Baseball themed gift for a 4-year-old

A kind-hearted co-worker signed on for one of those deals where you provide a Christmas gift for a needy kid.

The card she drew is for a four-year-old who likes baseball. She asked me for advice. I thought maybe a glove and some sort of apparel with the local team's logo. Maybe one of those Starting Lineup or MacFarlane figures?

I wouldn't trust a kid that young with a bat or a regulation baseball. I don't know if something like baseball cards would work. I think kids that age are more interested in hands-on things rather than things to look at.

If you have any suggestions, I'll be happy to pass them along. Gracias.

 

At this age get them something they can use and play with. They will be very hands-on. Cap, apparel, figure of a favorite player...

 

I just bought my nephew (3 1/2) a glove with a squishy (I think it's foam covered) ball, all approved by his mother. There are also tee sets that come with a foam covered bat and a foam ball.

 

A glove, ball and Boston/Yankees/Cubs, etc., hat.

 

Just an idear:

 

Nah, go all the way. Tie his right arm behind his back, and give 'im these:

 

On a serious note -- tying his right hand behind his back was only half-serious ... ok, 55 percent -- I agree with the T-ball set. A child who enjoys exercise, and baseball is nothing if not enjoyable exercise for a 4-year-old, is a healthy, happy child.

Another suggestion is a baseball book. Reading can never be started too early. Doesn't matter if it's an illustrated kids book, like <a href="http://cache.deadspin.com/assets/resources/2007/02/arodbook2.jpg">this one</a>, or even a coloring book, like <a href="http://books.google.com/books?id=Mgj7IUty8LwC&dq=story+of+baseball+coloring+book&pg=PP1&ots=3a7cTBk8ij&sig=btVIqFG_JSVLxPY15OCW7B9VoS8&prev=http://www.google.com/search%3Fq%3Dstory%2Bof%2Bbaseball%2Bcoloring%2Bbook%26svnum%3D10%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-USfficial%26ie%3DUTF-8%26sa%3DN%26tab%3Diw&sa=X&oi=print&ct=title&cad=one-book-with-thumbnail">this one</a> (a personal favorite, I might add!). You can never go wrong with giving a kid a book.

 

Aw, c'mon, Buck-Dub ... the kid's a little young to master "Moneyball" or SABERmetrics. ;D

 

Is he for hire?



He will teach the young man about respect and staying loose in the batter's box.

 

Nah, I was only thinking starting small. "Total Baseball," perhaps.

 

You can't go wrong with a replica jersey.