Keeping toddlers and young children entertained all the time can become a chore for busy parents. I believe video games can be added to a child’s daily entertainment for an hour or less a day. Video games can have a lot of beneficial effects on children (Read This Article) as long as they are managed correctly by parents. I would normally advise against video games at such a young age especially on a game console like the PS4. However, I compiled a convincing list of the best safe to play PS4 games for toddlers and up to 4-year-olds. None of the following listed games are violent or contain negative subject matter.
Abbreviations Used In Game Titles
(T+) = The majority of Toddlers aged 2 to 3.5 years old should be able to learn how to play this game.
(4+) = Kids aged 4 years or older should be able to learn how to play this game.
(WH) = “With Help”. It’s recommended that an adult or an experienced gamer helps guide the child. With some practice, the child might not need assistance in the near future.
Just Dance Games (T+)
– See The On Amazon
Just Dance is the perfect game series for toddlers and children that love dancing to music. These games feature all kinds of pop songs from popular music artists. Even more, songs can be unlocked by leveling up (complete songs to level up). Copy the dancers on the screen to receive the highest score possible. Your child can use an Android/IOS phone or tablet as the controller. Holding the mobile device in one hand will track and score every dance move performed.
Even without using a controller your toddler will probably have fun dancing to the music. For the Best experience, Starting out I think you should play Just Dance with your child.
Flower (T+) (WH)
– See It On Amazon
Flower is a colorful game about bringing life to new lands. Starting as one flower petal you’ll find groups of dead flowers to bring back to life. The flower group you control will grow and bring even more vibrant color and life to the land. Flower has six easy to pass open world levels.
Flower is a great game for toddlers because of PS4’s easy to use gyroscope control technically. Your child won’t have to press any buttons, they will just steer the standard PS4 controller to move the flowers around.
Peggle 2 (T+)
– See It On Playstation Store
Peggle 2 is like a cross between Plinko and Breakout. It’s really easy to play. Only requiring one button press to drop the ball down. As the ball is dropped the goal is to hit as many pegs as possible and landing in the bucket below for an extra ball. Many levels are available to play through.
Peggle 2 is a great game for toddlers because of its simple one-button press controls, colorful 2D graphics, and exciting over the top special effects.
PAW Patrol: On a Roll (T+) (WH)
– See It On Amazon
If your child is a fan of the PAW Patrol cartoons on Nickjr this is a must buy game. Paw Patrol: On A Roll is possibly the easiest 2D platform game available for the PS4. The game has a neat story that plays out similar to a cartoon episode. Throughout the game, your child will play as different characters from the cartoon. Controls and levels are very easy. You’ll run and jump, collect items and decide what would be the best items to use to pass certain areas in levels.
This is a great starting game for older toddlers because it teaches them the basic fundamentals of the PS4 controller and platform games.
Angry Birds: Star Wars (T+) (WH)
This is the same Angry Birds Star Wars game that’s available for Phone and tablets. It’s played the same way except your using a controller and looking at a TV screen. Using the PS4 control left-thumbstick, aim to the left, up, or down and release to launch birds at the buildings. There are a lot of easy and fun levels to play through.
At age 2 my daughter was playing Angry Birds games on her android tablet. I imagine a controller might be slightly more difficult to learn on, but with a little practice, I can see a lot of toddlers above 2 years old learning how to play this.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers (T+) (WH)
– See It On Amazon
Nickelodeon Kart Racers is one of the few Kart racing games available for the PS4. It features a fantastic roster of characters from Nickelodeon such as SpongeBob, Patrick, Leonardo, Arnold, Angelica and much more. Collecting and using Power-ups (like boosts, rockets and slime) while racing can help you come in 1st.
Nickelodeon Kart Racers tracks are designed for novice gamers barely learning how to play. In general, the game is easy as long as you set it on the easiest mode available. The game is the most fun when playing as a family with 2 to 4 players via split-screen.
Rabbids Invasions (T+) (WH)
– See It On Amazon
Rabbids Invasion is an innovative game where your kids are part of a cartoon. This game requires the Playstation 4 camera because it motion captures your kids while playing. As the Rabbids Cartoon plays your kids will have to perform certain actions that the characters in the cartoon do. Whoever performs the best and fastest will receive the highest score and change the way the cartoon is played out.
A really good social game for family play. Toddlers and kids will have a lot of fun posing for the camera enjoying there time in a cartoon!
LEGO Games (4+)
– See Them On Amazon
The majority of Lego games are targeted towards all ages. They are easy enough that a 4-year-old can figure out there simple puzzles, combat controls, and navigate through levels. There are many different themed Lego games, so it should be easy to find one your child would probably enjoy. Star Wars, Marvel, DC, Jurassic World, Hairy Potter and other themed games are available for PS4.
Lego games are not only child-friendly, but they also teach kids how to logically figure out and solve problems. You can’t go wrong with LEGO!
The Peanuts Movie: Snoopy’s Grand Adventure (4+)
– See It On Amazon
Before buying your child this game, you should let them watch the cute animated movie first. In Snoopy’s Grand Adventure, Snoopy is trying to find Charlie Brown and friends who have run off in the woods to play Hide and Seek. Playing as Snoopy your child will play through easy 2D platform levels. Running, jumping, avoiding enemies, and optionally collecting all jelly beans for extra rewards.
Overall Snoopy’s Grand Adventure is a simple platform game perfect for young kids that already understand basic controller movements and buttons. This game is very forgiving and obviously targeted towards younger gamers.
Little Big Planet 3 – Community Levels (4+) (WH)
– See It On Amazon
In Little Big Planet 3 you’ll play as little fun customizable characters made out of yarn. There are three main modes available including the campaign, online community levels, and the custom level creator. The campaign is really difficult, even for most experienced gamers. However, thousands of different community levels have been created and shared. It’s easy to find a themed community level your child will enjoy. For example, you can search community levels based on Batman, Hulk, kindergarten, Barbie, Spongebob or just about anything else.
Overall there are so many easy community levels available for kids of all ages that it’s hard not to recommend Little Big Planet 3.
Minecraft – Creative Mode (4+) (WH)
– See It On Amazon
For Minecraft Beginners creative mode is awesome. In creative mode, your child is given near-unlimited materials to build anything he/she wants. There is no time limit. Learning the controls is the hardest part, but with a little practice, anyone can build like a pro in Minecraft. Worlds you create are auto-saved. My daughter started playing Minecraft when she was 3 years old. She is now 7 years old and has multiple worlds she built full of houses, mansions, roller coasters, swimming pools, fishing lakes, Zoo’z and more. Minecraft can be played with up to 4 players via Split-Screen. So if you have more than one gamer in the house they can build together.
Minecraft is a must buy game if your child loves to build or tinker with things. Some kids might not grasp the controls perfectly right away but I guarantee they will eventually grow into it and love this game.
Disney Infinity (4+)
– See It On Amazon
Disney Infinity is a great 3D open world game for children or beginner gamers. Most of the gameplay involves collecting items, solving puzzles, and platforming. There is so much to explore in Disney Infinity. Disney Infinity has multiple physical character sets you can collect and use in the game. Different Disney character toys offer different levels and gameplay experiences. For example, you can find theme based toys from popular Disney movies and owned properties like Star Wars, Marvel, Toy Story, Frozen, Nemo, and many more.
If your child is a Disney movie fan, they will love Disney Infinity.
* Honorable Mentions *
The following games either barely missed our top list or we thought they might be too hard for most 4-year-olds.
Skylanders Games (4+) – Sky Landers is similar to Disney Infinity. It’s a 3D open-world adventure game where you can collect different monster toys to play within the game. Each toy character has different powers and unlocks new levels in the gaming world. Disney Infinity is a better choice in my opinion but Skylanders is also fun.
Catlateral Damage (T+) (WH) – Easy game with simple controls. Play as a cat. Jump around and make messes in house rooms for score.
Abzu (4+) – Play as a scuba diver and explore an underwater world full of Sealife. There’s no way to die and the game very peaceful with fairly easy controls.
Carnival Games (4+) – A 4-player party game featuring over 20 real-life county fair style games to play. It’s not fun alone, but if you have 3 or 4 players to play with the mini-games can be quite entertaining.
Goat Simulator (4+) – A crazy game where you play as a goofy goat. Run around an open world destroying the city. You’ll unlock new powers and characters to play as.
Beach Buggy Racing (4+) – A fun simple Kart racer great for kids.
Cars 3: Driven To Win (4+) – A good easy to racing game based off of the Disney Cars movie.
Rayman Legends (4+) (WH) – Rayman Legends is a fantastic 2D platform game that can be played with up to 4-players. The main problem with Rayman is later levels are very challenging, so I can’t recommend this game unless your child plays it with experienced gamers.
Sonic Mania Plus (4+) (WH) – The best 2D Sonic The Hedgehog game to come out in a very long time. It’s great for kids but I have to admit some of the later levels are pretty challenging. Experienced gamer guidance is highly recommended.
