We’ve put together a list of 30 of the hottest toys designed for preschool-age kids that highlight imaginative play and collaboration along with some other Toy Insider favorites. We gathered the family around the table and started to play. Imaginative play is a huge part of kids’ cognitive development around this age, whether they are exploring different roles like homemaker, pilot, or baker or acting out scenes with action figures and character toys.Īs you ease into holiday shopping for the kids in your life this year, it can get hard to balance where kids are in their development with their favorite interests. Both of us figured this game out in one go. But one thing’s for sure: Four year olds love to play pretend. Some little ones are already well acquainted with other kids through a few years of daycare, playdates, and a year of threeschool under their belts, while others are still waiting to expand their social circles.