Awesome Gifts for 5-Year-Olds

It can be tough buying gifts for children. You want to be sure that they are age or developmentally appropriate, that the kids like them, that they are going to hold up to hard play, and that you don’t go overboard with the quantity. For a couple of years, a short rhyme has offered assistance with that last concern; it suggests, “Something they want, something they need; something to wear, and something to read.” Let’s take a look at some possibilities in each of those categories that help with finding awesome gifts for your five-year-old.


Something They Want

At first, it seems like this would be the easiest category to take care of; after all, children are rarely shy about telling you what they want – which is usually whatever they’ve seen last in a TV ad! But you’ve probably already figured that not everything they want is what you’re willing to purchase for them. Sometimes, they are not age-appropriate, and sometimes they are cheaply made, so they fall apart 10 minutes after the gift is opened. So, what are some gifts five-year-olds will want and that parents won’t mind?

How about going old-school? Building blocks and tiles are still popular with the preschool set, and you are sneaking in a little gross and fine motor skill practice when the children build walls and houses and castles. Maya Toys shares that similar toys help “unlock and support children’s explorative and curious sides.” The company points out that sensory toys, like growing beads or sponge animals, offer “the wow of growing them, the wow of feeling them and the wow of playing and displaying them. Baby dolls are always a good choice for both girls and boys at this age; not only are they fun, but kids learn about nurturing and caring, lessons that can be applied to the rest of their world, as well.

Some board games are great for this age group, too. Christine Peck and Mags Deroma, founders of Wannaple, suggest a game “that combines cognitive skills with character building for the 4- to 7-year-old crowd.” They point out that some games “build confidence, reduce obesity and ADHD, develop creativity and empathy, and teach social boundary awareness, problem-solving skills, resilience, and build grit.” Some games offer the opportunity to learn pre-reading and pre-mathematics concepts, while others are perfect just for the joy of being a child and playing together with siblings, friends, or parents.

Beginner communications toys, like simplified cell phones, are fun for kids, too. Angela Smith, the founder of YipYap, recommends apps designed specifically for children, commenting that “This is the perfect gift for a 5-year-old because while it has the look and feel of a toy it actually works! Mom and dad can create connections within the app and when connected to WiFi the child can call those connections!”

Building a fort is a time-honored fun time, so why not take it up a notch and go for an inflatable version. Luciana Hanley, the founder of Air Fort, points out that a play fort makes for the best play date, coziest slumber party, private movie theater and a fun place to escape the summer heat or winter cold indoors.” Inflatable forts, children’s tents, and similar products also grow into homework havens and reading nooks as kids begin school.

Finally, it’s never too early to introduce your children to the world of collecting. Start with age-appropriate items that are also fun, rather than focusing on the future investment value. Craig Wolfe, of CelebriDucks, suggests “collectible celebrity rubber ducks of the greatest icons of film, music, athletics, and history.” As you help your child develop a collection, you can explore the history, design, or other related information about the items, adding a fun and maybe even silly learning experience to the toys. Or go for a science specimen collection, described by Jamie Grove, Mini Museum co-founder, as “a personal collection of rare specimens from Earth and beyond. The collection is encased in high-quality lucite and is designed to last for generations.”


Something They Need

Practical gifts don’t have to be boring! If your child is interested in sports, music, or art, consider a gift of equipment, supplies, or even lessons. Choose a new glove for your T-ball player or colorful papers and pencils. The experts at Creativ Craft also recommend drawing stencils for your five-year-old, pointing out that they “keep kids engaged and calm, whether on a car, a plane, at the restaurant or while visiting relatives; it keeps them entertained everywhere. Or go with family music albums described by one expert as music “which promises to expand a child’s horizons while delighting even the most discriminating adult musical ears. Anthony Pu, of Mighty Audio, also offers this piece of advice about one music-playing device that is ideal for you five-year-old: It is “a way for the child to have music without the parent needing to give them their phone. It saves smartphone battery, data, and memory from streaming music.”

Veronica Flores, assistant director in curriculum and accreditation for the Pre-K 4 SA program, also suggests a beginner microscope to ignite an interest in science or paper or magnetic dress-up dolls that let kids explore careers. She also suggests science and craft kits, like terrariums and pressed flower art.

Combine practical and a cool factor with a new backpack. Check out versions with fun versions with rocket, fire bird, fairy or butterfly wings designed by Luis Garcia to “bridge function and durability with fashion and fun or go for the inspirational with what HERO founder Alissa Lentz describes as “a backpack line designed help kids carry courage…Each backpack comes with a trading card that shares the story of a hero, and 10% of profit is dedicated to equality and education programs.

Add to your five-year-old’s musical play with specialized headphones designed to be comfortable, practical and fun, with foxes, pandas, unicorns, and children’s book characters featured in the designs.

Don’t forget bedroom stuff, either. Artist Anthony Bashkin recommends a mural because, The atmosphere of playful imagery outlasts any birthday gift, they can be custom tailored for the child by whatever the parent wants. Brightly patterned bedsheets or bath towels take care of a need with a punch of fun, and Happy Fig’s kid-sized blankets come with a zip pocket for stuffed animals or books, or go for a mermaid, orca, or rocket tail blankets that self-titled Chief Mermaid Enthusiast Hattie Peze describes as “a product that would make people smile.

Round out the “something they need” gift choices for your child with a tree of his or her very own. Plant a tree in your own yard while helping your five-year-old understand the contribution of trees to the environment, or go global with a tree tagged with an NFC microchip. Treepex experts explain that the chip “records the trees geographical location, who owns the tree, and when it was planted. You can name the trees you plant and track their progress, as each tree has its own unique number. And you will immediately know where in the world your tree is planted, while getting regular photo updates.”


Something to Wear

Don’t be the “socks and underwear” parent or grandparent – unless you go for brightly colored, fun or silly socks. Step it up with mismatched socks, which Hannah, of PalSocks says “inspire kids to be friends with someone different, something the world could use a little more of these days.” because, she says, “ You don’t have to match perfectly with your perfect match.”

Or how about paintable, light-up sneakers that Bobbi-Toads founders say “are fun and creative, allowing kids to paint and create keeping them occupied and off their phones.” Another way to encourage your child to embrace his or her uniqueness is with kid-themed patches for their clothes. Klara Smith, first mate and co-founder, Maiden Voyage Clothing Co., says, “Patches are great, because the child can customize their clothing and/or backpack for a unique look while exercising their growing need for independence in a fun (and safe) way.”

Update a friendship bracelet with a special wish bracelet made from cotton threads and a silver charm. Megan Robbins, owner of Wishlets, explains, “Before you tie on your wish bracelet you make a wish. While wearing the wish bracelet you will be taking steps to make that wish come true. By the time your wish bracelet comes off you will have reached your goal or will be closer to reaching it. The bracelet serves as a reminder to work towards your goal.”


Something to Read

There are literally thousands of fabulous children’s books to share with your special five-year-old. Don’t forget to include simple chapter books, because research shows that a child’s listening comprehension is usually a couple of years advanced over their own reading or chronological age. Choose fiction that helps kids explore new worlds, real or imaginary, but don’t neglect the non-fiction, either. Annette Dunn, of Jumbo Minds, Inc., asks, “We’ve covered Apple and Ball – why not Asteroid and Biome?” Choose books about science, history, art or more, or go for books that teach social skills, like dealing with bullying because, as Janet Ruth Heller, author of How the Moon Regained Her Shape, “bullying is common in neighborhoods, sports teams, and schools.”

Flores also suggests wordless books, which offer prompts to open discussions among families, and subscriptions to children’s magazines or monthly book box clubs keep giving all year long.



Pam Martin has been writing professionally since the early 1980s, on a wide variety of topics. She brings 20 years of classroom teaching and tutoring experience to the party, including early elementary classes and courses in writing, reading and literature, history, geography and government at middle and high schools. She is also accomplished in crafting and in writing about projects, including her blogs, Roots and Wings From the Village, The Corner Classroom, and Sassy Scribbler, which encompass crafting, cooking, lesson plans, and professional writing advice.