Guide To The Best Toys and Gifts For 5 Year Old Boys

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As children age and move from toddler to “grown up” kids, it becomes harder to keep up with their tastes, wants and trends. That makes it difficult to buy gifts for these special boys (and girls)  in your life.

We’ve written this guide to help you find the best toys for 5 year old boys. Maybe it’s a Christmas or other holiday present, or your child is having a birthday and needs a present. No matter what the occasion, our staff has put in hours of research to help you pick a toy that is fun, age-appropriate, and will be played with for months and years to come. We’ve also included a guide on what characteristics a toy should have for these pre-K boys, in case you want to go shopping at your local store.

We also tried to pick toys that will last and have some replay value – so your child can get some use from your present and remember you in the years to come. The world doesn’t need your gift to end up as garbage in a dump come March of next year.

Finally, in acknowledgement that no one gift is “the best” for all kids, we’ve selected a wide variety of toys that should appeal to kids with different interests.  Our individual toy headings should give you a good idea what type of kid would love each toy.  Hopefully you find something to match the child you are shopping for.

Quick Rundown Of Our Top toys for 5 year old boys

Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter is a beginner’s ride for toddlers who wants wheels but are still developing their balancing and coordination skills.

Kidzlane Bubble Machine blows automatically an endless stream of 500 bubbles per minute for your toddler to play with and see how many they can pop.

Pros:

  • The low deck is close to the ground to limit injuries when your toddler falls.
  • The base is broad and textured to make balancing easier and avoid slipping.
  • Hand grips are comfortable for small hands.

Cons:

  • It may be slow, but it is designed for novice riders

The Radio Flyer My 1st Scooter is one of the best outdoor toys for toddlers who want the wheels but are still developing their balancing and coordination skills. The scooter is designed to boost your toddler’s riding fun while keeping them safe as they develop necessary skills.

A broad base help with better balance.  As a beginner on their first scooter, your toddler must concentrate on many aspects that are foreign to them. The broad base makes it easier for them to balance without falling or slipping off a narrow base when trying to move forward. It is also textured so that beginner rider will stay on the deck and not slip off during movement.

When your toddler does fall with the scooter, and they all do, the base is low to the ground. They may end up with a few scrapes and a dented pride, but they won’t fall far with the deck close to the ground.

The handgrips are comfortable to hold onto and the right size for small hands.

Two wheels in the front maximize the scooter’s stability, ensuring the toddler is safe on the scooter. It won’t topple or tip while your toddler is learning how to ride the scooter and keep their balance at the same time. Another safety feature is the turning radius that is designed for the best mobility without being unsafe.

The scooter is available in red and pink colors. The classic model has a foot brake; the sport model doesn’t.

Pros:

  • Dramatic colored water and alluring aromas may intrigue any reluctant kid to the bath.
  • The bath bombs are about the size of a tennis ball and make lots of bubbles.
  • Inside each bath bomb is a unicorn toy surprise that is released as the bath bomb fizzes and bubbles.

Cons:

  • The pieces may be a choking hazard for toddlers younger than three years old.

The Two Sisters Spa Bubble Bath Bombs may entice any kid to bath with all the bubbles…and the fun unicorn gift surprise inside the bath bomb. Yes, inside each bubble bath bomb is a treasure, a unicorn toy, or a unicorn jewelry piece. For little boys, there is the Superhero Kit with fun superhero figurines and keepsakes.

The secret is to use water pressure for the ultimate experience. Drop the bath bomb into the water while the bath is filling with water. Before long, you will have fragrant, colorful bath water with lots and lots of bubbles. Each bath bomb is about the size of a tennis ball…can you imagine the fizzing and bubbles!

Another surprise is the unicorn toy or jewelry that is released from within the bath bomb. It could be a unicorn necklace, a ring, squishies, unicorn horn or finger puppets, lip gloss, or a bracelet hidden within, waiting for an excited kid to have a bath.

The toys and products are created by moms who work flexi-hours because family is important to them. Being moms, they know which unicorn gifts and toys to select that will thrill little girls and little boys, who like all things superhero related.

Pros:

  • The bubble machine spews automatically over 500 bubbles per minute.
  • An 8-ounce Bubble Solution is included in the package.
  • The adorable dolphin design is sturdy and won’t fall over and spill the slippery liquid.

Cons:

  • You may need lots of solutions to operate the bubble machine for 2 hours

The Kidzlane Bubble Machine is the ultimate bubbles experience.  Remember, as a kid, how much fun it was to blow bubbles and how frustrating it was that you could never blow enough bubbles? Your mouth was tired long before the bubbles solution was depleted.

With the bubble machine that blows automatically over 500 bubbles per minute, your toddler doesn’t have to go through the same frustrations you did. They don’t have to try and balance between creating a continuous flow of bubbles so that they can pop them before they disappear in the air. The bubble machine creates the bubbles for your kids so they can focus on the fun of popping and playing with the bubbles.

Your toddler may be delighted with the adorable dolphin design. They may love the idea of the ten spinning wands that spews out the bubbles from the dolphin’s open mouth. You’ll have an endless supply of bubbles. If you are using it indoors, it will fill a room quickly with soapy bubbles.

With a flat, supportive base, the bubble machine is securely positioned on most surfaces. You don’t have to worry that it will tip over and spill the soapy liquid causing kids to slip and injure themselves. A quiet motor that runs on 6 AA batteries runs smoothly.

The on-off switch and applying the 8-ounce Bubble Solution (included in the purchase) is straightforward enough for your kid to do it.

Pros:

  • Gentle sprinkles and sprays familiarize your toddler with outdoor water play.
  • The versatility of sprinkles to run through on the outside and the soft spray while sitting in the water is a fun way to cool off on a hot summer’s day.

Cons:

  • Do not place on hard surfaces where toddlers may injure themselves if they slip.

The Banzai Sprinkle and Splash Play Mat is perfect for keeping toddlers cool and fresh on a summer’s day. It’s also great for familiarizing them with water fun. If your toddler isn’t ready for an inflatable pool but wants the water entertainment, then the sprinkler play mat is an excellent toy. When they are ready, you can advance them to a pool where they can practice their swimming skills.

Who doesn’t love running around in a sprinkler? The rim of the mat functions as a sprinkler with the gentle water spraying upward. The inside of the mat holds about 1.8 inches of water for more relaxing water fun.

Made from a durable PVC material, the splash play mat attaches to a garden hose to create the constant water flow. After playtime, drain the water by holding the play mat upside down with the drain at the bottom. Allow drying to avoid unnecessary mildew forming.

Be mindful that toddlers and kids are developing and strengthening their balancing and coordination skills. They may lose their balance and slip in the water. To prevent unnecessary injuries, set up the playmat on a soft surface like grass instead of concrete.

Pros:

  • The versatile art activity book has something for all kids irrespective of their art skills; they can trace and scratch-off, color the drawings, or create their doodles and drawings.
  • The sturdy wire binding and hardcover protects the pages inside and endure kids’ handling.
  • It is perfect for traveling and for keeping kids occupied.

Cons:

  • Not for kids under 5 years that may inhale the scratch coating particles.

The Unicorn Adventure Scratch and Sketch, an art activity book, is one of the best unicorn gifts to give a creative child and budding artist…and a unicorn fan. What is hidden behind the black-coated scratch-off art board pages? Even boys and girls who don’t think they can draw could be inspired to follow the tracing and drawings in the activity book. Tracing with the wooden stylus strengthens hand-eye coordination.

Kids of all ages are invited to join Polly with the unicorn on an adventure to the unicorn’s castle. Scratching the black-coated art board pages reveal rainbow swirls and glittery foil unicorn-related images. The hardcover activity book contains twenty drawings and descriptions of unicorns and friends, twenty pages for doodling, and the twenty black-coated scratch-off pages. Kids may use crayons, markers, or colored pencils to create their unique unicorn artwork and their unicorn adventure stories.

It’s not only a drawing book; it combines the story with the drawings taking kids on an adventure. Boys and girls may build confidence in their art skills and create new experiences for the unicorn combining imagination and creativity.

The hardcover activity book with its wooden styles is convenient for road trips and to keep kids occupied in restaurants and waiting rooms. It gives kids the freedom to sketch on pages at the back or for the less daring to trace and color in the drawings.

Pros:

  • Made in the USA of BPA-free, recycled milk jugs.
  • Easy to clean – it’s dishwasher safe so cleanup is a breeze!
  • Your 5 year old boy will build both fine and gross motor skills playing with this set.
  • Great for tub play as well.
  • Built to last for years of play.

Cons:

  • You pay extra for the Earth-friendly construction.

If your young ::age:: boy is looking for a toy tea set to go along with tea time, the Green Toys Tea Set is a great choice.  he can play while being nice to the environment at the same time.  You see, these tea cups, pots, plates, creamer and sugar bowl are all made of food-grade recycled materials.  This is awesome because it means you can actually drink from the set without worrying about hot water melting plastic or leeching and undesirable chemicals.

This tea set is wonderful. The toy items are sturdy while still being small enough for little hand’s to easily handle. It is safe to eat and drink from, washes easily, and quite resistant to scratches and blemishes.  Some people aren’t aware that toy manufacturers now have to put little holes to prevent suffocation in any toy  a young boy might jam in their mouth.  The sugar bowl is the one in this set with the holes – so if you pour a powder in the bowl, it won’t stay there!

These cups are kid-sized, not doll-sized – so they’ll be able to drink more than a sip when playing make-believe.  It’s one of the best tea sets out there for kids!

Pros:

  • Great for social play for your 5 year old boy
  • Different cars and trucks leads to great replay value
  • Large size makes it easy for toddlers to assemble on their own
  • Combine with other DUPLO sets for more fun!
  • Includes cards and instructions

Cons:

  • Sometimes hard to find in stock
  • Older preschoolers will want more of a challenge than this set provides.

LEGOs have been a staple under the Christmas tree for years – and this DUPLO My First Cars and Trucks lives up to the LEGO reputation for fun and quality.  All young boys enjoy creating exciting toy cars and trucks they can “drive” themselves.  It’s a great toy that parents can play with as well – and since there are multiple combinations to make different vehicles, your toys for 5 year old boy will not get bored with this toy.

Since these building toys can be extended by adding other sets to play with, it will grow with your little boy as he goes from being a 5 year old to a preschooler.  The easy portability means you’ll often be packing these DUPLO toys up and bringing them to your child’s friends house.  Luckily it’s easy and simple to do!

It’s a great gift for 5 year old.  You might want to look around at other DUPLO sets as well – price can often vary widely.

Pros:

  • Made in the USA.
  • Easy to store – just fold it up and put it away
  • Constructed of hard plastic for years of use.
  • Great for 5 year old boys that weigh up to 50 lbs.
  • Quick assembly time.
  • Made for both inside and outside play.

Cons:

  • The more adventurous children among us may become bored with this slide as they get older.
  • More expensive than no-name branded slides.  You pay for the Little Tykes brand quality.

Sometimes the weather isn’t good enough to take your child out for playground fun.  With the Little Tikes Easy Store Large Slide you can bring the outside fun indoors!  This toy is portable – just fold the slide up and easily move it indoors or out.

It’s sturdy enough that you don’t need to worry about your boy tipping this toy over on accident.  There’s a wide base and a low center of gravity.  The sides of the stairs are a perfect handrail for little hands.  Stuffed animals like riding this slide almost as much as little boys!

Pros:

  • The basketball set adjusts according to a growing child ensuring longer-lasting play.
  • The oversized hoop motivates easy scoring while your kids build confidence and improve their hand-eye coordination skills.

Cons:

  • The hoop may come loose with rough play.

If you have a budding basketball player in your family, then the Little Tikes Easy Score Basketball set will inspire your toddler to start practicing their skills. With the oversized hoop and three kid-sized basketballs, toddlers and preschoolers will comfortably throw the ball in the hoop. It allows for easy scoring that builds confidence and motivates continuous play.

The toy basketball set is one of the best outdoor toddler toys to inspires toddlers and kids to play independently. It improves their social skills when playing together with siblings or friends. Gripping the ball and throwing it into the net strengthens coordination and balancing skills. Although the oversized hoop makes scoring easier, it does improve hand-eye coordination because they need to aim to throw the ball through the hoop.

The hoop adjusts in height from 2.5 to 4 feet to accommodate little ones and adapt to them growing in stature. For little kids, fit the hoop to be at their height so they can practice throwing the ball into the hoop. For older toddlers, challenge them by adjusting the hoop height above their heads, so they need to stretch to throw the ball in the hoop.

The base can be weighted with sand for more stability, ensuring the hoop stays stable and doesn’t tip during rough play.

Pros:

  • The measuring cups may teach your toddler basic math.
  • A fun activity to keep your toddlers engaged on the beach and to improve their social skills when playing with friends.
  • Toddlers improve hand-eye-coordination when playing with the baking set.

Cons:

  • The bucket isn’t designed for heavy materials, and the lid doesn’t always fit securely.

Melissa & Doug Sunny Patch Seaside Sidekicks Sand Baking Set will make the cutest mud pies and sand cakes your toddler may serve you. It has all the features for mixing, sifting, and baking dad’s favorite sand cake or when at home, a unique mud cake for mom.

The sea creatures’ design is appealing and a fun twist to the baking set. The mixing bowl has a turtle left that doubles for sifting the sand for a finer textured cake. Three shell-shaped measuring cups and the crab mixing spoon teach kids about quantities and measuring. The octopus whisk strengthens hand coordination when mixing the ingredients.

Handles have a chunky design for tiny hands to grip with ease allowing even the youngest to take part in the baking fun. Your toddler may also develop their social skills by inviting friends to join their cooking experience. You may be surprised by the imaginative dishes your kids can come up with and how fast they learn math by using the measuring cup and spoon.

The baking set is made of durable plastic that will last for years. When you’ve done “eating” the sand cakes, and your kids are ready to go home, it’s easy to clean the baking set for next time.

Pros:

  • With the design on both sides, it doesn’t matter in which hand your child holds the mug.
  • Add hot water and see the unicorn tail change color.
  • The unicorn mug, with its unique trademarked design, is decorative on its own and earns a position with the other unicorn collectibles.

Cons:

  • You’ll have to wait for your turn because everyone will want to drink out of the mug.

The Color Changing Unicorn Mug is a great unicorn gift for kids and adults who enjoy their coffee, tea, hot chocolate, and other hot drinks that works the magic. There’s a reason the unicorn face looks like it’s smiling as if it has a secret. When you pour hot water into the unicorn mug, the unicorn’s hair changes into beautiful rainbow colors.

The design is on both sides of the mug, so it doesn’t matter whether your child is left-handed or right-handed; they will see the color-changing effect. The manufacturer, Infloatables, guarantees a quality ceramic mug with their trademarked Unicorn Mug Design that won’t scratch off.

With a one-of-a-kind design, the 3D mug is decorative enough to earn a particular spot on your desk, in your bedroom, office, or a special place among the other unicorn collectibles. Display it empty or use it to store your pencils, markers, or pens.

It is one of the best unicorn gifts for kids or adults who adore unicorns. They will be delighted with such an original unicorn gift but wait until you offer them a hot drink in their new unicorn mug. It’s a jaw-dropping experience the first time they see the hair of the unicorn change into rainbow colors.

Pros:

  • The unicorn garden is portable and can be displayed indoors or outdoors.
  • Five unicorn-related figurines decorate the garden. Your child may move them around depending on their imaginative role-playing story at that moment.
  • Kids learn gardening skills while having fun.

Cons:

  • The seeds and soil aren’t included in the package.

Your child may not have a unicorn in the garden, but they can create their unique unicorn garden with Creative Roots Create Your Own Unicorn Garden kit. The 10-inch plastic planter is a nice size for a sustainable garden project for kids indoors or outdoors.

Each child creates a unique garden by planting or decorating with the flowers, herbs, or plants they wish to have in the garden. You don’t even have to buy seeds; they can also use plants from your backyard or flower bed. Some unicorn gardens may well have daisies, pansies, and violets.  Other may have more tropical effect with ferns and ground covers. For some, a quick-growing herb garden could be a great idea.  It’s up to your child!

The five hand-painted figurines create a personal touch and inspire imaginative play. Your kid may move the castle, two unicorn figurines, the toadstool, and a butterfly around depending on how their creative story unfolds.

Gardening is a soothing exercise that provides delayed gratification after you see the plants grow and flower. Start by layering the planter with soil (seeds and soil not included in the package). Place the garden accessories as desired. Add the plants or flowers and display your garden for all to see.

If your kid doesn’t want to create a live garden, they can use fake moss, and toy trees and shrubs to develop their unicorn garden.

kiwi-co-Kiwi_Crate_Pinball

Best Subscription Box For 5 year old boys:

Kiwi Crate by KiwiCo

For boys  5 to 8 Years of age

Pros:

  • Encourages a tinkering mindset through experimentation
  • Parents can engage with their children in some quality time.
  • Created toys are well-made and generally have good replay value.

Cons:

  • You need to create the toy/project in order to have something to play with.
  • Subscription is an unique gift-type and can be hard to explain to a child when you give the gift.

The Kiwi Crate by Kiwico is a great way to keep your 5 year old boy excited about science through play throughout the year.  This isn’t one toy – instead, you buy a three month,  six month or 1 yr subscription and “crates” are delivered every month.  Inside you’ll find maker projects that help your child explore art, science, and engineering.   We’ve reviewed quite a few of these crates over the years – and our reviewer families have raved about their value and fun-factor.

Each month contains projects and readings centered around a different theme.  The instructions are easy to read, but also include additional information for those kids looking for a more in-depth treatment of the subject.  I’ve recommended these kits to my family members – and I now I’m recommending them to you.

Pros:

  • Included experiments are age-appropriate and fun for the family to work together.
  • Great for bathtub and sandbox play when younger, but grows into science experiments as your child ages.
  • High replay value since equipment can be used to do other experiments available for free on the internet.

Cons:

  • While most are common household items, you need to provide the ingredients for the experiments.

Encourage interest in science and experimental learning with this award-winning lab set. The Learning Resources Primary Science Lab set comes with a ton of kid-friendly science tools. All 12 pieces are correctly sized for 5 year old children to be able to handle.

Younger boys might just use the toy to play make-believe unless you or another adult take them step by step through the instructions. On the other hand, older children can use the included experiment cards to learn more about the physical world around them.  Once you’ve gone through all the included experiments, you are free to use the equipment to tackle other experiments about the world around you.

Helps To Develop: “Logical Thinking, Inquisitive Thinking”

Pros:

  • The vinyl sides stretch to help toddlers climb out of the water.
  • 6.5 inches of water is the right amount for kids to have fun without being too deep.

Cons:

  • It takes time to empty the inflatable pool because the material is too stretchy to turn it over.

The Intex Crystal Blue Inflatable Pool has a 6.5-inch water depth that is the right amount of water for splashing fun on a hot summer’s day. It’s not too deep for your toddler but enough water to sit or play-swim in.

The inflatable pool is large enough for more than one toddler. Invite friends over for a swim or enjoy cooling off and splashing each other at a birthday party. It is a good size for water activities and water games. You could add a water slide for your toddler or their favorite water toys.  If you don’t want to use it as a pool, use it as a great ball pit during the winter months. It should hold between 200-300 balls.

When your toddler has finished playing in the water, you don’t have to waste the water. Use a beaker to water a flower bed and lift the pool on one side for the water to run out on the lawn. Make sure the pool is dry before storing it.

The pool is made from vinyl. The stretchy material allows toddlers to push the sides down when they want to climb out of the pool. The stretchiness, however, makes it’s difficult to turn over when filled with water. First, remove water with a beaker before you turn it over. It is safer for kids if they can’t turn it over.

Although toddlers 2-years and older may play in the pool, it has small pieces that are deemed choking hazard for kids under 3-years of age.

Pros:

  • Easily fits two to three children for great social interactions.
  • Nonlinear nature of impromptu shows gives high replay value.
  • One of the best toys for developing story-telling ability.

Cons:

  • Doesn’t fold up for storage – an issue if space is tight.
  • It’s strictly BYOP – Bring Your Own Puppets.

Your future Oscar winners will love to put their imagination into overdrive when playing with this sturdy puppet theater. The idea of a “stage” allows their creative juices to flow.  5 year old can take turns creating skits or watching their friends – either way it’s a load of fun.

It doesn’t take long to assemble, and is made of high-quality wood- meaning it should survive through years of play. Expect to see your youngsters coming back to this toy time and time again.

Helps To Develop: “Imagination, Creative Expression, Social Relationships”

What We Like About The Melissa & Doug Puppet Theater

Pros:

  • There’s nothing better for gaining balance skills to prepare for a “big-boy” bike.
  • Looks very similar to bikes ridden by Mom and Dad.
  • Provides age-appropriate mobility so he can explore the world.
  • No flat tires and limited moving parts make for easy maintenance for parents.
  • Helps develop hand-eye coordination and improve motor skills for your 5 year old.

Cons:

  • Not everyone loves the ride of no-air tires due to harder ride.
  • The foot rest may rub against the smallest riders feet and ankles depending on their form.

A balance bike is a great choice for your boy that has places to be! Unlike many tricycle or regular bikes, balance bikes don’t have pedals.  Instead, kids use their feet to push around “Flintstones-style”.  This is much easier for a 5 year old to master, and helps to quickly develop the balance skills needed to graduate to a regular bicycle.
This bike is adjustable so your child will be able to use it as boy ages. he will likely move to a real bike long before outgrowing this toy.

This model is especially nice because of it’s low center of gravity – it’s easier to control.  Most children over 6 will be too big for this balance bike, but it will depend on the height and skill of the individual boy.  Each child grows differently.

Pros:

  • Teaches strategic thinking, teamwork, social skills and planning to your 5 year old boy.
  • Has won numerous awards for it’s great mix of fun and skill building.
  • Great for playing with children of different maturity levels for boys and girls.
  • Good replay value.

Cons:

  • Games are relatively quick – this might be a good thing depending on the situation but something to be aware of.
  • Pre-teen children and up won’t be entertained for long.

Most board games for kids are competitive – and frankly there’s nothing wrong with that.  Sometimes it’s nice for a family to have a game they work together to win, rather than against each other.  This is particularly the case if you have a child that is CONSTANTLY getting beaten at games by an older sibling.

In Peaceable Kingdom, players work together as a team against the game, not each other.  Besides creating a team, this allows for your 5 year old to learn to share, include others, and build up confidence for themselves and teammates.  Each player is an owl that has gone out exploring at night, but now needs to get back home before the sun gets up.  If all owls get home before the sun comes up, you are a winner!

 

Pros:

  • Projects are fun both to build and play with afterwards.
  • Building provides a great opportunity to bond with your 5 year old boy.
  • High-quality construction means projects should last as least as long as your boy is interested in it.
  • The company is very interested in customer service.  Their phone number is on every product.

Cons:

  • There is some assembly required to put together this dollhouse toy.
  • While well constructed, you do pay a premium for the quality.

This Melissa & Doug Hi-Rise Wooden dollhouse is no McMansion!  Your daughter will delight in making pretend-play families drive into the garage, ride the elevator upstairs, and feel right at home in this modern three-level house. Bright colors and patterns add a lively edge to the natural wooden frame, and open sides make it easy to access every room and share the fun with brothers, sisters, and friends.

The set comes with three play people and 15 pieces of furniture, but your child can bring their own figures to share in the fun.  This toy is for play dates with other kids.  If you are looking to give your young boy ways to avoid screen time – you’ve found a great antidote.

Pros:

  • Self-propelled nature of toy both builds up muscle development and helps to burn off energy in your 5 year old.
  • While relatively easy to use, there is some skill needed to spin fast. This helps to keep the replay value high.
  • In simplest terms: Most boys think it’s really fun to spin.

Cons:

  • Really only appropriate for boys who can move about on their own – so you’ll need to judge if your child is ready.
  • Not every kid likes to get dizzy. Most parents don’t like to clean up after children that don’t like to get dizzy.  :)

The Playskool Sit ‘n Spin is a fun toy geared towards boys developed enough to sit up on their own.  Children control their speed through their own arm power, which both allows them to control the speed and burn off tons of energy at the same time. This is especially helpful when kids are cooped up inside during winter months without many outlets for pent-up ::gender::-power.  While it’s simple, it is extremely fun.  It’s definitely one of the best toys for 5 year old boy.

This isn’t a new toy – I played with and loved one of these as a child myself. They last for many years, and kids will play with them from the pre-2 age all the way up to 6-7 years old.

Helps To Develop: Hand-Eye Coordination, Motor Skill Development, Cause and Effect
Clipboard Toy List

Our Process For Selecting The Best Toys For 5 year old boys

We spend weeks writing all of our toy review and gift guides. We know you rely on our input, and we take that trust seriously.   Our writers and editors have spent approximately 28 hours researching and testing the most popular toys for 5 year old boys that you can find on the market in December 2024. 

All of this time and resources are spent to bring this toy guide to you – we’ve put in the time to make sure our recommendations are ones you can trust.

We also update these lists daily.  That’s because we don’t want to provide you with toys that are no longer in-stock – a gift you can’t buy isn’t worth much to you, no matter how cool it might be.  We have reviewed many more toys than we list in this guide – and many of them are good but not quite as great as the ones that made the cut. 

As toys move in and out of stock, the list will change.  We want this list to help you get the best toys you can for your 5 year old this Holiday season.

Frequently Asked Questions About Toys for Five-Year-Old Boys

What are the best toys for a 5-year-old boy?

The best toys for 5-year-old boys are generally the kind of toys they like to play with, and that stimulates their interests. If you know what your son loves, you can buy him toys accordingly.

If you’re not sure what he wants or would like to introduce him to new toys, take him shopping! At 5 years old, your son is old enough to make his own choices. Why not take him to the store and show him the toys in the toys aisle that is appropriate for his age. He may enjoy the outing and will gladly show you what type of toys interests him.

Another benefit of taking your 5-year old shopping is you won’t have to worry about what to get him for Christmas, his birthday or any other special occasions. He will help you make a list for Santa by indicating to you what to buy him. Next time when a friend or family member asks what toy they should buy your son, send them the list!

What type of toys are the right kind of toys for 5-year-old boys?

Your 5-year old loves to play pretend; he hasn’t outgrown the phase and will probably continue to play pretend games as a 6-year-old too. The best toys for five-year-old boys and girls are toys that complement their adventures, imagination, and pretend playing.

Your child will assume the role of being a fisherman, a fireman, a superhero, dad, and many other characters you haven’t thought about. He is going to do it anyway, but it’s so much more fun dressing up, having the right transport, and tools. A mask, a superhero cape, and other clothing representing the character may be the best toy for your 5-year-old superhero, fireman, or whatever he is pretending to be that day.

Toy tools, equipment, food, and riding toys will add to the fun of adventurous pretending. Your 5-year-old son can go on adventures, chase villains, or discover new worlds on a tricycle, balance bike, pushing a wagon or scooter. He can build castles, hideouts, rockets, and whatever his imagination produces with creative building toys and sets like LEGOS, TInkertoys, and K’NEX. Part of pretending is having hideaways. Play tents for indoor or outdoor hideaways may be the perfect toy for your 5-year-old boy.

How much should I spend on toys for a 5-year-old boy’s birthday gift or a Christmas present?

Young children aren’t interested in the quality of the toy; they are more interested in what the toy does and how to play with the toy. Your 5-year-old boy will be as happy with an inexpensive toy than an expensive one; he doesn’t know the difference yet. Enjoy the days when you don’t have to spend a lot of money to entertain your son; it’s not going to last forever.

Your five-year-old son doesn’t need many gifts to make him happy. One toy could do it. Too many toys at Christmas or his birthday may overwhelm and confuse him. He can’t play with all the toys, and too many toys won’t benefit him. It may also teach him always to expect many when a few is enough.

He will be receiving gifts from relatives and friends too. Therefore, it is enough to buy him one great gift and a few smaller treats or toys. A few toys allow him to play with the toy to his full potential.

What can I give a 5-year-old boy who has everything?

Some toys your 5-year-old boy will never tire from. For example, if he likes firetrucks or trains, he will never have enough. Buying him such a toy will always delight him. If your son, however, already has all the types of firetrucks or trains, there is one toy that no child could ever have too many of—books.

Kids love stories anywhere and anytime. You can read a bedtime story to your son to help him fall asleep. Most kids will listen to an audiobook story while traveling. Your 5-year-old son can never have enough picture books. Reading to your son is an integral part of his development.

Make sure to buy picture books about topics that interest him. If he isn’t listening to the story, it’s not necessarily because he doesn’t like stories but rather that the story doesn’t interest him. It’s the same with teens and adults; you don’t like reading a novel that doesn’t interest you. Young children are the same. Let him choose the storybook next time; perhaps he surprises you in what type of story he wants to hear.

I don’t’ think my son is ready for toys for 5-year-old boys. What should I do?

Boys develop at their pace, and each child is different. Your son may be slower in reaching one milestone but way ahead in another. He will catch up soon enough. Choosing the best toy for your 5-year-old is taking into consideration his level of development and helping him to grow.

Age recommendations indicate what type of toy would be best for an age group, but it isn’t finite. Toys in the same age category are designed for the development phase and milestones of that age. The complexity of the toys for a 5-year-old, for example, may vary. Select more simplistic toys for your son if he isn’t ready for the more complex 5-year-old toys.

You should continue to stimulate him to develop by giving him toys that will challenge him. A new kind of toy may also inspire him and allow growth in other skills.

Sometimes it’s best for your son if you buy him a toy in a younger age group to help him acquire confidence. His ability to conquer the 4-year-old toy could inspire him for a more significant challenge. Then he will be ready for a 5-year-old toy. Challenging kids with toys too tricky for them could create an aversion for that kind of toy. Their inability to comprehend the toy may frustrate them, and they could become insecure because they can’t conquer it.