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When buying gifts for 5-year-olds, sometimes going back to the basics is what they all need. By age 5, your child should speak in simple sentences, count beyond 10, and recognize most shapes, letters, and numbers.1 Their gross and fine motor skills have grown to a point where they need more challenge.2 Imagination skills thrive at this age, and self-care and independence are essential.1,2
Purchasing toys that help our 5-year-olds feel like big kids and model the behavior we are trying to teach is also helpful. I have rounded up my top picks of the best gifts for 5-year-olds to help foster these exciting developmental milestones!
Tabletop Easel: This tabletop easel is perfect for on-the-go crafting, drawing, and other activities.
Wikki Stix Kit: Let their imagination soar with no mess! This gift is an excellent way for your 5-year-old to make art.
Gem Keychain Kit: This kit will be so fun to use to decorate their school bag and more!
Cooking and Baking Set: Here’s a starter set for your little chef or baker featuring real kitchen tools, a cookbook, and an apron.
Arts and Crafts Library: This kit includes all the materials your child needs to create a masterpiece, allowing their creative juices to flow!
Marbling Paint Kit: Your child can use this marbling craft kit to make fantastic water painting art independently. This fun activity will help them develop their creativity and imagination while creating beautiful art!
Inspiration Art Case: This beginner art set provides starter craft essentials and drawing supplies that encourage kids to express, create, and connect through colorful play. With 140 pieces, there is a spot for everything. This crayon and marker art box keeps your child’s supplies neatly organized.
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Plus Plus Building Set: Move over Legos — a new friend is in town! Your 5-year-old is missing out if they haven’t discovered this STEM-friendly toy.
Lego Chain Reactions: With this activity helping your child learn the concept of cause and effect, they will have a ball!
Talking Microscope: Let their inner scientist explore everything with this microscope and tools.
Creative Fort: There’s tons of family fun ahead with this creative fort kit. Using this DIY kit to build a big, complex fort can be full of challenges and fun for kids and parents.
Crazy Forts: This STEM toy allows your child to create a hideaway and escape reality, all while not using your throw blanket and dining room chairs, making it a win-win for everyone.
Toniebox: This new-age boombox gives your child the independence to choose what they listen to, all while being filtered by you.
VTech Kids Camera: Most children are used to using our smartphones to take a picture. Instead of handing over your phone to your child, this camera is perfect for them.
Osmo Super Studio: Coming in all different themed kits, this new educational toy will surely be a hit with your 5-year-old! Connect it to both an Osmo Base and an iPad or Fire Tablet to bring your little one’s drawings to life.
Fitbit: This child-designed fitness tracker will encourage them to get moving with daily activities.
Vtech Kids Smartwatch: Introduce them to the world of wearable technology with this kid-centric watch.
TickTalk 4 Kids Smartwatch: This premium smartwatch for kids has everything, from a GPS tracker and 2x cameras to free music streaming, plus voice, video, and Wi-Fi calling and messaging.
Age-appropriate toy lists are always a go-to for parents when they are at a loss for what to get their children (or what to tell grandma to get them!). These lists are helpful when we want to steer our kids away from a theme they have become obsessed with or broaden their horizons.
If you were wondering what the best gifts for 5-year-olds are for their birthday or the holidays (or want to prepare your little one for kindergarten with a few educational learning toys), we hope this list was helpful! It may seem simple, but sometimes, simple is so beneficial in this season of parenthood.
