How many toys should a 5-year-old have?

While toy stores and commercials might have you think your 5-year-old needs heaps of toys, there’s no minimum number of play things you need to occupy you child (at any age). If research on toddlers is any indication, fewer toys actually lead to longer periods of play per toy, greater focus, and more creative play.

How can toys influence a child's life?

Toys that facilitate play can help foster cognitive development. However, that’s not to say your child will suffer if you don’t purchase every toy on their wish list. After all, toys aren’t vital for kids—playing is.

What skills are 5-year-olds still learning?

Five-year-olds are learning self-control, emotion regulation, refined fine and gross motor skills, and the difference between right and wrong. Since most kids enter kindergarten at this age, they will continue to work on these skills throughout the year.

The 20 Best Toys for 5-Year-Olds of 2022

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Five-year-olds seem to have endless energy, and as a parent or caregiver, it can be hard to keep them busy. The best toys for 5-year-olds do some of that work for you. Find something your child enjoys and it could keep them busy for hours.

To find toys that are age-appropriate and durable, ask friends and neighbors with kids for their go-to picks. Look at everything from tech toys to sports equipment to books and mini-games. Or check our round-up of favorites. We test each item with our own families and have something for every interest and budget.

Here are our favorite toys for 5-year-olds.

Our Top Picks

The Dough Project DIY Mix at Thedoughproject.com

The best part about The Dough Project is that the dough uses all-natural and plant-based ingredients.

Micro Kickboard Micro Maxi Deluxe at Amazon

The scooter itself has three wheels so it’s easy to balance on and offers a stable ride.

Fat Brain Toys Squigz Starter Set at Amazon

They’re great for all ages and interests and there’s really no limit to what you can do with them.

Insect Lore Butterfly Growing Kit at Amazon

This reusable butterfly growing kit is easy to use and a fun way to introduce the wonders of a butterfly’s transformation

Kess Light Up Drop Dot Balls at Myshopify.com

You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great toy for your 5-year-old with these Light Up balls.

FUNBOY Rocketship Sprinkler at Funboy.com

This sprinkler is in the shape of a rocket ship and features quick rapid inflation and 360 degrees of water action.

ThinkFun Traffic Jam Logic Game at Amazon

The game has been sold over 50 million times and is trusted as the perfect way to build reasoning and planning skills.

Discovery Kids Magnetic Tiles Construction Set at Amazon

With these fun colorful tiles, your child will practice fine motor skills, shape and color recognition, and problem-solving.

LEGO City Space Mars Research Shuttle at Amazon

This kit creates a Mars shuttle that will inspire space exploration and pretend play and includes a rover and astronauts.

Seckton Kids Selfie Camera at Amazon

Complete with auto-focus, a video and voice recorder, and a dual camera for selfies, your kid will be obsessed.

In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look for
Why Trust Verywell Family?

If your littles are looking for a DIY project, The Dough Project is the perfect activity. With this kit, you and your child can make your own play dough. We love play dough because it never goes out of style and is great for all ages (even adults!). The best part about The Dough Project is that the dough uses all-natural and plant-based ingredients.

For active 5-year-olds, a scooter like the Micro Kickboard Maxi Deluxe is the perfect gift. It is sized just for your little thrill-seeker and can grow with them until they are 110 pounds. The scooter itself has three wheels so it’s easy to balance on and offers a stable ride.

There are many color options, and the handlebar is sturdy and adjustable.

4.8

Mini Squigz are a household favorite. They’re great for all ages and interests and there’s really no limit to what you can do with them. We love that they are portable and easy to bring along on road trips and vacations. These little suckers encourage kids' imaginative play and creativity. You can easily stick them to anything, and wash them when needed.

For nature lovers, this reusable butterfly growing kit is easy to use and a fun way to introduce your child to the wonders of a butterfly’s transformation. It’s a longer activity (the transformation takes a few weeks) and then you can feed and care for the butterfly before you release it.

Sometimes the simplest toys are the best. These Light Up balls from Kess prove that you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get a great toy for your 5-year-old. My son stays busy for hours with these. He adds them to his physical play (throwing, catching, bouncing) and imaginary games where he pretends they are lasers or flashlights.

These Kess balls are simple and durable and great as a sensory toy.

A backyard sprinkler is a summertime staple and provides hours of entertainment for kids. This sprinkler is in the shape of a rocket ship and features quick inflation, four water sprayers, and 360 degrees of water action. The Rocketship Sprinkler is truly a blast.

ThinkFun Rush Hour Traffic Jam Logic Game

If your child is ready for a challenge, try the Rush Hour Logic game. The game has been sold over 50 million times and is trusted as the perfect way to build reasoning and planning skills. Rush Hour is the classic traffic jam logic game and one of the all-time most popular STEM toys and gifts for kids.

Discovery Kids Magnetic Tiles Construction Set

Magnetic tiles are one of the most wanted toys for young kids—and for good reason. With these fun colorful tiles, your child will exercise their fine motor skills, shape and color recognition, and problem-solving.

This set includes 25 triangles and 25 squares and a storage bag.

At age 5, your child is ready to graduate from Duplo Lego blocks to real Lego kits. They can follow the directions and build a set from start to finish, then start over again. This kit creates a Mars shuttle that will inspire an interest in space exploration and pretend play and includes a rover and astronauts.

Let your child be the photographer with their very own camera. This one has auto-focus, a video and voice recorder, a dual camera for selfies, and even allows your child to take pictures with fun photo frames. We like how easy this is to bring with you, as it includes a lanyard to carry it.

Your little scientist will love this dinosaur excavation toy. For just $20, the set comes with 12 dino eggs, 12 dinosaur models, a brush and chisel, plus a card describing the history and characteristics of the dinosaur. Like a fun science project, your kid will totally "dig" this toy.

Orrente Off-Road Remote Control Stunt Car

You can’t go wrong with a remote control stunt car that has almost 3000 positive reviews from parents. This car can drive on both sides and backward and is great for all surfaces. It flips and turns quickly and the remote gives you total control in any direction. It even has headlights!

There’s something so great about a toy that also looks good when displayed. When you’re not using them outside for bubbles, keep these gorgeous bubble wands from Kiko & GG in your child’s room to collect smaller items. They are made from gorgeous beechwood.

Give traditional coloring books an upgrade with this drawing tablet. It has a 10-inch LCD screen that can be written on over 100,000 times, resulting in less waste and less mess. It’s durable, has a built-in battery that will last 6 months, and is easy to carry and travel with.

You can easily erase what you’ve drawn in one touch or save it for later.

Think your child is ready to ride a bike for the first time? Try this one from Joystar. We love it because it’s designed specifically for kids. It comes with stable training wheels, a foot brake, and is durable for early falls and bumps. Parents love that it is affordable and super easy to assemble; just pump the tires and ride!

When it’s time for quiet, solo fun, give your child this giant book of hidden picture activities. This version has over 250 puzzles and all kinds of funny scenes to keep your kid laughing. Your little one will search and find things like hidden bananas, butterflies, sailboats, and pizza.

This book makes a great gift and is perfect for long car rides.

This classic card game is fun for the whole family and will make your 5-year-old feel like one of the big kids. Introduce this as your child’s first card game and they’ll get math practice as you swap brightly colored cards. You’ll be surprised at how long this keeps your kids laughing and having fun.

This rocket launcher set is another favorite in my home. It’s budget-friendly and great for an active 5-year-old. We use this in our yard or take it to the park for extra fun. The kids love jumping on it and aiming the launcher to try and hit targets. The pieces are foam and plastic so it’s safe around smaller children while still being durable.

Take advantage of the latest technology with this advanced tablet made for kids ages 3 to 12. Your child will have access to over 20,000 apps, games, books, and more from their favorite characters and TV channels. For peace of mind, you can create time limits as well as filter content. If the tablet breaks, Amazon will replace it for free.

Learning Resources Pretend Cash Register

Encourage imaginative play, and learning about money and math with this cash register for kids. It has a built-in solar-powered calculate and drawer for money and coins. Aside from being a fun way for your kiddo to engage in imaginative play, it'll also introduce them to counting and money recognition. The best part? The real cha-ching noise when the drawer opens!

What to Look for in Toys for 5-Year-Olds

Interests

At 5 years old, if a kid has any specific interests, they are usually easy to spot. They might be into beloved characters, such as superheroes and princesses, specific sports, singing, dancing, or dinosaurs. They also tend to be eager to share the things that they love. This is not only cute, but it’s also very helpful when shopping for games and toys.

By considering a child’s general interests when shopping for them, you’re increasing the likelihood that they’ll enjoy a toy(and the likelihood that it will get played with). Look for products that play into their interests like a soccer ball with their favorite cartoon character on it, an activity book with a specific theme, or dress-up clothes so they can play or put on a performance for their family.

Milestones

By the time a child is 5 years old, the milestone chart starts to get a little fuzzy. “The challenge here is that while developmental milestones in the first five years of life are fairly discrete, they tend to cluster from ages five to 10 and it’s pretty hard to distinguish,” pediatrician David L. Hill, MD, FAAP, tells Verywell Family. Because of this, it’s hard to say for sure which toys and games will help with developmental growth, but based on what is known about kids in this age group, consider these concepts and skills.

Pretend play: At around 5 years old, kids tend to become more aware of things grown-ups around them use daily, like money. The Learning Resources Pretend and Play Calculator Cash Register (view on Amazon) can reinforce what they are seeing in a fun way.
Physical development: Five-year-olds are working on strengthening and mastering balance and coordination, so a Micro Kickboard Scooter (view on Amazon) makes a great gift.
Early literacy: At 5, kids are learning to extend oral skills to reading. Since it connects simple words with pictures, the Jumbo Book of Hidden Pictures is perfect for pre- and beginning readers.

Entertainment Value

Of course, the more entertaining a toy or game is, the more (and longer) a kid will want to play with it, so it’s definitely something to keep in mind when you’re shopping. At 5 years old, kids are still really into imaginative play, so dolls, costumes, and props are all good options.

Additionally, they’re often learning how to read and write around this age and are usually really excited about it, so activity books or other games or toys that play into this are likely to keep them entertained.

Finally, they’re still at an age where they have all kinds of energy that they need to get out, so any toy or game that allows them to be active in some way will probably be a hit.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many toys should a 5-year-old have?

While toy stores and commercials might have you think your 5-year-old needs heaps of toys, there’s no minimum number of play things you need to occupy you child (at any age). If research on toddlers is any indication, fewer toys actually lead to longer periods of play per toy, greater focus, and more creative play.
How can toys influence a child's life?

Toys that facilitate play can help foster cognitive development. However, that’s not to say your child will suffer if you don’t purchase every toy on their wish list. After all, toys aren’t vital for kids—playing is.
What skills are 5-year-olds still learning?

Five-year-olds are learning self-control, emotion regulation, refined fine and gross motor skills, and the difference between right and wrong. Since most kids enter kindergarten at this age, they will continue to work on these skills throughout the year.

Why Trust Verywell Family?

Deanna McCormack is a freelance writer and creative consultant based in Scottsdale, Arizona. She enjoys working with start-ups and regularly covers product launches in the lifestyle, beauty, and motherhood space. She has a 3-year-old son and an infant daughter and is the co-founder of Loonie Kid, a Canadian clothing company for kids and toddlers.

Additional reporting by Ashley Ziegler

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