Your favorite open-ended type toy/gift for a 4 yo?

[anamika]

DD's b'day is coming up and we haven't really bought her anything yet. I need some ideas - so far all I have is Keva planks! Maybe Wedgits?
She's into building now - suggestions?
She loves the marble run we got last year - thanks to moms on this board :bighand: We also have magnatiles - another hit!
Please help me find something as wonderful as those toys.
Thanks,

[bubbaray]

Tinkertoys? I don't have them out much b/c of DD#2, but DD#1 loves it when they come out! She still likes Lego and MegaBlocks.

Invariably, Barbie and the Princesses come out to play with whatever she's built....

[kristenk]

Can you add on to the marble run? I'm hoping to add new pieces to our marble run for several years! :)

Keva Planks are good. Wedgits aren't too exciting for DD, but I don't think she's into building as much as your DD is. DD greatly prefers Magnatiles to Wedgits.

I'm a HUGE Playmobil fan and DD loves playing with all of her Playmobil people. The people and cars get more play time than any actual structures that she has, so you don't have to get a giant set to try them out.

[egoldber]

You can't go wrong with basics like wooden unit blocks, Duplos/Legos, and cardboard blocks. All are huge hits here.

[Asianmommy]

How about Kid K'nex? My kids love making funny-shaped aliens.

[new_mommy25]

There is a 50th anniversary Lego set with a golden brick.

Lincoln Logs, Cliks, Zoobs, or Tinker Toys are all great builder toys.

Do you already have wooden blocks? If not I would go with those.

[LBW]

Holztiger or Kinderkram figures (animals, dinosaurs, etc)
Waldorf doll
Tree blocks (http://www.atoygarden.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=product.display&Product_ID=1124)
Dress up accessories
Anything from Palumba (http://www.palumba.com) We have, and love, their sticks, cubes, and skittles
Musical instruments

This blog is great for natural, not made in China, toy reviews and reviews of online toy stores: http://saras-toy-box.blogspot.com

Two stores that will give you great ideas are:
atoygarden.com
quiethourstoys.com (Ack! Look at the dollhouse on the first page!)

[LarsMal]

My immediate thought when I saw the title of you post was Wedgits! DS loves them. I took them to the beach with me this summer and my cousin's children (ages 6-9) played with them for about an hour.

You can get the starter set or they have kits, plus you can get cards that show you what to make and what you need to make it. There is also a board that you can use to build on.

Wedgits have become my go-to gift these days and everyone I have given them to says their child loves them.

[C99]

Well, my favorite building toy is Magna-Tiles. DS1 got a set as a gift at age 2 and he -- and his siblings -- have been playing with them ever since.

[anamika]

Thanks for the great suggestions. Keep them coming.
I had not heard of Tinkertoys and Lincoln logs (I grew up in India) - those sound good. The Cliks and Zoobs look like fun.
She has blocks, Legos etc - the tree blocks look cute too.
Thanks for the link to the blog - I love reading about things for DD.

Please tell me more about the Playmobil sets - I keep hearing about them but I have not figured out what they are!

[caleymama]

I know these are hit or miss based on previous threads here about them, but what about a Bilibo (http://www.bilibo.com/en/enter/)? DDs received one for Christmas last year (they were 5 and 3 at the time). It's been a big hit. Younger DD, almost 4 now, uses it regularly for all different purposes. Doll bed, turtle shell, hat, tunnel for her trains or cars, seat in or on it, and so on. Whatever they're playing they often find a way to incorporate the Bilibo.
Info at the above link and here: http://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/kid_o/bilibo.cfm

We are also big fans of Magnatiles (clear 100 piece set)and Tinkertoys (the wooden ones). Lincoln Logs get used once in a while. Plain wooden blocks are used all the time too. DDs also love their big cardboard "bricks." The set we have was actually mine when I was a kid. It lasted through my sister and I, then was handed down to my three much younger cousins, and now is back to me!

[ilfaith]

Our favorite gift this year was the Meissa & Doug Make-Your-Own Monster Puppet. Actually it was given to our 2 year old, but our 4 year old loves it even more (although if I can be honest, I think I may have played with it at least as much as they have).

http://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Deluxe-Make-Your-Own-Monster/dp/B000JLPAK0