30 Best Gifts for 5-Year-Olds, According to Reviews From Real Kids

Like a portable dollhouse of sorts, this plastic “book” opens to reveal a two-sided castle, a small chariot, free-form stickers, and lots of other accessories, including four Disney princesses for imaginative play. For a full magical world, collect all of the play sets—there are versions for all kinds of movies, including The Little Mermaid, Beauty & the Beast, and more.

What our tester says: “This was a lifesaver on a recent plane ride. Plus, it was something my daughter could play with during downtime at the hotel too.”

There won’t be any groans when your little one opens the box to reveal this clothing. The outerwear is specially printed with color-changing graphics. When the rain falls, the jacket—and the images on it—magically transform. We don't know what 5-year-old doesn't love unicorns, but just in case: The jacket comes in a handful of other fun designs too. Choose from color-changing clouds, hearts, and more.

What our tester says: “We're constantly getting compliments on this coat. I think the attention delights my daughter just as much as the color-changing graphics.”

If you’re looking for something educational, this matching game challenges children to complete rudimentary spelling challenges. Eventually, early readers can use the cubes to create their own words and even small sentences. Sure, they'll need some help with this one, but the educational toy is a great way to bring what they're learning in school home and sneak in some practice (i.e., homework) they won't complain about.

What our tester says: “This has been a fun activity for my daughter and I to do together over the summer as she gears up for kindergarten.”

You’d be hard-pressed to find a 5-year-old who doesn’t like to build their own imaginary world—and this fort-building kit makes the task a whole lot easier. Instead of gathering all the blankets and pillows in your house, they simply connect the rods and balls included in the kit. There are enough pieces to make pyramids, rocket ships, castles, bunkers, and more.

What our tester says: “The rods are a little hard to connect, so adult assistance is key. But that's not exactly a drawback. My son and I have so much fun building together. We fill entire rainy mornings with the activity, then eat our lunch inside our little hideout.”

Like the colorful Magna-Tiles they’ve likely played with for years, but a little bit more complex to enhance their fine motor skills. These colorful tubes click together so your kid can make their very own maze. When the masterpiece is complete, they can send one—or more—of the included glow-in-the-dark marbles through it. We like this one, because it's a bit sturdier than others, which limits the frustration that comes with their creation falling apart.

What our tester says: “My 6- and 4-year-olds are obsessed with making marble runs. It's one of the few activities they can (peacefully) do together.”

Most 5-year-olds scream for ice cream, and this STEM toy challenges them to go the DIY route. With your help, little chemists can complete kid-friendly recipes for ice cream and sorbet. All of the tools are included—you need only a freezer. The fun doesn't stop once the ingredients run out. You and your kiddo can continue to customize the included recipes to make all sorts of frozen treats.

What our tester says: “This was a recent playdate activity for my 5-year-old and our similarly aged neighbor. They thought it was the coolest thing ever.”

This toy will serve as your kiddo’s ticket around the world. As they spin the globe, zeroing in on countries and cities, they’ll learn all kinds of fun facts about the places, buildings, people, and animals that occupy them. It even comes with a passport and stamps, so your little one can keep track of all the places they’ve “been.” It's a good toy for kids who are always asking for screen time.

What our tester says: “My son is tethered to his iPad, and this makes me feel a little less guilty about all the time he spends on it. At least he's learning fun facts, not just scrolling through YouTube Kids.”

At this age everything's better when it's a rainbow. (Some kids may even tell you it's their favorite “color!”) These stacking blocks mimic the classic toppling tower game but come in vibrant colors fit for this age group. Play potential is endless. See how high they can stack the blocks without the tower falling, or let them use them as regular building blocks for fun structures.

What our tester says: “My kids like to make parking garages for their Hot Wheels. It comes with a carry bag for easy storage, and you know, as a parent, I love that.”

A lot of arts and crafts kits are onetime projects, but this doubles as a STEM project that keeps on giving. First, your little one will have the chance to paint their very own planter. Then you can sow a garden filled with marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos together, tending to it and watching it grow over the course of multiple weeks.

What our tester says: “We planted our own potted flowers this year, and my 5-year-old dashes outside every morning to check on the progress. I love how invested he is in the process.”

This classic toy gets a modern upgrade with large, backlit LCD screens that not only let kids engage in two-way talk but also send preset animated messages to each other. To be honest, we don't use much of the actual functionality (most of the time they're not even charged), but all four of my kids are basically tethered to theirs.

Big kids are still incredibly curious, and these binoculars will help bring the big world around them into focus—literally. They're perfect for family nature walks (or strolls around the neighborhood!) for little kids to get a closer look at planes, insects, and even blades of grass. Though you can find kids' binoculars at a cheaper price point, we recommend these, since they're nice and sturdy, have slip-resistant grips, and are fully shock-proof. (You know this age group is rough on their things!)

What our tester says: “My son's current obsession is using his binoculars to scout out lantern flies.”

Now that your child is 5, they’re really starting to master their balance—they can probably even stand on one foot for 10 seconds or longer. Give them a new and undeniably fun challenge: bouncing up and down on a pogo stick. It’s the perfect outdoor activity, but you could even take it into the basement on a rainy day.

What our tester says: “My son basically lives on his driveway toys, pogo stick included. But caution: There will be a lot of ‘Watch this!’”

Unlike its more messy cousins—Play-Doh and kinetic sand, for example—this modeling clay (which comes in different colors) is the perfect gift for parents out of ideas on how to keep their kid busy. It molds and shapes the same way but won’t stick to furniture or clothing (or their little hands). When your creative kid is finished with their masterpiece, they can put the clay back in the bin for next time or let their work harden into a keepsake.

What our tester says: “I was really hesitant when my aunt gave this to the kids, but even as a self-proclaimed mess hater, I'm totally fine with this craft.”

Kids this age love surprise toys, i.e., playthings that are all about unboxing a series of unique items. In this kit they’ll discover a plush doll that houses a special Barbie doll, plus four surprise bags filled with clothing and accessories.

What our tester says: “Anything with a surprise unboxing element is a win, plus the price is right on these smaller ones, so these toys have become my go-to birthday party gift.”

Kids can enjoy the fun of their very first DIY project: building a construction vehicle from start to finish. The kit comes with all the pieces, visual instructions, and a low-speed drill to bolt everything together. Once their creations are assembled, they’ll love playing pretend with them—or they can take the whole thing apart and begin again.

What our tester says: “We're still playing with ours a full year later, and any parent knows that's saying a lot!”

Parents of toddlers know you can never have too many Magna-Tiles, and now the magnetic building blocks come in cool new varieties, like this set of Arctic animals. Pair it with their other tiles, and they'll be looking at hours of fun—all while learning core STEM concepts, like critical thinking skills and problem solving.

What our tester says: “My son's preschool has these on a light table, and it's the hit of the classroom.”

Another instant win is this box of supersoft and squishy stuffed animals. There’s no telling what they’ll get—there are 20 exciting possibilities. The squishies are a nice and manageable 5-inch size too—not too big, not too small.

What our tester says: “You would have thought it was Christmas morning. My kids were literally squealing over each one they pulled out.”

The bingo-style game is fun for the whole family but easy enough for older youngins to play. It comes with 24 double-sided cards and 72 tiles. You simply slide the Zinger to reveal images and fill in your card when there's a match. Parents say you can add to the fun by pairing some low-stakes prizes with the game. Think stickers, temporary tattoos, and more.

What our tester says: “This is one of the only board games we've been able to successfully play at this stage. I think because it's simple yet tons of fun. And since you can play multiple rounds in a sitting, there's a chance for everyone to win—the kids like that part!”

Some arts and crafts projects are quick activities that’ll leave your little one wanting more—not this dino egg, say parents. Save plenty of time to use the included paleontologist-inspired tools (a mallet, a brush, and a chisel) to dig through the big egg to uncover 12 miniature dinosaur figurines. Pro tip: Do this outside. It's so much fun but super dusty.

What our tester says: “My mom and I liked watching the kids dig out their treasures as much as they liked doing it. When else do you actually let them hit something with a mallet?!”

Grandparents, take note: A winter jacket is a great Christmas present for your grandchildren, especially one this colorful. Parents will appreciate the practicality—it's an easy way to check a necessity off their own shopping list—and your favorite 5-year-old will gravitate toward the fun design. You'll get the satisfaction of knowing your grandchild is getting a lot of use—daily, in fact!—out of your present.

What our tester says: “My dad gets the kids winter jackets every year. He loves that there's no guesswork every year; I love that I don't have to splurge on a winter coat every year; and the kids love telling everyone where they got their jacket!"

Five-year-olds don't mean to be destructive, but they sure do love to stomp on things. This toy gives them an outlet for that excess energy and curiosity. It's simple to operate: Load the foam rocket onto the launcher, then give the inflatable pad a big ol’ stomp to launch the rocket straight up into the air. Don't worry, the rockets themselves are soft enough to use indoors without issue. You can also use the toy outdoors.

What our tester says: “My kids ages 2 through 6 launch rocket after rocket when we pull out this toy. It's a total favorite—and one that most of our friends have too.”

Kids this age are still easily impressed by anything perceived as jumbo-sized. This 80-piece marker and crayon set has that wow factor, plus so much more to love. Like the scented markers you probably remember from your own childhood, each of these drawing tools has a fruity (grape, strawberry, and more) or sweet (cola and cotton candy, for example) option. We love that everything comes nestled into a latched carrying case for organization and portability.

What our tester says: “My arts-and-crafts-loving 5-year-old went crazy for this kit. Right around the time he got it, we discovered kids' drawing tutorials on YouTube. It's been so much fun to watch his skills grow by leaps and bounds.”

They may already have a beginner's scooter, but right around 5 is when your kiddo is going to need an upgrade to keep up with his rapid growth and his burgeoning skills. Parents love the scooters by Micro Kickboard, because they're lightweight and easy to steer, and come in a whole host of fun colors little ones love—some even have light-up LED wheels.

What our tester says: “Everyone in our family—yes, even the adults—have these scooters. We ride up and down the driveway, go for family rides around the neighborhood, and even take them on outings to the park. They're fun for the whole crew!”

Even if they already have the hit galaxy star projector, this color-changing cloud night light makes a great companion gift for kids of all ages. It's easy to hang—just use the included suction cup hook—and comes with a remote that allows you to toggle through all different colored lights and even plays music. It's a mesmerizing light show that even the adults in the house will covet.

What our tester says: “My son uses the remote to flip through the various modes on this cloud before he falls to sleep. Eventually, he dozes off in the process. It's been a total game changer for bedtime!”

You do need an iPad or Fire Tablet to play this game, but if you know the child already has one, this STEM toy is a great gift to make their screen time a lot more meaningful. Rather than scroll through the vastness of YouTube Kids, kiddos use the included game pieces and board to play learning games that foster both comprehension and math skills.

What our tester says: “My 5-year-old literally jumps up and down when I take his Osmo sets out. I do have to jump in for troubleshooting every once in a while, but overall, this is a really fun and meaningful gift.”

Parents love Playmobil for the nostalgia factor, yes, but also because every toy in the (very expansive) set connects can be used together so kids can create their very own imaginative worlds. You can get everything from this unicorn set to a realistic ambulance complete with first responders to family caravans and beyond. The pieces are detailed and well made, plus easy for little hands to grasp. The only downside? You'll have to be prepared for constant requests for more sets to add to the collection. But hey, at least you'll always have an easy answer when someone asks what your child wants.

What our tester says: “I played with these when I was a kid, so it's so much fun for me to watch my own kid get such joy from them. We have a whole corner of our playroom dedicated to Playmobil at this point!”

Do you follow the something you want, something you need, something to read, and something to wear formula for holiday gifts? Add this book to the 5-year-old's list. It's just like Where’s Waldo, but the allure is that instead of looking for the guy in the striped hat, your kiddo searches for an illustrated version of themselves!

What our tester says: “We love this personalized book so much. I've actually seen an improvement in my child's focus since we brought this into our home!”

Unlike your typical board game, this one gets everyone up and moving—anything to burn all of that energy, right?! It couldn't be easier to play, either. Each players simply spins the wheel to determine what color foam stepping stone to jump to. The catch? They have to make it to the right color without touching the floor, which is molten hot lava, of course.

What our tester says: “My kids are obsessed with the song of the same title and are constantly asking Alexa to play it for them. As expected, the game version was a huge hit!”