The Best Toys and Gifts for 5-Year-Olds This Holiday Season

Like a new imaginary friend, this Pokemon character will interact with your kid. It'll react to touch, light, and sound. Watch it talk, dance, fake-attack, and more.

Good for: Kids obsessed with Pokemon.

The 5-year-old matchbox car lover will be enthralled by this toy garage. The play set boasts a vertical tower with parking and storage for over 100 toy cars. Kids will love the Robo T-Rex, and the connection points that work with other Hot Wheels track sets they may already have to build a unique city.

Good for: Kids who love playing with Hot Wheels.

Made for 3- to 7-year-olds, this kids' bike with training wheels that can later be removed when they're ready will make for a great gift. Buyers like the light frame and how the pedals are positioned narrower for easy starting positions for new bike riders. With younger riders in mind, a rear brake for kids to use and front brakes for parents to help make them stop are featured. Seat adjustments make this bike versatile and can grow with the child. Don't forget to also get them a helmet for safety, which is not included with this bike.

Good for: All 5-year-olds.

This matching game will teach kids about emotions, but also enhance their matching and problem solving skills. Players fill the puzzle board with the caller cards while using cards to prompt conversations on feelings. Kids will then identify the emotions with the emoji tokens.

Good for: All 5-year-olds.

Whether your kids need something to do on a plane or want a fun activity at home, these Tiger Tribe coloring sets will engage and occupy them for hours. It has everything you need, so mom and dad don't have to gather all the necessary items to make this activity a reality. And when not in use, a storage box that it comes with can hold contents.

Good for: Kids who love to color.

It looks just like the one from the movie! The set also includes Black Adam and Hawkman action figures that can actually sit in the cruiser once kids open it up.

Good for: All 5-year-olds.

Moji, the sweet labradoodle, is a great substitute until the 5-year-old is ready to take care of the real family pet. Moji makes over 150 sounds and reactions. And much like a real dog, he does tricks, like sit, shake, and high five. He also plays with his rope and eats food from his food bowl. His collar indicates what he is probably thinking so you know how to take care of him.

Good for: Current dog lovers and future dog owners.

While Kinetic Sand might make some parents anxious as they immediately think of the mess sand may bring into their homes, kids will love to mold and shape things with this Deluxe Swirl N' Surprise variety. The 5-year-old simply has to fill the sand swirler and use it for fun sensory play. This set comes with 4 sand molds, 2.5 pounds of sand, and tools. If you are the parent, don't worry; cleaning it isn't torture. You just need to know the trick: The sand binds to itself, so clean it by wiping stray sand with a clump of sand. (You'll get what we mean once this is in your possession.)

Good for: Kids with parents who are okay with a little mess.

The biggest toys of the holiday season in 2021, we predict Magic Mixies will have another big year this Christmas. In case you're not familiar, this set comes with a magic cauldron and mixing packets. Your 5-year-old simply has to follow easy instructions, pouring items and tapping the cauldron with a special wand. As they go through the process, you'll watch the cauldron make noise and even mist. Once the process is complete, a magical furry creature will — quite literally — pop out. Get it now before it sells out again, or you'll have to pay big for resale. Magic Mixies refill packs are also available, so you can keep using this toy over and over again.

Good for: Kids who love a fun science experiment.

Know a 5-year-old who loves to sing? This microphone lets you play and record any song from any app (like Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and more). Think: karaoke party! An audio processor and tuning system with three layers of high density noise reduction means you'll get a professional sound. Players also have the option to change their voice into five different effects. Auto-tune, anyone?

Good for: Singers and performers.

While it's not technically a toy, it might as well be because you can load it with a 5-year-old's favorite games and activities. The Fire HD 8 Kids tablet with a kid-proof case is your best bet for long car rides, keeping kids occupied when grown-ups need it the most, and more. And the best part is, parents can add specific controls so kids won't be on the device longer than you want them to. The case will keep the device protected, too.

Good for: All kids.

This MathLink Cubes game teaches kids how to count, sort, match, and more. Perfect for 5-year-olds, this set gives kids fundamental math skills while learning how to solve puzzles and build fun creations. Activity cards help guide them through challenges, puzzles, and more to build their knowledge.

Good for: All 5-year-olds.

According to Rex Freiberger, CEO of Gadget Review, "When it comes to five-year-olds, it's a good idea to select toys that balance their emerging interests with their educational needs."

Freiberger recommends this Learning Resources Botley Robot for children who show some interest in science or technology. This gift will get them started with STEM, ahead of some of their classmates.

Good for: Kids who love to learn.

Instead of buying the 5-year-old on your list an already-made snow globe, give them this kit which allows them the opportunity to create their own. It comes with everything they need to make one (minus the water and their imagination). The set can make at least three different snow globes that look like enchanting seascapes. Included are: four packs of clay, glitter, water funnel, plastic globes, three plastic figurines, and clay tools.

Good for: Any kid with an imagination.

From the makers of the ever-popular Hatchimals, this Crystal Flyers pixie lights up AND flies! Her LED lights will beam when it's time for her to take off. You'll see her wings flutter and sparkle when she lifts off her base. Put her back on the base to charge. A USB charging cable, a crystal egg display case, and an instruction sheet is included.

Good for: Kids who love fairies.

Chomp, chomp, chomp. That's what this toy does when powered by battery and an easy-to-use remote control. Mega Chomp moves like a real shark, without water.

Good for: Shark lovers.

If you know a 5-year-old who loves collecting rocks, this National Geographic kit can teach them and give them everything they need to make their own gemstones. It also comes with a motor, a leak-proof barrel, and rough rocks to create different types of gemstones. Instructions are provided that are easy to understand. Important to note: The motor does make a loud sound and the gems take time to complete.

Good for: Budding rock collectors.

Not your ordinary baby doll, this Baby Alive variety actually grows. She'll transform from a newborn to a baby to a big girl while exercising 75+ sounds and phrases along the way. And yes, she will get taller, like magic. This interactive toy can also be reset so you can start over.

Good for: Kids who love babies.

These PLUS PLUS puzzles are all the rage these days. Perfect for 5-year-olds, a tube of 240 pieces can be made into some fun 3D creations and figurines. A guide book can give kids some ideas on what to make.

Good for: Puzzle lovers who think outside the box.

Got a future filmmaker in your life? This HD video camera, made specifically for kids, has everything they need. A built-in microphone and fun features like time-lapse are provided to enhance their videos. There are also 20+ animated backgrounds (like a dinosaur chasing you) to exercise their creativity. A tabletop tripod, selfie stick, and wrist strap make this perfect for adventure shots. Charge it using a USB cable. Choose from red (pictured) or pink.

Good for: Budding filmmakers.

Bend and twist these tubes to make an original creation. With this toy, kids become engineers as they think of new ways to build. If they're not sure what to make, an ideas guide can give them inspiration while improving their fine motor skills, imagination, and hand-eye coordination.

Good for: Little builders who have imagination.

We'd be lying if we only say that we love this craft because it's fun. We are super fans of this soap making kit because it's also practical. Once made, place them in the soap dish in your guest bathroom. You'll get enough to make at most 8 soaps by mixing wax, fragrances, glitter, and coloring.

Good for: Kids who love arts and crafts.

Introduce the 5-year-old in your life to the fun game of dominoes. Instead of looking at black dots like a classic domino set, this one showcases cute kitties. The 28 dominoes will teach the kid in your life matching skills.

Good for: Cat lovers.

Arguably the best show for little kids today is Bluey on Disney Plus — most 5-year-olds are obsessed. If you give them this Bluey house, which is modeled after the home in the show, you'll be their favorite person ever. This set comes with furniture and a Bluey figure.

Good for: Bluey fans.

This is no ordinary doll. It celebrates a little one's passion for art. The 10-inch doll comes with 3 markers, 4 color-in accessories, a detailed color-in outfit, color-in headband, color-in earrings, pair of shoes, fashion accessory, bead storage bag, eye shadow sticker sheet, beads, string, plastic picture frame, color-in poster, brush, and a doll stand. Your 5-year-old will love using this kit to make jewelry for themselves and their doll with the included DIY arts & crafts materials.

Good for: Girls who love art.

We like a kids activity that also doubles as a snack for the littles. This chocolate making kit gives you the opportunity to make yummy, sweet treats that look like dinos and eggs. In order to have some sugary fun, use the kit's 4 recipes, pre-measured ingredients, kid-safe baking supplies, and included apron.

Good for: Chocolate lovers.

A saucer swing that can support up to 660 pounds of weight? That's one awesome addition to your tree that the entire family can enjoy. This one, made of UV-resistant materials, reinforced swing straps, and heavy-duty galvanized locking carabiners, is perfect for hanging on a large tree limb that extends at least five feet away from the trunk or other structures. Just make sure to follow instructions for installation to ensure safety.

Good for: Families with a large tree in their yard.

This Shashibo puzzle appears to be just a square box, but seconds after fiddling with it, you'll learn that it can transform into different shapes. Altogether, the Shashibo can shape shift 70+ times. The fun trick is to somehow get it back to the square shape after creating several other versions. The 5-year-old will love seeing what it can do. Select from different designs and colors.

Good for: 5-year-olds who love to strategize and analyze.

This is no ordinary clay kit. This one will create a clay artist of your kid. It comes with 18 cans of high-quality clay that's both soft, lightweight, non-sticky, non-toxic, and stain-free. And the best part is, they're fun and easy to mold. 3D step-by-step instructions are provided to help you with creations, or you can pull them up on an app along with other exclusive material.

This one is for alien creations, but there are other set options on their site, like dinosaurs, animals, monsters, and more.

Good for: Budding sculptors.

This Magna-Tiles set provides a fun, new way for young kids to build without frustration. Easy to handle and master, the plastic tiles simply stick together with magnets, and come apart with no problem to create something new.

Labuz says, "Magna-Tiles are one of my absolute favorite toys for kids of all ages, but especially for 5-year-olds. They encourage imaginative play as they come up with new designs and builds each time." They're also great for both group and independent play.

Good for: The future engineer.

You might remember Lite-Brite, a popular toy from the 1980s, but it's here for new generations to enjoy. The 5-year-old in your life can make fun creations with the 312 colorful pegs. A storage bag and 12 design templates are included.

Good for: Creative thinkers.

Batteries not required, this Stomp Rocket will actually launch rockets up to 200 feet in the air. Each set comes with 4 stomp rockets, a launch stand, and a launch pad with air hose. OK to play alone or with friend as kids learn to take turns, this toy is exciting and teaches teamwork.

Good for: Kids who love outdoor, active play.

Do you know a family who is serious about their beach sandcastle game? Depending on the beach and the moisture in the sand, it can be really hard to build a proper sand castle. This BuildMaster kit mans you don't have the variable of sand. Every sand castle made with this set will hold shape while not drying out. No wonder it won the 2020 Toy Of The Year award in outdoor technology.

Good for: Kids who love sand.

Kids these days probably don't know what an abacus is, but this educational toy can give them a great foundation on math. By visualizing numbers and counting, the abacus' beads can also change colors to help kids count and find patterns. A special guide with teacher-developed activities is included for parents.

Good for: All 5-year-olds.

Whether the 5-year-0ld in your life loves Captain America or the Hulk, there's a favorite character in this Marvel set for everyone. It comes with eight figurines for endless game play.

Good for: Kids who love the Marvel movies.

This blast from the past will introduce your little one to the lovable, caring Care Bears that you might remember from the 1980s. Though this bear is not one you met decades ago, the 40th anniversary Care-A-Lot plush is as special as they come with its glitter, unique belly badge, and certificate of authenticity.

Good for: Kids who love hugs.

We continue to be amazed by these magic writing tablets that allow kids to doodle, and clear with the touch of a button so they can start anew. Giving kids the opportunity to exercise their drawing and writing skills, this Jot Kids tablet is perfect for car rides or even home play. And the best part is — parents! — it leaves no mess, like paint, markers, and crayons sometimes do. While the Lil' Builder design is featured, there are others to choose from including Lil' Gardener and Lil' Baker.

Good for: Creative kids of all ages.

A timeless classic, the Rubik's cube is great for 5-year-olds who are learning to think analytically as they problem solve. Match up the colors to achieve the ultimate goal. Grown-ups can also get in on the action. Do you have what it takes to solve it? (There are YouTube videos now that can teach you how.)

Good for: Kids and grown-ups of all ages.

Even though you may be giving this gift during the holiday season, the kids you give it to can look forward to using it months later (unless they live in warm climates year-round). This fun, blow-up rocket shop is a sprinkler that brings endless water fun.

Good for: Kids who love water play.