Somehow time keeps marching forward faster and faster. I blink and another one of my children is a year older. This time it's Teddy's turn. He's officially 4-years-old. I can't believe it. As my pandemic baby, I really struggle with how fast his particular babyhood felt. And now, he is solidly a preschooler.
Ted is easy to shop for because he has very distinct interests - trucks, and numbers. And, I feel like that's true for a lot of 4-year-olds. They are getting to the age where their interests are more defined and they are more specific about the things they like to do and can do. So, while I have some choices here, observe your child, talk to your child and follow their lead when determining if something is a good fit for your specific child.
Montessori Preschool Gifts for 4-Year-Olds
There are so many possibilities for gifts for 4-year-olds that I can't possibly list them all. So I just want to give a few ideas for some popular types of gifts. I'll include a * next to those that Teddy is actually getting for his birthday.
Open Ended Toys
I find that open ended play really explodes around 4. This is the time that doll houses, little figures, animals, and building blocks really become very very popular. It's also a time when setting up little scenes with accessories tends to become more and more interesting for them. Open ended toys are an easy way to incorporate your child's specific interests into your purchasing decisions.
Academic
There are so many particular academic interests that a child could have around age 4. Since the sensitive period for math strongly sets in around age 4, math is a common one. Language (in particular playing with letters) might also be of particular interest. Then there are things like animals, space, or even the human body. Whatever the interest is, I find games and puzzles are a fun way to peak those interests in a Montessori friendly way without replicating specific Montessori work at home.
Creative
I love to give art supplies as gifts! They are a great way to engage a child at home and often a wonderful way to build fine motor skills. At 4-years-old a lot of children are ready to take a leap into larger creative pursuits. Here are a couple I would consider for 4s.
Books
There are too many good books to list here but 4-year-olds are often starting to crave longer stories, simple chapter books and independence. Interactive books are also still popular.
Yoto Mini (Ted got the Phonics set for his birthday)
5 Minute Stories Books - so many themes here
Practical
I love love practical life gifts for all ages. These are things that used everyday and can be used for years and years to come. Like so many of the things on this list, practical life considerations are deeply personal and the things that you add to your home should be relevant to your child's day to day experiences. If they aren't familiar with the why behind the items or if you are not modeling a similar item, you may find that they go ignored.
There are so many amazing choices when it comes to gifts for 4-year-olds. This is such an interesting age filled with so many leaps of independence, new found opinions, and a quickly expanding imagination. I'm excited to experience it again! What makes your Montessori 4-year-old's birthday list?!
