Exciting! From this age, your four-year-old girl will be officially be a toddler from now on. Although you might find it even more exciting than she does, you are also looking forward to it more and more. Because, honestly, the time she spends becoming more independent, you can use for some other things. Anyway, she will first have to turn four, but what do you actually buy as a birthday gift? A girl of this specific age will undoubtedly find certain things particularly cool or not. Read all the information you were looking for in this blog.
Directly to the best gifts? Click here
Developmental Stage of a 4-Year-Old Girl
So, your child is no longer so small at this age and can proudly carry the title of ‘toddler’. She will learn many new things cognitively, encounter many challenges on a social-emotional level, and of course, continue her physical development. As a parent or someone else closely, this is one of the most beautiful things to see from a distance.
It is wise to introduce your child to pictograms which indicate the order of the day. Your girl’s sense of time is not yet fantastic, but by repeating it daily, some logic will emerge. Emotional development will take place if (role)play is stimulated. That in itself is very important, because girls of this age are very egocentric. Read, not selfish, but egocentric. Egocentric means that everything is mainly focused on themselves. Through these (role)play, for example, cooperative play is stimulated. It will certainly cause some frustration over time, but the parents or professionals on daycare/ preschool will be on top of it.
Furthermore, mom and dad will still be incredibly important at this age. They provide safety and a warm home. The fact that mom and dad also set certain rules is not always fun for the four-year-old girl. Both parties’ frustrations can run high. That’s not bad, but ‘normal.’ Fortunately, your girl is increasingly able to put words to the behavior she presents. Speaking of behavior: gender identity will become increasingly clear. Most boys and girls become aware of the difference and really feel like a boy or girl. All the above information sketches a basis for the developmental stage of a 4-year-old girl.
Don’ts (types of gifts you don’t want to buy for a 4-year-old girl)
While there are many gifts that are very fun for a four-year-old girl, you can probably imagine that there are also types of gifts you would rather not buy. Think, for example, of a gift card. A card is not really a gift. The understanding of money may be becoming more present, but this is not a good representation of it. It’s not only something she has no use for, but it’s also just very confusing. Instead, always buy a real gift. There are gifts available from just a few pounds, so it certainly doesn’t have to be expensive.
What is an appropriate budget for this age?
We cannot force you to allocate a certain budget for a gift for a four-year-old girl, but we can give an indication. Read:
- Parents/caregivers: £30.00 to …
- Immediate family members (uncle & aunt, grandparents): £10.00 to £50.00
- Neighbors/acquaintances: £5.00 – £20.00
Perhaps friends or playmates will come to a birthday party. Since the parents/caregivers are the ones paying, this varies greatly. But, five pounds will be a fine amount here. It’s more about the idea than the four-year-old knowing exactly the value of the gifts she receives.
Further Tips
Take a good look at where the girl is in her development. Perhaps she is in a phase where she is very caring. In that case, a doll is still very nice to give. Maybe she is also very fascinated by her daycare/ preschool. In such a case, you could buy a whole new set of drinking cups and lunch boxes. This will prepare her for what is to come. Our tip is to show interest in her development, interests, and maybe even her imagination. Wrap the gift in a colorful way, and you will be the favorite guest at her birthday (at least for a little while).
1. Playmobil
Playmobil? What is that again? Well, Playmobil is a brand of toys consisting of small plastic figures and accessories. It is known for its durability and detailed designs. Children can use Playmobil to stimulate their imagination. It lasts for years, sometimes even generations. The fun part about this kind of toy is that you can expand it endlessly. If you give one set as a gift one year, there are still dozens of sets that others can give as gifts. On the other hand, sometimes ‘less is more.’ If she has too much Playmobil, she will forget half of it is still in the cupboard. Only what is ‘new’ is still fun. That might be a bit too much of a good thing, right?
2. Games
For a 4-year-old girl, there are countless fun games to keep her busy and stimulate her development. Think of simple board games like memory or lotto, where she can train her memory. Making simple puzzles is also very popular. Additionally, simple role-playing games can spark her imagination, such as playing shop or acting out her favorite stories. The most important thing is that the games challenge her, give her fun, and help her develop new skills. And maybe what is even more important is that she actually has the tools to play the games. In other words, that she actually has a memory game if she likes to play it. How fun is it if the little one has a game afternoon at preschool/ daycare, can bring her own game, and explain it to her classmates. Her confidence will skyrocket.
3. Drinking Cup
A pitfall for many parents is that their children drink too little during the day, especially when they are not at home. This can lead to complaints and discomforts, such as loss of concentration and fatigue at the end of the day. Therefore, it is essential that (also) a 4-year-old girl has a good drinking cup. One that is leak-proof, easy to open, and comfortable to drink from. It will give the parents peace of mind knowing that their child always has access to water or juice. A good drinking cup is not a guarantee that enough will be drunk, but it will certainly contribute to it. We all want the health of this four-year-old to be good and for her to feel good throughout the day, don’t we?
4. Craft Supplies
For a four-year-old, having enough craft supplies is almost as important as breathing! Craft supplies are the fuel for their creative adventures, and it seems their imagination knows no bounds. Colored pencils, paint, glitter, stickers, paper of various textures – they can’t get enough of it. Whether they are making artworks for their parents, friends, or just for fun, craft supplies are the key to hours of entertainment and stimulating their creativity at a young age. So feel free to look in the girl’s craft cabinet, think about what she is missing or could use more of, and buy a lot of new stuff for her birthday. Maybe not very sustainable, but that was not necessarily our intention.
5. Drawing Tablet
For a 4-year-old girl, a drawing tablet is a fantastic gift. She can let her creativity run wild without her parents having to worry about messy pencils or spilled paint. Whether it’s a cheerful sun smiling or a dreamy unicorn galloping through rainbows, you’ll be amazed at what comes out of those little fingers. What might be the best part? Well, how about no stains on the walls or a constant stream of masterpieces decorating your refrigerator! For the latter, you already have the preschool/ daycare, from which more work than parents might hope comes home. Work that of course must be shown to everyone who enters the house for at least weeks. Oh well, it’s quite cute that they are so proud of what they have made.
6. Backpack
It’s always handy to have a backpack. Perhaps the little girl will soon go to a different school or simply continue going to daycare. In any case, a good, nice backpack is a kind of status symbol for a child like this. It’s accompanied by a large dose of self-confidence. Combine the new bag with a favorite outfit and the girl will already think she can conquer the whole world. Anyway, we recommend choosing a backpack over an shoulder bag because the child can generally carry and pack it better. Although that choice is entirely up to you.
7. Unicorn
A unicorn on itself, a creature from mythology, probably doesn’t appeal much to the imagination of many children. A ‘childish unicorn’ on the other hand, the cheerful pony with one horn and often depicted in rainbow colors, is a magical symbol that four-year-old girls love. For her birthday, you could consider all kinds of gifts with a unicorn theme: from bags to clothing and maybe even stuffed animals or school supplies. It’s a great way to let her enjoy a world full of color and cheerfulness. A unicorn gift will definitely make her shine on her special day! We see no reason not to buy it, but that actually applies to many things that a 4-year-old girl might like to receive on her birthday.
8. Roller Skates
Indeed, many parents find it terrifying to let their child roller skate due to the potential dangers. But with the right precautions, roller skating can be learned at a young age. Although ‘regular’ roller skates might be a bit much for a 4-year-old, roller skates can be a good alternative. With roller skates, a girl can practice her balance, and if it goes well, she will find it very enjoyable. However, and we can’t stress this enough, it’s crucial to ensure she wears the right protective gear, such as a helmet, knee, and elbow pads, to ensure her safety while developing her skills. But aside from that, we see no reason not to do it, so let’s go!
9. Three-Wheeled Scooter
For a 4-year-old girl, a three-wheeled scooter is a fantastic choice to develop her mobility and balance. This sturdy and safe scooter gives her the opportunity to play outside and explore her surroundings in a fun way. With its three wheels, it offers extra stability, making it easy for her to maneuver. If the girl is already further along in her development and has great stability, you could also consider a two-wheeled scooter. However, the difference between a girl who is just four and one who is almost five is bigger than you think. Assuming she is just four, we recommend these three-wheeled scooters. Ah, you’ll figure it out when choosing which scooter to give as a gift.
10. Lunchbox
Many places, some schools for example, nowadays classify themselves as ‘healthy place.’ This means there is a policy stating that cookies, candy, and other unhealthy food (and drinks) are not accepted. Since cookies are always nicely packaged and do not require a special lunchbox, you haven’t thought about that yet. The thing with healthy items is that they are sliced (pepper, cucumber, etc.) and it’s actually nice to have a lunchbox with compartments. Because the girl is now four years old and (probably) going to some sort of preschoo/ daycare, it might be an idea to give a new lunchbox as a gift. You know, one with four separate compartments and enough space for all the food your child needs to get through the day. Take a look at the overview below for some inspiration.
