and do not contain single-use plastic. Both the packaging and the product are 100 per cent recyclable. In addition, each product sold contributes to safeguarding wildlife.

This Barbie Dreamhouse is the toy of our inner child's dreams. Kids can spend hours exploring ten different play areas: a kitchen, living room, dining room, bedroom, bathroom, closet, bonus room, balcony, pool and the biggest slide yet.​

​Dreamy features include integrated lights and sounds that inspire endless hours of fun.

The Ninja turtles are back! Well, for some, they never really left. But four-year-olds are enjoying the world of Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo for the first time through the power of Netflix. The Pizza Fire Delivery Van opens from the front and the back, so all four Turtles - and even Splinter -can ride inside (although each turtle is sold separately). Kids love firing out the pizzas with a simple press of the button.

This brilliant den-building kit is perfect for encouraging your little one to enjoy more time outdoors. The Forest School Den Kit has been designed for camouflaged adventures amongst the trees. It can be used as part of a family adventure or a solo expedition in the garden and will inspire creativity, test bushcraft skills, and clock up those all-important outdoor hours.

Everything comes neatly packed in a durable, water-resistant backpack, which is easy to carry to your den destination. Inside, you will have everything you need to build your den.

Not suitable for children under three and recommended for 6+.

The BABY-born Magic Girl doll comes with ten lifelike functions, including new Magic Eyes. Children can be in control of waking the baby and putting her to sleep, putting the dummy in her mouth and learning how to care for her.

Parents can dive into the world of Connetix Tiles with the ultimate starter set that has every shape in a spectrum of colours, along with six large hexagonal tiles and two car bases. This set not only marks the beginning of your Connetix Tile collection but also serves as a wonderful tool for your little ones to explore and learn the names of colours and shapes.

The Play-Doh Sparkle Collection adds a touch of magic and creativity to your sculpting adventures. This delightful set features a dazzling array of sparkly Play-Doh compounds in various vibrant colours, inviting children to unleash their imagination and craft shimmering masterpieces. With the added sparkle, every creation becomes a sparkling work of art, allowing young minds to explore, design, and shape their world with a touch of glittering fun.

Spider-man is a solid choice for most superhero-loving four-year-olds, especially because of the Spidey and Friends animation on Disney Plus. This Spider-man Lego Webquarters Hangout features a superhero hangout, the Spider-Man HQ 'building' in the form of a giant spider, plus the Ghost Copter and a two-in-one Goblin car toy. As well as some of your child's favourite characters from the show (Spider-Man, Ghost-Spider, Miles Morales, Ms Marvel, and supervillain Green Goblin).

Did you know that LEGO is great for strengthening little ones' hands, which in turn helps them with their writing skills when they start school? Making this not only a super fun choice but a beneficial one, too.

If it isn't everyone's favourite Australian dog. If you haven't had the pleasure of watching the TV show Bluey, you truly are missing out. It is often hailed as the best TV show by parents because of its intelligent humour and references that go over little ones' heads but always land with adults. Four-year-olds especially love this show because of the relatable storytelling and catchy music.

Little ones can press Bluey's nose, wave her right arm, turn her head, shake the shaker or bop her body down to hear sounds and phrases in free-play mode. In the 'follow me mode', players copy the sequence to move to the next level. This is a great gift for Bluey lovers (of all ages).

Scooters are a great way for little ones to burn off energy, but as any parent knows all too well, you are often left carrying it when their little legs get tired. Introducing the bubble electric scooter, little ones can glide in style with this powered scooter that also shoots bubbles.

It is also available in Spider-man and Disney Cars designs.

Disney’s Frozen 2 Elsa Styling Head has long blonde hair in her iconic braid and 13 styling accessories - perfect for playing hairdressers. Kids can use the brush to create fun hairstyles on Elsa. They can also use the snowflake hair tie and hair clips in their own hair.

The Hot Wheels ten-car pack of vehicles is perfect for your little automotive enthusiast. Hot Wheels vehicles make a great gift for kids and car enthusiasts of all ages who can grow their collection over time. These cars can be used on other Hot Wheels tracks and garages.**
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As much as we want to be 'fun parents, ' the thought of slime with lots of little beads makes us shudder. No one has time to pick up all those tiny balls. But we were delighted when we saw this ASRM Mix 'In Kit because it comes with a cute tray to keep it nice and tidy. This set is great for sensory play for four-year-olds.

See the world through your four-year-old's eyes with this kid's camera. Gofunly Kids' Instant Camera supports instant automatic printing of high-quality, vibrant 'black and white' photo paper, which directly comes from the camera body. We love that little ones can customise this camera, and it comes with a handy neck lanyard for carrying.

If you are craving a toy that offers a little peace and quiet, look no further. We loved this toy because, for an hour, our little ones were so hyperfocused on their build that we were actually able to drink a hot cup of tea. This set is easy enough for a four-year-old to completely independently and engaging enough to hold their interest.