What to Get a Boy for His 4Th Birthday?

Matchbox cars & a kids cartoon DVD
Toddler 3 pack of balls (bsktball, baseball,ftball) they're softer
Nerf football
Remote control car
Matchbox parking garage set. Approx $20. Very cool

At 4 years old??

Boys typically like:
Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars
Tonka Trucks
Transformers (my kids are older - and this was the "RAGE" when they were that age)

if the parents are electronically inclined - does he have a Wii or a Leap Frog? Maybe there are games or books he would like for that?

Talk to the boys mom and find out if he has a Wii or even a DS...

However, if you want to encourage outside play??? TONKA TRUCKS!!! Hot Wheels - Matchbox!!

have fun!!

At this age, my son loved the Quercetti "tubes" to build with. Extra fun if you have a bin of rice/sand/small beans or marbles to run through the tubes:

http://www.amazon.com/International-Playthings-QA4175-Que...

they have a saxo-flute kit that goes with it, if this child likes music:
http://www.amazon.com/International-Playthings-QA4170-Que...

and a larger saxoflute set, too.

And then, there's the Marble Run games. Quercetti makes a popular one, however, having been a nanny and played with many brands of this particular toy, my favorite is this one, as the bases are larger and it's easier for a child to assemble independently once they get used to the process (learning that the marble has to go through the hole and down into the next chute)

http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=117765...

This one is twenty dollars and the one we have at home. What I like about this product is that it doesn't require the tweaking of the 'rail' tracks and balancing of the bigger 'bowl' type pieces. The pieces are fairly durable too-- picked up a set at a garage sale for 5 dollars and used it for about 3 years now, plus heavy use when I had my preschool. This is the least expensive one out there and likely the best-made, IMO.

I'd also look into stocking up on some art supplies. Tape, paper, crayons/markers, playdough especially (and things that can go into playdough like craft sticks or big buttons/ wooden shapes) are great.

As to 'what are boys into' at this age... it really depends on the kid. Most boys this age I know often like ramps for cars to run down as well as constructivist toys like blocks, duplos, or magnetic blocks. My preschool boys were happy with blocks, cars, large pieces of cardboard to use as ramps or a roof of a house; playdough was always a huge hit (and Lakeshore learning has good 'kits' of playdough tools if you want to go that route).

Every child is different!! I would ask his mom!

Our son loved to draw and make maps.. so we bought him an easel when he was very young.. (one side is for markers, the other for chalk)

he is now 11 and still uses it... It was the best purchase we have made thus far..

How about you ask the mom?

Cars, trucks, trains, and starting to get into Legos. Sports equipment is fun too.

When my son was 4 he was really into those matchbox cars tracks...you buy them as a set and the car goes down the shoots/off ramps. They are in the $20 range. He was also really into his PowerTour guitar and rocking out! He also loved marble tracks! Just go into the boy toy section of a box store and you will get ideas.

Tonka trucks (dump trucks, fire trucks, etc)
Dinosaurs
Matchbox cars.
Duplo (bigger sized Legos)

Toys rus has a whole line of Home Dot tools for kids. He is the perfect age.

Hot Wheels set. (There are ones that the track hangs down from the top of a door--pretty cool!)
Big Wheel bike
Tee and baseball
Kite
Nerf footballs
Over the door mini basketball set

At that age my boys were really into Superhero (Batman, Spiderman, Ninja Turtles, Hulk, Superman, Ironman etc) action figures, Transformers and Hot Wheels Monster Trucks.

Get him a rescue bots transformer. Hot wheels. Or superhero stuff.

Any type of vehicle toy - sets of Matchbox/Hot Wheels cars or Tonka truck toys. Those are what my son loved when he was a little guy.