educational activities for 4 year olds

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44+ Fun and Easy Activities for 4 Year Olds

• Kindergartner
• Preschooler

Check out these fun and easy activities and play ideas for 4 year olds. Here you will find tons easy ideas that you can set up for your preschooler while you take a meeting or get some work done at home. There are also fun sensory bin ideas, cool crafts for them to make and amazing hand-on learning ideas that are playful and fun. Tons of easy ways to keep your 4 year old busy, engaged and entertained at home!

And check out my short form crafting series Curious Crafting on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube ! Watch all the episodes here . Look for Season 2 of Curious Crafting coming in the new year.

Ways to Keep 4 Year Olds Busy

This amazing list of ideas is organized into a few sections. Let me highlight them here for you so you can quickly find what you are looking for fast. Scroll down to find each section.

• Easy Activities That 4 Year Olds Can Do Alone While You Work. These are ideas that you can set up and let your 4 year old do while you work, tend to baby, fold laundry or simply sit down scroll through your phone (yup you’re allow to do that every once in a while)!
• Low Prep Activities for 4 Year Olds. Activities that require little to no prep to create for your preschooler.
• Fun Sensory Bins. Easy sensory bins to create for your 4 year old!
• Easy Crafts for 4 Year Olds . Fun arts and craft ideas that you can do with your 4 year old.
• Hands-on Learning Activities . Fun ways to learn everything from letters, to their name, to numbers, shapes, counting and more.
• Simple STEAM for 4 Year Olds. Engaging Science Experiments four year olds will love!
• Easy Process Art Activities. Process art ideas to help develop creativity and have fun!

5 Easy Activities That 4 Year Olds Can Do Alone While You Work

1. wash the toys..

Grab two large sensory bins or Tupperwares ware containers. Fill one container with water and dish soap. Mix it up to make it bubbly. You don’t need a lot of water to make this fun and engaging just an inch or two will do. Lay a towel underneath everything in order to reduce the mess and clean up afterwards. Fill the other tub with tons of farm animals or dinosaurs or cars. You can set up one thing to wash every week! Let them wash the animals in the soap water. Add towels for drying. You can also add fine motor tools like eye droppers or turkey basters for washing, sponges or scrub brushes. If you’re feeling ambitious you can also place the animals outside the tub and put clean water in the second tub allowing your child to wash and then rinse the animals off before drying them.

Fun Activity using Magnets

2. playing with magnets..

Fill a sensory bin with all the metal object you can find. Think toy trains, cars, coins, paper clips, fridge magnets, bells, magnetic letters, keys. Throw in some other nonmetal items too. Hand your child a magnetic wand and let them explore trying to pick up item. Add cardboard tubes to the sides of the sensory bin using painter’s tape and have them toss metal items down the tubes that will fit and then have them recover the items using the magnetic wand . Check out here how we did it.

Make Foil Presents

3. foil puzzle match ..

Tear off sheets of foil to fit the puzzle pieces and have them do the wrapping for you! Model how to wrap with foil, folding over the puzzle pieces rather than scrunching. Place all the pieces in the basket and let the unwrapping begin! Trust me they will want to do this more than once so tear off a bunch and hand them over as they need them.

Fun Activities using LEGO

4. lego animal trace.

One a large sheet of butcher paper draw the outline of a few animals like a turtle, lion or peacock and invite your child to fill in the rest of the animal with LEGO DUPLO.

5. LEGO Body Trace

Similar to LEGO animal trace but instead you trace their bodies and have them fill them in with LEGO DUPLO or magnetic tiles!

10 Low Prep Activities For 4 Year Olds

6. super steam activity book.

Learning all about science, technology, engineering, art, and math sets kids up for scholastic success―and it can be so much fun! Watch kids enjoy building STEAM skills as they color friendly fish, help water find its way to tree roots, solve math problems with mazes, and more. 

Find out more and grab your copy here .

7. Make a Bubble Snake

8. Super Easy Ice Sensory Bin

9. Ready Made Playdough Kits

10. Dot Sticker Match

11. Sponge Letter Wash Sensory Bin

12. Pom Pom Water Sensory Bin

13. Mega Blok Names

14. Paint the Toys

Paint plastic outdoor toys with washable paints. Then have your kids rinse off the toys with soap and water and sponges before it actually dries!

• Pom Pom Mega Blok Sort

Fun Sensory Bins and Sensory Play Ideas for 4 Year Olds

• Dinosaur Dig Sensory Bin for Kids

• Outer Space Sensory Bin

• Awesome Fizzy Ice Cream Shop Sensory Bin

• Easy Dandelion Water Table Activity

• LEGO Car Wash Sensory Bin

21. The BEST (Super Easy & Soft) Playdough Recipe

22. Mud Kitchen Set Up For Kids

• Bubble Foam Sensory Bin

• Rainbow Pouring Station Sensory Bin for Kids

• Frozen Pom Poms

• Moon Rock Letters

Crafts for 4 Year Olds

• Easy Glue Resist Rainbow Painting

• Easy Coffee Filter Butterfly Craft for Kids

• Easy Nature Butterfly Sticky Wall Craft

• Dandelion Snail Threading Board: Outdoor Spring Fine Motor Activity

• Melted Crayon Picture Frame: A Colorful STEAM Craft

• Easy Foil Printing

• Fizzy Painting

• Salad Spinner Lion Craft

• Puffy Paint Cupcake Craft

• Cardboard Laptop Craft

• Farm Animal Finger Puppets Craft

• Cotton Pad Turtle Craft

Easy Learning Activities for 4 Year Olds

• TP Name Sort Activity for Preschoolers

• Cupcake Liner Math Activity

• Caterpillar Pom Pom Counting: Easy Toddler Math

• Washi Tape Pattern Matching

• Dot Sticker Cupcake Math: Easy Toddler Activity

• Pom Pom Sweep

• Letter Sticky Wall Crafts

• Pom Pom Caterpillar Counting

• Caterpillar Number Match for Preschoolers

• Cactus Letter Matching & Fine Motor Activity

• Fingerprint Letters

50. Easy Paint the Shapes Activity for Preschoolers

51. Alphabet Matching

Easy STEAM Activities for 4 Year Olds

52. easy baking soda and vinegar experiment for kids.

53. Fizzy Lemon Volcanoes

54. Dot Sticker Coding: Easy STEAM Activity

55. How to Make Oobleck for Kids

56. Dancing Water Beads

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mandisa | Happy Toddler Playtime (@happytoddlerplaytime)

Process Art Activities for 4 year Olds

57. salt painting for toddlers & preschoolers.

58. How to Easily Do Blow Painting with Straws

59. Sock Hands Painting

60. Painting Ice: Super Easy Art Activity for Kids

61. Shower Curtain Painting

Age Suitability

This activity is good for kids 4 years and up. My kids are 4, 4, and 8 year old.

This is a mess level varies.

Difficulty to Create

Easy to Medium.

Skills Developed

Sensory play, letter recognition, gross motor skills, language development, hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, imaginative play, creativity.

Check out My Books, TV Show & Play Kits!

Book: exciting sensory bins for curious kids.

Did you know I wrote a book of sensory bins? Click here for more information  Exciting Sensory Bin for Curious Kids . Or grab your copy at  Amazon . 

Boring afternoons are made exciting with awesome animal-based bins, like Salty Shark Bay or Yarn Farm. Pretend play bins like Birthday Cake Sensory Play or Bubble Tea Party encourage creativity and imagination. And your kids will have so much fun they won’t even know they’re getting smarter with STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math) activities like Sink or Float Soup, Magnetic Letter Hunt or Ice Cream Scoop and Count.

Book: Big Book of Riddles for Kids

Riddle me this: What’s an exciting way to practice critical thinking while having a blast? The Big Riddle Book for Kids , of course! From hilarious puns to tough brain teasers, kids can build problem-solving skills with hundreds of riddles that show them how to think outside the box.

• 350 riddles for kids —Have hours of fun with riddles, puns and jokes, and math and logic puzzles that’ll get their wheels turning!
• Level up their skills —Riddles get trickier as kids progress through the book, challenging them as they get better at solving puzzles!
• Double-check their work —Kids can check their answers in the back of the book with a handy answer key.

Help children expand their minds while having fun with this puzzle book for kids!

Designed for kids ages 6 years old and up.

TV Show: Curious Crafting

I’m so excited to finally share my new crafting TV show Curious Crafting which launched July 1 at on TVOkids and TVOkids YouTube !

This show is all about fun and easy crafts for toddlers and preschoolers. 

Set in the ultimate crafting space, Curious Crafting is a short form pre-school age series about the joy of making crafts. I lead a rotating cast of adorable little preschoolers (including my own) making magic out of common household objects.

In each episode we transform recycled items into magical crafts like a milk carton school bus, paper bag puppet or cotton pad turtle. The crafters learn and laugh their way through each activity while demonstrating what their young imaginations can create. 

Curious Crafting shares the adventure and joy of making art with takeaway lessons for creating crafts at home.

The Best Sensory Play Kits for Kids

Play is at the core of learning during the early years and it can take many forms. One of the most important of these is sensory play because it engages all of a child’s senses (taste, touch, smell, sight and hearing) and has a enoumous positive impact on brain development.

Our Sensory Play Kits are some fun and easy ways to keep your child engaged while at the same time using sensory play to nurture their mind!

Shop our ready made play kits here .

Will you try any of these activities with your 4 year old pin it for later.

Filed Under:

• Fine Motor Skills
• Four Year Olds
• Gross Motor Skills
• Sensory Bins, Bottles and Bags

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Preschool Activities For 4-Year-Olds: Sensory Play, Games, Art Projects, And Experiments

April 20, 2024 //  by  Louise Pieterse

The days of coloring books and potato stamps are long gone. It’s time to get creative with your kids and help them explore their world in new ways. At 4 years old, they’re starting to learn more about numbers and letters, becoming pros at writing out their names, differentiating between colors, and showing tons of curiosity about everything around them. 

Why not indulge them in a bunch of awesome activities that promote sensory play, fun with numbers, and a host of artistic exploration? We’re confident that our collection of 57 innovative preschool activities will do just the trick and prove perfect for your curious little 4-year-olds!

1. Sprinkle Sensory Bag

Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of this activity, it’s packed with endless possibilities and tons of fun! Simply fill a Ziploc bag with a bunch of sprinkles before inviting your little ones to use it as a tracking platform to trace out letters and numbers with their fingers.

Learn More: Active Littles

2. Hiss Board Game

Every preschool teacher knows the importance of having one amazing board game on hand. Hiss is an excellent investment and your kids will be able to play it for years to come! Engage them in this vibrant game by having them match colors to build these radiant wriggly snakes.

Learn More: Game Cows

3. Floating Paintings

This whimsical activity is part magic and part science and incredibly easy to set up. Task your kiddos with drawing a fun picture on a smooth plate with dry-erase markers. Once their doodles are complete, prompt them to pour some water onto the plate and observe as their picture gets picked up by the water and floats around. It’s pure magic!

Learn More: YouTube

4. Cutting Slime

Exercising your toddlers’ scissors skills is an important part of their development, but most activities are resource-heavy and messy. With this simple project, you’ll encourage them to practice their cutting by having them snip into blobs of slime for infinite ways to exercise those little hands.

Learn More: The OT Toolbox

5. Squirt Gun Painting

Throw out those boring painting activity plans and roll out the big guns, or the water guns in this case. Load up some water pistols with a variety of water paints before passing them off to your preschoolers. Then, let the fun begin by allowing them to squirt their guns at some blank canvas to see what colorful creations they’ll come up with.

Learn More: Fireflies and Mudpies

6. Sticky Turtle Wall

This super cute activity is perfect for your curious kiddos who love to play outside. Start by sticking a sheet of contact paper on a wall or fence (sticky side facing outward) and then draw the outline of a turtle on it with a marker. Your children are then free to stick all kinds of natural green elements on the turtle to bring this masterpiece to life.

Learn More: Happy To d dler Playtime

7. Sensory Counting Bag

This customizable activity will make a fantastic addition to your summer-themed activities. Put together this captivating sensory bag by inserting the printable ice cream sheet in a Ziploc bag before filling it with hair gel and pom poms. You’ll then challenge your little ones to use their counting and color recognition skills to move the pom-poms around the bag to the corresponding cones.

Learn More: Happy Tot Shelf

8. Flower Arrangement

When springtime rolls around, embrace the colors of the season with this cheery activity. Engage your little learners’ in this sensory delight by inviting them to arrange flowers in an upside-down colander. Let their creativity flow as they use flowers of different sizes and hues to design these beautiful floral creations.

Learn More: No Time for Flashcards

9. Animal Tape Rescue Activity

Here’s another fun-filled way to work on your tots’ cutting skills and develop their fine motor skills. Start by taping plastic animals into a muffin tray before challenging your kids to free them by using a scissor to cut the tape. If you’re looking to increase the difficulty, replace the tape with string before encouraging them to release the animals with their fingers by unraveling the complicated web.

Learn More: Days with Grey

10. Toddler at Play

It seems like most indoor activities always leave a mess, but this absorbing game only requires a piece of paper and a few shapes. Begin by tracing outlines of toys, blocks, or even kitchen utensils before tasking your kiddos with matching the objects to their outline.

Learn More: Toddler At Play

11. Leaf Rubbing

Nothing promotes sensory engagement quite like nature! Immerse your class in all the colors, smells, and textures of the outdoors with this simple leaf-rubbing activity. Send them off into your schoolyard to pick up a few fallen leaves. You’ll then prompt them to place a blank piece of paper over their leaves before having them rub over it with crayons to reveal all the intricate patterns of nature.

Learn More: Social Field Trips

12. Sticker Lines

If you’ve got a few stickers to spare, this delightful and hands-on activity is the perfect choice. Simply draw lines on a large piece of white paper before having your children place stickers all along the line. You can even amp up the difficulty by challenging them to see if they can stick the colors in a pattern!

Learn More: Busy Toddler

13. Playdough Stamp Counting

Playdough stamping is an age-old kindergarten craft, but have you ever thought of switching it up to a counting activity? In this hands-on exercise, you’ll start by writing various numbers on pieces of paper before tasking your kiddos with stamping the correct number of dots into Playdough using different building blocks.

Learn More: Frugal Fun 4 Boys and Girls

14. Pom-Pom Patterns

This interactive activity will work wonders for your toddlers’ color recognition and fine motor skills. Simply arm them with a pair of mini tweezers and then challenge them to place pom-poms in a grid formation by having them follow these printable template cards.

Learn More: Just Teachy

15. Letter Search with Stickers

Familiarizing your tots with alphabet letters just got a whole lot more fun! Provide them with an empty paper towel roll and colorful stickers that you’ve covered in various letters. Then, invite them to match the stickers to the correct letter on the roll.

Learn More: How Wee Learn

16. Leaf Sorting

Here’s another excellent example of how your garden can be one of your greatest resources. Gather up leaves of all shapes and sizes or send your kids into your schoolyard to rustle up a bunch. You’ll then encourage them to do their best as you have them sort each leaf by size, texture, color, or any other characteristics you can think of.

Learn More: Montessori from the Heart

17. Rainbow Stacking Stones

In this triple-threat of an activity, your children will learn all about colors, balancing, and sorting according to size. Begin by inviting them to gather up a bunch of small stones before allowing them to adorn each stone with colorful paint. Once complete, challenge them to stack the stones in order from biggest to smallest.

Learn More: Happy Hooligans

18. Toilet Roll Haircuts

Have your little ones shown interest in wanting to cut their own hair? Avoid any unwanted mishaps by treating them to this adorable cutting activity. They’ll work on their scissors skills as you task them with decorating empty toilet rolls before you engage their inner stylist by having them give their cardboard characters some funky haircuts.

Learn More: Our Kid Things

19. Nail Painting

Another potentially messy activity can be reined in with just a small adjustment. Instead of letting your young minds paint your or their own nails, arm them with nail polish and give them these easy-to-make cardboard cutouts to decorate with colors of their choice.

Learn More: Play Hooray

20. Cotton Ball Painting

If your littles are struggling to get the hang of painting with a paintbrush, this cotton ball painting project will provide them with the perfect happy medium. Simply stick cotton wool in clothes pegs and then place them in various blobs of paint. Your kiddos are then free to go to town on a canvas of your choice as you encourage them to embrace their creative flair!

Learn More: Tip Junkie

21. Name Hop

Any game that can burn off a little energy is a winner in our books! In Name Hop, you’ll start by writing letters on paper plates before you scatter them around your classroom floor. Challenge your tots to make their way through the alphabet by having them jump from letter to letter, spelling out their name or even practicing sight words.

Learn More: Taming Little Monsters

22. Utensil Printing

You can turn nearly anything into art with a bit of colorful paint and a little imagination. In this case, allow your kiddos to use simple kitchen utensils to create vivid patterns with paint. You’ll be amazed to see all the creative flower designs that your budding Picassos come up with.

Learn More: Fantastic Fun and Learning

23. Flower Petal Name Practice

Staying on the floral theme, this delightful activity will let your kids practice spelling out their names. Try adding this to their daily routine as you have them practice laying out petals in the correct order to spell out their names.

Learn More: A Dab Of Glue Will Do

24. Number Search Sticker Activity

There’s seemingly no end to the things you can do with a few stickers and a sheet of paper. In this variation, you’ll start by writing down some numbers on paper before assigning a color to each one. Proceed by handing the sheets out to your class and challenging them to search for the numbers and place the corresponding sticker on each.

Learn More: Stay At Home Educator

25. Sticky Yarn Numbers

Get those nimble hands working in this super simple number recognition activity. Simply draw a bunch of numbers on paper before sticking a sheet of contact paper over it, making sure the sticky side is facing up. Then, invite your littles to trace out each digit by having them use pieces of yarn to map out all the curves and angles.

Learn More: Fun Littles

26. Make Counting Hands

It’s perfectly natural for your children to count on their fingers, but how about letting them count on someone (or something) else’s fingers? Treat them to some hands-on learning by first filling gloves with beans or grain. Afterward, have them roll a pair of dice before challenging them to represent that number on the gloves.

Learn More: JDaniel4’s Mom

27. Ribbon Threading

Even the simplest of activities can have great benefits in the development of your preschoolers. This ribbon threading activity is sure to do the trick as you encourage them to thread different ribbons through an oven rack. They’ll exercise their little fingers and their patience as they weave each ribbon through the rack.

Learn More: Happy Brown House

28. Salt Dough Dinosaur Fossils

These salt dough fossils will make a fantastic addition to a prehistoric-themed lesson. Allow your kiddos to press toy dinosaurs into circles of salt dough to create impressions before placing them in an oven to dry. Once hardened, they’ll have an array of dino fossils that you can even hide in your garden for them to dig up later if you’re feeling adventurous! 

Learn More: Mom Brite

29. Colorful Counting Sticks

Craft sticks are probably already a staple in your classroom so setting up this game should be a breeze. Mark each stick with a number and then challenge your little learners to place a corresponding amount of small rubber bands on each stick, according to the number represented.

Learn More: Sweet Silly Sara

30. Paper-Cutting Station

This handy paper-cutting station is the perfect way to keep your little ones busy. Simply print out a few templates that you’ll place in a craft box along with a few pairs of scissors. When your tots have some free time or you’re looking to distract them for a moment, have them open the box, pick out a template, and cut along the lines.

Learn More: Playdough to Plato

31. Lock and Key Number Match

This innovative activity is guaranteed to keep your kids busy while teaching them number and counting skills at the same time. To create this exercise, write numbers on locks before making dots on the keychains of the matching keys. You’ll then encourage your learners to match each lock with its key to unlock them all.

Learn More: ABC Does

32. Bubble Art

Your young minds will create unique pieces of art every time with this imaginative activity. Create a colorful bubble solution by mixing dish soap and paint together before inviting your kids to form bubble clouds by blowing into the solution with a straw. Afterward, allow them to place paper onto the bubbles to form floral templates that they can then adorn with patches of greenery.

Learn More: A Piece of Rainbow

33. Wet Sidewalk Chalk Drawings

Liven up your classroom environment with this outdoor art session. Provide your tots with sidewalk chalk that’s been soaked in water before inviting them to forge impressive patterns in your schoolyard. You’re sure to be mesmerized by all the grand designs that they come up with and how the simple addition of water transforms ordinary sidewalk chalk into an ultra-vibrant medium.

34. Ice Block Treasure Hunt

Here’s a guaranteed boredom buster for those hot summer days. Freeze a bunch of plastic toys in a big block of ice before allowing your children to excavate them. Encourage them to use water, kitchen utensils, and more to try and melt or crush the ice to save the toys from their icy prison.

Learn More: The Inspired Home

35. Glow In The Dark Bowling

Kick lawn bowling up a notch with a whimsical game of glow-in-the-dark bowling. Simply snap a few glow sticks and pop them into plastic bottles filled with water to create a thrilling night-time activity that will work wonders for your kiddos’ gross motor skills and hand-eye coordination.

Learn More: Passion for Savings

36. Rock Painting

You can never go wrong with a classic activity! Rock painting is a fantastic way to get your children to express their creativity while also enjoying some fun in the sun. Provide them with an array of paints and a rock of their choice before getting them excited to whip up these vibrant garden accessories.

Learn More: Mrs. Plemon’s Kindergarten

37. Yarn Painting

Yarn is another potential paintbrush alternative that makes for stunning outcomes! Invite your toddlers to create abstract pieces of art by first having them dip yarn in paint and lay it down on paper. You’ll then prompt them to drag it across the page to produce vibrant tapestries right before their eyes.

38. Clear Frame Portrait Drawing

This ingenious activity maximizes creativity while simultaneously being light on resources. Simply pair your kids up before providing each pair with a clear plastic lid and a dry-erase marker. They’ll then take turns outlining their classmates’ features by placing the lid over their partner’s face and using the marker to trace out all their features.

Learn More: Instagram

39. Mystery Box

Tactile exploration is a key part of your preschoolers’ development and this mystery box activity is one of the best ways to explore that sense. Start by adding anything from toys to fruit, utensils, or foam letters to a box before encouraging your pupils to feel the objects without looking and guess what hidden items lay inside.

Learn More: Kids Art n Craft

40. Animal Rescue

Round up your children and get them ready to embark on this engaging rescue mission! Wrap up a few toys with rubber bands or string before challenging your students to free each animal by using their fine motor skills to unravel the knots and loops that bind the toys.

Learn More: Team Cartwright

41. Animal Leg Match

This adorable activity makes for a delightful addition to animal lessons or could even be used as an extension exercise to an animal book reading lesson. Using clothespins with different kinds of animal legs on them, you’ll task your kiddos with matching them to their body cutouts to complete this fun-filled matching activity. 

Learn More: And Next Comes L

42. Move Like An Animal Cube

It’s time to get those little bodies moving with this dynamic activity! Creative this fun animal movement cube by sticking movement prompts and pictures of animals to each side of the shape. Then, have your littles take turns rolling the cube before encouraging them to jump, crawl, and hop according to the animal movement that their roll lands on.

Learn More: Choices for Children

43. Fine Motor Fishing

Inspire a fresh take on the classic game of magnet fishing! Begin by making these super cute pipe cleaner fish before twisting and turning a separate pipe cleaner to create a hook. Engage your class in scooping up their catch of the day by using the hook to pick up one colorful fish at a time and then drop it into a corresponding toilet paper roll.

Learn More: Home School AEC

44. Animal Washing Station

This might seem like a sneaky way to get your tots to clean their toys, but it’s actually a fantastic way to develop their fine motor skills. Simply cover a bunch of their toys in mud before tasking them with using a toothbrush, cloth, or even cotton buds to get into all the nooks and crannies of their animals – leaving them squeaky clean and primed for playtime!

Learn More: The Imagination Tree

45. Puffy Paint Art

For a whimsical take on art lessons, try whipping up a batch of puffy paint! Using shaving cream and food coloring, you’ll invite your little artists to create textural wonders by squeezing the mixture out of a piping bag. Draw outlines of a picture for them to follow or let their creativity run freely by allowing them to forge artistic wonders from scratch.

Learn More: The Artful Parent

46. Easy-Peasy Sock Puppets

Making these quirky sock puppets is an awesome way to indulge your kids’ creativity while also teaching them the importance of recycling. Gather up a bunch of old socks and have your preschoolers come up with their very own unique character using leftover popsicle sticks, craft supplies, googly eyes, and more!

Learn More: Pinterest

47. Shape Hunt

A classic shape hunt activity may seem simple enough, but it’ll do wonders for your toddlers’ developing minds. Challenge them to hunt around your classroom or outside to find objects in their environment that match a variety of known shapes.

Learn More: Michigan State University

48. Sensory Rice Bin

Sensory activities are as much a rewarding experience for your little ones as they are fun. Immerse them in this wonderful exercise where you’ll have them search through a sea of colorful rice using a variety of tools to aid them in excavating the hidden objects.

Learn More: Honors Grad U

49. Eggshell Garden

Planting little eggshell gardens will be one of the cutest and most memorable experiments to treat your littles to. Have them fill eggshells with soil and seeds before encouraging them to place their eggs in different places around your classroom to observe the effects of sunlight on their growth. It’s a fantastic way to teach them about the importance of recycling and how growing their own plants can aid in fighting the climate crisis.

Learn More: Bright Wheel Blog

50. Nature Art Collage

A walk outdoors is a lovely way for your children to interact with nature and adding a creative element to it means they get to put their thinking caps on as well. Allow them to pick up a variety of natural objects such as sticks, leaves, tree bark, and flowers before encouraging them to use their items to come up with designs such as a whimsical mandala pattern.

Learn More: Emma Owl

51. Story Stones

Inviting your class to create story stones is a sure way to engage every facet of their imagination. Have your kiddos paint simple doodles onto stones or pre-make them if you’re in a time crunch. Then, prompt them to pick a random stone and come up with a fitting tale to match the image displayed.

Learn More: Early Impact Learning

52. Balloon Tennis

DIY Balloon Tennis is an excellent way to work on your children’s hand-eye coordination and expel some energy in the process. Start by whipping up a few racquets using paper plates and popsicle sticks before challenging your little athletes to see who can use them to keep a balloon off the floor for the longest time.

Learn More: Lovevery

53. Sidewalk Chalk Obstacle Course

If your kids love to move and play outdoors, this activity will soon become one of their favorites! Plan out a thrilling obstacle course on your sidewalk by using colorful chalk to map out each movement that your learners will have to carry out. Once complete, challenge them to move through the course as quickly and accurately as possible as you have them jump, hop, and skip to the finish.

Learn More: University of Nebraska-Lincoln

54. Bubble Wrap stomp painting

It’s not often that your little ones get to make a mess without consequences, but in this creative project, they’ll get to do just that! Start by taping large pieces of bubble wrap around their feet before inviting them to step onto a large sheet of paper. They’re then free to dip their feet into different paints and stomp around the canvas to create an abstract masterpiece.

Learn More: Mess for Less

55. Balloon Rocket Experiment

Introducing your class to STEM activities at an early age is a wonderful way to skyrocket their progress. In this fun-filled experiment, you’ll assist them in using materials such as balloons, string, tape, and straws to design a balloon rocket that’s completely propelled by the laws of physics!

Learn More: Kaplan

56. Musical Statues

Treat your young minds to a classic game of Musical Statues to improve their concentration skills and get their bodies grooving. Have them try out the classic version where they’ll need to freeze as soon as the music stops. For an added twist, when the music stops encourage them to freeze before pretending to be an animal or prompting them to express a random emotion.

Learn More: Silly Fish Learning

57. Bead Patterns

Using beads as a tool for learning not only results in a variety of trendy accessories but they can also be used as a method to develop your toddlers’ finger control and fine motor skills. In this activity, have them pick a random pattern card before inviting them to string colorful beads onto pipe cleaners to accurately represent the order on their cards.

Learn More: 8 Beading Activities for Preschoolers

42 Fun STEM Activities for 4 Year Olds (and Preschoolers)

by Sarah | Activities , Learning , Science | 0 comments

STEM activities are perfect for young kids because it combines learning with fun! Do you have a preschooler in your home? Try out some of these easy STEM activities for 4 year olds for some good educational fun.

Preschoolers are at the perfect age for STEM activities because they are old enough to follow simple directions, understand and think deeper about the world around them, and have a longer attention span than toddlers. 

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Using STEM Activities with Preschoolers

First, what does STEM mean? STEM is an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. You may also hear a similar acronym called STEAM. This one has an added A which stands for Art. 

The activities you’ll find below are a combination of STEM and STEAM activities. Art is important too!

Let’s look at each of the different aspects of STEM and what kinds of activities might be included in each one. 

Science includes many different subcategories such as biology, chemistry, physics, geology, environmental, botany, and more.

For preschoolers (which is 3-4 year olds), science is basically learning the basics of the world around them. 

They are learning how plants grow. About objects they see in the night sky. About all the different types of animals. How our actions affect the environment and simple science experiments.

This is the perfect time to take advantage of your child’s love of farm animals or dinosaurs! Use what they love as a jumping off point for learning. 

Don’t expect mastery at this point, but the beginning of understanding basic scientific concepts, exposure to vocabulary, and learning how to ask questions about what they see. 

Technology may seem like an abstract concept for some- and maybe when you think of technology you think of computers, video games, and screen time. 

While these are part of technology, there is a lot more to it. 

Technology for preschooler may look like beginning robotics, coding, and cause & effect. As well as learning the basics of using things like calculators, cameras, computers, etc. 

Engineering

Engineering may seem like something that is too advanced for preschoolers, but remember that everything is built on smaller ideas and concepts. 

Engineering for preschoolers is all about exploring how things are built, how things work, and problem solving.

Engineering for 4 year olds might look like building challenges with items such as legos, blocks, or random items from around the home or yard. It could be creating mazes or forts.

Basically giving them a potential problem and letting them figure out a way to solve it.

Math probably seems pretty self explanatory- we all know what math is, right?

But math in STEM activities is all about exploring numbers in a more hands-on way. There are no worksheets here!

They can explore concepts of addition and subtraction, measurement, patterns, and geometry. 

Even though art isn’t part of STEM, it is part of STEAM, so I thought I’d include it here as well. 

Art is an important part of building a creative mind. As you would expect, art includes things like painting, drawing, other creative mediums. 

How to Do STEM Activities With Your Child

First and foremost, STEM activities should be fun and engaging. Even if you explain nothing to your child about the activity they will still be able to critically look at what they are seeing and make connections. 

STEM activities should be hands-on. That means you may have to make some alterations to experiments to make them safe for little hands. 

You want to allow them as much control in the activities as possible. Let them measure, build, pour, mix, feel, etc. as much as possible. This means you might have to fight the urge to make things perfect- remember it’s more about the experience than anything else!

While doing the STEM activities with your preschooler, be sure to fight the urge to lecture, but do encourage discussions and observations. 

A big part of STEM for 4 year olds is learning how things work. This means encourage them to look closely at what is happening.

Ask open-ended questions like  what do you see? What is happening here? What do you smell?  As they get older they will eventually move on to writing their data down, but for now just get your preschooler used to observing.

Also encourage them to ask questions. You want them to be curious about WHY things are happening. WHY the experiment turned out the way it did.

There are no stupid questions, so encourage your child to ask whatever they want. And then encourage them to guess on the answer. This is the first step to learning to how to hypothesize and experiment using the scientific method.

Don’t know the answer to their questions? Do some research together!

And finally, kids love repetition. And, while it might annoy you to do things over and over again, it will help your preschooler solidify their understanding of STEM concepts. So do these STEM activities more than once- or as often as your preschooler wants!

42 STEM Activities for 4 Year Olds (and Preschoolers)

Now it’s time for the STEM activities! Below you will find all sorts of fun STEM (or STEAM) activities to do with your preschooler. 

Exploding Baking Soda and Vinegar Bags (a STEM Activity)

Make exploding baking soda and vinegar bags to teach chemistry to young kids!

Cicada Shell Sensory Activity for Nature-Loving Kids

Thrill your bug-loving preschooler with this cicada shell sensory activity to help them learn about cicadas!

How to Teach Kids About the Life Cycle of a Butterfly

Help kids learn about metamorphosis using real butterflies!

8 Fun Candy Corn Math Activities for Young Kids

Try these Candy Corn math activities for kids to make their Fall and Halloween math practice fun and exciting!

Oil and Water Sensory Bag for Science Exploration

Let your kids learn about oil and water with this oil and water sensory bag for mess free science fun!

How to Do a Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids (of All Ages!)

Go on nature scavenger hunt for a fun nature-filled activity for kids, and parents, of all ages!

Simple Acids and Bases Science Experiment to Do With Kids

Try this acid and base experiment to test household solutions and decided if they are acidic or basic!

Fun Chemical Reaction Experiment for Kids That Gives Off Heat!

Try this chemical reaction experiment that shows how chemical reactions produce heat!

How to Make Dancing Popcorn

Have fun learning chemistry with this fun dancing popcorn activity!

How to Create a Fun Baking Soda and Vinegar Sensory Play Tub

Make a baking soda and vinegar sensory play tub that will keep them engaged for hours!

Marbled Planet Craft: A Fun Way to Learn the Planets

Make beautiful swirled planets to help teach your children about space and learn the planets by name.

Simple Color Mixing Activity for Kids

Try this simple, hands-on color mixing activity to teach about primary and secondary colors!

7 Math Centered Candy Heart Activities for Young Kids

Make math fun this Valentine’s day by bring some candy hearts into your lessons! 

How to Make Fizzing Baking Soda Paint (a STEAM Activity)

Try making baking soda paints to combine science and art into a fun activity for all ages!

How to Make Glow in the Dark Slime!

Make your own glow in the dark slime!

Fun Fizzing Baking Soda Dinosaur Eggs STEM Activity

Try making these fizzing baking soda dinosaur eggs- and hatch them out with vinegar!

How to Have a Math Scavenger Hunt + Free Printable

Host a math scavenger hunt for the kids and make learning fun!

Fire Slime- A Simple Slime Recipe for Science Fun!

A simple slime recipe that kids can make on their own and learn a little science along the way!

How to Make the Best Paper Airplane for Long Flights

Paper airplanes use thinking skills and attention to detail. Plus they're fun to fly!

8+ Water Bead Activities for Hours of Sensory Fun

Experiment and explore with water beads!

More Simple STEM Activities for 4 Year Olds

Here are a few more simple preschool STEM activities to try with your kids: These encourage critical thinking and natural curiosity, plus they are tons of fun!

Coloring Flowers:  Place white flowers (like daisies or carnations) in vases filled with colored water. Watch the white petals change color!

Make Your Own Fossils:  Use homemade playdough or clay and make fossil prints of your tiny dinosaurs, shells, or other toys animals.

Baking Soda and Vinegar Balloons:  Blow up a balloon using the reaction between baking soda and vinegar! You can get the full instructions here: 7 Baking Soda and Vinegar STEM Activities for Kids

Make Rain in a Cup:  Fill a cup with 2/3 with water. Fill the rest of the way with shaving cream (this is your rain cloud). Drip blue food coloring on top the cream and watch it slowly rain down into the cup!

Magnet Exploration Tray:  Set up a tray with various magnets and metal pieces- and maybe some non metal objects as well. Let your child explore how the magnets work!

Make Rock Candy:  Learn about super saturated solutions and crystal making- and get something yummy to eat! Here’s a simple recipe: Rock Candy

Grow Crystal Snowflakes or Ornaments:  Make borax solution and place pipe cleaners molded into shapes in the solution, Watch the crystals grow! Here’s how: Borax Snowflakes . *Watch your child carefully around borax.

Pencils in a Bag:  Fill a ziploc bag halfway with water and zip close. Carefully poke sharp pencils through the bag all the way to the other side. Does the water spill out? How many pencils can you add before it leaks or pops?

The Lego Challenge:  Challenge your child to build something specific out of legos. Like a chair for a small stuffed animal, a bridge, or any other structure.

Marshmallows and Toothpicks:  Give your child a tray of mini-marshmallows and toothpicks and encourage them to build and explore. What shapes can they make?

Sink and Float Tub:  Give your child a tub of water (or just use the sink or bathtub) and collect various objects from around the house. Have them guess and test which will float and sink.

A Measuring Station: Give your child a variety of measuring devices- yard stick, ruler, measuring tape, etc. And explore measuring things- don’t forget to estimate the lengths and use things like your own hands or feet to measure too!

Non-Newtonian Fluid:  All you need is cornstarch and water and you have this fun goop to explore with. Is it solid? Is it liquid?

Plant a Garden (or Some Seeds):  Gardening is the best way to learn about the lifecycle of plants. Even if you can’t grow a big garden, plant some bean seeds, watch an avocado pit grow, or sprout some potatoes! Don’t forget to point out the different parts of plants!

Make Seed Bombs: Mix flower seeds in with clay and allow to dry. Throw them out in the yard and watch them grow!

Build a Volcano:  This old school activity is always a fun science experiment for kids! They just love building the volcano out of mud, dirt, or clay. And watching the baking soda and vinegar eruption!

Make Your Own Ice Cream in a Bag:  Get some cream, sugar, vanilla, rock salt, ice and some plastic bags and you can make ice cream! Here’s how: ice cream in a bag .

Walking Water Experiment:  Watch water “walk” from one place to another and learn about capillary action! All you need if food coloring, water, and paper towels. Here’s how to do it: Walking Water Experiment

Mentos and Coke Explosion: Similar to a volcano you can make a big chemical reaction by dropping mentos candy into a bottle of coke! Maybe you could experiment with other sodas as well!

Make a Balloon Rocket: Place a straw on a length of string. Stretch the string across the room and secure so that it is taut. Blow up a balloon- but don’t tie it. Tape the straw to the top of the balloon and let it go- how far will it travel across the string?

The Building Challenge:  Challenge your child to build something with uncommon building materials- such as plastic cups, rocks, paper, recyclables, etc. Let them explore and see how big or how high they can build. This is a simple STEM activity that builds problem solving skills. 

And finally don’t forget the biggest STEM activity of all: Play. Playtime is how preschoolers learn. So surround them with learning opportunities and open-ended toys. Here are some of my favorite:

• Magnetic Tiles for building
• REAL tools in kids sizes- give them some scrap wood, a hammer, nails, screws, screwdrivers, etc. 
• Doughs like playdough, kinetic sand, moon sand, etc. 
• Exploratory tools like magnifying glasses, microscopes, bug boxes, butterfly nets, etc. 
• Realistic animals

You want to give your child toys that can be used in many different ways to create and explore with!

Who Can Do These STEM Activities?

Even though the list of STEM activities is aimed for 4 year olds, really kids of all ages can have fun with these simple STEM projects. In general though, these activities will be good for kids preschool age to elementary school age. 

Just remember to tailor them to  your own child’s abilities. Kids don’t magically gain abilities when they pass their 3rd or 4th birthday- so some toddlers may be able to do these fun activities and some 4 year olds might not be ready for them.  But with a little alterations even 1 year olds and toddlers can enjoy many of these fun activities- so go ahead and involve the whole family!

Older kids may also want to participate. They will be able to understand deeper concepts than preschoolers and may be able to help explain things to younger siblings!

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Parent Resources for Learning > Core Skills > 7 Engaging Learning Activities for 4-Year-Olds

7 Engaging Learning Activities for 4-Year-Olds

by Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos | May 17, 2023 | Core Skills

What are the best activities for 4-year-olds? There’s so much going in kids’ lives at this age that it can be tough to tell. Should you focus on letters and numbers? Playing pretend? Arts and crafts? Getting outdoors?

At Begin, we focus on the 5 C’s that help kids thrive in school and life: Creativity , Critical Thinking , Curiosity , Character , and Core Skills .

Kids who develop in these areas early enjoy more success in school and work and better relationships with friends and teachers. They make better decisions. And ultimately they’re more likely to love learning throughout their lives. 

The Short Cut

• Activities for 4-year-olds can develop the 5 C’s that help them thrive in school and life: Creativity, Critical Thinking, Curiosity, Character, and Core Skills
• Four-year-olds are developing rapidly, gaining new skills like counting and letter recognition, playing organized games with others, and storytelling
• Parents can help by encouraging activities that encourage creativity and cooperation, introduce letters and numbers, and involve simple rules or pretend play

Luckily, all 5 C’s are easy to support through play activities, especially for 4-year-olds!

In this article, we’ll share some of our learning experts’ favorite creative ways to help keep your 4-year-old learning and entertained at home.

Skills Your 4-Year-Old Is Developing

Your child is reaching many exciting milestones during this time, from starting to write their name and following two- and three-step instructions to taking things apart to see how they work and comforting someone who’s sad. Knowing more about their growth areas can help you choose which activities can best guide them.

Creativity, Character, and Curiosity

Your 4-year-old’s imagination is growing by leaps and bounds. Four-year-olds often develop imaginary friends and love to play dress-up (Creativity and Curiosity at work!). They can also get their friends, siblings, or even mom and dad involved as their ability to play with others develops (part of building Character).

When choosing activities for 4-year-olds, we suggest picking games that encourage creativity, introduce new things, and involve cooperative play to help your child continue developing these important skills.

Core Skills

At the four-year mark, you’ve likely already seen your child’s growing cognitive abilities. Many kids this age begin to:

• Memorize the names of shapes and colors
• Understand the idea of counting
• Write or read a few written numbers
• Recall parts of a story
• Write their first name

In addition, children at this stage are getting better at problem-solving and understanding the world around them. And there’s so much more exciting cognitive development to come!

Gross and Fine Motor Skills

At age 4, your child is developing a few new gross motor skills. These may include jumping on one leg, skipping, throwing and catching a ball, kicking a ball, climbing, and hopping while running.

Some fine motor skills are also improving. At this stage, your child may be able to complete puzzles, use child-safe scissors, and hold pens, markers, and pencils correctly.

Your child’s growing gross and fine motor skills help them explore new activities related to many of the 5 C’s. At age 4, they may become able to draw some figures and write a few letters and numbers (Core Skills and Creativity). And their gross motor skills will help them play organized games like sports, which develop Critical Thinking by introducing sets of rules to follow.

Since many children love being active and welcoming new challenges, working their developing motor skills into new activities for 4-year-olds can be a lot of fun!

Sensory Skills

At Begin, we encourage lots of sensory play (activities that involve kids using their five senses) because children explore and learn about the world around them by touching, smelling, seeing, hearing, and tasting.

Sensory play has an important role in many aspects of a child’s development, including:

• Cognitive development
• Social skills
• Fine motor skills
• Gross motor skills
• Language development
• Problem-solving skills

Incorporating sensory play when you choose activities for 4-year-olds can help them continue developing these skills.

Physical Strength

We’ve already covered some of the gross motor skills your 4-year-old is learning. As they continue to be active every day, their physical strength will naturally increase.

Four-year-olds should ideally get about three hours of physical play per day . This can include light, moderate, and vigorous activities.

Organized sports and other physical games can help kids develop their strength and Critical Thinking at the same time. But at this stage, it can be challenging for children to wrap their heads around the rules of a game. Four-year-olds may run or kick a ball in the wrong direction. And that’s OK! It’s part of their development.

If you choose to enroll your child in sports to help with their physical development, we suggest you opt for early childhood sports programs that focus on healthy fun and engagement, rather than being competitive.

7 Creative Learning Activities for 4-Year-Olds

1. indoor obstacle course.

What You’ll Need:

It’s easy to create an indoor obstacle course using everyday items around your home. To get started, you’ll need to come up with a list of challenges and then build the course around that.

Look around the house and see what movable items can bring your obstacle course to life. Chairs, cushions, books, and blankets can all add to the fun!

What to Do:

It’s always fun to get the kids involved in the building of your obstacle course. As a parent, your main role can be maintaining safety.

If you’re stuck thinking of challenges to create, here are some ideas:

Tunnel — An indoor tunnel is easy to create by lining up a row of chairs that your child can crawl through.

Balance Beam — Got some painter’s tape? Place a long strip on the floor and encourage your child to walk it in a straight line.

Maze — Children can create an indoor maze by lining up some books and using them as a low wall.

Obstacle courses are great to encourage physical activity, Critical Thinking, and Creativity while having lots of fun!

2. Hopscotch

• A small rock or pebble
• A paved area outside

Hopscotch is a classic activity for 4-year-olds! (Check out detailed instructions for hopscotch and other number-related games here. )

You might want to make the game a bit easier than the usual version to begin with. You can do that by:

• Making the squares with numbers closer together
• Letting your child jump to one number at a time
• Creating a board that goes from one to six (this can increase as your child gets more adept at the game)
• Letting your child place their stone on the number rather than toss it

As your child gets better at the game, they can move closer to the original rules.

Besides getting some exercise in, your child will also be practicing math , one of the Core Skills. You can help by counting their hops out loud and then celebrate the total hops once they reach the other side.

3. Outdoor Letter and Number Hunt

• 10 index cards

Start by writing the numbers 1 to 5 on five individual index cards (one number per card). Then write 5 letters—maybe your child’s name or one of their favorite things—on the remaining cards.

Finally, hide the cards in your yard or around a nearby park (behind a tree, in a bush, under a rock, etc.). Tip: Be sure to place the cards underneath or attached to something in case the wind blows!

The aim of the game is simple—encourage your child to find a number card (“Let’s see if we can find a number!”). If they find a number, celebrate this moment (“You found a number!”). If not, turn the card over and encourage them to try again. You can then do the same with letters.

You can find more details here . To make it a bit more challenging, ask your child to find a specific number or letter. Recognizing letters and numbers is an important Core Skill for 4-year-olds, so this game helps them learn while having fun!

4. Dance Festival

• Wooden spoons
• Fun costumes

Attending a concert or music festival can be a fantastic experience for kids, giving them a chance to cultivate Curiosity by checking out new sights and sounds (not to mention the Creativity that comes with dancing). So why not bring that fun to your household?

You can turn pots over to create drums, hit wooden spoons together (they can also be a pretend microphone), and dress in fun costumes to really get into the mood.

This is a great activity to get the whole family involved. The kids may want you to play their favorite songs over and over, and that’s fine—but see if you can work some new ones into the mix too!

5. Craft Box

• Pipe cleaners
• Cotton balls
• Colored paper
• Any other craft supplies you have around the house

This activity is straightforward. All you need to do is fill the box with the craft supplies and encourage your child to create anything they want.

Will they draw a house? Create a rocket ship? Who knows what their imaginative minds will come up with?

This is a great opportunity for your child to continue developing their Creativity. And once the box is finished, they can store art supplies in it for future creative projects too!

6. Color Mixing Sensory Bag

• Icing or shaving cream
• Food coloring
• Two small bowls
• Toothpick or spatula
• Large zip-top bag

You can follow these detailed instructions for creating a color mixing sensory bag for your 4-year-old. In a nutshell, your child will need to use their fingers and hands to squish and mix the different colors inside the bag.

This activity is a great way for your child to practice experimenting and exploring cause and effect while having fun and learning about colors, an important Core Skill. They’ll also enjoy squishing and squashing the soft icing or shaving cream!

7. Shared Story Map

• Our story map
• Crayons or pencils
• Toys (preferably stuffed animals)

Encourage your child to tell you a story, using the story map as a guide. They can fill the map out with their creative drawings, or you can help them write the story out.

Sometimes it can be challenging for a child to think of a whole story by themselves. This is where you come in! You can start the story, and then your child can add on (other family members can join in, too).

Once you’re confident the story is complete, it’s time to act it out together using the toys!

This activity helps with language development (a Core Skill), storytelling and imagination (Creativity), and collaborating with others (Character)—all at the same time!

Activities for 4-Year-Olds with Begin

Children are constantly learning and growing. By focusing on activities for 4-year-olds that develop the 5 C’s, you can have a great time as a family while setting kids up to thrive in life.

Begin can help.

Our age- and stage-matched learning membership pairs kids with learning activities that will help them reach the milestones that matter for their age. At age 4, they might be working on early reading and math skills with our award-winning HOMER app, exploring the world through a hands-on Little Passports kit, or putting together an animal puzzle.

Take our online quiz to find out which membership stage is right for your family today!

Jody has a Ph.D. in Developmental Science and more than a decade of experience in the children’s media and early learning space.

View all posts

Dr. Jody Sherman LeVos

Chief Learning Officer at Begin

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29 Games That Every 4-Year-Olds Love to Play

Best Learning Games for 4-Year-Olds

Candy Matching Game

This game helps 4-year-olds with color recognition and pattern matching skills.

The best way to teach fundamentals of geometry playfully and have fun for four-year-olds.

Giant Dwarf

One of the incredibly simple learning games for 4-year-olds. (so easy a 4-year-old kid can do it!)

Drawing Game

You’ve just discovered the classic learning games every 4-year-olds loves to play!

Memory Card Game

This exercise game helps 4-year-olds learn fast with memory-boosting effects.

Musical Instruments Game

It takes less than 3 minutes to teach a 4-year-old kid dozens of instruments with this game.

Hidden Objects

A learning game for 4-year-olds that helps them learn the different objects while cleaning up their room simultaneously!

Flying Cards

This game makes flashcards more fun! It helps improve kids' memory as they progress.

Educational Games for 4-Year-Olds

This is the perfect time to give your 4-year-olds an early head start! Your kids’ faces will light up as they start playing these educational games for 4-year-olds! Experts design these games just for them.

Educational Puzzle

It's educational, engaging, and stimulates memory. Besides, it's one of the best educational games for four-year-olds!

Find the Pair

Easy peasy. Look for the pairs and match them to get the prize while improving visual attention and scanning skills!

Find the Animals

Let your 4-year-old recognize and memorize these animals by using visual memory and attention skills!

Color Pattern Shape

Here is one of the best learning games for 4 year olds. Conceptualization and attention skills will be improved.

Are you ready to test your small genius with legendary Bird Eye Game? 4 year olds love this attention game!

Find the Shadow

These shadows are tricky enough to challenge your 4 year old’s visual scanning and attention skills!

Let’s follow the lights’ dance! This one is a great game to improve short-term memory besides sustained attention.

4 year olds love birds, and it’s time to get to know birds much better! A special game for both visual and aural memory.

There are never enough fun games for kids.

If you are looking for color and shapes learning games , spot the difference games , or number games schoolers , look no further than this list! Our list includes mostly indoor games for preschoolers but from the classics to new creations, there is something fun for everyone.

Games for 4 Year Olds

1. mentalup learning games for 4 year olds.

Do you know what MentalUP is? Let’s briefly explain it: MentalUP is an award-winning app that offers hundreds of spot the difference, number blocks, puzzles, and other cognitive skills games that nurture mental agility , logic, attention, and memory development!

MentalUP is the best option for free learning games for preschoolers. The most significant advantage of this app is that it provides multi-faceted exercises rather than unidirectional exercises. There are no ads or inappropriate content, which is beneficial in that kids can play MentalUP without any parental control need.

MentalUP consists of learning apps for preschoolers that are designed for the development of visual , verbal , mathematical intelligence , attention , concentration , analytical thinking skills, and more based on their learning style .

MentalUP includes hundreds of exercises in the form of educational games for 4 year old children ! 🤩🥳

MentalUP games are designed by academicians , specialists , and game developers , and certified as pedagogical products . 😇That’s why both parents and kids love MentalUP that much! 🙌

The award-winning app also offers 240+ physical workouts besides hundreds of learning games for 4 year olds . 💯

One and only app that is extremely beneficial for both brain and body ! 🧠👟🚀

PLAY & LEARN WITH MENTALUP

2. From the Market Game

You can name the things that you bought from the market to your child one by one. While doing this, say one item and then ask them to repeat it. Then increase the items to 2 items, 3 items, 4 items, and etc. Here’s an example:

• Today I bought an apple from the market. Repeat Carol: what did I buy from the market today?
• Well-done! I also bought some other things. Today I bought an apple and a pear from the market. What did I buy?
• An apple and a pear.
• Bravo Carol! ☺ (Do not forget to praise each time) But I also bought some other things. Today I bought an apple, a pear, and grapes from the market. What did I buy?

A growing list will push her memory after a while. Mental skills are developed by pushing them (training a lot) just like muscles. Repeating constantly the updated list like “apple, pear, grapes, banana, and melon” contributes to memory development of your child.

This game is quite effective for short-term memory loss , reasoning and sustained attention skills .

3. Number Blocks

You can teach your child to count numbers with numbered and coloured blocks by using fun methods. This activity is suitable as one of the greatest educational games for 4 year olds.

You can even use the toy blocks you bought before by sticking numbers on the toy blocks, and also this saves you from spending money for a new toy. If you can afford, it is more effective to buy a new set which is designed in big and small sizes according to the number on the block.

Number 1 is written on the smallest block; number 10 is written on the biggest block. When your children build these blocks according to their sizes, they will sort the blocks in the correct order. In this way, while learning the quantity and magnitude concepts that are expressed by the numerical values, they also learn counting the numbers effectively.

This toy is also effective for establishing a correlation between different concepts. Therefore, they foster mathematical intelligence development. Coloured and numbered blocks are a very useful choice in the category of educational activities for preschoolers.

This game is quite effective for short-term memory , comparison , and counting skills.

4. Remote-Controlled Car

Remote-controlled cars, which are among the most favorite educational toys for kindergartners and toddler boys, are very important in the category of learning games for 4-year-olds. In order to help your child, you can assign some tasks.

Example : You may want them to drive their remote-controlled car under one table and park it under another table. A simple remote-controlled car is very important in 4-year-old children for reflex development, attention, and imagination.

Also, it is scientifically proven that parking develops skills in mastering geometric calculations. This toy is also suitable for children older than four. However, kids younger than 3 cannot use these toys effectively, so it can be classified as educational toys for 4-5year olds and olders.

This game is quite effective for calculation , focus and visual attention skills.

5. Spot The Difference Game

Spot the Difference games are one of the best games for 4 year olds online.

You and your child can start to play the spot the difference game with simple images. You can choose to play cards that are very similar but have little differences in colour or accessory.

For example: “Let’s find the different turtle.” (You probably remember the play cards in which all turtles have a similar appearance but one has different shell colours, glasses and no glasses, tail and no tail, etc.).

This game is quite effective for visual intelligence , analysis skill, and attention development .

Group Activities & Games for 4 Year Olds

6. hot-cold game.

This is one of the 4 year old games that can be played with a group of children or family members. One of the children closes her/his eyes, and someone else hides a toy somewhere. Then, the child opens her/his eyes and tries to find the hidden toy by looking around randomly.

If the child comes closer to the hidden object, others say 'hot'. Likewise, if the child moves away from the hidden toy, then other people say 'cold' as a clue for the child. When the child finds the toy, then she/he chooses someone else. So, the game starts all over again with the new player.

Thanks to games to play with 4 year olds, children can be both socialized and have fun, and they learn to follow instructions and evaluate clues.

This game is quite effective for aural memory and visual-attention skills.

🤫 Proven Way to Teach ABC a Kid : Teaching your preschooler to alphabets as one of the learning games for 4 year olds is a fun but challenging adventure. But children can learn them easily through play every day.

So, why don’t you use that advantage?

Try MentalUP’s Alphabet Learning Games to keep them engaged and excited to learn! 🎉

7. Night-Day Game

This is one of the most popular games for 4 year olds at home. The game starts when one of the children gives the instructions.

When the child says ' night ', other kids close their eyes by going down to the table and putting their forehead to their wrist. Then, they stand upright and open their eyes when the child says ' day '.

You’re gonna love the night-and-day game is if you looking educational games for preschoolers! As the game speeds up, chances of making mistakes increases. The children who go to the wrong positions will be eliminated during the game.

This game is quite effective for recognition , aural memory , and decision-making skills.

8. Indoor Games for Preschoolers

Indoor PE games that we have also mentioned in our previous articles is so important because these kinds of games contain many mental learning games for 4 year olds.

They aren’t rule-based and children can act as any characters and take any responsibilities they want.

While this game is tiring out the children physically, it also relaxes and restores them mentally. For children, being physically active means developing muscles and growing up healthy.

Some benefits of playing games for 4 year olds at home are:

• Improving creativity
• Developing of vocabulary skills and linguistic performance
• Developing a sense of responsibility
• Expressing thoughts easily
• Improving the ability of composition
• Development of attention and focusing on an object

We’ve put together the best games to play at home! You can check it out to discover many games for 4-year-olds at home: Games to Play at Home 🏠

Solo Games for a 4-Year-Old Child

We always talk about puzzles for 4-year-olds because there are many options for all ages. Adults might have puzzles made of thousands of pieces. However, for children, puzzles mostly consist of 10-20 pieces. As children grow up, the number of pieces of puzzles also increases.

Puzzles improve children’s problem-solving abilities and analytical thinking skills. Also, they are one of the best memory games .

10. Playdough

This is also suitable for many ages and provides various benefits. Playdough develops creativity , design and artistic skills. Of course, it also helps handcraft skills. For children at the age of 4, playdough is a brain developer. On the other hand, it is used to develop hand muscles and get them ready for writing for children at the age of 5-6.

Learning Activities for 4 Year Olds & Preschoolers

11. reading books together.

Read all kinds of books to your children. Every new book will open a new door in their minds. Books are one of the best educational games for 4 year olds, as well as for all ages, even if your child does not know how to read yet.

This activity will lead your child to develop many logical connections in their minds about the words they hear, the pictures they see, the harmony of the pictures with the words, the use of the words or the feelings they trigger. They will also strengthen their social skills by these kinds of learning activities for 4-year-olds.

Its positive effects on imagination have also been proven. With every new book, your child will dive into a stream of events that he has never experienced in his life. Moreover, you no longer have to buy many books, pay a lot of money for them and use a huge library. You can also find free eBooks on the Internet.

12. Sing Counting Songs

Here’s another great example of activities for 4-year-olds at home. Singing not only helps children improve their speaking and listening skills, but also makes them have fun with words. You can turn the singing activity into one of the best games for 4-year-olds! Counting songs, like ‘1, 2, 3, 4, 5 … Once I caught a fish alive’, can help your child have fun and also learn numbers.

You can easily find different alternatives from different sources on the internet. For example, songs such as 'Ten Green Bottles' or 'Three Little Frogs' go in reverse order. This can help them refresh their knowledge, especially when young children begin to perceive adding and subtracting.

Let your children use their fingers to count and establish an unforgettable link between numbers , rhythms and visual intelligence .

13. Cooking With Kids

Best games for 4 year olds are the ones that blend creativity and fun with taste!

Yes, we are talking about cooking! Cooking with your children is not only a fun and delicious activity, but also a unique game with which they will learn math knowledge without even realizing it. How many eggs are in the recipe? How many spoons of flour should you add? So how are these units of measurement different?

Let your child ask questions. You are in no hurry. Your cake may not turn out very well, but this fun game will perhaps make it tastier and more instructive. You can also have a pleasant time with educational games for 4-year-olds.

Development Checklist 4-Year-Olds

Answer "Yes" or "No" according to your child's performance in the development areas in the checklist below.

If two or more of the answers you give for each section about your child are "No", consider talking to a specialist.

Does your child have difficulty with:

Should Your Children Play Online Games for 4 Year Olds?

Children who are constantly surrounded by various technological devices will eventually want to play pc games for 4 year olds because of their curiosity, or their tendency to adapt to life around them.

This is sort of a need for children living in the technology age. Experts think that it is okay for children to have a certain period of time and play online games for 4 year olds with technological devices in their daily life. You can evaluate this screen time by providing them with even safe baby games or games for 4 year olds that have no ads.

Most kids like cartoons. However, children who watch cartoons are not in an interactive process and do not think about what must be done because everything is already prepared. That’s why playing proper computer games for 4 year olds can be more beneficial than watching cartoons.

Of course, relaxing and having fun are necessary for children so cartoons can be helpful for it. Still, it is also important to talk about more useful technological alternatives in terms of online learning games for 4 year olds.

The Importance of Educational Games for 4 Year Olds

Four is the age when dynamism and questioning reach the highest level. Therefore, while choosing learning games for 4-year-olds, it would be a good idea to choose the games that require energy-consuming, wondering and attracting.

🤫 Proven Way to Teach Colors and Shapes a Kid : Teaching your toddler to colors and shapes is one of the best games to play with 4 year olds. Good news, children can learn them easily thanks to beneficial technology ! 📲

Try MentalUP’s Color And Shape Learning Games to keep them engaged and excited to learn! 🌈

As you know, children do not only need games for fun, but they also need games for a healthy development. We have already mentioned that learning games for 4 year old is important on many levels, so it is good to make a short reminder.

Preschool education starts in the family before kindergarten. And the educational games for preschoolers is an essential part of. Both family games and educational toys for preschoolers that children play with each other foster mental , physical , language , attention , social and emotional development.

Choosing the right toys and games for 4 year olds is a very important detail for a successful future. 🤗

Check out MentalUP, learning games for 4 year olds that makes kids ready for their academic life by supporting their mental development during the preschool learning process. 🎓👏

GIVE MENTALUP A TRY

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Games for 6-Year-Olds - Fun Home Activities

25 Best Cognitive Activities For Four Year Olds at Home

By: Author Janessa

Posted on Last updated: September 21, 2024

As most of you know, I’m a mom of 6 children. I am also a homeschool teacher for my kids. Before that, I taught preschool in a daycare setting.

Yes, I stay very busy! I love my life though! I love watching my children grow and learn. My 5th child just recently turned four years old. He wants to be just like his older siblings and asks to do school time with them every week.

There’s so much more to cognitive development than just workbooks though. Don’t get me wrong, we DO use workbooks at times, but there are also many other great cognitive activities for 4-year-olds to do.

Especially at this age, I have found that it’s so important to give my preschooler plenty of time to learn through play and life experiences and not just by sitting at a desk. Young children need lots of variety to exercise all of their cognitive abilities!

What Does Cognitive Mean?

First, let’s establish the definition of cognitive. According to Merrian-Webster, the definition of cognitive is: of, relating to, being, or involving conscious intellectual activity (such as thinking, reasoning, or remembering) .

Today I’m rounding up a list of 25 of the best cognitive activities for 4-year-olds to help promote learning in fun and engaging ways.

At the end of this post, I’ll share some links to our favorite items that are perfect for cognitive activities with your four-year-old.

25 Cognitive Activities For 4 Year Olds

1. go on a scavenger hunt..

Scavenger hunts are an excellent way for 4-year-olds to exercise both their bodies and minds! You can talk about color recognition, identifying items, and even challenge their math skills by asking them to find a specific number of items for each item.

Here is an easy, free printable scavenger hunt , and here is a more challenging printable backyard scavenger hunt once your preschooler completes the first one or if you have older children who want to participate.

2. Read or listen to books together.

My four year olds have always loved reading books together. Reading aloud to your child(ren) is wonderful for their cognitive development! Check out my list of our favorite children’s books .

You don’t have to be the one to do the reading either. We love audiobooks at our home. We listen to them in the car, sometimes during lunch or dinner, and lots of other times throughout the day. We recently discovered the Yoto Mini player and have loved it! I highly recommend it! It’s a simple way to make sure you fit in some time for reading every day, even if your day is super busy.

Another great option for busy parents is Cali’s Books . These books come pre-recorded and ready to read to your children at the push of a button OR you can record yourself reading the book (or Grandma, Grandpa, etc.). They have a lot of the great classics available and my children have really enjoyed those as well.

3. Play with a kitchen set.

Role play playing is so important for child development. Free play is equally as important. Many people think kitchen sets are a girls-only toy, but that’s simply not true! My boys have all enjoyed playing with a kitchen set too! It’s a great way for them to use their imaginations while they act out real-life situations and work on their problem-solving skills.

Melissa and Doug make some great kitchen sets for pretend play. My kids have this kitchen set and have had a lot of fun with it! Don’t forget some pots and pans to go with it for great imaginative playtime!

4. Encourage movement.

Kids at this age have a lot of energy… a LOT of energy! It’s great to look for activities that get them moving. It’s often hard for them to sit still for long periods of time so when you do ask them to sit at length, provide them with a fidget opportunity, whether it’s something handheld, or something where they can get their whole body moving, like a Joggling Board or exercise ball.

How does this look in real life? Well, here are some examples:

• Let your child color a picture that relates to a daily lesson while you are teaching the lesson. Are you teaching him about frogs today? Give him a coloring sheet that shows their life cycle to work on while you read about them.
• If your child has a desk, use a Joggling Board for a chair instead of a traditional desk chair.
• Practice counting while doing jumping jacks together. That’s good exercise for both of you!

My four-year-olds often concentrate better when allowed to move at the same time.

5. Make a Craft

Preschoolers love making crafts! There are thousands upon thousands of craft ideas on Pinterest – maybe even millions at this point! Just search for some things you are currently learning about or your little one is interested in. I’ve got a number of craft ideas on this site, like making a squirrel feeder or crafts using recycled cardboard .

Some children like to follow instructions and some like to do their own thing when crafting. I try to offer my four year old opportunities for both. It’s good for them to know that sometimes they must follow instructions for a project, but other times it’s great to tell them they make work at their own pace and complete their art projects in whatever way makes them most happy.

6. Have Them Help With Chores

Now is a great time to start teaching your child some basic chores. As a bonus, most four year olds are eager to help out and do the chores you are doing. I gotta be honest though, there’s a good chance they will not do it to your standards, but that’s okay! Use this time to help them learn. I have a whole post dedicated to kids’ chores , but here are a few simple chores that four-year-olds can do pretty well:

• Folding small hand towels, dish towels, washcloths, and their underwear. They are also great at helping to match up socks.
• Preschoolers love helping to wash windows usually. You’ll almost definitely still have streaks, but they will be so proud!
• Push a chair over to the sink and let them wash dishes by hand. They can also help unload the dishwasher.

As he/she reaches more developmental milestones, you can increase the difficulty of the chores.

7. Get in the Kitchen and Bake Together

Kids are usually much more apt to try a recipe if they get to help fix it! Cooking a meal or dessert together is a good way for kids to practice hand-eye coordination. Baking in the kitchen is a great introduction to fractions too!

If you really want to make them feel important, get them their own apron and measuring cups/spoons set!

8. Go Fishing Together

I’ve never met a preschooler who didn’t enjoy going fishing. Of course, this activity might not hold their attention for TOO long, but it’s still a great way to get them out in nature.

If you can’t get out to a river or creek, you can always purchase a “fishing” set for home! We have a wooden set from Melissa and Doug that’s been great for practicing matching, counting, color recognition, fine motor skills, and number recognition.

9. Play a Board Game Together

Preschoolers love to play board games and there are so many great ones available for them! I’ve got a great list of the best board games for preschoolers if you’re looking for some new games to try.

Of course, card games are a good option too. There’s a reason why Go Fish and Old Maid are still popular. They are simple and fun and you definitely want them in your game closet.

10. Coloring

Coloring is a great way to recognize color recognition and practice hand-eye coordination. We always have a good assortment of coloring books on hand. It’s a fun activity for younger children.

11. Memorize a Poem Together

I have always enjoyed nursery rhymes and my kids do too! We started doing a special thing on Fridays – Tea and Poetry time – and it’s been a big hit! As part of our tea and poetry time, my kids try to memorize a poem that week to recite for everyone to hear.

Rhyming and verse are important for language skills and early childhood is a great time to start working on this.

My personal favorite is a collection of poems in an old Childcraft book that was mine growing up. You can find lots of great poetry books for kids at the library.

12. Teach Your 4-Year-Old the Calendar

Four years old is a great time to add the calendar to your daily routine. We got one from Melissa and Doug which allows us to go over not only the days of the week but also the month, the year, the weather, feelings, and special activities and holidays happening.

We like to go over the calendar after breakfast and discuss our plans for the day. It’s a great activity to get the day started.

13. Play with Slime or Play Dough

Sensory play is always fun for little kids. It’s great for hand-eye coordination, pretend play, and developing artistic abilities. You don’t even have to give them any additional tools for playing with this. Soemtimes simple activities are the best activities.

Of course, if you have a container of designated slime and/or play dough toys, those are great to get out once your child begins to grow tired of just playing with his or her hands.

14. Plant a Garden

This is the first year we’ve planted a garden with children who are old enough to participate. It’s been a great experience so far for my older children but also the younger ones too. They love helping to plant the seeds and seedlings.

It’s a great opportunity to learn about plant life cycles, working with their hands, the long-term benefit of hard work, and healthy eating. Give your child choices and let them help to decide what to plant.

15. Puzzle Time

Puzzles are a great cognitive activity for your 4-year-old! I’d recommend a combination of easy puzzles your child can complete on their own, ones that are a little bit hard that they may need to ask for help to get a few pieces in, and then some really challenging ones that the two of you do together.

Sometimes I will get out a big stack of our simple puzzles and time my child to see how long it takes him to complete all of them. He loves the challenge!

16. Building Blocks

Building blocks are great for hand-eye coordination and imaginative play. Don’t limit yourself to just wooden blocks when you think of building blocks though (although don’t get me wrong, wooden blocks are GREAT and we definitely have some of those). Other things to consider are LEGO DUPLO, magnetic building sets, etc.

17. Riddles and Jokes

Kids love learning jokes and riddles they can tell others! This is good practice in memorization and communication with others – plus as a bonus, it’s fun!

18. Teach Them Songs with Motions

There are so many great songs with motions you can teach your 4 year old! Some of our favorites are:

• Hokey Pokey
• The Wheels on the Bus
• If You’re Happy and You Know It
• Father Abraham
• Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes
• I’m Bringing Home a Baby Bumblebee
• Itsy Bitsy Spider

What were your favorite songs growing up? (PS – Don’t forget how delightful it can be to a child if you change up your voice during a song! Different voices for different characters or movement can really add to the excitement and fun!

19. Memory Games – Get Creative!

We’ve all probably played the classic Memory game at some point where you flip over two cards and try to make a match. That one is always fun for my preschoolers. However, it’s fun to get creative and do other types of memory games too.

For example, one we like to play is where I set out 15-20 objects on a table. My four year old studies what’s on the table and then doesn’t look while I remove one item. Then he has to see if he can figure out which one I took away.

20. Use Your Senses Game

For this game, your child practices uses one or more of his or her five senses (taste, smell, touch, hear, see). First, you’ll need to blindfold your child (except for the sight portion). You give them a clue where they will use a sense to try to guess what the item is. Here are some examples:

• For taste, have them try a variety of different foods and guess what the food is. You could even do this with pureed foods.
• For touch, you’ll want to hand them a variety of items and see if they can figure out what the item is just by touch. You could also set out a row of items, for example, shoes, and then have them tell you how many number of shoes there are by feeling them.
• For smell you’ll want to put a few items with strong smell under their nose and see if they can guess.
• For hear try playing different sound effects or animal sounds (you can find them on YouTube) and see if your child can tell what is making that sound.
• Finally, for sight, try to give your child a portion of the full picture, whether it’s a literal photo of an object and you cover a portion of it, or maybe an item from around the house that you cover most of it with a towel while leaving a good clue exposed.

My kids all love playing these 5 senses games throughout their preschool years and beyond! These are great brain games for your child’s cognitive development.

21. Ride Bikes and/or Scooters

Learning to ride a bike and/or a scooter is a great way for kids to practice their balance. They also need to use their minds to determine which way to turn the steering wheel, when to speed up or slow down and of course, this is also great practice with hand-eye coordination.

22. Get Them Involved in Sports

Sports are a great way for your four year old to get social interaction and develop good social skills. It’s never too early to get your preschooler involved in sports, they are getting great physical activity too!

23. Have Them Help Care for a Pet

There are so many aspects of caring for a pet which are great for a child’s cognitive development. The preschool years are a great time to start having your child contribute to the care of a pet. They can help feed, water, bathe, possibly walk on a leash (depending on size), and play with a pet.

24. Make an Obstacle Course

Completing an obstacle course is great physical activity for your child. You can set something up outside or even in your living room. In fact, one of the favorites at our house involves taking all of the cushions off of the couch and chairs and having kids jump from one to the other without touching the floor.

If they seem to grow bored with that, you can always modify it in specific ways, like telling them they must hop, go through it backwards, etc.

We have this set of plastic stumps and logs that my kids love using to create obstacle courses.

25. Play Outdoor Games

Remember playing Red Light, Green Light, Capture the Flag, and Simon Says? Those are classic games your child can play to practice following simple directions.

Must-Have Products to Facilitate Cognitive Activities for Four-Year-Olds

This is a list of my favorite, must-have items to help facilitate cognitive activities for four-year-olds.

Yoto Mini – Kids Audio & Music Player

I honestly can not say enough good things about the Yoto Mini player! I have to admit, I was a little hesitant at first if this player would really get much use at our house, but my kids love it!

It makes it SO easy for kids to listen to a story any time they want. If I'm too busy to read to them, they just turn on a story on the Yoto player. There are tons of great book options too.

We have Charlotte's Web and my kids have really enjoyed listening to it. We also have a pack of blank Yoto cards that have allowed me and my older children to record some of my four-year-old's favorite picture books. Now he can listen to them whenever he wants. He loves that!

Another nice thing is that we can use it to listen to stories together at times when it's harder for me to read. For example, I can put it on while I'm preparing lunch, washing dishes, or while we eat and we can all listen together.

It also plays music too and is available in regular and mini sizes.

edxeducation Counting Bears with Matching Bowls

Kids love it when you break out colorful manipulatives! These counting bears are great for practicing color recognition, sorting, counting, adding, subtracting, and more! These bears are great to get now because as your child progresses through elementary math you can continue to use them for more and more concepts.

This set comes with 6 bows and 60 total bears (10 of each color).

Julien's Bundle - 2021 edition

Cali's Books are special. Why? Because Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, or anyone you'd like can record their voice so your children can hear them tell these stories time and time again and enjoy that special bond. You can also download several pre-recorded versions available in multiple languages on their website.

There are so many great Cali's Books to choose from, including new titles and retelling of beloved classics.

Julien's Bundle features classic fables that preschoolers love, with a lesson about the importance of work, perseverance, and dedication: Jack and the Beanstalk, The Ugly Duckling, and The Three Little Pigs. These classic stories have been adapted for Cali's Books and are wonderfully illustrated by Clara Spinassi.

This set features selected colored text to introduce your little one to word recognition.

Chef's Kitchen - Cloud

Lots of people think about getting a kitchen set for their little girl, but I'd encourage you to get one for boys too. As a mom of 2 girls and 4 boys, I can tell you that some of my boys have even played more with the kitchen set than their sisters. My boys love helping me in the kitchen too!

I like this wooden kitchen set because it's not overly loud (both with sound effects or colors) and it really looks the way a real kitchen might look. It's perfect for realistic pretend play!

The ice machine even works and can drop out two (included) ice cubes. My kids love that part!

Let's Play House! Stainless Steel Pots & Pans Play Set

Having a couple of good open-ended accessories to go with your kitchen set is super helpful for imaginative play. I love this pots and pans play set because your kids can pretend to make just about everything with them! He or she can make ingredients themselves using air dry clay, dried play dough, rocks, grass, flowers, etc. The possibilities are endless! My kids love to create "soups" with the pots and pans from things they collect outside.

edxeducation Step-a-Trail - 6 Piece Obstacle Course for Kids

When someone thinks about healthy cognitive development, they often think about curriculum and basic school-like supplies like paper, pencils, and crayons. Don't forget physical education!

Kids NEED activities that help them to be active! I find that my kids are able to concentrate on their seatwork so much better if they also have fun, active times to get the wiggles out.

Step-a-Trail is an excellent resource for building children's gross motor skills, balance and coordination. The textured surfaces allow children to safely balance and gain confidence while the rubbery bottom edges prevent slipping.

These stepping stones and logs can be incorporated into obstacle courses for fun physical play. Step-a-Trail also makes a perfect rainy-day activity as children can design their own courses!

Each stump and log is made of injection-molded, durable plastic with non-slip top surfaces and bases. The pieces will support the weight of a normal adult. The pieces are injection molded and load-tested to 792 lbs.

Step-a-Trail provides unlimited imaginative play. Children can incorporate the Step-a-Trail stumps and logs into make-believe play or create their own games.

As a teacher, you can also use these pieces to add an element of fun to school time. For example, a game where when you tell your child a number, they must climb onto a log and when you say a letter they must climb onto a stump.

My kids love when I incorporate this set into our day!

Catch & Count Magnetic Fishing Rod Set

These colorful 10 magnetic fish are numbered and patterned to enrich matching, sorting, and counting activities. This set also comes with 2 wooden rods making collecting them a blast!

Kids can use the spinner to play as a game, or just have fun collecting the pieces over and over again.

Children's Joggling Board

My kids ages 2-12 all love our juggling board! Instead of rocking forward and backward, it rocks side to side!

It's a great place for them to sit while they read a book, sit and do worksheets, or even to sit and converse with adults. We love our kid-sized joggling board so much, now we've gotta get one for adults too!

My Magnetic Daily Calendar

Now is the perfect time to teach your preschooler the calendar. They will have fun being able to be a part of changing out the magnets each day. This is a great way to help them memorize the days of the week and months too.

Magicube Shapes Recycld 25 pcs - Geomagworld STEM Toys

All of my preschoolers have loved building with magnetic sets, especially their Geomagworld sets!

This set has everything a child needs to build anything they want, including free-rolling wheels to make moving vehicles. The colorful blocks are great to use for practicing color recognition too.

Related Posts

Here are some other posts you might find helpful for your four year old.

• 10 Activities to do with a Piklar Triangle
• Fun Ways to Use Your Water Table
• A big list of the best gifts for preschoolers

Friday 17th of June 2022

My kids love building blocks of all kinds.

Monday 13th of June 2022

These are some fantastic ideas for activities to keep kids engaged and happy while they are learning important skills. If my grandkids were younger, I would have these items on my gift list.

Wednesday 8th of June 2022

These are awesome cognitive activity ideas for toddlers! Thank you so much for sharing. I love all of the wooden toys that are available now, they are definitely my favorite to buy for my kids. We actually have the My Magnetic Daily Calendar and the kids love it!

It’s present time! Link the wrapped present to what’s inside by matching the shapes.

Match the Shape

Look at the picture and find all the hidden shapes.

Visit our  fun maths activities   page for a selection of activities and resources designed to help you enjoy maths with your child.

7. Cook together

Cooking with your child is not only fun but it’s an excellent way to begin to talk about maths – counting eggs for a cake recipe, more or fewer toppings for a pizza. Let them pour liquids or spoon flour to develop eye-hand co-ordination and control. Best of all, you both get to enjoy a tasty treat at the end!

Why not try our   banana bread and fruit smoothies recipes ?

Video: Cooking with kids

• Fun ideas for toddlers
• Fun ideas for 4-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 5-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 6-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 7-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 8-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 9-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 10-year-olds
• Fun ideas for 11-year-olds
• Creative writing
• Times tables

Montessori Expert

20 Fun and Easy Activities for 4 Year Olds at Home

Author at Montessori Expert.

Activities For 4 Year Olds : a magical time brimming with curiosity, boundless energy, and a thirst for knowledge. This is the age where your child blossoms into an independent learner, eager to grasp the world around them.

As a Montessori teacher , I’ve witnessed firsthand the transformative power of activities that nurture this natural desire to learn.

The following activities are designed to spark your child’s interest, develop essential skills , and cultivate a love for learning that will last a lifetime.

Fun and Educational Activities for 4 Year Olds

Keeping your 4-year-old entertained and learning doesn’t require fancy materials or expensive outings. With a little creativity and everyday household items, you can create a world of fun and discovery.

Here are 20 Montessori-inspired activities to spark your child’s imagination and development:

Activity 1: Playdough Pals

Age Group : 3-5 years old

Materials : Playdough (homemade or store-bought)

How to Perform: Let your child unleash their inner sculptor with some playdough! Encourage them to roll, flatten, and mold the dough into shapes, animals, or anything their imagination conjures. Playdough is fantastic for developing those all-important fine motor skills.

Area of Development : Fine motor skills, Creativity

Activity 2: Shaving Cream Sensory Play

Materials : Shaving cream, food coloring (optional), plastic tray

How to Perform: Cover a plastic tray with shaving cream and add a few drops of food coloring for a vibrant twist (adult supervision recommended). Let your child squish, scoop, and explore the cool, fluffy texture. This messy play is a great sensory experience and strengthens fine motor skills.

Area of Development : Sensory development, Fine motor skills

Activity 3: Color Sorting – sorting vali image

Age Group : 3-4 years old

Materials : Pom poms (various colors), bowls or containers

How to Perform: Collect pom poms in different colors. Provide bowls or containers for your child to sort the pom poms by color. This simple activity introduces color recognition and strengthens sorting skills.

Area of Development : Color recognition, Sorting skills

Activity 4: Button Stacking Challenge

Age Group : 4-5 years old

Materials : Buttons (various sizes), cup

How to Perform: Gather buttons in different sizes. Challenge your child to stack the buttons on top of each other, starting with the biggest and going down to the smallest. This activity promotes hand-eye coordination and fine motor control.

Area of Development : Hand-eye coordination, Fine motor skills

Activity 5: Pouring Play

Materials : Water, cups, bowls, spoons, colanders (optional)

How to Perform: Fill a pitcher or bowl with water and set out various sized cups and bowls. Let your child experiment with pouring water from one container to another. Add spoons, colanders, or other interesting objects for extra fun. This activity strengthens hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Activity 6: Texture Treasure Hunt

Materials : Blindfold (optional), various textured objects (scarf, cotton ball, sandpaper)

How to Perform: Gather objects with different textures, like a scarf, cotton ball, and sandpaper. Blindfold your child (optional) and have them guess the object by touch. This activity refines their sense of touch and introduces them to texture exploration.

Area of Development : Sensory development, Tactile discrimination

Activity 7: Matching Game

Materials : Construction paper, markers, stickers (optional)

How to Perform: Create a simple matching game using construction paper. Draw or stick matching pairs of pictures (animals, shapes, etc.) on separate pieces of paper. Lay them all face down and challenge your child to find the matching pairs. This classic game strengthens memory and concentration skills.

Area of Development : Memory skills, Concentration

Activity 8: Dress-Up Fun

Materials : Old clothes, hats, scarves, jewelry (dress-up box items)

How to Perform: Dig out old clothes, hats, scarves, and any other dress-up essentials you have around the house. Let your child transform into their favorite character or create a whole new persona! Dress-up play sparks imagination and creativity while also boosting social and communication skills.

Area of Development : Imagination, Creativity, Social skills

Activity 9: Threading Challenge

Materials : Pipe cleaners, cheerios, beads (large and holey)

How to Perform: Threading activities are a great way to develop fine motor skills. Cut pipe cleaners in half and provide your child with cheerios, beads, or other objects with large holes. Challenge them to thread the objects onto the pipe cleaners.

Area of Development : Fine motor skills, Hand-eye coordination

Activity 10: DIY Stamp Art

Materials : Potatoes, paint, paper plates

How to Perform: Get creative with homemade stamps! Cut potatoes in half and carve simple shapes or designs. Pour some paint onto a paper plate and let your child use the potato stamps to create their own artwork. This activity encourages creativity and fine motor control.

Area of Development: Creativity, Fine motor skills

Activity 11: Building Blocks

Age Group : 2-5 years old

Materials : Blocks (wooden or plastic)

How to Perform: Building with blocks is a timeless activity that sparks imagination and spatial reasoning. Provide your child with blocks and let them freely build towers, houses, or anything their mind imagines. This open-ended play encourages creativity and problem-solving skills.

Area of Development : Creativity, Spatial reasoning, Problem-solving skills

Activity 12: Nature Scavenger Hunt

Materials : Paper, pen, crayons (optional)

How to Perform: Head outdoors for a nature scavenger hunt! Create a list for your child to find things like leaves, pinecones, or different colored flowers. This activity gets them moving and introduces them to the wonders of nature.

Area of Development: Gross motor skills, Science exploration

Activity 13: Shape Sorting

Materials : Cardboard box, cereal boxes, markers, scissors

How to Perform: Cut out various shapes (circles, squares, triangles) from leftover cereal boxes. Decorate a cardboard box with a designated slot for each shape. Give your child the cutout shapes and watch them sort them into the correct slots. This activity strengthens shape recognition and hand-eye coordination.

Area of Development : Cognitive development, Fine motor skills

Activity 14: Beanbag Toss

Materials : Pillowcases, beans, socks (optional)

How to Perform: Create beanbags by filling pillowcases with dried beans and tying them closed. You can also stuff socks with beans for smaller beanbags. Set up a target (a laundry basket, bucket) and challenge your child to toss the beanbags. This activity strengthens hand-eye coordination and gross motor skills.

Area of Development : Hand-eye coordination, Gross motor skills

Activity 15: Washing the Dishes

Materials : Sponges, dish soap (diluted), plastic bowls/cups

How to Perform: Turn everyday chores into fun activities! Let your child help with washing dishes. Fill a small basin with diluted dish soap and water and provide them with a sponge and plastic dishes. This simple task teaches responsibility and strengthens fine motor skills.

Area of Development : Practical Life Skills, Fine motor skills

Activity 16: Dancing Freeze

Materials : Music player (optional)

How to Perform: Put on some music (or sing along!) and have a dance party with your child. When the music stops, everyone freezes! This active game is a fun way to get them moving and develop listening skills.

Area of Development : Gross motor skills, Listening skills

Activity 17: Story Time Flannel board

Materials : Felt or construction paper, markers, self-stick velcro squares (optional)

How to Perform: Create a simple flannel board for story time fun! Cut out felt shapes of characters or objects from your favorite children’s book. You can also use construction paper and attach self-stick velcro squares to both the paper and a designated board (felt works well). As you read the story, stick the felt cutouts onto the board to bring the story to life. This activity strengthens listening skills and ignites a love for storytelling.

Area of Development : Listening skills, Language development

Activity 18: Sock Puppet Show

Materials : Socks, markers, buttons, yarn/fabric scraps

How to Perform: Craft silly sock puppets with your child! Decorate plain socks with markers, buttons, and any other embellishments. Add yarn or fabric scraps for hair. Put on a puppet show together, letting your child invent characters and stories. This activity encourages storytelling skills and refines fine motor control.

Area of Development : Language development, Fine motor skills

Activity 19: DIY Instruments

Materials : Empty containers (plastic bottles, oatmeal boxes), spoons, dried beans/rice, tape

How to Perform: Turn everyday household items into musical instruments! Decorate empty containers and fill them with dried beans or rice to create shakers. Use spoons on pots and pans for drums. This activity ignites creativity and introduces basic musical concepts.

Area of Development : Creativity, Music appreciation

Activity 20: Building a Fort

Materials : Blankets, pillows, chairs, couch cushions

How to Perform: Transform your living room into a cozy hideaway! Drape blankets and pillows over chairs or the couch to create a magical fort. String up lights (if safe) for an extra touch. This classic activity fosters creativity and imaginative play, providing a special space for relaxation and storytelling.

Area of Development : Creativity, Imaginative play

Conclusion: Watch Your Child Thrive

These activities are just a stepping stone. As you introduce them, observe your child’s interests and tailor the experiences accordingly. Remember, the Montessori approach prioritizes hands-on learning at a child’s own pace.

By providing a stimulating environment filled with these activities, you’ll be amazed at how your 4-year-old flourishes, building a strong foundation for future academic success and a lifelong love of learning.

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Play-Based Learning Activities for 4 Year Olds

Introduction

Finding activities for 4 year olds can be a fun challenge. At this age, kids are inquisitive, active, and enthusiastic about the world they live in. Through play-based activities, children not only stay engaged, but also develop in many domains. The article is about a collection of activities, that teach 4 year olds to develop themselves, with the goal of learning through play.

The Importance and Impact of Activities for 4 Year Old Kid

The activities that are adjusted for 4 year olds, are a key element of their holistic development. These activities are meant to develop their minds and bodies, resulting in holistic development. Being involved in play and activities, that 4 year olds can handle on their own, boosts their self-confidence. It provides them with the ability to make their own choices, and solve problems by themselves.

Easy activities for 4 year olds are a must. They let children achieve their goals. This success is essential in motivating them to be more interested, and excited about learning. The activities must not be too complicated. Simplicity enables kids to remain focused, and not become bored.

It is important to ensure that the activities for 4 year olds learning, are matched with the child’s abilities, and current development level. Activities must be interesting enough to keep them engaged. In contrast, they need to be realistic, to prevent feelings of frustration as well. The success of learning, will depend on the harmonization of these factors.

Try puzzles, matching games, or simple crafts for activities for 4 year olds to do by themselves. Such activities are key to developing independence, and cognitive skills. They motivate the kids to think both creatively and critically.

Things to Do at Home with a 4 Year Old

At home, with 4 years old, you can find a variety of activities that are both fun, and educational. Activities 4 year old at home can be diverse, aligning with their endless energy and curiosity. From creative arts and crafts, to more structured educational games, there are endless ways to keep them busy and learning.

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Arts and crafts are amazing activities with four year olds. They promote imagination, and fine motor skills mastering. For example, easy tasks such as coloring, finger painting, or making a collage from magazine cutouts, may help them to be busy and to show their creativity.

Educational games can be a wonderful addition to the playtime for the 4 year olds at home. Games with number recognition, shape, and color identification, and basic word puzzles, support the development of cognitive skills. These games can be both enjoyable, and a quiet way to learn concepts.

Daily routines are great for things to do at home with 4 year old, that are fun and educational. Cooking together is an ideal example of this. It is a very practical way, to teach them how to read the measurements, follow the instructions, and the importance of safety in the kitchen. Easy recipes like making a sandwich, or decorating cookies are suitable for their skill level.

Gardening can be both entertaining and educational. It helps the kids to understand the process of growth, responsibility, and the life cycle. Planting a seed, and taking care of it until it blooms can be a rewarding experience for a 4 year old, helping them to develop patience and caring.

Storytime is an important activity for 4 year old at home. Reading together promotes a love for books, enriches their vocabulary, and boosts their listening skills. It also helps to build relationship, and unwind before naptime or bedtime.

Lastly, sensory play activities such as playing with playdough, water tables, or sandboxes, help with exploration and discovery. They can explore the various textures, shapes, and behavior of materials interactively.

4 Year Old Recreational Activities

Recreational activities are an integral part of 4 year olds’ development. They not only assist in their physical development, but also help to improve their emotional and social aspects. Activities that involve a 4 year old in movement are most beneficial. They help to train their motor skills and coordination, which are the basis of their physical development at this age.

Dancing is a remarkable activity for 4 year olds. It provides them with a platform for creative self-expression, and the development of their balance and coordination. A simple dance routine or free dance to the music they like, can be a great way to have a fun and energizing activity.

Jumping is a fun activity that can be done in several ways, such as using a trampoline, playing hopscotch, or even just bouncing around with balloons. Jumping activities of 4 year old, improve their leg muscle strength, and bring overall physical coordination.

Playing tag or other chase games is perfect for the development of physical activity, and fair play. These games also give the chance for the kids to develop their social skills, as they interact with other people.

Easy 4 year old activities can also include ball games . Games such as catch, rolling the ball back and forth, or kicking the ball into a goal, are not only entertaining but also contribute to the development of fine motor skills and gross motor skills.

An obstacle course is an interesting activity to set up as well. The use of household items or toys to build a course, can serve to challenge their physical capabilities, and problem-solving skills. It’s a good way to get them to think creatively, and to move their bodies in different ways.

Simple yoga poses designed for kids can be the first step on the path of mindfulness, and development of balance and flexibility. Yoga can be a soothing activity that gives them a chance to learn about their bodies, and how to move consciously.

People Also Ask Questions/FAQs related to Keyword

Question 1: what are some recommended activities for 4 year olds to enhance their learning and development.

Activities for 4 year olds should have a mix of playful and educational tasks. Some of these activities include crafts for creativity, easy science experiments for curiosity, story time for language development, and puzzles for problem-solving. These activities are engaging for children, and promote cognitive growth, creativity, and language and social skills.

Question 2: How can parents and educators select suitable activities for 4 year old kid that promote independence?

When it comes to activities for 4 year old kid that promotes independence, it is essential to select tasks they can do on their own with minimal help. Examples include blocks, simple puzzles, dolls dressing, and drawing or coloring. These activities build their self-esteem, improve their small motor skills, and help them be creative and make choices.

Question 3: What are some easy activities for 4 year olds that can be done at home?

Easy activities for 4 year olds may include playdough sculpting, water play, chalk drawing on sidewalks, and interactive reading. The activities are simple, take little time to set up, and they offer a lot of development benefits, like improving hand-eye coordination, encouraging creativity and literacy.

Question 4: Can you suggest some activities for 4 year olds to do by themselves that also foster learning?

Activities for 4 year olds to do by themselves that are educational, include sorting colored objects, simple jigsaw puzzles, matching games, and listening to audiobooks. Such individual activities, develop the sorting and matching skills, improve the focus, and at the same time, introduce them to new words and concepts in a fun way.

Play-based learning activities for 4 year olds have multiple benefits, that help with their development in a fun and interactive way. The variety of options, is meant to satisfy every child’s interests and needs. Through the inclusion of these activities in their daily routine, you can grant your child a solid basis for lifelong learning and development.

© Montessori Toddler 2023.

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65+ Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds

February 8, 2017 By Katie Chiavarone Leave a Comment

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These activities for 4 year olds provide for tons of learning and self-expression through play . 4 year olds are inquisitive and independent, and are learning at a rapid pace. From grasping numbers and letters to developing deep relationships with peers, learning is fun at this age, and experiencing all of this through play is ideal.

Below are plenty of ideas for learning activities for 4 year olds to do at home or in school! 

What are 4 Year Olds Learning?

Four year olds are learning so much! Learning activities for 4 year olds include counting, pre-reading, emotional development and more. This age group is learning:

• how to count objects
• counting by memory
• understanding size and spatial relationships
• expanding vocabulary by using new words
• coordinating movement to jump, spin, skip and more
• learning letter sounds 
• making inferences and predictions about what will happen
• beginning to form letters in writing

How to Play with a 4 Year Old

There are so many really fun ways to play with this age group. As an older preschooler, 4 year olds are able to engage in dramatic and fantasy play, and love exploring creative thinking. Some really fun ways to play are by:

• acting out favorite stories
• playing ‘house’
• opening a pretend restaurant
• have races outside
• play board or card games
• have a dance party
• play Red Light, Green Light or Simon Says
• dig for worms
• plant vegetables

Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds 

Below are categories for 4 year old activities, including: learning activities, arts and crafts, sensory play, and games. 

These are fun activities to do at home to learn through play and bond together, or to do in the classroom. 

Learning Activities for 4 Year Olds

Pre-reading.

Pre-reading activities help children learn that which is essential to have in their toolbox before any formal reading education. These activities help children identify letters and make their sounds through play and hands-on activities.

Story Stones for Kids

Snowball Sight Words on a Sticky Table (pictured)

See and Spell with Toy Train Cars (pictured)

Beginning Sounds Match // You’ve Got this Math (pictured)

Free Dinosaur Printables // Living Montessori Now (pictured)

We’re Going on a Word Hunt // Walking by the Way (pictured)

DIY Tile Letter Magnets // Artsy Momma

Sight Word Splat // Views From a Step Stool

Valentines Day Literacy Activity // Sparkling Buds

Pre-Handwriting

Pre-handwriting activities engage the fine motor skills necessary to hold a pencil. Pincer grasp can be developed without holding a pen or pencil at all! These activities might include threading or stringing, pinching playdough, sorting with tweezers, and more! 

Button Practice Felt Flowers // Twitchetts (pictured)

Teddy Bear Bread // Messy Little Monster (pictured)

Felt Rocket Name Puzzle // Teach Me Mommy (pictured)

Color Matching for Kids with Pom Pom Flowers // The Moments at Home (pictured)

Kids Fun Fine Motor Weaving  // J Daniel 4’s Mom (pictured)

Sandbox Writing // Walking by the Way (pictured)

Fine Motor Skills: Rainbow Rice in a Jar // KC Edventures (pictured)

DIY Twig Art // Twitchetts (pictured)

Simple Sewing Busy Bag // The Chaos and The Clutter

Google Eye Envelope Alien Busy Bag // Crafty Kids at Home

Coin Sorting // Rhythms of Play

STEM Activities for 4 Year Olds

STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math. These STEM activities for 4 year olds will encourage children to make inferences and think critically, and to sort, count and organize materials while having fun! 

DIY Worm Farm (pictured)

Fizzing Fireworks Painting (pictured)

Basic Math with Fall Leaves (pictured)

Acorn Fine Motor Counting (pictured)

Monster Truck Counting Printables // Artsy Momma (pictured)

Making Friendship Ice Cream // Mama Smiles

Popsicle Stick Shape Building Magnets // Planning Playtime

Counting Raindrops: 1-10 Math Printable // Schooltime Snippets

Love Heart Number Line // Adventures and Play

STEM Activity for Kids: Valentine Tower // Preschool Powol Packets

Build Magnetic Robots // Adventure in a Box (pictured)

Pete the Cat Math Game // Buggy and Buddy (pictured)

Counting with Marbles and Bath Mats // Creative Playhouse (pictured)

Pipes and Water Play // Moms and Crafters (pictured)

Montessori Nature Tray // Living Montessori Now (pictured)

Math Busy Bag // The Chaos and The Clutter (pictured)

Penguin Dice Addition Game  // Adventures and Play

Exploring Colors with Baking Soda and Vinegar // Buggy and Buddy

Counting With Playdough // Creative Playhouse

How to Put Together a Portable Tinker Box // Little Worlds Big Adventures

Counting Caterpillar Busy Bag // Powerful Mothering

Sensory Activities for 4 Year Olds

Sensory play is essential to early learning. Sensory activities develop the vocabulary as children describe their experiences. It develops fine motor skills that are essential to early handwriting. Is is calming and can help regulate emotions. Sensory play is wonderful for busy 4 year olds eager to explore their environment! 

Ultimate Collection of Sensory Bins for Kids

Arctic Small World Play (pictured)

Shark Week Sensory Play (pictured)

Dinosaur Swamp Sensory Bin // Mommy’s Bundle (pictured)

Jump and Wash! Dinosaur Sensory Play // Little Worlds Big Adventures (pictured)

Soft Sheep Sensory and Science Discovery // Simple at Home

Letter Sensory Bin // Views From a Step Stool

Flower Arranging Montessori Practical Life Kids Activity  // Rhythms of Play

Arts & Craft Activities for 4 Year Olds

Arts and craft activities for 4 year olds help encourage self-expression. Children are able to express their creativity and their individualism while developing scissor skills, color mixing, cause and effect and more!

Clothespin and Cottonball Cloud Painting (pictured)

Coffee Filter Butterfly Magnets (pictured)

Superhero Puppet Craft // Messy Little Monster (pictured)

Exploring Symmetry with Art // Crafty Kids at Home (pictured)

Easy Bubble Art Activity // Mommy’s Bundle

Draw the Missing Half // Adventure in a Box

Cut it Out! Art Inspired by Ohara // Homebound But Hopeful

Busy Bee Headband Craft // Simple at Home

Painting with Hexbugs

4 year olds love to play games ! At this age, teamwork is attainable and gross motor activities are important for engaging in daily activities. This list includes indoor activities for 4 year olds as well as outdoor fun with this age group. 

Fun and Free Printable Board Games for Kids

Butterfly File Folder Games Printable (pictured)

Pretend Play Busy Bags // Lalymom (pictured)

Cup Twisting Fine Motor Games // Lalymom (pictured)

DIY Car Magnets Craft // Moms and Crafters (pictured)

Spiderweb Obstacle Course // Mama Smiles (pictured)

Hit the Cardboard Road // Non Toy Gifts (pictured)

DIY Cardboard Car Wash // Non Toy Gifts (pictured)

DIY Cardboard Car Track // Planning Playtime

Playground Scavenger Hunt // KC Edventures

I Spy in Ice  // Sparkling Buds

A Pox on Your House // Homebound But Hopeful

Shapes, Counting and Colors Busy Bag // Powerful Mothering

Have so much fun playing and learning with your 4 year old! These activities will be sure to help kids learn through play, and fun!

More Activity Lists for 4 Year Olds

• Fun Games for 4 Year Olds
• 10 Fun Play Ideas for 4 Year Olds

Want ideas for other ages?

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Home › Activities

41 Fun Learning Activities for 4-Year-Olds

By Karo @ CraftsyHacks.com

on Nov 29, 2022, Updated Nov 09, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links: full affiliate disclosure .

Kids are so aware and observant at this age and want to know about everything, for better or worse! These brilliant learning activities for 4 year olds will help them answer those questions!

Gather as many fun and educational resources within reason as a girl can find. As tempting as it is just to let a screen be the answer, it’s not as beneficial as hands-on first-hand experiences.

Your kids will benefit from the list of activities because it puts into practice many critical and important skills that prepare young children for the classroom and the world.

The list of fun activities helps work on fine motor skills, gross motor skills, problem-solving, and patience –just to name a few!

I hope you find something fun on the list of best activities that you and your children can grow from, and good luck with the kiddos’ learning!

1. Textured Names

This fun activity never gets old! Try this great activity seasonally, and use them as a present for mothers, fathers, etc. days.

You’ll need construction paper, glue, a writing utensil, maybe scissors, and your small glueable material of choice for this simple activity.

On the sheet, you’ll need to write the name getting practiced, and then the child can finish with anything from sprinkles to scrap pieces of paper and have so much fun.

Any material you have on hand that is glueable and your 4 year olds can handle.

This is also a great large group activity for preschoolers !

2. Word Puzzle Printables

These free puzzle sets are endless hours of entertainment–a bit of assembly is required, FYI but these puzzle pieces are great educational activities for problem-solving skills.

I like to glue them to cardstock so they hold up a little longer against little hands, and if I’m really on my stuff, I’ll laminate them with these self-laminating sheets !

Once the letters of the alphabet are printed and assembled, you’ll cut along the dark lines to divide the letters and image. The goal of these cards is for the student to think critically to solve a problem.

3. Butterfly Life Cycle Craft

I still remember learning about the life cycle of butterflies and loving everything about it! A hands-on experience helps teach little ones to grasp an idea better.

This craft is an excellent introduction to a more complex idea, like a butterfly’s life, and you probably have all the materials already.

The materials are a paper plate, construction paper, Play-Doh, scissors, and a bit of glue.

First, cut a circle of paper that will act as the background on the plate, a leaf shape, and two long skinny strips to divide your plate into four sections.

Glue everything in place together, adding the leaf to one of the sections.

After, grab the Play-Doh and walk through each stage of the cycle while making each part. Start with the larvae on the leaf, then the caterpillar, after the chrysalis, and then, of course, the butterfly!

4. Printable Letter Craft

These printable letters are great for any eager learner to work on letter recognition and language development in a fun way!

You will have to make an account to download them, but it’s free; teacher’s Pay Teachers is an amazing resource for anyone working with kids looking for simple activities!

The animal associated with the letter helps reinforce recognizing the letter in the future. Bonus, your kid gets to color them in making them double as craft activities!

5. Oil Spill Sensory Activity

The pollution of the oceans is an essential conversation for anyone alive today to think about and discuss critically.

It seems like a lot for a four-year-old to understand, but a perfect way to introduce them to this is through a sensory activity.

Grab a bin, and fill it with toy boats, sea creatures, and water. Once that’s filled up, let the little one sensory play with it for a few, and ask about how things feel, look, etc.

After you’ve discussed that bit, add some oil to the sensory bins – feel free to add some cocoa powder to the oil to replicate the real oil leaks.

Ask the same sensory activities driven questions and have an honest and appropriate conversation during these fun learning activities.

This is a wonderful hands-on kindergarten activity .

6. Cloud in a Jar

Continuing on with the science-y activities, creating a cloud in a jar is another experiment that fascinates children.

You’ll need a cup, water, this shaving cream (non-gel), either these gel food colorings or watercolors , and pipettes or droppers.

Add the water first, then shaving cream, and then carefully, both of you can pipe in the food coloring or watercolor.

Talk about your experience and answer any questions that may arise during your conversation.

7. Planet Suncatcher Craft

There are many ways to accomplish this craft, but today we’re using tissue paper. Cut the specific colors you’ll need for each planet, organize them, and set them aside.

You’ll also need wax paper, a glue stick, and electrical tape. You can do one a day or knock them all out in one day, but you’ll need two circles for each planet–roughly representative of the size.

Once prepared, have your kiddo paste the colors onto the wax paper, and when ready, put the matching circle on top and tape shut.

Looking for more things to do outside? Check out these free outdoor activities for kids .

8. Fullbody Self Portrait

A classically fun art project for our little ones! You’ll need this roll of paper –a great deal, a pencil, and a kid to trace.

Have them lie flat on the paper and trace them entirely. After, let them draw the details and any activities important to them!

9. Slime Sensory Activity

A win-win in the world of slime! Kids get to play, but parents are pleased because it’s inside a bag–a bonus, throw some alphabet beads in there to practice sight words together and learn new things!

To make your slime for the bag, you’ll need this clear glue , (optional) glitter glue, baking soda, (optional) food dye, buffered saline solution, and of course, both a bag and letter beads.

10. DIY Upcycled Toilet Paper Seedling Pots

Teaching children the importance of being upcyclers is excellent for the future and teaches them how to grow food from seeds and other important life skills.

Grab a container you are okay with starting seeds in, a small collection of toilet paper tubes, and a packet of seeds.

You and your kids can set it up together, put the tp rolls in first, and then cover most of them with dirt, followed by burying the directed amount of seed per tube.

Water them together, and keep a written journal or photo journal of the journey to aid with observational skills and enjoy your quality time with your younger children!

11. Pollock Inspired Art

Don’t be afraid to get a little messy for this one, and make sure the paint you’re using is washable!

Get your paper ready, and let the kids squirt, dribble, fling (contained to the area!), or do anything their heart desires.

Pollock was a little more precise in his execution, but we want our kiddos to be able to let the creative juices fly.

12. Q-Tip Tree Painting

One of the best fine motor activities, dexterity, and hand-eye coordination. Print out a tree, or draw the outline of one and let your little one dip a Q-tip into paint and dot in the leaves.

Provide a few different colors besides green and make it one of the most fun seasonal hands-on activities. What does a tree look like in the other parts of the year, and what happens to the leaves?

This great learning activity will help you teach your children just that!

13. Heart Crayons

Got a bunch of broken crayons waiting on standby in hopes of a better life? Grab this fun mold pack , your sad crayon collection, and a cookie tray.

Peel all your crayons and sort them into the molds however you’d all like, making sure to overfill them because they’ll melt down.

Put your oven on for 250 F (or 121 C) and place the molds onto cookie trays before putting them in the oven.

As soon as the oven has melted all the crayon bits, pull them out! This time frame shouldn’t be any more than 10 minutes, but it’s best to keep an eye to avoid any troubles.

14. Simple STEM Challenge

A very simple introduction to STEM is this challenge! Gather some plastic cups, popsicle sticks, and a fun toy to place on top.

Have them interlace the cups and the rods to build, trying what works, doesn’t work, etc.

Essentially, they are trying to build a structure as tall as they can with the sticks and cups and, when ready, place that fun item at the top.

15. Printable Gumball Machine

Counting has never been greater than with this download ! Print the sheets, grab these round stickers , and write 1-20 on them.

Once it’s all together, give them to your kid counter for a fun matching game.

A fun thing to try alongside this game is to pull up a randomizer online and enter all the numbers into the program so it becomes more game-like.

16. Alphabet Star Matchup

If your kiddo is working on letters instead of numbers, this download is just right! The stickers mentioned above will get the job after labeling them A-Z.

Again to make it more fun, throw the alphabet into the randomizer program to keep your little one engaged in the work.

17. Butter Science

Real-world contextual science projects are the best, and this butter one is no different! Heavy whipping cream, salt, a strainer, and a jar with a lid are needed.

Add the cream and shake for several minutes–pass it around and make it a whole family activity. Once you no longer hear a sloshing sound, open the jar, and voila, butter!

Strain the butter from the excess liquid (buttermilk which can be saved and used in other recipes), rinse lightly with water, and sprinkle salt into the butter.

Feel free to ask about what they hear, see, smell, taste, and feel throughout the experiment.

18. Homemade Playdough

A real lifesaver when you’ve realized all the other Play-doh has gone stiff or weird. This recipe has been a staple for us , and it does a beautiful job explaining all the ins and outs of achieving homemade playdough!

You can leave it a plain color or add dyes to the dough to brighten them up. Divide up your playdough if you want to make a handful of different colours.

19. Interactive Alphabet Book

A bit more complex, but it can be such a cool project to do with someone learning the alphabet. Or, there are options out there, but all cost money.

If taking on the project, you can decide with your child what each letter will be and then plan accordingly on how the page will interact.

20. Alphabet Flashcards

There’s no better way to learn anything than with good old-fashioned flashcards. Whether just working on letter recognition to phonetics, they are an essential tool to help your kiddo grow!

These from Etsy are so cute if you’re looking for buyable ones. Bring them anywhere, practice for a minute, or make a lesson plan.

21. Printable Ice Cream Template

To access these fun ice cream templates , you’ll have to subscribe, but if you’d instead make your own, here’s a mini tutorial.

You’ll need to find a simple black-and-white image of a cone and scoops, respectively, and print them all out, reserving a copy of each if you’d like to make copies.

To the originals, draw a column of dots to place stickers for your little one to count and replicate in scoop form.

22. 1-10 Dot to Dot Worksheet

These worksheets are great for children to practice counting without making it too much of a chore.

There are endless free options online that you can print, but here’s a nice spring flower one to try out–is it bad I’m already dreaming of flowers?

23. Insect Flashcards

As you know, I love teaching children about the natural world, and these insect flashcards are no different!

This download is free; you can cater the words to a different language or opt for the bilingual option.

24. Alphabet Bingo

Make your own cards, or find some online–alphabet bingo is fun for the whole family! Make sure to add some cardstock to the homemade or printed cards for a longer lifespan on them.

Also, there are a lot of great randomizers online; enter A-Z as the options and enjoy. I guarantee any kid loves the thrill of a randomizing tool.

25. Internal Organs Learning Binder

Kids love to ask questions about the body in general, and sometimes we have a hard time answering if we don’t have visuals or an appropriate way to present it.

This Etsy shop has printable information to change this conversation in your household.

26. Number Bingo

Just like alphabet bingo, there are many resources to find online or make your own! Again, add cardstock onto the more delicate cards and maybe even laminate them.

Pull up that online randomizer, enter the numbers your child is working on, and make a night of it.

27. Letter Fishing

This idea takes a bit of planning but can be done outside (weather dependent) or in the tub!

You’ll need magnetic letters, a magnetic fishing pole or net–whatever is easier to find, a kiddie pool (if outside), and a plastic scoop. 

Let them identify letters as they pull them out of the water, or ask them to find one. It brings a lot of fun while also being fully engaged in the educational aspect of the game.

28. Sequencing Cards

Sequencing cards are endlessly customizable and found all across the internet. One of the easiest and most import to try out is their name!

On a sheet of paper, write their name and on post-its, put a letter on each and then let the kiddo unscramble and sequence them correctly.

As a more complex sequence, you could have them order how a plant grows or how to put clothes on. There are plenty of options across the web and on sites like Teacher’s Pay Teachers.

29. Alphabet Sensory Bin

In a similar spirit to the fishing for letters, add any space-taking material (water, beans, sand), letters, and any other bits you’d enjoy in the mix.

Have an oversized matching board at the ready, have them identify as they play, or anything else that may come to mind–exploration through education is key.

You can cater to what your child needs. Do they need help with dexterity–add grabbers to pull the letters out.

30. Fridge Magnet Letter Matching

Matching is genuinely one of the best ways for kids to learn. Grab a set of magnetic letters, trace them onto a sheet of paper, cut the paper version out and attach them to the fridge.

Let them match casually play while you work in the kitchen, or get down there with them and do an impromptu lesson.

31. Name Writing Activity

Teaching a kid to write their name is a huge and exciting milestone. A way to help them get there–expose them to multiple outlets to recognize and try writing their name.

Start doing some tracing activities or puzzle-based ones–recognizing the order. A dry-erase board is a great asset during this time to explore continually.

32. Alphabet Colouring Activity

A way to implement learning without having to teach outright is through colouring sheets! Every theme imaginable has millions of options–from Peppa Pig alphabet pages to Holiday ones.

Grab what your little one would be thrilled to colour!

33. Baking Soda and Vinegar Art

Sometimes some projects yield no end product, and that’s an okay thing for, frankly, everyone to learn! You’ll need an easily cleanable space, a tray or dish, baking soda, vinegar, droppers, and a bit of food dye.

Mix the vinegar and food dyes, and then have them drop the mixture onto the baking soda. Ask some sensory or scientific questions as they proceed (or after, depending on their excitement).

34. Alphabet Arc Mat

These mats are powerhouses in helping children develop and learn–it helps with everything from letter recognition to long-term memory!

The activities are endless, and there are a few options in the pdf shared for learners anywhere in their journey.

35. Busy Bee Activity Pack

If you’d like this busy bee pack , you’ll have to subscribe, but there are countless activity packs targeted at any child.

Activity packs usually can include matching sheets, letter recognition, or any other educational-based worksheet.

36. Rainbow Colour Matching

A super simple colour matching option is to grab some paint samples and these clothespins if you don’t have some already! Get duplicates of the samples and simply cut one up by the dividing lines.

Have your child match the correct colour square to each strip. So simple, easy, and cheap!

37. Sprinkle Writing Sensory Bag

One of the cutest and sweetest ways to practice writing is to make a sprinkle bag! Fill a bag up with sprinkles and secure the top shut with tape, and then have them get writing.

38. Shark Letter Recognition Activity

“Feeding the sharks” has never been more educational! This activity requires you to add your email, but it’s worth downloading. 

If you’re not into that idea, try looking around for free letter recognition activities.

39. Rainbow Cereal Necklace

A classic from my childhood–making our cereal necklaces! It’s a great fine motor and patience practice with a very sweet payoff in the end.

Gather string, a colorful cereal of choice, a child-friendly needle like this one , and any other treats you want to string on.

Your kids will love these indoor activities for kids at home !

40. Printing with Nature

Make a day of this idea! Go on a nature walk with your kiddos collecting things you find on the path but still being respectful to nature.

When home, bring your collection to the table and break out paper and some washable paint. Squirt paint onto paper plates and have them dip their findings onto the paint and then onto the paper.

Ask them what they thought their stamps might look like versus what came out on the page; you can even introduce other nature subjects while working on this project.

This activity is the perfect fall craft idea !

41. Salt Writing Tray

An alternative to the sprinkle sensory writing bag, the salt writing tray is a lowkey and textural way to get your practice in.

Grab a cookie tray, pour salt onto it, and have your kiddo work on letters, numbers, names, or even sight words.

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15 Best & Fun Activities for 4 Year Olds

1. The Sleeping Song

2. play tape games, 3. mcdonald’s sandbox farm, 4. ride to the number, 5. make a paper plate sea collage, 6. investigate your yard with a magnifying glass, 7. foam mosaics, 8. stencil process art, 9. string art, 10. shape stamps.

As a parent, you want to give your child the best start in life. That includes providing plenty of opportunities for learning and play. After all, play is a child’s work!

There are endless possibilities when it comes to activities for kindergarteners . But with so many options, it can be tough to know where to start. We bring you 15 fun activities for 4 year olds that will keep your preschoolers busy and engaged. And they’re all perfect for at-home learning!

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Indoor Activities for 4 Year Olds

What do you need:

• A copy of the song lyrics (optional)
• Cards with names of animals, insects, or objects

Instructions:

Songs are always some of the favorite preschool activities for 4 year olds, and the  sleeping song  will surely be well-received.

The lyrics of the song goes “Sleeping, sleeping, all the children are sleeping. And when they woke up, they were all ______”. Fill in the blank with any name on one of the cards.

While you are singing, children act as if they are sleeping. And when you take the name, they have to ‘wake up’ and act like it.

Skills your preschoolers will learn through this activity:

This is a great way to introduce your child to the names of animals, insects, and objects. It also helps them learn how to follow instructions and understand the concept of sleep.

• A roll of low-tack Painter’s tape

You can get creative with painter’s tape that’s easy to rip off and easily bust the boredom of your preschoolers on a rainy or snowy day when they are cooped inside the house.

Make shapes, letters, and numbers on the floor with the tape. Make your four-year-old stand on one of them and give interesting instructions like “Hop to Number 9” or “Crawl to B”. The options are endless.

Or you can make 5-10 lines that are a foot apart and help your child practice running and jumping forward and backward. You may add twists. For example, they may swing their arms or put them behind their backs while doing the activity. You can make them hop on one leg or stretch and try to reach the next line.

Creating hopscotch with the tape is yet another variation of the tape game to keep your little ones engaged.

You can use this activity to teach numbers, letters, shapes, and colors. And also to help them practice their gross motor skills.

• A sandbox or a tub of sand
• Some toy animals to hide

Perfect for kids who love the Old McDonald song, this activity will keep your preschoolers entertained for hours.

First, hide the toy animals in the sand. Then, have your child find them one by one while singing the rhyme. For example, on the line “And on his farm, he had some ducks”, your child has to find the duck in the sandbox. Make the corresponding animal sounds as they uncover each animal.

One of the best learning activities for 4 year olds to teach them about word association and develop their sense of touch, the McDonald’s Sandbox Farm is perfect for building their vocabulary as well.

Outdoor Activities for 4 Year Olds

• A ride-on toy, a balance bike, or a mini-vehicle

Write large-sized numbers or letters on the driveway, pavement, or patio. Call them out and check how quickly preschoolers zoom or pedal to them.

You can also use colored chalk to draw circles or different shapes. Ask them to stop at a certain color or shape. This math game is bound to bring squeals of laughter and joy.

This activity helps in the development of gross motor skills, improves balance and coordination, and recognition of letters, numbers, shapes, and colors.

• Paper plates
• Blue card to make the sea background
• Green tissue paper for seaweed
• Different colored cards for fishes
• Cheerios for air bubbles
• Small pebbles

This is a fun indoors and outdoors game for kids that promote learning, but it makes the most sense when you are on a beach or camping near a river. For the sea background, cut out big blue rectangles from the card. Help your child glue it onto the paper plate.

Now, cut fish from different colored cards and seaweed from green tissue paper. Assembling the collage is the best part. Let your child glue fish and seaweed however they want. Add some cheerios for air bubbles, small pebbles, and shells to make it look more realistic.

Creative and imaginative, this activity helps your four-year-olds hone their observation skills. It also teaches them about marine life.

• A magnifying glass

This activity is perfect for those curious kids who want to know everything about the world around them.

Give your child a magnifying glass and let them explore the yard. They will be amazed at the things they see. Point out different bugs, flowers, and leaves. Help them identify them by name. This is a great activity to do on a nature walk as well.

This is an excellent way to develop your child’s observation skills and also teach them about nature. During the activity, you can tell your toddler about various topics, such as different types of leaves, insects, or types of rocks.

Art and craft activities for 4 year olds

• Colorful craft foam
• Recycled cardboard
• Paintbrushes

Foam mosaics are fun and easy to make. Start by cutting recycled cardboard into different shapes. You can use cookie cutters to make different shapes like flowers, hearts, or stars.

Now, help your child cut the craft foam into small pieces. They can be of different colors and sizes. Glue the foam pieces onto the cardboard shapes. Once the glue is dry, paint over the entire mosaic with white glue. This will give it a shiny finish.

Teach some essential abstract art to kids and nurture their creativity and help them hone their fine motor skills.

• A large piece of paper
• Different shaped stencils
• Tempera paint
• Rollers and paintbrushes

This is a great activity for both outdoor and indoor game for kids . Place a large piece of paper on the ground or floor. Help your child choose differently shaped stencils. You can use geometric shapes, animals, or any other shapes that you have.

Now, let them choose their favorite colors and start painting. They can use rollers or paintbrushes to execute the painting ideas . As they paint, help them move the stencil around so that they can create different patterns.

This simple process art activity helps in the development of fine motor skills and eye-hand coordination. It also teaches your child about colors, shapes, and patterns.

• Yarn or String
• Different colored paints

String art is a fun way to create different patterns and shapes. It’s also a great way to teach your child about colors and shapes. To start, draw a shape on a piece of cardboard. It can be a simple shape like a heart or star.

Dip the string in the paint and move it across the shape to color it. You can use different colors to create a multicolored design. Once the paint is dry, cut out the shape and display it proudly.

This activity helps in the development of fine motor skills, color recognition, and hand-eye coordination.

Painting Activities for 4 Year Olds

• Foam or blocks of wood to make the stamp
• Paint and brushes

This is a fun and easy activity that results in beautiful paintings. Start by cutting different shapes out of foam or blocks of wood. You can use simple shapes like circles, triangles, or squares. Or you can draw insects and animals like butterflies, fishes, or bees.

Now, let your child choose their favorite colors and start painting. They can use one color or mix different colors together. As they paint, help them stamp the shapes onto the paper.

They can make different patterns or pictures with stamps.

Kids love stamping. Almost as much as they love stomping. This activity helps in the development of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. It also teaches your child about colors, shapes, and patterns.

11. Marble Rolling

• Paints and brushes

Dip the marbles in paints and roll them on paper. You can use different colors to create a multicolored design. As the marbles roll, they will leave behind a trail of paint.

Kids can roll and slide marbles on the paper to create different patterns.

When kids roll marbles, they may have to fold paper or tip it to different sides. This strengthens their hand muscles and develops fine motor skills. And they also learn about the cause and effect of their actions. As they see the paint trail left behind by the marbles, they understand how their actions can create different results.

12. Van Gogh’s Sunflower Painting with Spices

• Different colored spices
• Van Gogh sunflower painting template
• Water and brushes
• Yellow cardstock

Are you a fan of Van Gogh? The artist is known for his beautiful paintings of sunflowers. You can recreate one of his iconic paintings with your preschooler. But instead of paints, you will be using spices.

Start by mixing different spices to create different shades of yellow, brown, and orange. Help your child paint the sunflower template with these colors.

Once the painting is done, let it dry. Then, cut the painting out and glue it onto a piece of yellow cardstock. Finally, display it proudly.

The painting not only looks nice but also smells great. This activity is great for teaching preschool kids about colors and spices, and how to mix them. It also helps in the development of fine motor skills.

Sensory Activities for Toddlers

13. Smell Bottles

• Small plastic bottles
• Cotton balls
• Items for smelling, such as spices, coffee, cocoa, dried fruits, vinegar, essential oils, dishwasher, etc.

Create solutions for different items and dip cotton balls in them. Place them in separate bottles. Make sure to label each bottle.

Now, it’s time for a smelling game. Give your child one bottle at a time and let them guess what’s inside.

This is a great activity for developing a child’s sense of smell. As they play the game, they will learn to identify different smells. They will also learn about the properties of each smell, such as whether it is strong or weak.

14. Draw & Guess Game

Use your finger to draw a letter, number, or a basic object on the child’s back and let them guess what you drew. They can take turns to be a ‘drawer’ while you play the ‘guesser’.

This game is a great way to teach your child to develop their sense of touch. They also learn how to communicate non-verbally and guess what others are trying to communicate.

15. Food Taste Test for Preschoolers

• Child-safe foods to taste, such as:
• Salty:  popcorn, pretzels, chips
• Sour:  lemons, oranges, grapefruits
• Sweet:  candy, chocolate, cookies, marshmallows
• Bitter:  coffee, tea, dark chocolate
• Hot:  peppers, ginger
• Food cards or flavor cards (optional)

Give your child a small piece of each food item to taste. As they taste each item, ask them to describe the flavor. You can also give them food cards or flavor cards to help them identify the flavors.

As they get better at the game, you can blindfold them and see if they can identify the flavors just by taste.

This is a great activity to help kids develop their sense of smell and taste. They also learn to identify different flavors. And as they get better at the game, they learn to use their other senses to figure out the flavors.

Important Skills That Your Kids Will Learn Through These Activities!

As your kids engage in these activities, they will learn a range of important skills, such as:

• how to follow instructions,
• how to solve problems ,
• how to express their creativity,
• how to communicate with others, and
• how to develop their sense of smell, taste, and touch.

They learn new words and practice their numbers and alphabet. They also develop their gross and fine motor skills. You can also use alphabet game and number sense games for kids to make this activity even more fun!

Benefits of Educational Activities for 4 Year Olds

When you consciously engage your kids in activities that keep them learning and growing, you’re not only setting them up for success in school but also in life. Here are some benefits of educational activities kids engage in:

• They develop a love for learning:  When kids engage in activities that are enjoyable and stimulating, they develop a positive attitude toward learning. This love for learning will stay with them throughout their lives.
• They learn to think outside the box:  When kids are allowed to be creative and explore different concepts, they learn to think outside the box. This is a valuable skill that will help them in all areas of their lives.
• They develop important life skills:  Through educational activities, kids learn important life skills such as problem-solving, communication, and critical thinking. These are skills that they will use throughout their lives.
• They learn to be independent:  As kids engage in activities that require them to think independently, they learn to be more independent. Nurturing independence early in life will help them in all aspects of their lives.
• They build self-confidence:  When kids are successful in their educational activities, they build self-confidence. Confident toddlers grow into confident adults.
• They develop social skills:  Educational activities provide kids with the opportunity to interact with their peers that promotes social emotional learning . This is a great way for them to develop important social skills such as teamwork, communication, and cooperation.
• They learn to be patient:  Many educational activities require kids to be patient and persistent. And who knows better than a parent how even a little patience in a toddler can go a long way?
• They develop fine motor skills:  Many educational activities require kids to use their fine motor skills. This is an important skill that helps them have a better grip on the pencils and crayons, which in turn helps them write and draw better.
• They develop gross motor skills:  Many educational activities require kids to use their gross motor skills. This is an important skill that helps them run, jump, and play.
• They learn to follow instructions:  It’s not easy to get toddlers to listen to you. But if they are having fun, they are more likely to listen and follow instructions. This is an important skill for preschoolers to learn as it will help them in school and beyond.

At the age of four, kids discover new things every day. They’re also growing physically, emotionally, and cognitively. It’s important to provide them with activities that will help them learn and grow.

Engaging your kids in educational activities is a great way to ensure that they are learning and developing important skills. These activities also have the added benefit of being enjoyable for both kids and parents!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can four year olds do something unsupervised.

At this age, it’s important to provide supervision for your child as they explore and play. Preschool kids are prone to accidents as they are still learning about their bodies and the world around them.

How much should I be helping my four year old with their activities?

It’s important to let your child take the lead in their activities. This is a time for them to explore and discover new things. However, you should be there to provide guidance and support when needed.

What if my four-year-old doesn’t want to do any of these activities?

It’s important to let your child choose the activities they want to do. If they’re not interested in one of the activities, that’s okay! There are plenty of other options to choose from.

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Introducing our innovative worksheets designed specifically for 4-Year-Olds! Crafted with the young, curious minds of preschoolers in mind, these worksheets are the perfect blend of fun and learning. Covering a range of essential skills such as basic math concepts, letter recognition, and early writing skills, each activity is tailored to engage and inspire four-year-olds. With vibrant illustrations and interactive tasks, our worksheets make learning an exciting adventure for your little one. Unlock your child’s potential and lay the foundation for academic success with our expertly designed worksheets for 4-Year-Olds. Start the journey of discovery and growth today!

Check out this FREE Trial Lesson for age 4!

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Worksheets designed specifically for 4-year-olds serve as a fundamental tool in early childhood education, offering numerous benefits that support a child's developmental milestones. These carefully crafted activities are instrumental in enhancing fine motor skills. As children engage with worksheets, they practice pencil grip and control, laying the groundwork for legible handwriting.

Moreover, worksheets for 4-year-olds are tailored to stimulate cognitive development. Through a variety of puzzles, matching games, and problem-solving tasks, these resources encourage critical thinking and the ability to focus, fostering an early love for learning. They also introduce basic concepts of math, language, and science in a fun and accessible manner, making education an enjoyable experience.

Social skills, too, receive a boost through the use of worksheets. Group activities promote teamwork, sharing, and communication among peers, essential competencies for kindergarten readiness. Additionally, completing worksheets gives young learners a sense of accomplishment and self-confidence, important aspects of emotional development.

Importantly, worksheets for 4-year-olds are designed to be engaging and age-appropriate, ensuring that learning aligns with their curiosity and capacity for understanding. They bridge the gap between play and structured learning, preparing children for a seamless transition into more formal education settings.

In conclusion, worksheets for 4-year-olds are a versatile educational tool, fostering not only academic but also social and emotional growth. They lay a solid foundation for lifelong learning.

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While this week for you to download is sample week just for preschoolers, The Activity Room provides weeks of fun for 2-5 year olds, week after week, continually! The fun literally never ends!

We also provide an extra themed week of activities to our annual members that are committed for the entire year. So much fun to be had!

Looking for lots of preschooler activities?

To find a preschooler activity you're looking for, you can do a search in the search bar found at the top of the page, or search by topic or category that's found in a pulldown menu below.

Browse our activities for 4 year olds by age below (at least the age the we did them at!).

Please note: This is just the age that we tried these activities in our house. These activities may be suitable for other ages. As well as not suitable for your child that is of this age. Please take into consideration the level of development that your child is at.

Other Ages to Explore:

• 3 Year Olds
• 5 Year Olds

4 Year Old Activities to Love

Looking for something? Search for activities:

Homemade Pom Pom Christmas Lights for Fine Motor Fun

Creative No-Prep Letter Sounds Activity with Everyday Objects

Make a Color Sorting Sensory Bag with Your Kids: Super Easy & Squishy

Fun Ways to Teach Sight Words: 12 Hands-On Activities

Simple Leaf Garland to Decorate for Fall

How to Blow up a Glove Balloon: Kids Love This Experiment

Visual Addition Pom Pom Drop

Simple Block Learning Activity with Shapes & Colors

Pom Pom Target Practice for Preschoolers & Toddlers

Try A Crazy Glue Craft That Will Blow Your Mind

Pom Pom Drop Activity for Toddlers + Benefits for All Ages

Ways Kids Can Use a Slide (Other Than Sliding Down It)

Rainbow Suncatcher Made with Just the Primary Colors

LOVE Banner for Kids to Make

Easy Activity: Bottle Bowling

Interactive Reading Comprehension Activity to Love Learning

The Floor is Lava “Don’t Step in the Lava!”

Pasta Sensory Bin Activity for Free Play Exploration

Bouncy Balls Game: Silly Fun Activity for Home to Play

Super-Sized Math + Painting Activity for Kids

Simple Thanksgiving Conversation Starters for Kids

Make an Easy Rubber Band Splatter Painting with Your Preschooler

Simply Gorgeous Fall Painting Project for Kids

Fun Rubber Band Passing Fine Motor Game

Torn Paper Autumn Tree Craft for Kids

6 Things to Do With Goldfish Crackers: Activities to Cure “I’m Bored”

Blowing up a Balloon with Baking Soda and Vinegar

Simple Cardboard Airplane Craft for Kids

Look What Happens When Happy Kids Paint with Mud

6 Different Activities for 6 Lines of Tape

13 No-Prep Games to Play Over FaceTime (or Skype)

Sparkly Spring Tree Craft for Toddlers to Make

How to Make a Lava Lamp Experiment Without Alka Seltzer

Silly Rolling Number Matching Game

Does it Sink or Float Experiment for Toddlers

Go on a Christmas Light Scavenger Hunt in the House

20 Homemade Christmas Cards for Kids to Make

Easily Make Tinted Jars with This Simple Painting Glass Jars Idea

Make These Easy Snowflakes for a Snowy Garland

Spider Web Scavenger Hunt for Halloween

Sticker Christmas Tree Craft for Kids

No-Carve Monster Pumpkins for Halloween

CHOMP! Feed the Tennis Ball Pac-Man! A Squeezing Fine Motor Activity

Cute Apple Name Puzzle Works on Cutting Skills

Play Dough Monsters for Preschoolers to Roll, Count & Decorate

Flour Sensory Play for Toddlers (& Being Okay with the Mess)

Shadow Match Activity with Building Blocks

Colored Coffee Filter Flowers for Kids to Make

Tree Branch Craft for Kids Simple Fairy Tale Pretend Play

Size Sorting Circles Rainbow Necklace Toddler Craft

Make Words with a Fun Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt

Frozen Rainbow Science Experiment for Kids

Snip Santa’s Beard as Cutting Practice for Preschoolers

Decorate the Christmas Tree Activity with ABCs

Simple Wipe-Clean Ice Painting for Kids!

Fun Games to Play with Cards: The Best Indoor Energy Busters!

Pretty Coffee Filter Flower Craft Kids Can Make

Create Your Own Animal with an Easy Old Magazines Collage

Sand Sensory Play and Make Exciting 100 Number Art

Musical Activity: Rhythm Play Adventure for Preschoolers

Rubber Band Printing to Make Transfer Art Quick and Easy

Simple Alphabet Maze Activity to Learn the ABCs

Spiral Ghost Craft for Halloween with Cutting Practice

Practice Letter Sounds with a Fun and Easy Scavenger Hunt

Make a Cereal Fall Tree Craft and “Kid-Powered Mornings”

Back to School Countdown Simple Art Project

Paper Clip Chain Activity is Quick Fun for Fine Motor Skills

Wrapped Yarn Vase Craft for Mother’s Day

Magazine Scavenger Hunt with Paper Tearing

Adorable Button Icicles Winter Craft for Kids

Cute Wintery Snowman Sensory Bin for Toddlers

Quick Painting the Driveway with Water Activity

Extra Fancy Oil Pastel Resist Watercolors on Canvas for Kids

DIY a Festive Kid-Sized American Flag for Fourth of July!

Easy Easter Egg Splatter Painting Activity for Kids

Try an Easy Counting Flower Petals Math Activity for Kids

Threading Cork Bead Bracelets

Sidewalk Chalk Drawing & Mark Making

Easy DIY Cereal Box Puzzles to Learn to Count

Starched Coffee Filter Flowers Craft

Making Muddy Prints with Your Toddler

Matching Upper and Lowercase Letters on ABC Road

Snowman Craft from Tin Cans! Great Winter Craft!

Hula Hoop Smash: A Simplified Piñata Activity

Light Up Ghost Craft for Halloween

Leaf Hair Salon: A Cutting Activity

A ‘Counting Up’ Countdown to Back to School

A Letter Hunt on The Stairs

Passing Objects Fine Motor Activity

A-MAZE-ing Way to Learn a Letter

Drawing Underneath & Upside Down

Kid-Made Valentine Snacks for the Classroom

Find the Letter on the Heart

Simple Sorting Activity When You’re in a Pinch

Magic Homemade Puffy Paint to Make a Snowman

Snow Globe Gift for Kids to Make

Fine Motor Knot Tying Activity

Follow the Line & Match the Stickers

Pop! Learning with Bubble Wrap

What Parents Have to Say…

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Activities that hands-on parents absolutely love.

Improve Kids Fine Motor Skills with 30 Materials & Activities

Top Physical Activities for Toddlers! Mom, Embrace the Energy!

25 Sensory Activities for Kids with Sensory Tubs & Further Exploration

40+ Awesome Number Activities for Preschoolers

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31 LEARNING ACTIVITIES FOR 4 YEAR OLDS THAT YOU CAN EASILY DO

Looking for fun activities to keep your 4 year olds busy and entertained at home! Find a list of 31 easy to do activities that your 4 year olds will love.

Activities, aren't they the best way to keep kids occupied for a long time while you can get the time you need to get your work done? They can help a child escape boredom, learn some new skills, keep them engaged, get you the much-needed quiet time for yourself, and finally, it can help you bond with your kids and also help escape sibling rivalry.

I love doing activities with my daughter all the time. It keeps her happy and entertained. Below is a list of printable learning activities for 4-year-olds and five-year-olds who are much more capable of doing an activity independently.

All these educational activities for toddlers at home have a few things in common.

• Requires minimal setup
• Can be easily done with stuff lying around at home
• Teach your kids important life skills
• Keep them engaged at least for a couple of hours

Important skills that your kids will learn through these activities!

• Sensory skills
• Fine motor skill development
• Physical strength
• Analytical thinking

Before we get into the list, if you have no idea how to set up toddler learning activities for children up to three years old, then there's no need to fret. Check out  this blog here on how to set up an activity  for your child that they will get instantly get attracted to and will love to do it again and again.

For toddler moms, being a toddler mom myself, I have been able to customize many of these 4 year olds activities to suit my toddler interests. So this list can be really helpful to you as well.

Some basic things you will need for these activities!

It is always best to get a few basic art and craft stuff that you will need again and again in any activity which can save you multiple trips to Target!

• Colors ( crayons , pencil colors , washable paints )
• Paint brushes , painter pallete
• Assorted set of craft supplies (pom poms, pipe cleaners, craft sticks, etc)
• Construction paper (assorted colors)
• Popsicle sticks
• Masking tape , craft scissor
• Playdough and playdough tools
• Glitter glue , stickers , sequins
• Q-tips , rubber bands
• Paper plates

Pin this post to keep it handy all the time!

31 Fun activities to do with 4 year olds

1. playing with gloop via learning4kids.

Gloop is such a fun activity for kids of any age. I love making it for my daughter as well. It is slimy, sticky and a lot of mess but it is a great sensory activity as well as can teach your kids some basic science skills like the difference between the solid and liquid. Janice from learning4kids in her blog here will walk you through steps on how to make gloop as well as what you can talk to your kids about while doing this activity.

2. Backyard water fun

You can never go wrong with some backyard water fun especially in the summer months. They are a great way to keep kids active as well as engaged for really long. Add some sprinklers to the water fun or a big bucket with soapy water to let your kids wash his toys and sit back and relax and watch them have fun.

Related: 30 Best summer toys for kids

3. size sorting rainbow necklace via handsonaswegrow.

Such a great activity to teach your kids about colors and shapes. Jamie from handonaswegrow.com teaches a simple activity that is perfect for toddlers and up to 5 years old where they learn how to thread and make a pretty rainbow necklace based on the size.

4. Memory matching game for kids via handsonaswegrow

Another great memory activity game to teach kids concentration and focus. All you need are some small objects like pom poms , beads and empty egg cartons.

5. Read books

Developing a good reading habit is a great activity to keep kids busy for long and also help build their vocabulary and teach them new life lessons. Incorporating a good 15-20 minutes of reading habit in your little one can go a long way for them.

6. Coloring

Another great activity to get kids to think creatively and outside the box. I love to use coloring books for my daughter. Give them some washable paints or crayons and let them create something creative for you. Make sure to use an apron as paints can get really messy.

7. Play with board games

Board games can make for a fun family night and it can teach your kids some basic important skills like communication, taking turns, sharing, winning and losing, and some basic math and analytical skills. They are great for kids of any age group. My favorite for my toddler are hiss and yeti in my spaghetti. And below are a few amazing board games for 3 years +.

8. Play with play dough or kinetic sand to roll, count and decorate via handsonaswegrow

This great activity via Jamie will teach your kids to be creative (designing monsters), learn to count and decorate the monsters. Also you can talk to your kids about colors, shapes etc.

9. Hide n' seek

This is the activity that keeps us busy most of the evenings. If your kid has siblings then even better as they can play with each other. Just hide behind trees or indoors under the tables and let your child count till 10 and find you. Great activity for your kids to get some physical activity and outside fresh air.

10. Play with Legos

Kids can spend hours engaging in building lego kits. It can help them think outside the box and use their imagination to build their own toys. We love lego kits for our toddlers like this one and this and this toy can easily grow with your kids as well. Some great lego kits for 3+ age are as below.

11. Easy paper tunnels for little car lovers via mamapapabubba.com

Vow I love this idea. Thy are definitely the easiest paper tunnels for little car lovers. Jen from mamapapabubba in her post has put an effortless and easy to do activity for car loving kids and that can really keep them engaged and entertained for long.

12. Farm animals washing station via coffeecupsandcrayons

I am sure most of you must have tried a washing toy station for your kids at home. My daughter is enjoying washing her toys in backyard as I write this blog post now. I love this idea via Megan that she has shared in her beautiful blog coffeecupsandcrayons.com. She has very well laid down everything that you will need to set up a fun and engrossing washing station for your kids at home.

13. Animal tape rescue via busytoddler

Susie’s blog busytoddler always has the best ideas and I keep going back to her blog to find fun and easy thing to do with my daughter at home. Another fun fine motor skill activity is this animal tape rescue activity. Although this is for young toddlers, even older kids can have some pretend play fun taping their farm animals. Add a few more toys to this and have fun watching them create fun stories.

14. Cereal threading via handsonaswegrow

Threading is a great activity that can keep toddlers as well as older kids engaged. Jamie in this activity has shared an easy setup which requires a few basic things like cereals, pasta, threads etc. This easy to do activity can teach kids about numbers, colors, patterns etc.

15. Blow Painting with Straws via artfulparent.com

Such a fun and creative activity via Jean. It can get your kids creative juices flowing and is so easy to set up.

16. Nature prints via nurturestore

Isn’t summer all about spending as much time as possible outdoors. What about adding a little bit of colors to the time you spend outside. This easy to do flower printing garden art is so easy to do and all it needs are fallen leaves and flowers and paints.

17. Sticker lines via busytoddler.com

Sticker lines are super easy to create. A great motor skill activity and all you need are some sticker dots and a sharpie.

18. Pom pom wall via toddlerapproved.com

I love doing this with my daughter. This activity can grow with your kids. For my toddler, I just tape empty paper rolls to the wall and give her some pom poms to pass through. And Kristina here via her blog todllersapproved.com has shared a fun and slightly contraption style pom pom wall setup for grown up kids. Great for fine motor skill development!

19. Do chores via moneysavingmom.com

Involving kids in household chores helps set them up for success in their life. It teaches them about responsibilities and being independent. Checkout this list of 15 easy chore ideas for 4 year olds via Crystal Paine through her famous blog moneysavingmom.com.

20. Sprinkle sensory bag via activelittles.com

Tammi here has shared an interesting activity for early learners. It is a great sensory activity for kids who can practice writing letters and numbers on a sensory sprinklers bag.

21. Rainbow salt writing tray via activelittles.com

Another great activity via Tammi for early learners. Create a rainbow tray and sprinkle salt on it and let your kids have fun writing letters and numbers on the rainbow tray.

22. Pretend play

Kids love pretend play games. Be it being a doctor or a chef who is cooking for their favorite toys watching these little ones get into character is very entreating. I have a complete blog post of 15 best pretend play toys that you can buy for your little one. Also adding a few of my favorites here.

23. Brain quest

I was introduced to brain quest through a friend a couple of months back and I have to say that I am hooked. Brain quest has the best selection of activity cards and workbook that can get your little one engaged and excited for a long time. Check them out below.

24. Fridge magnets in an alphabetic order

I got these fridge magnets for Mishika when she turned a year old. They were a great hit then and are still a great hit. It is a great learning activity for kids. Ask your four year olds to arrange these fridge magnets in alphabetical order or numerical order. Great way to keep kids busy while you can load your dishwasher or prep your meals.

25. Paper cutting via funwithmama.com

Teaching your kids to learn scissor skills is a great motor skill activity. Kids love to cut and Nadia through her blog funwithmama.com has shared free printables that you can download for your kids. It’s a good activity to keep kids occupied on a long flight.

26. Rainbow rice via honeyandbetts.com

Hannah in her blog has put an easy sensory bin activity using rainbow rice for young kids. Rainbow rice sensory kits can be great for kids to draw letters and numbers in or give them a few toys and let them have fun creating a pretend play game.

27. Create an indoor herb garden via honeyandbetts.com

I found this activity very interesting and I plan to try it with my daughter soon. Gardening is a great skill to cultivate in your little ones and Hannah through her activity shows how to create an indoor herb garden while involving your little ones.

28. Glue canvas via learnwithplayathome

Speaking from experience my little girl loves to mess around with the glue all the time and this activity was exactly what I needed for my daughter. Debs through her blog leranwithplayathome.com has shared an amazing activity of making a glue canvas with your kids. This activity can get them to think outside the box and become more creative.

29. Wattle art stamping via thecrafttrain.com

Such a great activity by Kate from thecrafttrain.com! In this art & craft activity Kate shows an easy art painting using q-tips and washable paints where she teaches you how to draw a wattle – Australia’s national flower. Great way to paint!

30. Fluffy pet rocks via thecrafttrain.com

Such a cute activity where Kate teaches you how to convert your rocks into fluffy pets. Your kids will love it.

31. Puzzles

Puzzles are one of the best toys that you can get for your kids that can get their brains working. I love working on puzzles with my daughter and have watched her grow with them. Checkout a few great puzzles for your kids below (3+ years of age)

I hope this list of activity for 4 year olds was helpful and you found something interesting to do with your kids. So which activity are you going to try with your little one?

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One comment.

Thanks for sharing these wonderful ideas. Me and my daughter read books together especially when it’s a personalised one! She react more and more positively to a customized book than to a non-customized one. This might seem overly simple, but if you engage with a book, you’re enjoying it. And you’re more likely to reread a book if you enjoyed it previously, right? Repetition is key to mastering anything. In case you’re wondering, we bought the personalised books from personalisedchildrensbooks.com ❤️

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Printables for Busy Moms & Creative Kids

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Printable Activities for 4-year-olds

Do you need some  printable activities for 4-year-olds ? I’ve got some great ideas for you here!

I love having fun activities for my kids that don’t require too much prep – and the good news is there are plenty of  free printable activities for 4-year-olds  available online that I’ve used again and again!

These printables cover all kinds of categories and stimulate their brains to learn while they’re having a ton of fun!

Free Printable Activities for 4-year-olds

4-year-olds need a lot to keep them busy. These fun activities help keep them occupied while at the same time provide learning experiences for them. I like to have a folder full of these printables so that I can do something fun with them at any given time.

Some of these activities can even be laminated to use again and again!

(If you have a 4-year-old that loves rockets, check out this printable straw rocket craft from Six Clever Sisters!)

Let’s take a look at these printable activities for 4-year-olds !

Not ready to use these printables yet? PIN FOR LATER!

Check out these printable activities for 3-year-olds that you could also use for 4’s!

Back to School Printable Lego Builds

Name Tracing Worksheets

Cats with funny hats – Dr. Seuss inspired shapes matching worksheets

Back to School Color by Number Printables

Brain break cubes with printable animal activities

Pom-pom printables for matching

Fire Safety Play Dough Counting Mats

Dinosaur Bingo

Kindergarten Readiness Printable Worksheets

Preschool Do a Dot Printables: Bugs

Pattern Block Mat Printables

ASL Alphabet Charts

Cut and paste activities for learning shapes

Printable Butterfly Worksheets for Preschoolers

Sequencing worksheets for preschool

Pretend Play Ice Cream Toppings Printable

Free Printable Worksheets for Preschool, Pre-K & Kindergarten Kids

This "stop, drop, and roll sequence" printable is found under the Fire Safety section.

Pattern block activity with printables for dice

Snap-cube alphabet activity with printables

Popsicle Color Words Printable

(This one's mixed in with a bunch of other free printables, but you'll spot it!)

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I'm Rachel, and this is my daughter Chloe. We both love digital design, blogging, and crafting! We're glad you stopped by, and we hope you find plenty of helpful printables and craft ideas. Subscribe to our emails so you don't miss out on our newest freebies!

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Trending Post : Books Made Into Movies

Awesome Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys

This post may contain affiliate links.

Here are awesome gifts for 7 year old boys that are also filled with learning and creativity opportunities. Your 7 year olds will love these gift ideas!

You Might Also Like:

Books for 7-Year-Olds

Activity Books for Ages 5 – 8

Craft and STEM Activity Kits for Kids

Star Wars Gifts

Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys

LEGO DREAMzzz Zoey’s Cat Motorcycle Bike Toy Build a motorcycle and let your 2 minifigures ride it!

Dolly Purrton Cats Puzzle (100 pieces) Try your hand at this 100-piece puzzle of a kitty Dolly!

LEGO Baby Bumpy Ankylosaurus Dinosaur How adorable is this dinosaur model? Use the 358 blocks to build your own Baby Bumpy!

Anarchy Pancakes If you’ve played Spot It, the visual matching game, then you’re almost ready for ANARCHY Pancakes, Anarchy emphasized. Because in this wild game of chaos, there are no turns! Players match and grab at will — as quickly as they can. Fun and funny.

Elmer’s Squishies Make your own squishy toys that you can squish, stretch, and scrunch. But first, follow the directions to mix and pour into the molds.

Schnozzer & Tatertoes Take a Hike!  by Rick Stromosky Hoping to find Tatertoes mom, Schnozzer and Tatetoes journey through the  fairy tale  story-filled woods  where they meet the Three Bears, Hansel and Gretel, and Little Red Riding Hood. The only directions they get is to “follow their nose” which seems very unhelpful. Their adventure is funny with a heartwarming ending.

Rosie Revere’s Big Project Book for Bold Engineers 40+ Things to Invent, Draw, and Make  by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts ages This is an excellent, engaging activity book based on the fantastic STEM  Rosie Revere, Engineer  picture book. Colorful illustrations and a cool layout will entice readers to try, fail, and learn. Discover more about simple machines, build a marble run, solve engineering challenges, design a stuffed animal carrier for your bike, learn about inventors who failed a lot, and so much more.

Math Path Monster Use your arithmetic skills (addition and subtraction) to escape the monster!

Mega Pokemon Building Set Build a battle play system and use the launchers to battle your five characters (Pikachu, Machop, Eevee, Fuecoco, and Hawlucha).

Cool Animals Sticker Activity Book by National Geographic Kids National Geographic never disappoints.  This book is filled with 1,000 stickers of  animals , puzzles, games, spelling, patterns, drawing ideas, and much more . Highly recommended. ***If you like this book, check out  Ponies & Horses  and  Dogs .

Botley the Coding Robot We love Botley! It’s easy to use and does not require any other devices– NO smartphone or tablet required. It’s a hands-on way to learn the foundational thinking concepts of programming in code (sequencing, looping, if/then). FULL REVIEW HERE .

Nerf Football Check out the grips on the side of this football! This is a great gift for 7 year old boys.

Reading Headlamp I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, headlamps beat book lamps for reading hands down. Because they’re hands-free AND have much better light! (All over the page light, not just in one spot.) Plus, how cool are you when you sit in bed with a headlamp?! These really motivate young readers.

The Brick Mat Roll this double-sided mat onto your floor or table. One side is for larger bricks, the other for smaller. And, if you like this, you might want to check out the building block  adhesive tape !

Gift Guides by Age

Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 7 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 8 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 9 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 10 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 11 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Boys Best Gifts for 12 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for 13 Year Old Girls

Best Gifts for Teen Boys Best Gifts for Teen Girls

Best Stocking Stuffers for Kids

Melissa Taylor, MA, is the creator of Imagination Soup. She's a mother, former teacher & literacy trainer, and freelance education writer. She writes Imagination Soup and freelances for publications online and in print, including Penguin Random House's Brightly website, USA Today Health, Adobe Education, Colorado Parent, and Parenting. She is passionate about matching kids with books that they'll love.

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“I’m totally loving these (even though they’re pricey) STEAM gift marbles because they’re the exact proportions of each celestial body.” Umm…am I crazy or are these NOT even remotely proportional to the actual sizes of these celestial bodies….cuz yea, the earth is like, a bit smaller than the sun. Who wrote this stuff??

Kids’ gifts can be hard to buy as you try to find the best gifts for your child’s age which inspire, stimulate & excite. 7-year-old start to have pretty strong opinions about the things they like. But the great thing is, they usually like a whole lot. They’re still trying things, experimenting with new interests, learning about the world, figuring out who they are. So we love gifts that will get them thinking, creating, exploring, and playing.