At 4, a boy wants toys for building stories and toys for playing with others: a wooden market stall with its till, a fire station, a first board game with short rules, a 36-piece puzzle, a tent to make a den. The gifts that work last several days, pick up where they were left, and can be shared.

What a 4-year-old loves

This is the age of overflowing imagination: he invents characters, rules, worlds, and sticks to them. He starts playing with other children rather than next to them, which opens the door to first board games, as long as a game lasts under a quarter of an hour. He draws recognisable things, counts to ten, knows a few letters. He dresses himself, pedals, jumps, climbs. Toys must withstand scenarios that run for days and several players.

Our gift ideas

To keep shop and cook

The market stall with its crate of apples and pears opens a grocery in the living room, the wooden microwave and the cookware set equip the restaurant, and the wooden tea set serves the customers. The doctor's case treats everyone between two sittings. All our pretend-play toys.

To roll and rescue

The fire station with its vehicle is a complete set, the Renault Trucks tow truck tows the rest of the garage, and the battery locomotive runs both ways on wooden tracks. See our cars, boats and planes.

To play together

BrainBox for little ones works the memory ten seconds per card, Mon Toutou Crado is a dice game that makes everyone laugh, and the four Numero Bingo lottos are played as a family. All our board games.

To think alone

The Astronaut on the Moon puzzle and the Life under the Sea puzzle have 36 pieces, the right size at 4, the Memo mix and match is played alone or in pairs, and the abacus counts to a hundred. All our puzzles.

To become someone else

The Captain Hook hat and the dragon mask are enough to start a story, no full costume needed. Our costumes range from accessory to full outfit.

For outdoors and for dreaming

The canvas tent makes a den in the bedroom or the garden, the giraffe watering can gives him a job outside, and the Maileg fishing set equips the big brother mouse on his tricycle. See our outdoor toys and our Maileg world.

What budget?

Under 20 euros: the 36-piece puzzles, the slate, the abacus, the wooden figurines, the pirate hat or the dragon mask. Between 20 and 50 euros: the fire station, the board games, the tow truck, the locomotive, the doctor's case, the microwave and the tea set. Above 50 euros: the canvas tent or the market stall with its crate, for a gift that leaves a mark.

Frequently asked questions

Which first board game at 4?

A game with a single rule, no reading, that ends in ten minutes: lotto, memory, dice. Cooperation works better than competition at this age, and losing is still hard: plan a rematch.

How many pieces for a puzzle at 4?

From 30 to 50 pieces, with a picture where the areas stand out clearly. At 4 he does the edge first, then fills the middle: choose illustrations rich in detail.

Can the gift be wrapped?

Yes, gift wrapping is free: tick the box on the product page before adding to cart. Delivery to a pick-up point is free from 80 euros in mainland France, and you can collect your order in our shop at 211 boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris.

See also

• Gifts for a 4-year-old girl
• Gifts for a 3-year-old boy
• Gifts for a 5-year-old boy
• All toys for ages 2 to 4
• All our gift ideas by age

Advice from the team at L'Oiseau de Paradis, a toy shop in Paris since 1932.