Your Four Year Old's Favorite Gifts

[Winter Biscuit]

I need some gift ideas for a 4-year old girl. I know that she is really "into" Hello Kitty, ballerinas, and princesses, but have no idea what she might like. My own DD is 2.5 so I am concerned about buying the 4yo something that is too "young" for her. Any ideas?

[sublime311]

Angelina Ballerina (http://www.amazon.com/gp/search/ref=br_ss_hs/104-7525401-7024755?platform=gurupa&url=index%3Dblended&keywords=angelina+ballerina) is an adorable line of books and toys. I'm planning to buy my 3yo Goddaughter (a ballerina herself) several books and these art plates (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=9525379499&category=95232) for her birthday. You could do a little theme gift and wrap it all up in pink tulle! Cute!

ETA: I bought Bella Cinderella Magical Princess Dance Studio (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B0009ANJMC/sr=8-1/qid=1150812856/ref=pd_bbs_1/104-7525401-7024755?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance) for the same little girl last Christmas and she STILL loves it!

[linda_loo]

Do you have an idea of what kinds of activities this girl seems to prefer and how much do you want to spend?

My dd turned 4 in May. She received a lot of games, books (loving Iza Trapani (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-8154933-8365507?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=stripbooks%3Arelevance-above&field-keywords=iza%20trapani) books lately) and art supplies for her birthday. Hullabaloo (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00008MIGQ/qid=1150854698/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-8154933-8365507?v=glance&s=toys)is really cool, so is Cariboo (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B000063XO3/qid=1150854814/sr=1-4/ref=sr_1_4/104-8154933-8365507?v=glance&s=toys). We don't have them, my friend's dd does and dd4 always wants to visit this friend, so she can play those games.

She loves artwork and craft projects... Color Wonder markers and Do-A-Dot paints/books (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-8154933-8365507?url=index%3Dtoys&field-keywords=do+a+dot). I am a big fan of Klutz Chicken Socks items, they have them at lots of places, including Target and Michaels and they make a cool gift. Melty Beads (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1591743621/104-8154933-8365507?v=glance&n=283155) are a big fave.

Dress up is big in our house... aside from the princess stuff, TRU has some really neat outfits, including teacher, police officer and doctor, IIRC.

We have received some Kumon (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/search-handle-url/104-8154933-8365507?%5Fencoding=UTF8&search-type=ss&index=stripbooks%3Arelevance-above&field-keywords=kumon)books in the past year (including the cutting one), that she enjoyed as well. dd2.5 received the folding one when it was dd4's birthday, and I ended up buying another one, so they could both do it.

I often give crafty presents to kids that are younger, because I know their parents can do the project and then keep it or pitch it. They are consumable and clutter up their home (I like this myself, to be honest).

HTH!

[Winter Biscuit]

Thanks for the suggestions, I am going to check them out! I am thinking that we'll spend around $20-$25.

This is my friend's DD who lives a few hours away so I really don't know what she likes other than "girly" stuff. Anything pink, anything to do with dance, ballerinas, princesses, and Hello Kitty. Sorry it's so vague, but your suggestions so far are really helping. Thank you!!

[linda_loo]

I really don't know what she likes other than "girly" stuff. Anything pink, anything to do with dance, ballerinas, princesses, and Hello Kitty.

I probably sound like an inconsiderate nerd... but when I hear that, I usually try to find something educational, or a really great present that happens to not be pink/princess/stereotypicallygirly, just to offer up something different.

[linda_loo]

What gifts have been a real hit with your four year old? Feel free to include "stuff" that you have bought your child too. I thought this would be a cool way to share ideas for gift-giving.

[linda_loo]

CDs by Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes
Soundtrack to Sound of Music
Yoga kit, with child-sized mat.

[Winter Biscuit]

Linda, I know exactly what you mean. I have 6 nieces (no nephews) and I think I overdosed on pink frilly stuff a long time ago. I think one of my nieces is still in shock about that one time I bought her a Barbie doll that had a different ethnicity, just because I felt she needed some diversity in her life ;) But seriously, I usually do tend to focus more on educational gifts like books, art supplies, etc.

Right now I'm leaning toward the Hullabaloo game you mentioned because it looks like it will help her learn to follow directions (or at least reinforce the concept), focus on colors and shapes, etc. And I like that she can play it by herself, or with others. I also like the Melty Beads you posted. Decisions, decisions!

[mom_to_zoe]

I really like the website Gummy Lump toys for gifts for all ages. They carry almost exclusively high-quality wooden toys that promote imaginative play. You can serach by age which really helps.

[firefly]

crystal growing kit (similar to the national geographics ones at Target)
remote control car (from CARS)
Polly pockets
mermadia
Littlest Pet shop
Barbie
Beading Kit
arts and crafts
Board Games (candyland, hi ho cherrie-0)

[Sarah]

you could give some non-specific dress up items. Scarves, sunglasses, tons of accessories, ties, men's hats, veils, purses, etc. Then she can dress up but it's a lot more imaginative than just doing the princess thing.

[Winter Biscuit]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Just wanted to report back that I ended up buying some things from Gummy Lump (thanks for the referral, mom_to_zoe. I am a big fan of Melissa & Doug wooden toys and was excited to see how much stuff they had) for this birthday girl, my niece (whose 2nd birthday is coming up in August) and my own DD. I think I might get the birthday girl one more small gift - I like the non-specific dress-up items idea. Thanks again :)

[Sarah]

Dress up stuff.
Play food/tea party things.
More advances puzzles.
Older kids books, like Ramona, Pippi, etc.
Paper dolls.
Magnetic paper dolls.
Those plastic horse sets.
Dollhouse type stuff.