I have a four-year-old sister (I'll be 23 soon) and her birthday was a few weeks ago, but because she lives 500 miles away, I waited 'til now to buy her present as I will see her next weekend.
But I still have no idea what to get! In the past I have 1) made her a blanket, 2) bought her a tee-shirt that says "My brother did it" (our brother is 21), 3) purchased her first Barbie doll, 4) got a Wizard of Oz dress-up set and 5) a snow globe with her name.
I'd like to stay away from all of the above, but she also has a TON of toys - especially various musical instruments. I rarely see my sister and want to get her something she'll love, but also not something that will break the bank.
Around the age of 4 I think kids start developing something they're "into." For my nephew it was The Wiggles and my niece was really into her baby doll. Does she have a favorite TV show? You could always get her something with that theme.
A dinosaur... Plastic? How big? I'd prefer her not choke, although, at four, you would assume the choking hazards of toys should be long gone. Maybe I assume wrong. Are four year olds still apt to choke on things that are not food? Should they know not to put dino's plastic fern accompaniment down their throat? Are you trying to kill my sister?
...Clearly, I'm kidding. But as a girl, I don't recall being too into dinosaurs with the exception of the release of "Jurassic Park," and clearly those days are over.
I can really help, I think. I work with kids all the time and know a ton of 4 year old girls. All of them are Hannah Montana crazy. I don't think you could go wrong with Miley Cyrus stuff.
Play dough...of course! I hadn't thought of that, and I'm sure my father will be elated when she starts sticking it everywhere, which is an added bonus, by far.
i have a four year old cousin that i absolutely adore and right now (like millions of other toddlers) she is into reading anything from the princesses (snow white, cinderella, etc) to the berenstain bears. another book collection that i recommend is the paper bag princess.
or you could get her something that expands or increases her creativity like a painting set or anything arts&crafts-y.
It's excellent! By Robert Munsch. Actually, anything by him would be a good book. "Mortimer" is another one that I know most kids like because there's a little song in it that kids like to sing a long to.
Permalink Reply by Caz on July 15, 2008 at 12:46am
I'd get her something fun and creative (ie slightly educational) but also non-messy so she can play with it without supervision. What about a jewellry making kit or something else along those lines that's age appropriate (ie big, easy beads and easy stretchy string instead of miniscule beads and sewing thread)
Unfortunately, the bookstore was out of both Cinder-edna and Paper Bag Princess last night, yet I went with the book-idea and purchased Olivia, mostly because I could also buy a stuffed animal of her, and what four-year-old doesn't love stuffed pigs? Ha.
Not to mention, my musically inclined family is more likely to continue purchasing my sister a variety of instruments as opposed to books, which is clearly what I lean toward and hope to pass on, at least slightly, to my baby sister.