2011 Toy Guide: Best Toys for 4 & 5 Year Olds

Four and five year olds are getting ready for or just starting school. It’s a big time in their lives. Developmentally they have a growing vocabulary, increased fine motor skills and a little, or in some cases, a lot more of an attention span than when they were toddlers. Four and five year olds are extremely curious and absorbing new concepts like little sponges. This can make buying gifts for four and five year olds fun but also challenging. Many toys that say for ages three and up already seem too babyish and yet many of the cool toys seem to say that they are for ages six and up. Don’t worry. This list of the best gifts for four and five year olds is teacher recommended and kid approved.

B. Pop Arty Beads get an A plus.

Let’s start with the adorable container that has a seal tight lid and handle. Kids love to make and wear their own jewelry. These are not your grandmother’s beads. These beads are wild and wacky. They are very kid-attractive but they also have lots of nice chunky beads and good-sized holes for young hands. Here’s what’s really cool. There are over 500 snap-together pieces so kids can make bracelets, rings and necklaces. These B. Pop Arty Beads are around $30.00 at Amazon.com but I can attest that they give hours of fun for years.

The Cat in the Hat I Can Do That Game; you really should try it!

Everything Dr. Seuss is an awesome gift idea for this age group but I really love this game. Why? It’s active. Can you jump three times? It focuses on what kids ages four and up can do. The I Can Do That Game has one three toy awards. It’s available for Christmas 2012 from Amazon.com for under $20.00.

Imaginets magnetizes imaginations.

Imaginets aren’t new but they are a three-time toy award winner and remain a hot toy for good reason. Imaginets are colorful magnets varied in geometric shapes that come inside of a sturdy wooden case with a handle. I love toys that have their own storage system. The inside reveals two magnetic panels that mean pieces can be stored on one panel and imaginations can develop creations on the other. Imaginets also has 50 color cards to get kids started on copying patterns. Consider this your child’s first fun geometry lesson. This is a great gift for four year olds and I can attest that kids will keep playing with it well passed the age of eight. It’s a perfect toy for travel too and it’s available for Christmas 2011 from Amazon.com for around $27.00.

Pizza Mania is math smart and new for Christmas 2011.

Pizza Mania is a fun early math game for kids ages 4 to 8. While they create their own pizzas they’ll be “adding two peppers” and “taking away one pepperoni” and the fun and math learning will be multiplying through out this fun math game. Pizza Mania comes with pizzas for four, 48 fun toppings and an (adorable) talking pizza man. It does take three AA batteries but pizza man has volume control. There are two levels of play so the learning and fun can continue for years to come. Pizza Mania is a great gift for four and five year olds and it’s at Amazon.com for under $25.00 for Christmas 2011.

Young children learn best through play and creating and these games and manipulatives make for fun and smart gifts for four and five year olds. This winter when the it starts getting dark earlier and kids will spend less evening time outdoors, kids will enjoy having these games and creative toys to keep minds running, even when their bodies can’t.

Looking for math smart gift ideas for kindergarteners or first graders? You’ll find them here in 7 Best Toys for Kindergarteners and First Graders.


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