By the time children reach the age of five, they’ve usually built up quite a collection of toys. But their interests can shift quickly – one week it’s all about Paw Patrol, the next they’ve completely moved on to whatever Disney or Marvel obsession is trending. That constant change can make picking the best gift for a five-year-old surprisingly difficult.
Their preferences can shift again when they start school around age five, especially as they begin learning to read, spell and become more curious about the world around them.
So, when looking for the best gifts for five-year-olds, you want something that doesn’t just grab their attention on the day, but something they’ll still be playing with long after the birthday excitement has passed.
Amanda Frolich, founder of award-winning children’s activity class Amanda’s Action Club, is a children’s physical movement development specialist and a toy expert. She says: “Look for toys that promote physical, cognitive and social-emotional development. Toys that encourage movement and exercise, hand-eye coordination and social interaction are especially beneficial.”
With that in mind, I set out to try a wide mix of toys and games (with help from my five-year-old) covering everything from energetic play to more creative options.
The best gifts for 5-year-olds 2026 are:
- Best overall – Yoto mini: £59.99, Yotoplay.com
- Best budget buy – Original Squishmallows Micromallows six pack: £19.84, Amazon.co.uk
- Best Lego set – Lego DC Superman Mech vs Lex Luthor: £18.80, Amazon.co.uk
- Best craft set – Lilo and Stitch Aquabeads keychain craft kit: £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best family game – Fart Yoga: £12.80, Amazon.co.uk
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How I tested
With my five-year-old in tow (who was only too happy to get involved in the testing), I assessed a wide range of toys, from dolls, teddies and plushes to games, building sets, crafts, tech, bikes and scooters. I looked for gifts that would be suitable across the age range, from those just turning five to those getting ready to turn six. I also considered educational toys, water toys and bath toys – anything that would capture kids’ imaginations and appeal to different personalities and interests. You can find my full testing criteria at the end of this guide.
Read more: 7 best kids’ headphones for noise-free screen time
Yoto mini
Best: gift for 5-year-olds overall
Recommended age range: 3-12
Why we love it
- Looks great
- Easy to use
Take note
- Travel case and headphones sold separately
My five-year-old wasn’t the only one impressed with this well-designed storytelling audio gadget. It reads children's stories, teaches them facts, and plays age-appropriate music and songs. Not only that, it’s super easy to use – you simply pop in your chosen audio card and you’re ready to go. I love the fact that it’s a screen-free tool that provides entertainment, widens kids’ imaginations, and can help them get to sleep.
As well as being aesthetically pleasing, the compact size of this mini model makes it perfect for travel. There are all sorts of accompanying cards to choose from, from stories to the informative and musical, but particular favourites include ‘Dino Rock’ and anything by Julia Donaldson. The little light-up icon on the front of the Yoto changes as the story is being told, which is also a nice touch.
Buy now £59.99, Yotoplay.com
Original Squishmallows Micromallows six pack
Best: budget gift for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 3+
Why we love it
- Super cute
- Multiple designs per pack
Take note
- Small size
Speak to any five-year-old about their favourite soft toys, and you’ll no doubt hear the word ‘Squishmallows’. These cute and soft plushies, available in all shapes and themes, are as squishy as their name indicates, and these micro 6cm versions provide an extra dose of cuteness.
My mini tester loved these little selection packs, and the variety makes for a great gift. They’re also a great introduction to the brand – if they’re a hit, you can buy bigger versions, too. If you’re hosting a birthday party, these multipacks would also be great for splitting into party bags.
Buy now £19.82, Amazon.co.uk
Woom go 3
Best: bike for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 4-6
Why we love it
- Lightweight and intuitive, made with a five-year-old in mind
Take note
- Expensive
Designed for four-year-olds and up (or those between 105-120cm tall) this is a high-end bike that’s been intuitively designed with this age group in mind. Complete with 16in wheels, this is a fantastic bike to get kids started on two wheels, or to see them through until they’re ready for a 20in bike.
As well as looking the part, it’s remarkably lightweight (5.4kg), compared with some other models (I’ve carried my fair share of kids’ bikes back from the park), and I loved the kid-friendly, thoughtful touches, such as the green rear brake to highlight it’s the most important one. My mini tester loved this bike so much, he wanted to take it to bed with him at night, as he couldn’t bear to be parted from it – you can’t get higher praise than that.
Buy now £425, Woom.com
LeapFrog magic adventures binocular camera
Best: gift for nature-loving five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 5-10
Why we love it
- Fun and educational
Take note
- You’ll need a separate HD card to store photos
Our nature-loving tester was transfixed by this snazzy binocular-camera hybrid. Not only does it offer 10x optical zoom, but it also features night vision, so young explorers can capture photos at night or during the day.
But that’s not all – there are also animal facts to learn on the flip-up screen, plus an animal quiz, and more than 340 built-in nature images (provided by the BBC) to view. It’s the perfect hybrid of education and tech, and has the wow factor for animal-lovers.
Buy now £49.99, Johnlewis.com
My First Bananagrams
Best: gift for developing spelling skills
Recommended age range: 4+
Why we love it
- Portable
- Fun for the whole family
Take note
- Small parts
If your five-year-old has started school, they’ll be getting familiarised with letters and phonics. Based on the original Bananagrams game (where lettered tiles are used to spell words), this version uses lowercase letters, combo-letter word-building tiles and colour-coded tiles to make it easier for youngsters. Each player has a set amount of letter tiles, and the winner is the first person to use all their letters in a connected word grid.
It is addictively fun as well as educational. It’s a game adults and children alike will love, and my little tester enjoyed taking it out and about to play on the go, as well as forming words while eating their breakfast.
Buy now £15.99, Waterstones.com
Fart Yoga game
Best: family game for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 4+
Why we love it
- Hilarious family fun
- Good introduction to yoga for kids
Take note
- Some may find it too gimmicky
With the bonus that parents can get their asana practice in, too, this fun and interactive game combines yoga with plenty of laughter, thanks to a hilarious fart machine in the form of Sammy the sloth. What five-year-old wouldn’t want to tie a farting sloth around their waist?
After using the adjustable strap to tie Sammy around your waist, the aim of the game is to try and complete the yoga poses depicted on the cards included, without Sammy farting more times than the number shown in the corner of the card you’ve selected. It’s great for families with siblings, as everyone can get involved, and it is guaranteed to put a smile on any five-year-old’s face.
Buy now £12.8, Amazon.co.uk
Pets Alive mama turtle and baby surprise
Best: gift for water play
Recommended age range: 3+
Why we love it
- Helps develop nurturing skills
Take note
- Predominantly plastic
The Pets Alive series has a cute selection of pet-inspired toys that five-year-olds can nurture, from waddling ducks with golden eggs to dogs in baskets. A new release from the brand, this battery-powered swimming mama turtle – complete with baby turtles in eggs that open and close – was a hit with my water-loving mini tester.
For what’s essentially a plastic tub that you fill with water before popping the turtle characters inside, it provided my five-year-old with hours of entertainment both indoors and outdoors.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
Lego DC Superman Mech vs Lex Luthor
Best: lego set gift for five year olds
Recommended age range: 6+
Why we love it
- Great for imaginitive play
- Two figures included
Take note
- Recommended for 6+ but my five-year-old tester was able to follow the instructions
My superhero-obsessed five-year-old loved constructing this Lego set, and I enjoyed the quiet time it afforded me. It features a Superman figure (complete with fabric cape) with a reversible head, revealing alternative expressions, plus a Lex Luthor figure with a stud shooter and Kryptonite.
While the recommended age on the box is 6+, my five-year-old was able to follow the instructions and put together this 120-piece set with only brief input from me. While there are plenty of great Lego sets on the market, this one proved particularly popular with my mini tester. Whether your little one loves Lego or superheroes (or both), this set is bound to be a hit.
Buy now £16.74, Amazon.co.uk
Connetix rainbow ball run
Best: STEM set for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 3+
Why we love it
- Great for developing STEM skills
Take note
- It can be tricky to put some of the pieces together
- Expensive
This 92-piece set will have the whole family getting stuck in with designing and building ball runs. Featuring a combination of magnetic rainbow tiles, clear-fluted tubes and wooden balls, it’s a timeless gift that’s worth its premium price tag.
Connetix makes high-quality STEM sets, and although it can be tricky to put some of the pieces together, my mini tester loved building all manner of combinations and letting his imagination run free.
Buy now £85, Johnlewis.com
MyFirst camera 3
Best: camera for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 5-12
Why we love it
- Fun and easy to use
- High-quality photos and videos
Take note
- Not waterproof
Budding photographers will love this 16MP camera, which comes in a range of fun colourways and designs, including blue, pink, yellow and more. From snapping photos to capturing high-quality videos, this nifty camera even has a lens for taking selfies.
It’s kid-proof, thanks to its detachable shockproof pouch, but it’s also a gift that will suit children as they grow, with options to use a self-timer, filters and more. Just note, while being accessible, fun to look at and relatively straightforward to operate, this camera isn’t waterproof, so adult supervision may be needed.
Buy now £69.99, Boots.com
Aquabeads 'Lilo and Stitch' keychain craft
Best: craft set for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 4+
Why we love it
- Provides hours of entertainment
Take note
- Can be fiddly
- Small parts, so keep away from younger children
This nifty Lilo and Stitch-themed kit contains beads, keyring attachments, a bead tray, a water sprayer and a handy leaflet with all manner of designs to try, from the straightforward to the more complicated.
With 700 beads in 24 colours to work with, there’s plenty to keep a five-year-old occupied, plus a little bit of ‘magic’ to be enjoyed when the beads are sprayed with water to make them stick together. Once the designs are complete, they can be used to adorn school bags and more. Working with the small beads can be a little fiddly, though, so some adult help and supervision may be needed.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon.co.uk
Maped Creativ magical tablet
Best: gift for budding artists
Recommended age range: 4+
Why we love it
- Mess-free drawing
- Saves on paper
- Lightweight
Take note
- Not waterproof
Unsure where to put all of your five-year-old’s precious art? You can reduce paper use and waste with this handy tablet, complete with an LCD screen, on which kids can doodle to their heart’s content. Portable and lightweight, the table is an ideal size (12.2cm x 17.3cm screen) to place in a handbag or rucksack, for use on the go – perfect for keeping kids entertained during long journeys.
Eliminating the need to carry around hefty colouring books and pencil cases, this nifty tablet comes with a stylus, which my five-year-old found easy to hold. A screen lock button enables kids to save their work until they’re ready to create another masterpiece, at which point, they can simply press the ‘erase’ button and start again.
Buy now £14.51, Amazon.co.uk
Micro Scooters maxi deluxe foldable LED scooter
Best: scooter for five-year-olds
Recommended age range: 5-12
Why we love it
- Foldable for easy storage
Take note
- Can take a little practice to master the folding mechanism
From its light-up wheels to exciting colourways and modern design, this is a seriously sleek piece of kit. Micro offers an array of scooters for different ages, and the maxi deluxe is the next step up from the micro option. As a departure from the micro, this nifty scooter is designed for the 5-12 age range and, as such, features longer handlebars and a wider base.
I loved the fact that it’s foldable (even if it took a little practice to nail the one-click fold), as this makes it easy to carry on the school run, or store away in the hallway or car boot. For mini speed-demons, this scooter will be a huge hit.
Buy now £157.95, Johnlewis.com
Your questions on gifts for 5-year-olds answered
What are the best gifts for 5-year-olds?
The Yoto mini is a little box of joy that’s guaranteed to surprise and delight any five-year-old. If you’re planning to push the boat out, the woom Go 3 will provide hours of entertainment for energetic kids. If you’re looking for a popular budget option, or something you can include in party bags, the Squishmallow Micromallows are bound to be big hits, too.
What should you look for when choosing a gift for a five-year-old?
With more than 30 years of experience in running classes to entertain children and entertaining at birthday parties, Amanda Frolich has decades of experience in making children and parents happy through play. Becoming a Children’s First Champion in parliament in 2020, she advises ministers about how to prioritise children. Here are her top tips when it comes to choosing a gift for little ones.
“When choosing a toy for their child, parents should consider a variety of factors to ensure the toy is safe, appropriate, and beneficial for their child’s development.” Here are some things parents should look for when choosing a toy, according to Frolich:
- Age-appropriateness: Make sure the toy is suitable for your child’s age, interests, and abilities.
- Safety: Look for toys that are safe, sturdy, and durable. Avoid toys with sharp edges or small parts that can be choking hazards.
- Educational value: Choose toys that promote learning, creativity, and problem-solving skills. Look for toys that encourage exploration, experimentation, and imaginative play.
- Durability: Choose toys that can withstand rough play and that are made from safe and durable materials.
- Developmental benefits: Look for toys that promote physical, cognitive, and social-emotional development. Toys that encourage movement and exercise, hand-eye coordination, and social interaction are especially beneficial.
- Personal preference: Finally, consider your child’s interests and preferences. Choose toys that your child will enjoy playing with and that will keep them engaged and entertained.
Why do children need to move more?
“Children need to move more because physical activity is essential for their growth, development, and overall health.” Here are a few reasons why:
- Bone and muscle development: Physical activity, including weight-bearing activities such as running, jumping, and climbing, is important for building strong bones and muscles in children.
- Improved cardiovascular health: Regular physical activity can help improve heart and lung function, lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease later in life.
- Weight management: Physical activity helps children maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of obesity.
- Improved cognitive function: Research has shown that physical activity can improve cognitive function, including attention, memory, and academic performance.
- Socialisation: Physical activity can also provide opportunities for children to interact with others and develop important social skills.
“Overall, children need to move more to support their physical, mental, and social development. Encouraging children to engage in regular physical activity can set them on a path toward a healthy and active lifestyle that can benefit them for years to come.”
How I tested
Before whittling down the options, my mini tester and I put lots of toys through their paces for four weeks, while considering the following criteria:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
As with all IndyBest reviews, no toy or tech can be found in Kayleigh Rattle’s reviews for kids unless it has been approved by her and her young tester. Kayleigh uses a hands-on testing approach and thorough testing criteria, and value for money is never far from her mind. These are the toys that she recommends.
Want more gift inspiration? Read our roundup of the best gifts for six-year-olds