Kids Can Decorate These Color-Changing Snow Pets, Then Wash Them Off Again

• Blume Petal Pets
• I LOVE Strawberries!
• GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope
• Scribble Scrubbie Pets Arctic Snow Explorer
• Original Playfoam Combo 8 Pack
• Numberblocks MathLink Cubes
• Scissor Skills Activity Pad
• Many Moods of Mei Plush
• Scruff-a-Luvs Cutie Cuts!
• Marisol Fashion Doll
• Get Well Doctor Activity Center
• Waffle Set
• Cubby, the Curious Bear
• Wiltopia Animal Care Station
• Coding Critters MagiCoders
• Ada Twist, Scientist: Brainstorm Book
• Rattlesnake Jake
• Friendly Fox Baby Cardigan
• Pomsies Plush Interactive Toy
• Piggy Money Box
• 2) Playstix Construction Toy
• Squishville Sweet Shop
• Bolt Buddies
• Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Wonderland
• 12) Wooden Personalized Name Puzzle
• Mia Baby Doll
• Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set
• Classic Creative Brick Box Kit
• Rainbocorns Sweet Shake Surprise
• Unicorn 3-D Puzzle
• Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad
• Barbie Extra
• The Block Set
• Sunny Day Mobile Farm Stand Play Set
• How we tested
• How we tested
• 13) Why trust Good Housekeeping?

At age 4, the toddler years are long gone. Four-year-old girls are now in preschool territory, which is a peak time for curiosity and creativity. That means when the time to buy gifts for kids of this age rolls around, it’s good to give them toys that help them delve deeper into their interests about the world around them and how it works.

“Four-year-olds are full of questions as they begin to decode the patterns and processes driving the world around them,” says Rebecca Parlakian, M.A., E.D., a parenting expert from Zero to Three, an organization that focuses on early child development. “They’re also all about problem-solving and enjoy mastering new challenges.” Additionally, friendships and social play are a major source of joy for preschoolers, and pretend play is really heating up at this age. “Their attention span is also growing, which means they can focus on more challenging tasks and activities,” adds Parlakian.

To encourage all of these new ideas and behaviors, Parlakian suggests giving kids access to construction toys for building and problem-solving, challenging puzzles of 20 to 40 pieces, costumes and play sets that encourage imagination, art sets that help them practice motor skills and simple board games.

Still, within those categories, there’s so much to choose from. The Good Housekeeping Institute helps sort through all the choices, evaluating toys all year long. The experts at the Institute’s Parenting and Pets Lab keeps track of trends and new releases. They call in the hottest toys, assessing them for safety, quality and ease of use. Then they send them back out the door again, so actual kids can weigh in on the all-important fun factor. (The best-of-the-best make it onto our annual list of Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards.) With all that said, these are the best toys and gifts for 4-year-old girls in 2022, a list that include both current and former Toy Award winners, as well as best-sellers and editor’s picks.

This year, we know that kids love surprise collectibles, as well as toys that they can nurture and care for. STEM sets that answer questions about the world are also popular, as well as building toys that give them some STEM experience, but also let them experience open-ended play. Whatever you choose, these gifts will make 4-year-old girls happy.

Blume Petal Pets

$14.99

It feels like magic: Water these pretty pots with real water, and a magical pet blooms out of a flower. Each one also comes with a charm bracelet that can double as a pet leash. After kids are done playing, they can return the pet to the pot and bloom it all over again the next time they want to play. There are 12 pets to collect in all. Ages 3+

I LOVE Strawberries!

$17.99

When all the feedback was tabulated, this book was given the highest rating by all the Good Housekeeping Institute’s 2022 testers. And we can see why: Told in journal-entry format, it tells the story of a girl who convinces her parents to let her grow a strawberry patch. There’s lots of actual information about how to grow strawberries that kids might want to try at home! Ages 4+

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

$33.99

This talking microscope, featuring the voice of Bindi Irwin, comes with 20 prepared slides and 5x images to help introduce preschoolers to animals, plants and household items. Switch to Fact Mode to learn about the items on a given slide or Quiz Mode to put their knowledge to the test. The microscope comes with two eyepieces, so there’s no squirming one eye to learn. Ages 4+

Scribble Scrubbie Pets Arctic Snow Explorer

$27.99

Good Housekeeping Institute toy testers have been longtime fans of Crayola’s Scribble Scrubbie Pets because they let kids color in their animals, rinse them off and color them in all over again, fostering their creativity. This year’s Arctic Snow Explorers won a Good Housekeeping Best Toy Award because it adds a color-changing element to the fun: the pets turn white when warm and or blue when cold. The set comes with three pets, six washable markers, two snowboards, two tubs, a scrub brush brush and a vehicle that can be used as storage. Ages 3+

Original Playfoam Combo 8 Pack

$8.99

She can create, squish, squash, and shape this play foam that never dries out. The no-stick formula lets her sculpt anywhere without making a mess. This particular play foam variety pack comes with eight colors, creating endless possibilities for little hands to try. Ages 3+

Numberblocks MathLink Cubes

$19.99

The “M” in “STEM” (math) often gets forgotten when it comes to toys, but Good Housekeeping testers loved this math activity set, all thanks to the characters from Netflix’s Numberblocks. Kids can build the characters from the show, and then use the activity cards to practice counting, addition and subtraction. “My kids have learned so much math from it, it’s mind-blowing,” one parent reported. Ages 3+

Scissor Skills Activity Pad

$7.99

This activity book was designed to help your child learn to use scissors safely. Included in the kit are mazes, puzzles, animal art, sequencing activities and a pair of plastic safety scissors that help build motor and cognitive skills. The best part? It costs less than $10. Ages 4+

Many Moods of Mei Plush

$26.99

Kids will go gaga for this plush, the way Mei’s classmates went bonkers for Mei in her Red Panda form. But it also makes sounds from the film, including growls and cries of “I ‘m Calm,” so you get to sneak in a little social-emotional lesson about naming and recognizing feelings, too. Ages 3+

Scruff-a-Luvs Cutie Cuts!

$29.99

Kids are encouraged to take a scruffy pup with overgrown hair and give it the full salon experience by trimming the excess fur, styling the pet and even painting its nails. Once the grooming is done, they’ll know what kind of pup they received, either a Yorkie or a Frenchie. The “shaved” fur can be stuffed into a pillowcase and transformed into a pet bed! Ages 4+

Marisol Fashion Doll

$11.21

Marisol really makes a splash when she walks into a room! She comes from The Fresh Dolls line of dolls, which is known for dolls with realistic face sculpts, real hair textures and many points of articulation to make lots of poses. Good Housekeeping Institute Testers really responded the dolls’ to cool hair and bold fashions. Ages 3+

Get Well Doctor Activity Center

$220.99

Have her explore the world of doctors and patient care with this multi-sided doctor’s office set. She can pretend to take blood pressure, measure weight and height, play with the eye chart and role play as doctor, receptionist or patient. The set offers 360 degrees of play, with areas for a waiting room, exam room, sink and reception area. The goal is to have them better understand what to expect when they go for their own check-ups. Testers says this set is definitely more fun when played with two or more! Ages 3+

Waffle Set

$45.00

Her kitchen will get a lot yummier with this food set, which is sure to get her imagination fired up. It comes with a waffle iron, waffle, sliced fruit toppings, a syrup bottle, tongs, a wooden knife and fork and a plate to serve it all on. It’s made from sustainable rubber wood colored with organic pigments. Ages 2+

Cubby, the Curious Bear

$99.97

The Good Housekeeping Institute has tested a lot of animatronic toys, but this one stood out in terms of interactivity, sensor recognition and its ability to promote language and communication skills. Cubby will respond to your child’s voice in over 100 sound and motion combinations and makes sweet, playful expressions. Your 4-year-old girl can treat, feed and comb Cubby with the included 3-in-1 accessory. Ages 4+

Wiltopia Animal Care Station

$105.38

Kids will get a lesson in sustainability and being good stewards to the environment with this set, which takes places in a jungle animal refuge where characters can take care of tapirs and other creatures. There are a whopping 347 pieces included in this set, including a clinic building with an indoor exam room and outdoor porch, outdoor animal enclosures with trees and food, stalls with heat lamps to keep creatures warm, a boat, a dock, refuge volunteers and animal patients and our testers loved the tons and tons of accessories that came with it all. Kids can use an app to learn more about animals and their habitats, too. And if this set is too much, there are smaller Playmobil Wiltopia sets, including an Anteater Care Center ($19) and a Rainforest Night Light ($30) — and all are made with 80% sustainable materials. Ages 4+

Coding Critters MagiCoders

$49.99

Get them started learning to code without a screen or device. With this set, Skye the unicorn responds to coded “spells” that get her to do things like dance or chase her ball. It also comes in dragon form. Ages 4+

Ada Twist, Scientist: Brainstorm Book

$12.99

If Ada Twist, Scientist has her all fired up about STEM, this is the activity book is for her. It has prompts for drawings, mazes matching games, sequences and other activities that’ll get her mind working. Plus, it has four double-sided posters she can put up around her workstation to keep her motivated. Ages 4+

Rattlesnake Jake

$29.99

This game requires kids to steel their nerves and work on their hand-eye coordination: Player must snatch gold pieces from Rattlesnake Jake before he bites! In our testing, families found it funny when Jake strikes and everyone jumps. Ages 4+

Friendly Fox Baby Cardigan

$64.00

If you want kids to look cute in their family photos but don’t want to go over-the-top with a holiday print, this friendly fox cardigan is the way to go. It’s wintery and warm — but also very soft so kids won’t complain about wearing it. Sizes 3m – 4T

Pomsies Plush Interactive Toy

$19.99

Your 4-year-old child can explore sensory and nurturing play with these interactive plush animals. Pomsies will let her know whether they’re hungry, sleepy or happy with their light-up eyes or special sounds. Bonus: They make cute accessories that she’ll never lose. “The wire in the tail wraps snugly, so kids can wear them on a wrist or backpack without worry,” Lab experts noted during toy testing. Ages 3+

Piggy Money Box

$20.00

By 4, kids can start learning about saving and spending money. This bank is perfect because the see-through face lets her track her progress. (Its bottom comes off when they want to get the money out again, so no turning upside-down and shaking necessary). Ages 2+

2) Playstix Construction Toy

$30.00

Kids can build houses, vehicles and whatever else they can imagine with these interlocking, grooved pieces. The 150 pieces are color-coded by length, so it’s easy to find the ones you need. Ages 4+

Squishville Sweet Shop

$32.99

Squishmallows are as popular as ever, but Squishville gives kids a whole new way to play with them that revvs up kids’ imaginations. This sweet shop is a three-story play set for the 2″ plush dolls, including a panda and a cat that come with the set. In addition, there’s also plush bistro table and chair for them to use! Ages 0+

Bolt Buddies

$15.99

For some hands-on STEM learning, this play set comes with a battery-operated drill that kids can use to dissemble and reassemble a rocket ship. There are two figures included with each set, and they also act as screwdrivers. If it’s a hit, there are Bolt Buddies sets with a race car, a recycling truck, a tractor or even a whole farm, among others. Ages 3+

Anna and Elsa’s Frozen Wonderland

$35.99

Bring the magic of Frozen to kids’ bedrooms when they recreate Elsa’s one-of-a-kind ice castle. This castle will leave them starstruck when them play on its revolving dance floor and fun playground. Explore all day with Anna, Elsa, Olaf and three snowgies. Plus, our young testers were able to follow the instructions and parents noted the starter blocks are great for even first-time builders. Or, if you’re looking for a smaller stocking stuffer, there’s LEGO sets for Anna’s Castle Courtyard ($8), Elsa’s Castle Courtyard ($10) and the Nokk’s Ice Stable ($12). Ages 4+

12) Wooden Personalized Name Puzzle

$26.95

This fun letter puzzle set exposes your daughter to letters, encourages logic, fosters self-esteem and helps her spell her own name. Lab experts love that the block set can be used as room decor when not in use, and then taken down for playtime. Ages 1+

Mia Baby Doll

$69.07

This baby doll is incredibly realistic and makes more than 70 sounds and reactions. When kids feed her, she might ask for food or her bottle. Her plate comes with 10 different foods, and kids can scoop one up onto her spoon, and the spoon will recognize the flavor. Kids can even combine two flavors into one! Then, when they feed Mia, she’ll say if the combo is yucky or yummy. Ages 3+

Melissa & Doug Slice and Bake Cookie Set

$24.73

Cooking sets are great for pretend play, building fine motor skills and learning to count. This one is made of durable material so even the youngest hands can pretend to bake the sweetest desserts. The set includes 12 “sliceable” cookies, 12 toppings, one toy knife, one spatula, one cookie sheet and one kitchen mitt. The cookies pack up into a small tube, so it’s a good cooking set for small spaces. Ages 3+

Classic Creative Brick Box Kit

$43.00

For 4-year-olds, LEGO blocks still offer the best mix of guided builds, STEM skills and open-ended play. This large classic creative kit serves as a great starter set for little hands with big imaginations. The set comes with more than 790 pieces — including 33 different colored bricks, eight types of windows and doors, two green baseplates and six toy tires — so she can build anything she can think of. Unfinished creations and loose pieces can easily be stored away in the box until next play session. Ages 4+

Rainbocorns Sweet Shake Surprise

$34.99

When your little one unboxes the Sweet Shake Surprise, she’ll be able to discover a new Rainbocorns character, plus 15 layers of sweet surprises, like little friends (called Boo-Boo Sprinkle Corns, adorable) and DIY slime mix, which comes with a recipe card that’s easy to follow with parental guidance. Rainbocorns can even talk back to you, repeat what you say and sing. It evens smells sweet! Ages 3+

Unicorn 3-D Puzzle

$12.00

She’ll have to use her critical thinking skills to assemble the cardboard pieces of this puzzle into a unicorn, but when she does she’ll have an object that’s shelf-worthy. Best of all, this is made from recycled cardboard dyed with vegetable inks. If she doesn’t like unicorn, there are also dinosaurs and dragonflies. Ages 4+

Little Genius Starter Kit for iPad

$119.99

This Little Genius starter kit was designed with fun and learning in mind. Meant to be operated with a tablet, this starter kit comes with games and activities where she’ll be prompted to construct shapes and letters with colorful, silicone game pieces, combining the digital world and the physical one. The set includes a base to support the tablet, sticks and rings, games pieces and more. This one requires an iPad, but there is also a Little Genius Starter Kid for Fire tablets. Ages 3+

Barbie Extra

$15.99

Good Housekeepin Institute testers rated Barbie Extra off-the-charts for the dolls’ bold, over-the-top fashions and fun accessories. Each one has multiple joints for poses, and also comes with 15 items including a pet and pet accessories. Ages 3+

The Block Set

$90.00

The only block set she’ll ever need, in addition to shapes that build upward, Lovevery’s blocks come with sticks to build out horizontally, magnetic rods and shapes, strings that can be threaded through the blocks, peg people, a ramp, a shape sorter and more. All in all, there are 70 wooden pieces, and the set comes with information about the different ways kids play with blocks as they develop. Ages 18 months+

Rainmaker

$15.00

Get her experimenting with sound and learning about weather with this wooden rainmaker. Flip it over, and the beads tumble down the curved path, making pleasing rainfall noises. It also makes a great accessory for bedroom wall or shelf. Ages 18 months+

Sunny Day Mobile Farm Stand Play Set

$39.95

Time for a trip to the farmer’s market! This set comes with 21 pieces, including people, a horse and all the fruits and veggies they can sell at their stand — an ideal scenario for pretend play. It’s all incredibly detailed and as sturdy as you would expect from Schleich toys. Ages 3+

How we tested

Before including our favorite picks in an article, the Good Housekeeping Institute does rigorous toy testing to ensure we’re recommending only the best. Many of our choices come from our yearly Toy Awards, where we test each item based on the following criteria:

✔️Safety: Our engineers and analysts make sure that each toy reaches all safety standards. They also assess things like pinch points and make sure toys won’t shatter into small pieces to pose a potential choking hazard.

✔️Ease of Use: We look at each toy to evaluate how simple it is to assemble, how well it’s constructed and how durable it is during play.

✔️Kid Approval: Aside from testing each toy for skill-building attributes, like how well it develops social-emotional skills, all our final decisions come from more than 100 children, ages 1 to 15, who assess the fun factor!

How we tested

For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on everything parents and children love, including STEM toys, educational toys, sensory toys and more.

Much of the toy testing for this article was overseen by Rachel Rothman, the Good Housekeeping Institute’s chief technologist and director of engineering, with the help of Marisa LaScala, Good Housekeeping’s senior parenting and relationships editor. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products. Plus, as a mom to three kids under 5, she has plenty of first-hand experience.

Marisa has covered all aspects of the world of parenting, from the postpartum years through the empty nests, since 2015, and she’s pitched in with Good Housekeeping’s toy coverage since 2018. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter, who are both avid toy collectors.

13) Why trust Good Housekeeping?

Looking for more great gifts for kids? Let the experts do all the hard work for you! The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Parenting Lab has expert-tested, kid-approved picks for the best toys and gifts for kids of every age, including: