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5 hours ago
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A pirate, astronaut, doctor, and a whirlwind of emotions – a five-year-old can be all of these before lunchtime. At this age, “play” isn’t just fun; it’s a crucial part of their development. This is why finding toys that can keep up with their huge imaginations – and draw them back for repeat play – is no mean feat.
The best toys for five-year-olds should encourage problem-solving, social skills, creativity and confidence – while keeping them engaged. As a parent, I find that the best toys are ones they pick up time and again – toys they use almost every day in different ways.
How I selected
I’m an experienced toy-tester (although note that the reality is nothing like Tom Hanks’ job in Big), and have written about parenting and children for 10 years. At the start of my career, I worked in schools and children’s publishing, so I’ve spent a long time observing children playing with toys and professionally pondering what works for kids of different ages. For this article, I also spoke to experts in childhood development and play.
Then, it was time to put the theory into practice. I recruited five-year-olds to test toys with me. Unsurprisingly, many children were keen to help out – a particularly brutal week saw me host playdates on five consecutive days. My house was filled with a group of mini-testers, a bunch of board games, dolls, building blocks and more – I’m not sure about the kids, but I was certainly overstimulated!
As well as looking at which toys were played with the longest, and offered different types of play, I also considered whether the toys would “grow” with the kids, and would continue to be played with as the children got older. I also threw some trending toys for five-year-olds into the mix, but they had to offer serious longevity to make the cut.
Sustainability was thought about throughout: huge chunks of plastic had to offer serious value, while toys that last and could be handed down also ticked a big box. No toy roundup would be complete these days without a few screen-based offerings – but these made the list only if they offered something valuable to five-year-olds’ play, not simply because kids like screens.
The best toys and gifts for five-year-olds in 2025
Switch on listening ears
Yoto audio player
The Yoto audiobook player is easily the best toy I’ve bought for my children. You can buy stories on cards for children to slot into it and play out loud. There’s a huge library of books to choose from for all ages – from lullabies and white noise for babies, up to Harry Potter, Roald Dahl and Lottie Brooks for older children; the BrainBots range is great for kids who crave information. There’s a bunch of good-quality free content, too – for example, the Yoto Daily podcast for kids is fantastic. Content can be stored on your smartphone, so you can play books remotely – useful for road trips and the like. At home, meanwhile, the Yoto is the backbone of our bedtime routine. The light on top will change colour at a time of your choice, indicating it’s bedtime or time to wake up.
Age suitability: 3+
Something they’ll click with
Magna-Tiles 32-piece set
Magna-Tiles are another brilliant long-term toy investment. These “open-ended” toys can be used in lots of different ways, with no strict “rules” on how to play with them. “Open-ended toys encourage creativity, problem-solving, imagination and adaptability across all ages,” says Laura Moore-Williams, an early-years specialist and educational consultant.
Fitting together with a satisfying click, these magnetic tiles can be used to quickly and easily build something impressive. My five-year-old testers built jails for their action figures, train stations, houses, ball runs and ramps for their toy cars – there are so many possibilities! The 32-piece set comprises squares and triangles, but there are sets of different sizes and shapes available. The tiles are durable and easy to store, and something my children have returned to, even as they’ve grown.
Age suitability: 3+
Magical playtimes
Glitter wand and crown
“Open-ended toys last longer,” says Sydney Piercey, a former au pair and nanny, and author of Sustainable Play. “They’re more sustainable as they get reused and reimagined time and again. They also foster creativity, imagination and critical thinking.” A five-year-old tester took a shine to this glitter wand and crown – playing fairies, wizards and an elaborate prince-and-princess role-play game that saw me thoroughly bossed around.
All of A Is for Alice’s products are designed and handmade in the UK, with the majority of the fabrics used also sourced from UK small businesses. The quality is exceptional, and will probably see these toys being handed down from child to child.
Age suitability: 3+
Ready, set, bake
Play-Doh cake playset
My five-year-old testers were huge fans of Play-Doh, and so am I – aside from the mess and the fact that mixed-up colours still make my eyebrows twitch. This set includes 11 pots of different-coloured Play-Doh, which you form into a ball and then plop into the “oven” – turn the handle, and out pops a cake! There’s also a roller to make “icing” for your cake.
Not surprisingly, this set kept my testers busy for ages – they were immersed in a game of bakers, and eventually scaled up their business to open up a (chaotic) bakery. Yes, Play-Doh dries out eventually, but you can easily replace pots to keep this set developing kids’ fine motor skills for years to come.
Age suitability: 3+
Pet project
Le Toy Van animal vet set
“Imaginative play is crucial at this age,” says Moore-Williams. “Dressing up, building and small-world play gives children a safe way to explore big ideas and practise real-life roles, supporting their personal, social and emotional development.”
The Le Toy Van animal vet set ticks a big box for five-year-olds’ development, then, and it’s also a thing of beauty. Arriving in a cloth “medical” bag, the 10 pieces include a stethoscope, dressing scissors, medicine bottle and more. All pieces are made from fabric and FSC wood, with nontoxic dyes, and are a delight to play with – even as an adult who was roped into the game. It proved popular with my mini-testers, being picked up time and again for repeat play, as well as individual pieces of the set being used in other games, too. It’s well made, with attention to detail – and I can see it being in my family for years to come.
Age suitability: 3+
Build their imagination
Lego medium creative brick box
Lego is always my go-to gift for kids of pretty much any age. Yes, it’s plastic, but it’s also versatile and lasts. “There are lots of possibilities to create endlessly with it,” says Daisy Upton, author of Five Minute Mum.
My testers were keen to dive into this medium creative box, building jails, vets and even spaceships. You can pick up a Lego ideas book to give alongside it, which should inspire your child to keep coming back to this box.
Age suitability: 4+
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Get crafty
Staedtler Noris jumbo paper figures crafting set
“If you want to invest in fewer, better-quality toys, then I’d suggest craft materials: pencils, paints, stationery that children can access and explore independently,” says Piercey. “Our biggest mistake is probably buying too much.”
This little craft kit comes with crayons, scissors, glue and sheets with the nets of animals printed on them, so kids can make 3D crocodiles, flamingos and more. What stood out most about this kit was its quality – the scissors, crayons and even the glue will last for longer than one crafting session, plus the crayons are chunky and highly pigmented, making colouring a joy. The animals will require adult help to make, but I found it was a lovely hour of connection with my testers. A great “class-party gift” for five-year-olds.
Age suitability: 4+
Balancing act
Stapelstein stepping stones 6+1 set
When it’s raining and you have a lively five-year-old on your hands, it can feel like a real effort to keep them entertained. These stepping stones are a life-saver – and stack together neatly for storing. My testers used them to play The Floor Is Lava, to cross an imaginary river, and even to create an obstacle course. The wobble board at the base is great for helping children to build core strength, and the gentle rocking is great for those seeking sensory stimulation. The set is pricey, but it’s well made and will last an entire childhood. Note, too, they’re made from recyclable foam and are climate-neutral.
Age suitability: 1 year+
Choo-choo-choose traditional
Hornby steam goods express train set
For kids who are fascinated by buttons and figuring out how things work, this Hornby train set is a great screen-free toy. Little fingers will find the plastic track easy to fit together, while parents will appreciate that the batteries are rechargeable and the remote is wire-free. The motorised train totally caught our testers’ imagination, with kids adding their own town around the track using toys they already had. Compatible with Hornby’s Playtrains range, if it proves popular, then you can invest in more pieces.
Age suitability: 5+
Wheely good fun
Yomo 16 kids bike
Every expert I spoke to said children should be encouraged to play outside more. A bike feels like a great way to get them outdoors and expending energy. Many children learn to ride a bike at about the age of five, and this is a great set of wheels to learn on. Designed specifically for younger riders, the Yomo 16 has a single-speed drivechain (ie one gear) so it’s simple for kids to learn on – and fewer parts to potentially need repairs. It’s made from triple-butted alloy, so it’s robust yet light. Yomo offers a bike-trade scheme, where if you trade in your old Yomo, you get up to 50% off the original purchase price – but you have to trade in before 24 months of your original purchase.
Age suitability: 4+
House rules
Le Toy Van bay tree doll’s house
What a thing of beauty this doll’s house is. It comes flat-packed, and although easy to put together, I’d do so before presenting it to your child. It’s made from FSC wood and painted with nontoxic dyes, and it feels solid. I left this toy constructed in a corner of a room as an invitation to play – and my mini-testers were immediately drawn in. There are three floors but no set rooms, so they can imagine a house that fits with their play. It’s one that will probably see generations of play in one family.
Age suitability: 3+
Join the thread
Cotton Twist Allsorts keyring kit
Keeping energetic kids busy is tricky, and never do parents feel that more than during a meal at a restaurant or on a long-haul flight. This little tin proved to be a saviour with our testers. It contains elasticated thread with metal ends for easy threading, wooden beads and wooden fobs. You can make five keyrings from it – which, during testing, took up a good 45 minutes to an hour, with children absorbed in the task. They felt a sense of achievement on completing, while I was pleased to see them working on their fine-motor skills without realising it. Aside from the elastic, this kit is mostly sourced from wood.
Age suitability: 3+
What you need to know
What to buy for a five-year-old
“The key needs and interests of five-year-olds are building social skills, early literacy and numeracy development, fine-motor control and lots of co-regulation opportunities to support self regulation,” says Moore-Williams. “Five-year-olds are interested in pretend play, storytelling, construction and role-play with friends.”
They’re often quite easy to please, too. They like any and every toy they can get their hands on – so long as it’s not too “babyish”. “A common mistake adults make when choosing toys is buying toys that aren’t age/stage appropriate,” says Moore-Williams. Think about what toys your child plays with the most, and then try to tap into that interest. If they love dressing up and role-play, then a little handbag or a play till will go down a treat.
At the age of five, children still have a lot of playtime ahead of them. “Look for toys that grow with the child, and offer new challenges as they get older,” says Moore-Williams. Toys such as Lego, craft supplies and magnetic tiles will be enjoyed for years.
All toys sold in the UK should carry a CE (Conformité Européenne) or UKCA (UK Conformity Assessed) mark. You can check the age-suitability warnings, but these tend to be guidance rather than a rule after the age of three. Anything battery-operated should have a secure compartment for the battery.
Of course, think about the space you have for the toys, too: toys do have a tendency to take over a house if you let them. If you’re giving a toy to a child that isn’t yours, most parents will be grateful for a gift that won’t be too difficult to accommodate. Toys that come with their own storage – such as the stepping stones and Lego listed above, or craft materials that come in a box – are a win, too.
For more, read sustainable Christmas gifts for young children and the best Christmas gifts for 2025
