The Best Gift Ideas for 5-Year-Olds (2023)
Looking for the best gift ideas for 5-year-olds?
I have some amazing learning and play toy ideas that will be a HUGE hit! It’s the best feeling to give gifts to kids that they will enjoy and use repeatedly.
Let’s get started with The BEST Gifts for 5-Year-Olds.
#1: Magna-Tiles Magnet Blocks
Magnatiles are one of our favorite toys around here; that’s why I have them at the top of my best gift ideas for 5-year-olds!
We love the Magnatile brand because the blocks are a good size, and they have great magnets to help the blocks stick together.
Ways to Play
A. Build structures
Build amazing structures with Magnatiles! Let your little one’s creative juices flow by allowing them to come up with their own design ideas or help them come up with a plan. Create castles, a car garage for their vehicles, or a home for their toys!
My kids love dinosaurs at the moment! They love building dinosaur cages!
B. Practice letter/number learning
Write on the blocks using a chalk marker! It wipes right off using a wet wipe. Make a letter match or create a number line. Have even more fun by doing this on the dishwasher, fridge, or even the garage door outside!
C. Color Sorting
Work on those fine motor and color-matching skills with this fun sorting activity. It’s SO simple to put together, and the kids will love being able to use kid-friendly tweezers.
RELATED: Best Educational Toys
#2: Arts and Crafts Kit
If you have a 5-year-old who loves arts and crafts, this set is AMAZING!
This art set has everything you could want when making crafts, art projects, or just creating whatever they want! I love the case everything goes in as well; it’ll help keep things more organized.
Features of this product
What’s included: pom poms, googly eyes, pipe cleaners, scissors, popsicle sticks, clothespins, feathers, beads, stickers, sequins, string, glitter glue, construction paper, alphabet beads, and buttons.
1. Threading– There are a bunch of bright-colored pipe cleaners and beads in this kit. Practice some fine motor skills by threading the beads on the pipe cleaners! You can even have them find the letters of their name and put them in order on the pipe cleaner.
2. Popsicle stick crafts– Popsicle stick crafts are so fun to make and simple! Create fun faces using the googly eyes and pom-poms!
3. Get creative– Put all the pieces and parts out and let them go to town and create whatever they want to make! Having a kit like this will be exciting for the kids to experiment with new supplies!
RELATED: Christmas Crafts
#3: LEGOs
If you asked my kids what their favorite toy is, they would both say LEGO. They could play for hours building and creating.
This set is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds because it isn’t a themed set; the kids can just create what they want or look at the instruction book for ideas.
Ways to Play
1. Build structures- We buy LEGOs to build, right?! Let your kiddos go to town and build whatever structure they like. It doesn’t even have to be anything specific. My kids love to be creative and make their own buildings from video games they like to play, imaginary castles, etc.
2. Letter building- Play and learn by creating letters of the alphabet with my LEGO letter-building worksheets! Letters A-Z are available HERE!
3. Bath time with blocks- You will thank me after this recommendation! Bring your LEGO blocks into the bath with your little ones. They will love filling them up with water and also creating things that can float in the water!
#4: Marble Run
Marble run is a classic toy that never gets old! We got this set a few years ago, and my kids still use it all the time.
It’s a wonderful gift idea for 5-year-olds because it will grow with them too. I love toys that aren’t one-and-done.
Ways to Play
1. Ideas from the book- There is a booklet that shows different designs that you can create for the marbles to go through. These designs can be helpful in the beginning when learning how to work with the blocks with this toy.
2. Create your own- Most of the time, we create our own marble track. What I love about this is that there are a lot of fails in the design. I stated earlier that this is a great toy to practice problem-solving skills. Have your kiddos try to figure out how to fix any issues.
3. Marble races with two towers- Create two separate towers; they can be the same or different, and see which marble can make it to the bottom first! The kids will go WILD for this activity. They won’t want to stop doing it :).
RELATED: Best Open-Ended Toys
#5: Scooter
One of my kid’s favorite outdoor toys that they have is their scooter. It’s the perfect gift idea for 5-year-olds.
If this is the first time that your child is riding a scooter, start with a three-wheeled scooter, it’ll be easy for them to learn.
Features of this toy
1.One of the best features of this scooter is that it lights up! It also comes in a variety of base colors that you can see on the side of the picture.
2. Here are some important things about the safety features: It has a non-slip foot plate, wide wheels, good steering, and extra grip handlebars.
3. It is foldable, and you can adjust the height for when your child grows! It is meant for ages 3-12 and can hold up to 133lbs.
RELATED: Outdoor Games for Kids
#6: Instant Print Kids Camera
One of the best Christmas gifts I got for my kids last year was an instant print camera. They love being able to take a photo and have it printed right away for them to hang up.
This is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds! They will love this even when they get older, too. I love gifts that can grow with the kids.
Ways to Play
1. Take photos– The main reason you want the camera is for the kids to take photos! Upload their pictures to the computer if you want to save any.
2. Add fun backgrounds– Kids have the ability to add some fun backgrounds or silly pictures into their photos. They can have fun adding their face to the backgrounds!
3. Games– There are a few games that they can play on the camera. There are 5 puzzle games the kids can try!
#7: Vtech Watch
Here is another great toy to help your little one learn how to tell time! I actually just got this one for my daughter; I know she’s just going to love it.
It is very similar to the camera that I mentioned above. However, it is a watch, so kids can wear it all the time and check the time!
Features of this product
1. Practice telling time– Check in with your little ones every now and then to see if they can read the time on their watch!
2. Take photos– This watch has a feature where the kids can take their own photos! There are also some fun picture effects that they can add to their photos for more fun!
3. Action challenges– There are several active challenges on this watch! This is a fun way to get kids moving! Try the three challenges and see if they can beat their score each time.
#8: My First Science Kit
This is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds. My kids LOVE doing science experiments at home.
We pull this set out and spend a long time experimenting together! Especially during the cold winter days, this is a fun indoor toy option for kids.
Adult supervision is needed for them to do these safely and correctly!
Features of this product
1. There are 50+ experiments inside this kit! Kids will use critical thinking skills, problem-solving, and be able to observe and discover with these experiments.
2. Some of the experiments inside are DIY lava lamps, walking water experiments, fireworks in a jar, and oobleck!
RELATED: Science Experiments for Kids
#9: Fort Building Kit
This fort-building kit is one of the best gift ideas for 5-year-olds!
They will love building their own fort to put their toys in, play, read, and imagine with!
Features of this product
1. The parts that come in this kit are easy to build with and also to disassemble. It comes with 30 magic balls, 64 rods, and 46 extend connectors.
2. Insert the rod into the magic ball to start creating. This is a great building toy for kids too! They can try different ways to build their forts.
3. It also shows different ways how you can build forts!
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#10: Walkie Talkies
Walkie-talkies are a huge hit with all ages. They can play with family members or friends with these fun walkie-talkies!
They are the perfect gift idea for 5-year-olds to play with indoors or outdoors!
Features of this product
1.Kids love playing hide and seek with the walkie-talkies. Especially if one person goes outside to hide and the other person is inside. they can give each other clues as to where they are.
2. They can also be helpful if you are somewhere, like on a camping trip, so you can talk to each other.
RELATED: Best Outdoor Toys
#11: Mini Basketball Hoop
Here’s a great way to keep your kids active during the winter months indoors!
This is one of the best gift ideas for 5-year-olds because this basketball hoop can be placed on their door for easy play!
Features of this product
1. My favorite thing about this specific hoop is that it has an electric scoreboard on it! The kids will love this feature, so it makes it easy for them to see how many points they scored.
2. It fits all common doors in a home. It also comes with sponge pads to help protect your door from damage.
3. The best thing about this hoop is that it’s not just for 5-year-olds; older kids and adults would love this gift too!
RELATED: Basketball Drills for Kids
#12: Microphone Portable
My kids LOVE to sing! This portable microphone is so much fun for them to carry around. Plus, you don’t have to hook it up to a karaoke machine or anything.
This makes the list of the best gift ideas for 5-year-olds because the kids can even record songs and then sing to them!
Features of this product
1. Play or record any song! You can even play songs on Spotify, Pandora, or whatever music app you use, record them, and then sing!
2. It has great sound quality, and you can even change your voice with the five different sound effects! Your 5-year-old will LOVE this feature.
3. It’s a Bluetooth microphone, so you can just charge it, and it’ll work for up to 8 hours!
#13: Magic Show Kit
This is the coolest gift idea for 5-year-olds! My kids are really into putting on magic shows with this kit. They love trying to trick us!
Kids can learn 75 magic tricks with this fun kit.
Features of this product
1. My kids love putting on shows for us. Kids will love learning these tricks on their own or with their friends/family to perform.
2. There are video instructions, which is so helpful because for kids seeing it visually will help them learn how to do it way easier than just reading.
3. There are a wide variety of tricks the kids can learn in the box using a bunch of different supplies.
#14: The Floor is Lava Game
Kids LOVE The Floor is Lava! It’s a great game that kids up and moving. It’s a wonderful gift idea for 5-year-olds to play inside or outside!
They will love playing this game with family and friends.
Features of this game
1. You get a game spinner, different sizes of foam jumping stones, and challenge cards.
2. It’s a great indoor game that kids will love in the winter or summer, and you can take it outside.
3. When the kids spin the spinner, they have to jump to that color. If there is a question mark, there are challenges that they have to do!
#15: DIY Puffy Sticker Kit
We had this set when my daughter was 5, and she absolutely loved it! It’s really easy for the kids to make these on their own.
This is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds! They can place these fun stickers anywhere!
Features of this product
1. You get the materials to make 60 fun puffy stickers!
2. Some of the stickers are already colored with fun themes, but some are blank, and the kids can color them in to create their own.
3. It also comes with a book with detailed instructions and examples!
RELATED: Kids Painting Ideas
#16: Stomp Rockets
Stomp rockets are always so much fun! It’s a great outdoor gift idea for 5-year-olds.
The kids will love watching to see how high their rockets go!
Features of this product
1. Kids will love playing outdoors with this fun rocket launcher. It’s totally safe and it made of foam rockets.
2. The base is durable, and kids can play for hours with it!
3. The rockets can go up to 100 ft in the air. Kids can even do this inside because of the safe and soft materials- but I would choose to do it outside :).
#17: Water Bottle Decorating Kit
Here is a fun and crafty gift idea for 5-year-olds. Your child will love decorating their water bottle and using it afterward!
Kids will love the bright and colorful gems that they can add to their water bottles.
Features of this product
1. It comes with four sheets of sparkly rhinestone gems to add to the water bottle. There are over 100 gems!
2. Kids can create their own fun designs on the water bottle. There are also different colors and designs to choose from.
3. The water bottle is high quality; it doesn’t leak and is aluminum BPA-free.
#18: Animal Guessing Game
One of our favorite road trip games is Guess the Animal by Skillmatics!
It’s a great gift for all ages, honestly! We all love playing this game together.
Features of this product
1. You can play this game in a group, or you can play one on one! My kids love playing this in the car together. It’s a great way to pass the time.
2. Ask up to 10 questions about an animal on each card to see if the person can guess which animal it is.
3. There are clue cards and bonus questions too! It has 50 cards and six clue cards.
Check out all of the Skillmatics Guess in 10 Games; there are a lot of options!
#19: Giant Bubble Wand Kit
What kid doesn’t love huge bubbles? This outdoor toy is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds.
Every time we go somewhere, and there are bubble wands, my kids just flock to them. So, we decided to get our own to have some fun outside!
Features of this product
1. These bubble wands make HUGE bubbles! It has two handles the kids can hold with a strong string.
2. The bubble solution is non-toxic, environmentally friendly, and biodegradable.
3. It also comes with five refill solution packs! This is perfect for summer fun and parties.
#20: Squishmallows
My kids are obsessed with Squishmallows. This is the best gift idea for 5-year-olds because it’s a mystery box, which they will even love more! Kids love the mystery surprises.
This is such a cute and colorful collection of stuffed animals!
Features of this product
1. There are 5 Squishmallows that come in the mystery box. You won’t know which ones you get! They are each 5″.
2. These cute and cuddly stuffed animals that kids can take with them on the go or use right at home.
3. There are 20 that you can collect! Click on the link below the product that I listed to see the full list.
#21: Brain Flakes
One of our favorite toys we have here at home is brain flakes. My son has these in his preschool class, and he asked for them as a gift, and they were a great choice!
I love open-ended toys like this; the possibilities for building are endless.
Features of this product
1. There are 500 flakes that come in this set. There is an idea booklet for kids to look at to create specific things, or they can create on their own.
2. There is a container to place the flakes back into for easy storage.
3. These are great for kids to build with on their own, or they can create with others to make big structures!
#22: Foil Fun Art Set
This is such a fun art activity for kids! Plus, it’s mess-free, which is always helpful.
Kids are amazed by this fun foil activity. It’s a wonderful gift idea for 5-year-olds.
Features of this product
1. There are 7 Foil Fun-themed boxes that you can choose to create! We love this animal set the most.
2. There are 100+ colorful foam stickers, 100 color foil sheets, 10 picture canvases, googly eyes, and an instructional manual included in the box.
3. Simply place the colorful sheets on the stickers and watch them turn that color! The kids LOVE it.
4. Perfect on the go! Great for restaurants, in the car, airplane, or other places you may go.
#23: Jurassic Park LEGO Set
What kiddo doesn’t love dinosaurs? This is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds!
They will love the giant T-Rex that this LEGO set comes with.
Features of this product
1. This set includes an airport and helicopter along with 3 mini-figures, a dinosaur egg, a mini car, and a giant T-Rex.
2. This is a great set for 5-year-olds because it’s a 4+ LEGO. It’s wonderful to start learning how to build with LEGO blocks.
3. Kids will love imaginary play with this set!
#24: Pete the Cat Books
Looking for a gift idea for 5-year-olds to help them learn how to read? Pete the Cat books are perfect for this age group.
They will be entertained by the stories, and they are a great first-reading book set for kids.
Features of this product
1. There are 5 books that come in this set. They are 8×8 books, so they are easy to take along places.
2. The books that are included are Pete the Cat: Construction Destruction, Pete the Cat: Cavecat Pete, Pete the Cat: Robo-Pete, Pete the Cat: Go Pete Go!, and Pete the Cat and the Treasure Map.
3. Pete the Cat books are best for kids in preschool and third grade! It’s a wonderful beginning reader book set.
#25: Interactive Globe
Here’s another educational gift idea for 5-year-olds that they will LOVE!
This interactive globe has an app that goes along with it so your kids can learn and explore each area of the globe.
Features of this product
1. Inside the app, it’s full of visual storytelling, music, animal facts, world quizzes, globe puzzles, and challenges
2. This helps build skills in geography, environmental sciences, culture, and social science.
3. It also includes a passport with stickers and stamps!
4. It doesn’t include a tablet or phone. But it’s compatible with most phones and tablets.
#26: Fluffy Slime Kit
We love making our own slime! It’s great for sensory play and easy for the kids to make with adult supervision.
This is a great gift idea for 5-year-olds to learn how to make slime! Fluffy slime is the best- it’s not too sticky and slimy.
Features of this product
1. This slime kit comes with Elmer’s glitter glue, color glue, and fluffy slime activator, so nothing else is needed to create the slime.
2. The liquid glue is non-toxic, washable, and safe for kids to use.
3. In 4 simple steps, the kids will learn how to create slime!
#27: Connect 4 Game
We love board game nights! Connect 4 is a great game gift idea for 5-year-olds.
It does say on the box that it’s for ages 6+, but we have played with my son at this age and it was totally fine!
Features of this product
1. Connect 4 is a classic board game that kids and adults love!
2. The game comes with the blue game board that the pieces will go in. Red and yellow game pieces and 2 blue blocker pieces.
3. Try to get 4 of your color circles in a row before your opponent does!
#28: Remote Control Car
The gift idea for 5-year-olds is so much fun! They will love this remote control car because it’s easy to work.
It’s a 360-degree stunt car that kids will love watching and playing with.
Features of this product
1. This car can move forward, backward, turn right and left. It can also roll and rotate at 360 degrees and drive on a double-sided flip!
2. There are also 4 batteries included with this car!
3. It can be used indoors or outdoors. Works on the grass and even the beach!
#29: Barbie Pop Reveal
This Barbie is the cutest! My daughter loves anything Barbie, and this is such a fun set.
I love this gift idea for 5-year-olds because the Barbie also comes with slime!
Features of this product
1. There are 8 surprises that come in the pack.
2. They have different fruit sets like grape, fruit punch, and strawberry lemonade. Each comes with a Barbie, a pet, and other cute accessories.
3. It also has some color-changing surprises! Kids will love collecting the entire set.
#30: Bug Habitat
My son loves insects. He is fascinated by them and always wants to learn more.
This bug set is the PERFECT gift idea for 5-year-olds. Kids can capture bugs, learn more about them, and then release them.
Features of this product
1. There is a container that kids can place the bugs in after they catch them to watch them. It comes with a net, scoop scissors, and tweezers to make it easy and fun to catch.
2. There also is a magnifying viewer to see the bugs closer in the container.
3. There is also a learning guide that comes along with the kit.
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
I hope you were able to find some great gift ideas for 5-year-olds in this article! I’d love to hear what your favorite gift is for this age.
Happy Shopping!
Deena