Five-year-olds are little people with very big personalities, so it shouldn't surprise anyone that picking out the best gifts for 5-year-olds is as tricky as finding a present for someone who has everything.
At 5 years old, kids have outgrown their toddler phase and are now entering their highly opinionated Big Kid Era. “They usually have specific interests, maybe even characters, animals, or colors that they love and obsess over,” says Kelly Oriard, licensed family therapist, former school counselor, and cofounder of Slumberkins. Now is about the time when they also fall in love with “games that they feel they can work at and master.” They're also rapidly expanding their cognitive and social skills. All of a sudden they can write their names (maybe read a few simple sentences!), better understand the concept of time, distinguish fantasy from reality, tell longer stories, and even count to 100 or more. Some might also be starting to play organized sports, quickly improving their physicality.
To help you find the right toys to help your kiddo stay entertained while also fostering new interests, we tapped real parents (including the author, a mom to a 6-year-old, a 4-year-old and two younger children) for help. We asked them to share what their own 5-year-olds play with most, then used that information to corral this list of thoughtful gift ideas, with their kids real reviews.
Our top gifts for 5-year-olds:
Some standouts? Make-your-own puffy stickers or temporary tattoos to hone fine motor skills and boost creativity, dance mats and scooters to burn all of that excess energy, and unique educational toys like a robotic globe that teaches them all about the world. Whether you’re sourcing presents for the holidays, their birthday, or to say “good job at the doctor's office,” these are the best gifts for 5-year-olds, according to parents who've been there, done that.
(PS: We also curated gift guides for the best baby gifts, gifts for 1-year-olds, 2-year-olds, presents for 3-year-olds gifts for 4-year-olds, presents for pregnant women, and the best gifts for new moms.)
