Best Toys for 5 Year Olds 2025

Playtime has many benefits for 5 year old children. Not only does it improve their ability to regulate their emotions and develop social skills, but play can also help children cope with stress. Toys can be an essential part of playtime, but navigating the ever-expanding world of toys for 5 year olds can be both exciting and overwhelming, especially when confronted with so many choices.

Our guide offers a curated selection of fun toys for 5 year olds that will nurture creativity, enhance learning, and ensure endless hours of fun for your little one.

What kind of toys are suitable for my 5 year old?

Understanding children’s critical developmental stages is essential when selecting a suitable toy. At this crucial age, children are developing rapidly, both cognitively and physically. Choosing toys that align with your child’s developmental stage will support their growth and enrich their playtime experience. Parents and gift-givers should look for toys that keep children engaged and support critical growth areas like motor skills, cognitive development and language skills. Children often get bored quickly, so choosing toys with lasting value will help you avoid wasting your money on toys that will be tossed to the side after the initial excitement of receiving a gift. The right toys can spark lifelong interests and develop essential skills.

Key skills to develop in 5 year olds:

• Enhance cognitive skills – look for toys that stimulate problem-solving and critical thinking.
• Foster social interaction – pick toys to help build children’s social skills and encourage teamwork.
• Promote physical activity – choose toys that get children outdoors, reducing screen time and ensuring healthy movement.

Best Educational Toys

Educational toys for 5 year olds can engage children in fun activities that help them develop key skills such as problem-solving, creativity, literacy and numeracy. At this age, children are often eager to explore and learn through hands-on experiences. Puzzles and games can be an excellent gift for children to enjoy with friends and family, fostering social interaction and the ability to share and work as a team. By offering a balance of open-ended and structured activities, educational toys can keep children engaged and build the foundational skills for academic success, social interaction and personal growth.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Monopoly Junior Board Game
• Best Value: Addo Games Bingo Game
• Most Popular: Ravensburger Super Mario 3 in a Box Jigsaw Puzzles

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Educational toys support cognitive development and early academic learning.
• They also develop social and emotional skills such as communication, empathy and emotional intelligence.

Cons

• Some educational toys may not hold children’s attention for long, particularly if they are part of excessively structured activities. A combination of structured and open-ended activities can ensure children stay interested and engaged.

Best Construction Toys

Construction toys like Lego, Duplo and magnetic tiles can introduce STEM concepts in playful and easy-to-understand ways, providing children with a strong foundation for future learning. These types of toys also enhance fine motor skills, develop logical thinking and encourage creativity – all extremely valuable skills in childhood development. Children can hone their problem-solving skills by building and deconstructing their creations while embracing the limitless possibilities of what they can create. By encouraging creativity and experimentation, these toys can ignite a passion for engineering and design, paving the way for inquisitive minds to explore and innovate as they grow up.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Magnimake 18 Piece Bright Starter Set
• Best Value: Kinetic Sand Surprise Wild Critters Surprise Capsule
• Most Popular: Playmobil Pirates – Battle with the Giant Octopus Construction Set

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Construction toys support independent play and decision-making, which helps children understand cause and effect and what to do when something doesn’t go as planned.

Cons

• Construction toys can quickly scatter across the floor or be messy, making cleaning up more time-consuming. However, getting children involved in the tidying-up process can provide valuable teaching moments regarding responsibility and organisation.

Best Outdoor Toys

Active play is crucial for the healthy development of children and has many other benefits, such as reducing screen time and encouraging social interaction. This all contributes to the social, emotional and cognitive growth of children. At 5 years old, children become more active, curious and sociable, with plenty of energy to expend. When purchasing outdoor toys, you should always consider safety and ensure that products are age-appropriate. You can elevate outdoor playtime further with our exciting play equipment for the garden.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Dinosaur Scooter with 2 Light Up Wheels
• Best Value: Out and About 6-in-1 Games Set
• Most Popular: Sportline 2 Pop Up Goals

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Promotes a healthy lifestyle and physical development by reducing screen time and encouraging children to get outdoors.
• Outdoor toys can also boost children’s social skills and teach them to share.

Cons

• Playing outdoors can be weather-dependent and require adult supervision.

Best Electronic Toys

Electronic toys can have numerous benefits when used in moderation, such as enhancing cognitive development, promoting early literacy and numeracy skills, developing fine motor skills and encouraging problem-solving. They also offer fun, engaging ways for children to learn independently and at their own pace. However, it is essential to balance screen time with other types of play, ensuring that interactive toys are used as a tool for learning while also fostering creativity, physical activity, and face-to-face social interaction.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Disney Bitzee Interactive Pet
• Best Value: Pitter Patter Pets Busy Little Hamster Electronic Pet
• Most Popular: Hex Bots Wall Crawler Gecko Remote Control Figure

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Electronic toys can help improve children’s technological literacy, which will benefit them as they grow up.
• The interactive nature of these types of toys can help improve children’s focus and hand-eye coordination.

Cons

• Some children may find electronic toys overstimulating due to bright lights and loud noises. Ensuring frequent breaks can help reduce this.

Best Creative Toys

Creative toys are a great way to keep children entertained and busy. From craft and activity sets to sticker and colouring books, there is plenty to keep little hands busy and encourage creativity. At 5 years old, children have vivid imaginations, and providing opportunities to bring their ideas to life and create their own unique worlds will ensure your child is happy and fulfilled.

Our Top Picks

• Best Overall: Out to Impress Marvellous Mosaics Craft Set
• Best Value: Original Ooze Make Your Own Ooze Slime Making Craft Set
• Most Popular: Kinetic Sand Squish Motion Playset

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Creative toys can offer children a safe space to express their emotions as part of a calming experience where they can relax.
• Develop fine motor skills and improve concentration and focus.

Cons

• Some creative toys can be part of messy or time-consuming activities, so adult supervision may be required. However, this can be an excellent opportunity for parents or caregivers to get involved and enjoy creative activities with their children.

How do I choose the best toy for my 5 year old?

Selecting the perfect toy for a 5 year old is easy if you focus on key developmental benefits by prioritising toys that foster growth in fine motor skills, social skills and critical thinking. Look for toys that provide good value for money and represent a sound investment in your child’s development. Toys that can be played with in multiple ways are good value for money and will expand children’s imaginations with limitless possibilities, ensuring a joyful and fulfilling play experience. Check out our range of Toys for 5 Year Olds for more great gift options.

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