This $8 Activity Pad Helps Get 4-Year-Olds Ready for Kindergarten (2024)

Kid testers couldn't get enough of this unique art project — testers reported that, at picnics and get-togethers, this brought all the little ones together. Kids rub the foil sheets onto the included puffy stickers and, — like magic — the shiny colors transfer over. The kids can use the stickers to make different animal scenes. Ages 4+

Being able to use scissors is a sign of kindergarten readiness, and this activity book was designed to help kids 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, so it's great when you need just a little something. Ages 4+

This pineapple isn't just pretty — it's a great tool for social-emotional learning. When kids use the pieces to make a face, they can compare it to a chart of faces to try and identify and name the emotion. Then, they can look in the pineapple-shaped mirror to see how the expression looks on their real face. Parent testers loved how it gave them the chance to help kids learn the names for their feelings. Ages 3+

This adorable set is the perfect way to introduce your 4-year-old to coding. Each critter has a set of arrows that help kids "code" its next moves. Kids can follow along with the storybook's directions at first, but they can eventually create their own coding rules for even more fun. There's even a play mode for kids to simply take care of the pets. If they don't like dogs, you can also get the Coding Critters in the shape of a cat, a rabbit or a dinosaur, and Learning Resources also has MagiCoders, which come as a unicorn and a dragon. Ages 4+

Its amazing how expressive the face on this story-and-joke telling lamp is, and kids love switching out her disks to hear different stories, jokes and activities. Parents loved that it's actually a working night light and alarm clock, which made it easier to start morning and bedtime routines. Ages 3+

Not only is this interactive toy a Lab favorite, but it's also the best-selling globe on Amazon. At first glance, all kids see is the land masses, with no labels or borders. With the free Orboot App, kids can hover their tablet over different parts of the world and learning various tidbits about different countries (from animals and weather to monuments and more). It's a great introduction to social studies. Ages 4+

If you're looking for a new building set that they might not have a million of already, this one has long, grooved pieces that lock in with each other. The pieces are color-coded by length, so it's easy to follow along with the instructions and see how different models are built. Or, they can use them for open-ended building and can go wherever their imaginations take them. Ages 4+

The adorable shapes of these plushies won over Good Housekeeping testers. They come in sets of five in different themes — from breakfast foods to groovy symbols like lava lamps and peace signs — and they're perfect for any kid with a collection of cute stuffed animals. Ages 3+

This fun game helps your kids develop language and word recognition skills thanks to the yellow chips with words and images on them. The red Zinger dispenses the chips, and the players race to fill up their board first. It has two levels of play, so kids can continue to enjoy as they grow older. Ages 4+

Since this toy's layout can be moved around plenty of times, there are endless possibilities so your 4-year-old won't get bored. The different colored blocks have various actions, like spins, drops and spiral funnels. If they like it, they can move on to more complex Quadrilla sets. Note: Since this toy uses marbles, it should be kept out of reach of children under 3 years old. Ages 4+

Kids can experiment with mixing colors and combining shapes with this board, which illuminates artwork as they create it. By layering transparency sheets, they can come up with all sorts of designs. In addition to the board, it comes with three markers, 22 shape clings and three “Complete the Scene” transparency sheets. Ages 3+

Fans of the ever-popular, best-selling GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope can go from looking into inner space to gazing into outer space with this new toy telescope. Kids look with both eyes, so they don't have to try to keep one closed, and when they do, they'll be treated to actual night-sky images from NASA. Then, the voice of Emily Calandrelli from Netflix's Emily's Wonder Lab offers fascinating facts about the images. Ages 4+

Each of these cups of dough comes with a whimsical picture and design on top — that kids get to smush together, giving them a satisfying sensory experience. The cup also comes with a lot of dough for their creations (seven ounces is more than you think), along with a wooden scooper to use. Parents liked that Land of Dough kept sustainability in mind when choosing ingredients and packaging materials, but kids loved the smell most of all. Ages 3+

They'll be hard at work hunting — plus doing mazes, drawing pictures, connecting dots and working on other fun activities — with this hidden picture book geared towards younger readers. And it'll last: This one clocks in at more than 250 pages. Ages 3+

Mickey fans young and old will delight in the favorite Disney characters on this LEGO train, including Peter Pan, Tinker Bell, Woody, Moana and, of course, Mickey and Minnie themselves. When 4-year-olds snap the 200 pieces together, they can make a parade and feel like they're right on Main Street in Disneyland. Ages 4+

This is an imaginative playset and a STEM construction toy in one! Kids can use a toy, battery-operated drill to put together the farm, including the crops and fences. After they play, they can use the drill to take it all apart again. The farmer is even a screwdriver if the kids want to use that instead of the drill (and get even more practice on their fine motor coordination). You can also get a take-apart tractor to go with it, complete with a farmer and chicken. Ages 3+

If the kids dream about competing on Top Chef or The Great British Baking Show, this is the gift for them. It offers 50 easy recipes they can use to get started. In addition to instructions for how to make things like Ooey-Gooey Glazed Cinnamon Rolls or Totally Twisted Pasta with Cherry Tomato Sauce, it also offers tips from Good Housekeeping experts on kitchen tools and techniques. Once they've mastered these, they can move on to Good Housekeeping Kids Cook! Ages 4+

Kid testers loved that this board game uses Kinetic Sand as part of the gameplay: At first, the colorful sticks hold up. But, as the game goes on, players remove the sticks and the pieces go tumbling to the bottom level. Parent testers were pretty amazed at how long the sand stays up too. Ages 4+