At the age of 4, the child has started to take big steps forward. They play more advanced games and their imaginations are wilder than ever. Children this age can often tell you about the adventures they have been on. Maybe they've built a big castle out of pillows? Have they been on a treasure hunt in the living room? Or have they cooked something fancy in the toy kitchen? This is their most imaginative age yet!
Toys for children who are 4 years old
As the child develops, so does the play. That's why it's important that the toys do too! Toys for children who are 4 years old can have many uses and it becomes important not to limit play. The child uses play as a tool in his development. Through it, they can create understanding and learn new things about themselves and their surroundings.
We differentiate between physical development, cognitive development, language and social & emotional development. Different toys have different uses!
Physical development when the child is 4 years old
Physical development is an important part of a child's life. Through play and movement, the child's physical abilities develop right up to adulthood. There are also a lot of toys and playful exercises for 4-year-old children that train the child's physical development and motor skills.
A 4-year-old child develops his gross motor skills by practicing a combination of physical movements. It can be riding a bike, putting on and taking off clothes, jumping around and catching a ball. If the child is feeling extra brave, they can even try a somersault! Good toys for 4-year-olds practicing gross motor skills are dolls and doll clothes, stick horses and rocking rings.
At 4 years, the child's development of fine motor skills is mostly about refining the motor skills and movement of the hand. It can be crafting and drawing books where they can scribble, fill in and cut. A dollhouse with its many small details challenges the child's fine motor skills. We also offer downloadable pictures that the child can color and tinker with.
Cognitive development at age 4
The older the child gets, the better their problem-solving skills become. At the age of 4, they can start putting together puzzles with a few pieces and they can concentrate for a long time. They are rarely afraid to cooperate or ask for help. You can also hear them talk and use the language to solve different problems or puzzles. They are smart, think and like to take something apart to see how it works.
Examples of toys for children aged 4 that help the child solve problems are puzzles with different pieces or simple games where you have to cooperate.
Language development for children who are 4 years old
Children's language is unique and you certainly hear progress every day. The child can make up little stories, games and words. They can also draw figures and things they recognize and then talk about their names.
Here are the best toys for 4-year-olds the things that encourage the child to talk, tell and repeat. It can be pictures with questions, social games, talking puppets or books.
Social and emotional development for 4-year-old children
Social and emotional development for 4-year-olds is very much about their interest in how people live together. They are interested in the body and how it works. That the child actively playing with other children becomes more common at this age. Role-playing is a big part of the play. The children divide up the roles and what the game should be about. Arguments and conflicts may arise at this age, but this is a natural part of development.
Dress-up clothes, play worlds, social games, doll accessories such as beds, carriages and furniture are examples of toys for 4-year-old children that support their social and emotional development. Use toys and games that encourage play together!
How Micki develops toys for children aged 4 years old
As a product developer, there is a lot to think about when developing new toys for children who are 4 years old. For us, it is important that the toys we develop are fun to play with, but also that they support the child's developmental phases.
What should the child feel when they play? What experiences should they have? Our Design Manager Anne Avgrim explains more:
- Making products that strive to be with and support the child in the natural stages of development but that also challenge the child's curiosity has long been our focus. If we can also make the child want to play longer and to discover new things with the product the further they get in their development, that would be fantastic! says Anne and continues:
- Working more focused on this particular theme has strengthened our products so that they can support and guide the child in their development even more, which felt important but also fun and playful!