4 year old boy Christmas ideas

[AZMermaid]

So, this should be simple, right? Just go to the toy store and throw a dart! But, I am looking for some ideas for my son- especially for a Santa gift. His sister (2.5) has always gotten a smaller second hand Santa gift, so she is getting spoiled this year. A dress up rack with 2 new Disney store dresses and accessories (bought during Halloween sale) plus 1-2 secondhand dresses to fill it out for the wow factor Christmas morning.

He likes sports (has a t-ball stand and soccer goals), super heroes and ninja turtles (sort of). He LOVES trains and has a train table with lots of tracks and accessories he has gotten through the years. He likes his Duplos and he got a couple of Lego Junior sets for his birthday last month. He has a bike. His favorite gift last year was the Imaginext Castle and Dragon. He plays with this every day. It is awesome. Based on that, he got an Imaginext dinosaur for his birthday, but doesn't really play with it.

I am looking at Magnatiles- not sure if that has the wow factor, but maybe if Santa sets them up?

Anything your kids love? Any surprise hits?

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

My dad is 12 and she *still* plays with her magnatiles!

 

[Mouseketeers4]

If you're getting the clear Magna Tiles, you could make a light box to go with them. Just check Google and Pinterest for tutorials. I did one pretty easily with a plastic storage bin and LED rope lights from Wal-Mart.

My DS is 4 and his favorite thing right now is Zoob Jr. He is also perfectly happy with a huge roll of paper, markers, and tons of stickers. It's expensive, but we really love our Fort Magic kit too.

 

[3boymthr]

What is your budget and do you have space outdoors? If you have a generous budget or are not afraid of used, the big WOW! gift that my boys got when middle DS was 4 was a power wheels. It was a hit with all three even the oldest who was 8 at the time and the youngest who was two. They can be had on black friday sometimes for a really good price.

Another big hit at that age was a set of metal Tonka Trucks and a sand box.

 

[kreckl]

Plan city road sets go great with wooden train sets. My son LOVED their crane.
Keva blocks.
Playsilks and playclips to make forts ( we used some silks and also a few inexpensive large fabric pieces, just need to be lightweight like a sheet).
Walkie talkies.
Scooter.
A little bike/scooter ramp.
Around that time we started our Quadrilla marble run sets and added to them through the years.
We prefer open-ended quality toys, as opposed to lots of plastic. We have less but these toys seriously got played with for YEARS. Many of these will be great for both of your kids!

 

[AZMermaid]

These are all great ideas! I love the idea of making a light table to go with the Magnatiles.

Budget is roughly $100 for the Santa Gift. Can be more if a great idea, less is good too!

I thought about a Power Wheel. We have an average size back yard for AZ, probably 600 square feet. Ours in half patio/ half grass. He is really weird about his bike and is super afraid of falling and really hesitant to ride it. Once he gets on it, he does fine, but has a major block to get on it. He is a total daredevil in every other aspect of his life, so this was super surprising to me. I decided a Power Wheel would overtake the bike, which I want him to get over this fear! He got the bike last Christmas (he was asking for one) and maybe he just wasn't quite ready at the time.

Love the crane idea for the trains. We have a Bruder crane that he LOVES, so I think one for the train table would be a big hit.

I agree about open ended toys!

Thanks for the great ideas!

 

[Colleen27]

If you have the room, those silly cardboard castles/space shuttles/cottages have always been a hit with kids that age in our family. They're cheap but boy can they keep a child entertained through the winter, and the size alone gives a solid wow factor for younger kids.

 

[tina.tina]

Santa got our DS9 this play tent a few years ago. He took it outside some during the summer but he has a large room and it actually only sticks out a foot from of one of his (3 large) closets. It really was a great wow! gift because it was so large. It has a bag with it and could easily be taken down and stored when he's not playing with it.

 

[sksjasams]

Based on your post, I would say go with more Imaginext, but stick with the theme he likes.

My DS(now16) was a huge lover of castles, dragons and pirates. Like your DS, he had some dinasour Imaginext but never really played with it.

I would look at adding the Imaginext Pirate Ship - that is a natural extension of the Castle theme, and then maybe some smaller sets like the Wizard's Tower.

http://www.fisher-price.com/shop/imaginext/imaginext-pirate-ship-r8250
http://www.fisher-price.com/shop/imaginext/imaginext-castle-wizard-tower-x7674

They actually have lots of smaller sets to add to the Castle/Dragon theme.
Do they make another style castle? My DS always like to have a good guy castle and a bad guy castle.

Good luck with your shopping...gosh, I sure miss that age.

 

[mrsp1030]

Our boys have spent countless hours with imaginext, playmobil and legos. Love all the themes that are similar.

 

[tina.tina]

My DS9 still likes his Imaginext toys and is getting yet another castle for his birthday this week. It's strange what he likes and doesn't like. He told me that he didn't like the city playset but he likes the city figurines.

The Imaginext mystery characters are about $3 (kinda high) but DS has always loved to get those in his stocking.

 

[mrsp1030]

Our DS 6 just got the lions den castle this weekend and both him and his older brother have loved it the entire weekend.

 

[AZMermaid]

Yes, they just came out with the lion's den castle. I never considered a second castle to battle! That's a good idea. We have the Eagle one (last year's castle) and he loves it. We have a lot of accessories for it, the dragon and ogre and a few battering ram type things. I was looking at the pirate ship, but wary since the dinosaur didn't go over great. But- the ship looks more like the castle then the dinosaur. I am pretty sure the ship is on sale this week at Target too. Where do you find the Mystery things?

 

[DaughteroftheKing]

Our 4 yr old boy is getting a fire station play set...I think it will have the 'wow' factor when it is set up. There are several brands, this is the one I have in mind right now:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BVK29E...TF8&colid=3BPMUB4182RS9&coliid=I278138ABYST53
It is $75 on amazon

 

[tina.tina]

Our 4 yr old boy is getting a fire station play set...I think it will have the 'wow' factor when it is set up. There are several brands, this is the one I have in mind right now:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003BVK29E...TF8&colid=3BPMUB4182RS9&coliid=I278138ABYST53
It is $75 on amazon

I love that fire station! It is much cuter and cheaper than some of the others I've seen.

We've gotten mystery figures at Walmart and Target. Recently, DS got a Frankenstein one which is very cool for Halloween time!

I thought I would mention that DS also really liked the Imaginext movies which used to come regularly with the play sets. I've seen them on ebay. He also liked the Geotrax movies and trains which are also on ebay.

 

[Snoozan]

the Kinectic Sand has been very popular with my now 5yo DGS. I also bought the little 5 pack of Caterpillar construction vehicles to use in the sand. 2 lbs. of sand in a big box with low sides works great.

I have also been finding the big Bruder trucks at TJMaxx/Marshall's this summer/fall for $25-$35: they are regularly twice that much. They are plastic, but much better quality than what is sold in Walmart/Target. I'm just sorry they don't sell the metal Tonka trucks my kids got to play with. I can only find the big steel Tonka dump truck, but my DGS is more into the excavators and other construction vehicles.

 

[AZMermaid]

the Kinectic Sand has been very popular with my now 5yo DGS. I also bought the little 5 pack of Caterpillar construction vehicles to use in the sand. 2 lbs. of sand in a big box with low sides works great.

I have also been finding the big Bruder trucks at TJMaxx/Marshall's this summer/fall for $25-$35: they are regularly twice that much. They are plastic, but much better quality than what is sold in Walmart/Target. I'm just sorry they don't sell the metal Tonka trucks my kids got to play with. I can only find the big steel Tonka dump truck, but my DGS is more into the excavators and other construction vehicles.

I think I might have to get some of that sand. It is super popular!

That's a great price. My son has the Bruder fire truck, crane and bulldozer and his Dad's old metal tow truck. I agree, the Bruder stuff is great and such better quality. But- I am at my limit for big-ish trucks!

 

[minnieandfamily]

We went (early!) Christmas shopping yesterday. I have twin 5 year old boys that are also Imaginext fans. Have you seen the new Imaginext Battle Rover? I think it's around $100 (might be able to get some good deals with upcoming holiday sales). Anyway, seems like it would have that "wow" factor as a Santa gift.

We have MagnaTiles as well....our kids love them. However, I don't think they have that "wow" power (although they are priced that way!!).