The 10 Best Educational Toys for 4-Year-Olds: Fun and Learning All in One (2024)

• Our Picks

• How We Selected and Tested

• What to Look For

• FAQ

• Why Trust Verywell Family

Magna-Tiles are magnetic building blocks that are a hit among kids and parents we surveyed because of the endless creations kids can build. The overall value of these toys is what makes them a winner. For starters, they're made of strong food-grade ABS plastic that is BPA- and phthalate-free with smooth edges and ultrasonic welding, so you can rest assured they will last a long time no matter how often they're tossed around or knocked down.

This 48-piece Magna-Tiles set will encourage open-ended play and engage young minds through math, science, creativity, and more STEM exploration. They can build basic numbers, shapes, and letters, or get creative with 3D shapes, or build vehicles while learning about magnetic principles, gravity, and more. Best of all, they can do this on their own or in group play to help develop their social skills, too.

According to the CDC, a developmental milestone for 4-year-olds is holding a crayon between their fingers and thumb. The Crayola Ultra-Clean Washable Large Crayons help kids meet this milestone and are a recommended pick by parents we surveyed. The crayons are a large size for small hands to easily grasp and come in a set of 8 colors. Plus, they wash from clothing, skin, and painted walls.

Get ready for a safari adventure with this interactive talking toy. Perfect for animal-loving kids, simply look through the camera to view high-resolution images of animals while learning cool facts from Robert Irwin. Use the included map to virtually travel around the world while learning about animals from each region.

The GeoSafari Jr. Talking Wildlife Camera has two modes of play and over 120 fun facts and 120 quiz questions. For open-ended play, kids can remove the camera from the base and let their imaginations run wild.

Work together to move the dinosaurs around the board and get them to safety before the dangerous volcano erupts. No reading is required for the Dinosaur Escape Game, which is suited for two to four players and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

A little luck and group strategy combine to make this a fun family game for younger kids. We love how easy this game is to learn and get playing and appreciate the two levels of gameplay to challenge older kids or seasoned players.

The Melissa & Doug Grand Canyon National Park Hiking Gear Play Set is part of the brand’s newest collection line in collaboration with the National Park Foundation. One of our writers received a sample of the hiking gear play set from the brand, and her almost 4-year-old loves exploring with it outside. The play set includes a pretend hiking belt (sizes 3 to 6), binoculars with four disks full of pictures from the Grand Canyon, a working flashlight, and more.

We love how the set inspires kiddos to explore the great outdoors, but we also appreciate that several pieces are still great for indoor play. The Melissa & Doug National Park Foundation Collection includes several other toys for exploring and learning, like the Yellowstone National Park Wooden Jigsaw Puzzle and the National Parks Picture Matching Magnetic Game.

Explore and compare measurements in the bath, with sand, or while cooking with these durable and colorful measuring tools that are specially made for smaller hands. The Learning Resources Mix and Measure Activity Set includes a scale, three self-standing spoons, and six uniquely designed measuring cups.

For families looking for activity guidance, the kit also includes recipe cards for mystery goo, puffy paint, slime, and more. We love how all the items last through hundreds of trips through the dishwasher.

Change how your little one interacts with an iPad with this hands-on learning toy. The Osmo Base, 38 silicone pieces, game playmat, cardboard costume pieces, and four in-game apps are all included and easily connect to your iPad (not included).

We love that Wi-Fi is unnecessary to work the Osmo Little Genius Starter Kit, which teaches subjects like letters, pre-drawing, and social-emotional skills to kids ages 3 to 5 years old. If your child enjoys Osmo, there are add-on kits and other options as they age up.

Developed by educators, this award-winning game is like bingo but with sight words. Appropriate for pre-readers through early readers, Zingo Sight Words is easy to play and lots of fun. Fast-paced, the game can be played with up to six players.

We love that kids can play this game independently while practicing reading and having fun. If Zingo is a hit, there are lots of other versions, including letters, numbers, words, and more.

Learn geography, history, environmental science, and more with this tech-enhanced interactive globe. This toy includes a 10-inch globe, passport, stamps, country flag stickers, and a detailed guide. Kids download an iOS and Android-compatible app that will help them explore and learn about hundreds of highlights and facts across six categories: cultures, monuments, inventions, animals, maps, and weather.

With play, puzzle, and activity modes, the globe will keep curious kids busy. Engaging, educational, and exciting, the PlayShifu Educational Globe is a great option to see the world.

This classic educational toy provides hours of hands-on play and learning. The Melissa and Doug Wooden Buiding Set includes 100 durable wooden blocks in four colors and nine shapes. Suitable alone or with a group, these versatile blocks can be stacked, lined up, built up, or combined with other toys, vehicles, or creatures for endless fun.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What makes a toy educational?

  There isn’t a single thing that makes a toy educational, because they don’t necessarily have to be specifically designed for educational purposes to offer learning value. “Any toy that encourages or enhances your [child’s] learning and development can be educational,” pediatrician Whitney Casares, MD, MPH, tells Verywell Family.

  Rather than focusing your efforts on shopping for toys that are marketed as educational, take a look at where your child should be developmentally and then look for toys that will support them as they master new milestones.

• How does play help with my child’s development?

  “Play encourages a child’s development by allowing them to practice independent problem-solving, encouraging creativity, and teaching them mindfulness,” says Dr. Casares. It offers opportunities for exploration, trying new things, and allows kids to learn new things on their own terms with toys they like and enjoy.

  For example, coloring with crayons in a coloring book is a great exercise for fine motor skill development while a blank sheet of paper and a pile of crayons gives a child the opportunity to use their imagination and get creative by drawing whatever they’d like, which is beneficial to cognitive development.