48 best gifts and toys for 5

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By the time a child turns 5 they’re beginning to develop advanced motor skills like riding a bike and specific interests like performing simple science experiments — making gift giving that much more fun.

While they’re likely in kindergarten (or about to be) and learning every day while in school, there are a plethora of educational, musical and creative toys they’ll love at home, too.

Much like 4-year-olds, 3-year-olds and even 2-year-olds or 1-year-olds, they’re constantly on the move and likely have a toy collection growing by the year.

Whether you’re a parent looking for a few new toys to change things up during playtime or a family friend who has no idea what to buy a 5-year-old for their next birthday party, we’ve rounded up the best options according to toy experts, doctors, librarians and even a few recommendations from real-life moms, to make things easier.

"[Playtime] is how children learn. Toys are the tools that help them play and therefore learn. You can play a lot without toys, but developmentally appropriate toys facilitate opportunities for learning and growth," Dr. Robert D. Keder, developmental-behavioral pediatrician (DBP) at Connecticut Children's Specialty Care Center and Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the UCONN School of Medicine told the New York Post.

While there are a many directions you can go in when it comes to buying a 5-year-old the perfect gift, Keder, along with the other experts we interviewed, advised a focus on problem-solving products like board games and building kits to kickstart the development of collaboration and competition.

Keep in mind, all children are different when it comes to their development and tastes so no toy or gift is "one-size-fits-all."

The following gifts have all been hand-picked by experts, so rest assure you’re in good hands to find the perfect gift they’ll love. For more information about the 5-year-old age group, make sure to check out the in-depth FAQ section at the bottom of the article. For now, let's get to the gifts!

To shop this gift guide by category, simply click on a specific section below:

For the little guy or gal who loves learning about our solar system, this play toy is bound to put a smile on their face.

"The new GeoSafari Jr. Talking Space Explorer from Educational Insights is a great gift for budding stargazers. Because this is also an age when kids start to absorb more of the information you are feeding them, this toy creates a truly immersive astronomy experience for kids," Jennifer Lynch, Content Developer & Toy Trends Specialist for The Toy Association, with more than a decade in the toy industry, told The Post.

"They not only learn facts about the universe, narrated by science expert, Emily Calandrelli, but they also get to look at more than 100 images right from NASA," Lynch said.

"5-year-olds are learning more about the world around them. This is a fun way to see the life cycle of a butterfly in their own home," Jillian Abbinanti, former toy store manager of 25 years at Timeless Toys in Chicago with a degree in Early Child Education from North Park University and a 6-year-old of her own, told the New York Post.

The Nature Bound Butterfly Growing Kit comes with a 13-inch mesh habitat perfect for butterfly viewing. All you need to do is capture a caterpillar! The set also comes with a bug booklet and complete instructions.

For the 5-year-old who dreams to a be a scientist one day, consider the Breaker Creatures Monsterglow Lab as their next gift for any occasion.

"Beaker Creatures are a fun exploration of chemistry with easy and safe instructions. Children can see the chemical reactions happen and they have the added bonus of blind bag toys," Abbinanti said.

Laurie Leahey, Senior Editor at TTPM (Toys, Toys, Pets and More), who has been reviewing toys for more than 17 years and mother of a 7-year-old in her own right, raved about this educational toy called, Making Faces.

"Making Faces from Manhattan Toy is a great way to help early elementary children boost their emotional IQ. Kids take magnetic pieces and create different facial expressions with them on the face boards. When parents play along, this toy is a great exercise in identifying emotions and feelings," Leahey explained.

If you want to gift the little one in your life a coding game, Leahey recommends the Andy the Code & Play Robot from Target.

"Andy the Code & Play Robot introducing kids to programming skills in a fun and hands-on way. Use the buttons on Andy's head to tell him which direction to go. There are three modes of play, including dance mode. The toy also comes with coding cards to give kids a challenge of programming Andy from one location to another," Leahey said.

While Keder believes kids should only use electronics in moderation, one music-related toy that he does highly recommend is the YOTO player.

"It's essentially like a digital Walkman for kids; it's fairly affordable for what it is, the mini-player travels well, and you have the option of getting books, music, stories, and activity cards for it too; most importantly, you don't have to fight over your phone and don't have to worry about dangerous algorithms that suck kids in and risk exposing them to dangerous content," Keder said.

As a New York Post selection, this Amazon Echo Dot Kids edition smart speaker will make your 5-year-old's jam sessions that much more fun. All they need to do is ask Alexa to play their favorite song (with parental restrictions of course) from your go-to streaming platform — Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, etc. and they’ll be rocking out in no-time.

In addition to playing music, the Echo Dot Kids will also read bedtime stories, play games, help them with their homework and much more.

"[These] Ukuleles are sized just right for small hands. The four nylon strings deliver a traditional ukulele sound, letting kids strum and make their own music. These ukuleles are a great way for kids to explore music through play," Leahey said.

In addition to this Marvel Spider-Man themed ukulele, the mini musical instrument also comes in fun patterns representing Disney "Frozen," Minnie Mouse & Daisy Duck, "Paw Patrol" and more.

"My daughter is obsessed with Disney movies and the characters – this toycan be be an annoyance for adults after a while, but kids love it as they can sing along to their favorite songs from the movies they love," said Jennifer Adams, mother of 5-year-old daughter and NY-based residential mortgage banking specialist.

This boom box set comes with a microphone, easy accessibility to MP3 players and other devices to easily play their favorite tunes through the speaker and built-in music like "Into the Unknown" from "Frozen."

When it comes to awesome games for 5-year-olds, Lynch loves this I Need a New Butt! Game, inspired by the bestselling children's book.

"[This game] taps into the silly potty humor that appeals to this age group. I Need a New Butt is a two-to-four player game where players are racing to match ‘butt’ cards, such as ‘rocket butt,’ ‘robo butt,’ and ‘paintball butt.’ The first player to collect all their matching butt cheeks on their New Butt! card wins the game. This is a game with straightforward gameplay that also taps into a storyline they already love," Lynch said.

Make imaginative story time that much more fun with the assistance of eeBoo story cards.

"EeBoo story cards are so fun. Children pick cards from the deck and begin forming a story with the colorful characters and scenarios on the card. No reading is required and they can play independently or with others," Abbinanti said.

Dr. Nicole Napolitano, mother of two boys, Grant, 5, and Christian, 7, talked highly of the Monopoly Junior Super Mario edition board game.

"My 5-year-old will play this game for hours! It's a fun twist on Monopoly Junior that includes rolling two dice — one for the number of spaces [and] one that will dictate if the player gets extra coins on the turn. When you press the extra coin button it makes the classic ‘coin dropping’ sound in Super Mario. My son loves it! Also, it's a great game to teach critical thinking and strategy skills," Napolitano shared.

For those looking to up their child's social skills, Leahey likes Upbounders’ board games.

"Picnic Panic and Block Party board games are both great ways to help kids practice teamwork, strategy, and social skills. In Picnic Panic, kids work together to collect all six supply cards before the guests arrive at the picnic party. Block Party is a Chutes and Ladders-style game," Leahey said.

Another favorite of Abbinanti's? eeBoo's "Lion in my Way" imaginative game.

"5-year-olds [can] flex their problem solving skills by being presented with a scenario, such as a lion in their way, and they use the cards to figure out how to get past him. Will you scare him off? Give him a bite to eat?" said Abbinanti.

While Napolitano's kids love Monopoly Junior Super Mario edition, Leahey's 7-year-old loves Monopoly Discover.

"If your family loves Monopoly, then introduce the game to the youngest players with Monopoly Discover. This game has two levels (and a double-sided game board) to grow with kids as they learn the basics of the game," Leahey said.

Both representatives at the New York Public Library and the Chicago Public Library raved about "Bathe The Cat" for the 5-year-old age group.

"‘[It's] a fabulous book for 5-year-olds because it employs zany humor and supports developing reading skills through its use of sight word scrambles and rhyme," Liv Hanson, Content Curator for Youth Materials at Chicago Public Library told the New York Post. "The story will appeal to kids who love absurdist humor which, in my experience, is most. And I think the scramble to tidy the house is a familiar predicament for the families of most young readers."

"5-year-olds are sure to laugh as letters are rearranged and the day of chores devolves into chaos," Eva Shapiro, Associate Director for Early Literacy Programs and Services at the New York Public Library told The Post.

For fun ways to learn how to rhyme and count, Shapiro loves "Grandma's Tiny House" by JaNay Brown-Wood.

"This is a delightfully fun rhyming and counting book about a big party at Grandma's house at Brown Street. Everyone is invited, family and friends, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces, and so much food for a large family feast. But Grandma's house is too tiny for such a big party!" Shapiro said. "5-year-olds will love how one grandchild saves the party with a clever solution."

If the 5-year-old you’re shopping for is still in the beginning stages of learning how to read, Hanson recommends "Mell Fell" by Corey R. Tabor.

"The simple text and vocabulary make it an ideal read for budding and beginning readers, while the clever formatting and surprise twist make it a genuinely suspenseful and satisfying read," Hanson said. "Many 5-year-olds are natural scientists and the text supports further exploration of the natural world. I also think that Mel's decision that she's ready to take a big leap (all by herself) will appeal to the budding autonomy of most 5-year-olds."

"The first book in a series, All Aboard, is a gentle beginning reader that respects the common challenges many 5-year-olds face (busy adults, changes in schedules, etc.) with a plucky protagonist who uses his big imagination to save the day. The loving family dynamics and familiar routines are reassuring," Hanson said of the "All Aboard" picture book series by Kelly Starling Lyons.

"Have a 5-year-old that loves stories but can't read on their own? Check out Tonies, the screen-less storytelling device with characters that they love," Abbinanti recommended.

After purchasing the starter set that comes with the Toniebox needed to listen to the stories, kiddos of all reading levels can grow their collection with additional Tonies characters based on their favorite books, shows, movies and more.

While many kids and adults of all ages enjoy LEGOs, when it comes to the 5-year age group, Lynch recommends starting with the LEGO Classic set first.

"The LEGO Classics Lots of Bricks set is perfect for inspiring kids to build literally anything they want. Designed for ages 5 and up, this set is a stepping stone to more complex building kits and a step up from the LEGO Duplo sets designed for younger kids," Lynch said. "The guides are easy enough to help kids get started with basic builds and spark their imaginations to keep building."

"The Marble Rush Corkscrew Set lets kids build their own marble runs, complete with lights and sound effects. There are three ways to build, giving kids easy, intermediate, and advanced build options. But, of course, kids can get creative and build a marble run of their own design," Leahey said.

The VTech Marble Rush Corkscrew Set includes 10 marbles and 102 building pieces featuring a musical corkscrew, fast tracks, dizzying vortex and more that easily connect.

Another great marble run toy? Abbinanti's choice resides with the brand Hape.

"I love the Quadrilla Marble Runs. They are sturdier than a plastic marble run and easier to build with small hands. 5 year olds will be familiar with using this set since it mirrors playing with traditional wooden blocks," Abbinanti said.

Both Lynch and Abbinanti recommended this building blocks set.

"If there's a little builder in your house who wants a bit more direction and structure, another option is HABA's Logical Master Builder Blocks. The set comes with cards featuring builds of different difficulty levels, which they can then figure out how to replicate on the included template board using blocks," Lynch said. "5-year-olds are very much into experimenting and problem-solving and building sets are a great way to encourage that skill set."

"It adds an extra brain teaser element for 5-year-olds. Children must follow the 2D cards provided to build 3D structures," Abbinanti said.

Paint by Numbers but for kids? Try out PlusPlus.

"PlusPlus Puzzle by Number Space is a cool construction toy that resembles paint-by-number. Use the included pattern to match each number with its corresponding color. When kids are done building, they have two space-themed mosaics that they can hang for display!" Leahey said.

For an even more adventurous train set, Leahey loves the Thomas & Friends Launch & Loop Maintenance Yard.

"It's really cool to watch Thomas the Tank Engine chug along and then launch through a spiral like he's riding a rollercoaster!" Leahey said. "That's the fun of the Thomas & Friends Launch & Loop Maintenance Yard. It's got all the fun of a Thomas train set, plus the action of the 360-degree loop and a fixable broken track for more adventure."

5-year-olds tend to have a lot of energy to exert, which is why it's great to have a quality scooter on hand.

"Designed with intuitive lean-to-steer functionality, the Maxi Deluxe scooter creates a unique ride experience that kids love!" said Natalie Martins, owner of the kids’ bike review site, Two Wheeling Tots, who has been reviewing kids’ bikes and scooters for more than a decade. "Like a skateboard, the lean-to-steer design allows the rider to carve into turns, while also providing a handlebar for extra stability. As an added bonus, the Micro Deluxe Maxi features a reinforced, flexible fiberglass foot deck that helps to provide one of the smoothest and quietest rides around."

"Micro Kickboard scooters are one of the sturdiest ride on toys [I’ve ever seen.] They can be adjusted for different heights and I’ve seen them past down several generations," Abbinanti added.

Calling all Hot Wheels fan!

"Kids can race their Hot Wheels cars and pretend to drive one with the Power Wheels Hot Wheels Racer Ride-On. It's easy for kids to drive, with two speed options (2.5 or 5 miles per hour). And tracks on either side let kids race their Hot Wheels cars and bring them on the go," Leahey said.

Bring yard games to the next level with HearthSong's Inflatable Ride-On Hop ‘n Go Horses.

"Hop ‘N Go Horses will get kids active as they pretend to gallop around on these inflatable horses. You get two horses in one set, and they each hold up to 200 pounds, so even adults can play with these!" Leahey said.

Since biking levels can vary for the 5-year age group, Martins recommended an option that can be used with or without training wheels.

"Offering great quality, as well as playful color options for a low price point, the Koda 2 16″ is a great bike for neighborhood riders. Coming complete with training wheels if you need them, the Koda is sure to bring plenty of smiles," Martins told The Post.

For the little one who loves playing with dolls, you can't go wrong with the BFF by Cry Babies Fashion Dolls.

"At this age, kids are still looking to imitate moms and dads and create nurturing play experiences. [Dolls] bring these elements to life for kids, and these types of toys often come with added tech features to make the play experiences more realistic," Lynch said. "[These are] grown-up versions of the Cry Babies Magic Tears characters, dressed in trendy outfits and accessories to introduce more fashion play,."

For the 5-year-old who loves witches, potions and maybe even "Harry Potter" — consider this Magic Mixies toy.

"The Magic Mixies Color Surprise Magic Cauldron has all the fun of the original Magic Mixies but at a lower price point. Kids follow the steps to mix a magic potion that reveals one of six surprise Mixies! These cute plush have some color-change features for even more surprises," Leahey said.

It's probably no surprise that the popular 5 Surprise Mini Brands collection is featured on this list.

"Because this age level is also starting to become more heavily invested in the brands and characters they love, collectible lines like the 5 Surprise Mini Brands Disney Store Series 2 collection from ZURU invite kids to unbox and collect dozens of characters from across the Disney universes," Lynch said.

Lynch is also a fan of the Disney Doorables.

If you’re looking for the perfect toy to add to your child's Easter basket this year, we have a great pick for any young pet lovers out there.

"Inside the house is an egg that is ready to hatch. You’ll even hear the surprise chick tapping to get out! Eventually, the egg hatches, and the interactive chick starts bopping all around the house play set and reacting to a child's touch," Leahey said.

Think Color Me Mine, but with a plush they can cuddle with afterwards!

"I love a duel toy. Kids can create their own snuggly soft [stuffed animal] with this Klutz kit," Abbinanti raved.

This craft and plush kit comes with a unicorn stuffed animal, a pretend adoption certificate, a pre-made tutu, pre-cut felt pieces, beads, glitter stickers, pipe cleaners, and a paper punch-out sheet.

Another not-so-surprising toy on our list is the L.O.L Surprise! dolls, Sunshine Makeover edition.

"L.O.L. Surprise! dolls continue to be a favorite, and the latest series — Sunshine Makeover — adds a new twist. After you unbox the doll and accessories, take the doll out into the sunshine for a color change! This gets kids playing outside, too." Leahey said.

If you’re looking for a clay set with a modern-day twist, Hey Clay sets are the way to go.

"Fat Brain Toys’ Hey Clay sets elevate the experience of playing with compound doughs and add a bit of tech to the play. This can be a great compromise if you’ve got a child that is always asking to play with your tablet; it's educational screen time," Lynch said. "Using 3-D, step-by-step instructions, kids can follow along and use the kits’ included dough to mold cars, sea creatives, and more. With the Eco Cars kit, an added bonus is that the cars actually roll once constructed."

For the pirate-loving and medieval-knight fans, this DJECO sword craft kit if for them.

"Pretend play and a craft all in one. Kids will use their fine motor skills to create a beautiful sticker mosaic pirate or knight sword," Abbinanti said.

Looking for ways to keep your little guys and gals entertained for hours? Slim may do the trick.

"Kids love slime, and Play-Doh Nickelodeon Slime makes it so easy for kids to stretch and squish slime because the slime is pre-made. Whether adding texture to the scented Foodie Blends slime, watching Waterfall Slime flow through your fingers, or seeing how far you can stretch the three pounds of Super Stretchy Slime, it's all really fun to touch!" Leahey said.

To get the 5-year-old in your life using their little hands during playtime, consider this Kinetic Sand set.

"Kinetic Sand is fun to play with on its own because of its great tactile feel. But with the Kinetic Sand Deluxe Swirl N’ Surprise, kids can also create sand art with it! It comes with six colors of sand that get swirled around, plus there are tools for slicing through the sand and creating different shapes," Leahey recommended.

For the little ones who love to play catch and aspire to be a baseball or softball player in the near future, this one is for them.

"At an age when parents start signing their kids up for more activities and sports, toys that help them master and refine their skills in ways that are less frustrating can help encourage them to stick with these new activities. One such toy is Little Kids’ Junk Ball Umpire Strike Zone, which doubles as a scoreboard and a pitch tracker to help little leaguers perfect their aim and throw the perfect fastball, curveball, and more," Lynch said.

"Stomp rockets are another great solo or group activity. [Just] stomp on the pump, watch them fly, and try to catch them before they hit the ground," Abbinanti said.

The Stomp Rocket Original Ultra Rocket Launcher for Kids comes with a stomp launcher, four foam-tipped ultra stomp rockets and a refill pack that contains two foam-tipped ultra stomp rockets that work with three different stomp rocket launch sets.

Take active play to a whole new level with this brightly colored inflatable rocking ball; grab on to one of the six handles and make it move!

"The Dome Rocker is an inflatable outdoor sphere that kids can climb, bounce, and roll on. With a weight limit of 250 pounds, up to three kids can play on this at the same time," Leahey said.

For the moments when you need to get the kids out of the house and preoccupied for hours, you’ll probably be thanking the KidiGo NexTag.

"Get kids active with KidiGo NexTag. This is a high-tech twist on 20 backyard games, from hide and seek to capture the flag. It comes with four electronic units and adjustable armbands so kids can play with their friends right out of the box. Once kids choose a game, the toy explains the rules and keeps score!" Leahey said.

If your 5-year-old is already talking about who they want to be when they grow up and they’re curious about dentistry, this would be a great gift.

"Everyone loves to play doctor but what about dentist? Children start loosing their teeth around this age so this is a fun way to explore that aspect of their development," Abbinanti told The Post.

"This is a great toy for this age group! It encourages imagination and pretend play, yet there is nothing too complex to work or ‘babyish.’ My son is so proud that he is able to lock the chest on his own! It's also great because he can play with the toy by himself or with a sibling or friend," Napolitano said.

This Target exclusive treasure chest toy is based on Ryan's World, one of the most popular kids YouTube channels these days and features two mystery figures, four micro figures, an ultra-rare XL figure, squishies, putty, a foam sword for pretend play, a spinner, and a pretend drone vehicle.

"I love Playmobil's new line Wiltopia. Made with sustainable materials and digital content about the animals this is more than just your average animal play set with learning beyond the figures themselves," Abbinanti said.

The Playmobil Wiltopia Anteater Care set is made of more than 80% sustainable materials and features two teenaged figures, an anteater with baby, an anthill with plants, a handcart, an informational anteater animal card to unlock digital content, a crocodile, and more.

For next NASA astronaut in the making, gift them this epic Space Rocket.

"I love this play set it encourages the exploration and ideas of space travel. Kids love that this toy counts down and blasts off. The handle makes it easy to fly it around the room," Abbinanti raved.

Ahead, our team of child development experts provide insight into the 5-year-old age group and what defines playtime at this stage.

Please note, the following responses are attributed to Dr. Keder.

"As kids start hitting the 5 and 6-year-old [age] group they have more advance motor skills and planning skills (executive function). This is why plastic bricks like LEGOs get smaller and designs become more complex. This is also an age where the options for board games really take off!" Keder said.

"Toys should always meet a child where they are developmentally. Some kids are more advanced, and some need more time, support, and repetition," Keder told The Post. "It's important to note that the age on a lot of toys is not always where a child is developmentally but is more often at what typically developing age it is thought for the child to be safe to play with a toy."

"Children with developmental delays/disabilities might like toys that are designed for younger children. That's okay! Each child has their own interests. Children with autism may play with toys in a different way, seeking more sensory enjoyment from it that playing with it how a neurotypical child might. That is okay," Keder explained. "We have to check our social skill and thinking privilege; it might cause us to be biased and prefer that a child plays a certain way. What is most important is does the toy help their learning? And does it help them continue to develop loving relationships with supportive adults."

"Board games help with planning and turn taking. Social play ground games like Simon Says encourage listening and learning how to control impulses. Electronic toys may claim they help develop these skills, but they are nowhere near as effective as doing activities one on one with a child or in a group," Keder said. "Puzzles and construction sets do encourage learning how to check yourself and provide opportunities to check for and rewind and do over when mistakes happen (in a nice and safe no risk environment too!)"

While Keder doesn't mind video games, he recommends steering clear of them while your little one is so young.

"Children still struggle with knowing when things have their hooks sunk into them. Video games are built to be addictive [and 5-year-olds] don't often have the control to stop and wait because the game is too tempting," Keder said. "On the same note, kids this age are not the best planners and are not able to see possible dangerous consequences. I avoid toys that shoot things, have sharp parts, or could do damage to siblings, pets, and furniture at this age."

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