Gift Ideas for a 4-Year-Old Boy

My oldest son is turning four in May. Sigh. Where in the heck did the time go? It feels like just yesterday that we brought home a tiny five and a half pound screaming bundle of joy. Now he is a forty pound running, jumping, and kicking bundle of energy. With his birthday fast approaching, it is time to start thinking about what kind of gifts to get him.

Most four year old boys enjoy any type of activity that is physical. Many are also intrigued with any type of computer or video games. DVDs are always a popular idea for any young child. There are so many options out there for this age group, but it really comes down to parent and child preference. While I feel anything Sponge Bob is not an appropriate gift idea for my four year old, other parents may feel He is perfectly acceptable for their child. Any gift ideas I include in this article are what I have deemed age appropriate for four year olds.

Rollerblades, Roller skates, Scooter or Skateboard: Four year old boys love any type of activity that includes something on wheels. Many of these items are available with special safety features for children just starting these types of activities. Please remember to always wear a helmet, and in the case of my son, knee pads and elbow pads!

Bike with Training Wheels: If the four year old boy in your life doesn't already have a bike........they make great gifts! By four, most children should be able to ride with the aide of training wheels. Make sure the bike is small enough to ride independently, but big enough that you can keep it for a couple of years. Always wear have the child wear a helmet!

Rescue Heroes: These are great "action figures" with movable parts. They are also bigger in size for smaller hands to maneuver. The drawback for me on these are that some of them come with what our family considers weapons. We either don't buy that particular hero, or we remove the item we don't agree with before allowing our son to play with it.

DVDs: Some of our favorite DVDs are Dragon Tales, Dora, Go Diego Go, and Danger Rangers. I need to highly recommend the Danger Rangers. They are cartoon characters who teach about every day dangers such as: fire safety, stranger danger, guns, bike safety, poison prevention. My son loves our Danger Rangers DVD and would watch it daily if I let him.

BC Builders: These dinosaurs are made by Little Tikes and are great for a boy of four. The dinosaurs come with cave dudes, boulders, and towers that can be knocked down. The dinosaurs also make noise. These can occupy your four year old for quite some time.

Sports Equipment: How about some soccer goals and a smaller sized soccer ball? What about a basketball hoop and basketball? Or, perhaps a t-ball set? Golf is big with our four year old...what about a set of junior golf clubs and some practice balls? There are lots of great sports ideas for the four year old in your life!

Art Activities: I have met many a four year old boy who loves to do art projects! How about an art activity table or activity set that includes markers, glue, safety scissors, crayons, glitter,paint, etc. Little boys love to make messes, why not have them be creative while they are doing it?

Books: The favorite books in our house currently have to do with dinosaurs, soccer, and anything by Mercer Mayer. Books are usually a hit with most four year olds. Find a topic the four year old is interested in, and most likely there is a children's book you can buy that relates to that topic.

The gift ideas for a four year old boy are endless. What is the best gift for the four year old that you know? That all depends on the child and what you consider appropriate for that age. Please be sure when purchasing gifts for a child of this age, that you keep his safety in mind, and purchase any necessary equipment that he may need in order to use the gift safely. Remember, four year olds have many different interests. Knowing what the child is interested in can hold the key to buying the perfect gift!