I personally love shopping for kids and the experience of gift giving. There’s nothing quite the same as watching a child light up when they open a brand new toy and are filled with joy and delight. No adult is ever quite as enthused, and it gives you such a great feeling as the gift giver. If you’re shopping for that 5 year old boy in your life (be it your own child, your nephew, cousin, friend’s kid, whomever), I’ve gathered up some of the best toys for 5 year old boys that will fit all budgets and interests.
By the age of 5, most children have developed their own preferences and interests, so I would start with thinking about what they enjoy most. Is it sports, drawing, solving puzzles? Do they enjoy being inside or outside more? All of those answers will help you pick the best toy from the below list that will cater to their newly developed interests and help them grow.
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What to look for in toys for 5 year old boys
The age of 5 can be a tricky one. Usually 5 year olds are beginning to navigate social play, tricky emotions, improved physical coordination and are developing a real sense of independence. Additionally, 5 year olds have also started to understand some concepts of time (being able to reference today and tomorrow) and usually are able to count to 10. Furthermore, at this age a child will have developed enough physical coordination to button buttons and hop on one foot. Also, 5 year olds are notoriously communicative; they’ll usually talk your ear off! So looking for toys that help them engage and hone these new skills and develop additional ones are a great place to start. Board games are also now on the table as 5 year olds can follow games with simple rules!
The Best Toys for 5 Year Old Boys
BOTZEES GO! Dinosaur Robots for Kids, Building and Electric Remote Control Toys
This is one of my few favorite toys for kids on this list because I think it so neat. I totally would have wanted this as a kid! This kit allows you to build and design your very own remote controlled dinosaur using the included 103 blocks and shapes, which provide many configuration options. Additionally, you can use the remote to make the dinosaur move forward, or backwards, and to make fun dino sounds. This STEM toy helps kids ages 3-6 with developing their motor and logic skills as they build their robot dinosaur. You can even download an app which provides easy to follow instructions on how to put together each configuration of dinosaur. This would make a great Christmas or birthday gift for any 5 year old boy.
Yeti in My Spaghetti
The Yeti in My Spaghetti game is a well loved game in our household. It’s super simple to set up and play, and helps with developing hand-eye coordination. Basically, the premise of the game is to build a stack of spaghetti over the included bowl, and to then place the Yeti on top. Then players take turns removing the spaghetti noodles one at a time until the Yeti falls into the bowl below. The player who makes the Yeti drop loses. This was also a Toy of the Year Award winner in 2017.
Toy Rocket Launcher for Kids
Next on my list of the best toys for 5 year old boys is this fun foam rocket launcher toy that will provide endless hours of fun play outside. It launches up to 100 feet in the air, and it comes with 6 colorful rockets. Also the rocket launcher is extremely durable and designed to last through all the stomping and launching. The rocket is super simple to put together, and no batteries or electricity are required (just a little stomp on the base). The stand even folds up for easy storage. Additionally, the angle of the launcher is adjustable so that kids can play with launching from various angles and test out different trajectories. The rocket is safe for ages 3 and up.
Light Saber Toy Laser Sword
This pack includes 2 LED light up light saber toy swords. They make sound effects when you play with them and have 3 switchable sound settings. You can also link the 2 swords together to create one dual-ended light saber sword. Certainly any Star Wars fun will love these, but in general these are a kid favorite. We have 2 of these and every single kid who has ever come over to visit plays with these at some point. While they do require supervision if two children are swinging them at each other, and you will also want to make sure their parent is comfortable with the idea of a light saber toy before purchasing. Outside of that, they are a super fun toy that any 5 year old boy would be excited to receive.
Tiny Lands Kids Fort Building Kit
What child doesn’t love building forts to play in? Take it to the next level and exercise those STEM skills with this fort building kit from Tiny Land Toys. The kit includes 130 total pieces (86 sticks and 44 child-safe joint connector balls) which can be used to build all sorts of configurations, including a castle, a rocket, a pyramid, and a bunker. To assemble, the sticks are simply inserted into the holes on the joint connector balls and then twisted to form a sturdy link. Once the fort is assembled, you can throw a sheet or blanket on top to complete. The kit also includes a storage bag to keep all of the pieces together when not in use. This is a wonderful toy for inspiring and honing design problem-solving skills and imagination.
Jumbo Dinosaur Egg Paleontologist Activity
Feel like a real paleontologist with this jumbo dino egg! The jumbo egg is over 7 inches long. Hidden inside the egg are 12 dinosaur figurines that can be excavated using the 3 included digging tools (a chisel, brush and mallet) in the package. Additionally, the kit contains 12 full-color learning cards on a chain, which each provide a description of one of the dinosaurs that can be found inside of the egg. This is sure to be a huge hit for any dinosaur lover as they can unearth a dinosaur figure and learn more about them with the included cards!
Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Activity Set
Encourage the budding scientist in your life with this Science Lab Activity Set from Learning Resources. The kit includes a flask, beaker, safety goggles, an eyedropper, tweezers, a magnifying glass, a funnel, 2 small test tubes with lids, a large test tube with a stopper, and 2 test tube stands. Also included are 10 double-sided activity cards which provide instructions on easy to follow beginner science activities that can be completed using the items in the kit plus a few common household products. All of the items in the kit are very sturdy and easy to clean. This kit will help lay a solid foundation for science, chemistry and exploration!
JOYSTAR Whizz Kids Bike
This is probably the most classic toy on the list, but it’s here for good reason. The age of 5 is a great time to introduce a bicycle! This Joystar kids bicycle is a fantastic choice. These bikes are made with lightweight frames, designed with children and first time bike riders in mind. The cranks and pedals are positioned forward for easier pedaling. The gearing is designed for easy starting. The grips and seat are smaller for kiddos. The bikes come in multiples sizes and are designed to grow with the kids; there are detachable training wheels, and a height adjustable saddle and handlebar. The sturdy Hi-Ten steel frame and fork are built to last so that your little rider can enjoy for many years!
Scooter for Kids
If you aren’t quite ready for a bike yet, or if your child has already mastered it, another great choice is this scooter with flashing wheels. It is equipped with a wide standing board and 3 wheels to provide greater stability and a smooth ride for kids learning how to scooter. No batteries are required for the light up wheels as it is powered by the spinning motion. Additionally, the scooter is lightweight for kiddos, and folds up for easy storage. The handlebar height is also adjustable so that kids can use it for the years to come. This is a great gift for any active outdoor loving child!
Walkie Talkies for Kids
This next toy is very nostalgic for me as I loved using walkie talkies as a kid. I remember sharing one with my neighbor next door and going on adventures together. These walkie talkies are great because they have super clear sound, call alerting functionality, and adjustable volume levels. On top of that, they also have a built-in light, 22 channels and a key lock function to prevent small children from changing the configuration when playing with them. Additionally, they are light-weight with and ergonomic design for small hands. Any 5 year old boy would be super excited to play around with these!
Goopow Kids Camera
Next on the list of the best toys for 5 year old boys, I have the perfect give for the 5 year old budding photographer: a toy camera. Now they won’t have to borrow your phone and leave a million selfies or random pictures of the floor and dog, they can use their very own camera designed for young children. This camera features a super cute animal design on the front (you can choose from multiple cat colors or a monster). Additionally, the camera has a 2.62″ LED screen and can take 1440x1080P video. Camera functions include photo capture, video recording, playback, Game Play and date setting. There are 3 included games and 32 GB of memory on an included SD Card. Furthermore, the camera is incredibly lightweight at 105 g, making it a perfect option for kiddos.
Found It! Card Game
The Found it! Card Game is an indoor scavenger hunt for kids. Each card contains a prompt to find something…some examples are: find something that’s the color purple, find something that starts with the letter A, find something that rhymes with cat. After flipping over a prompt card, players must look for the item specified and then shout “Found it” when they find something that fits the description. The first player to collect 7 cards wins. This game is super fun, educational and allows children to practice their observation and reasoning skills. It’s a perfect gift for 5 year old boys or any child between the ages of 4-7.
Hot Wheels Robo T-Rex Garage – Multi Level
What could be a better toy for a 5 year old boy than something that combines Hot Wheels with dinosaurs? A large multi-level garage will provide hours of imaginative play sure to delight any boy who loves playing with cars. The garage includes side-by-side play for racing and a dinosaur thrown in the middle of the action to devour the vehicles.
Monster Jam Megalodon Storm All-Terrain Remote Control Monster Truck Toy Vehicle
Every 5 year old boy loves a classic remote controlled car, but this one is special! You can drive it on land, but as an added bonus it can also drive in water. Meet the Megaladon Monster Remote Control Truck. It works on all terrains – mud, grass, snow, ice, water, you name it and this truck can tackle it. On top of that, it is designed to be a replica of the official megaladon monster truck with authentic graphics, tires and all details.
My mother was a librarian, so I have had the love of reading and books instilled from a very early age. I love giving books as gifts, and 5 year old boys have a great selection to choose from. Some of my favorites for that age are: The Little Kids Big Book of Why, Dragons love Tacos, and Waiting is not Easy (in fact, all of Mo Willem’s books are fantastic choices!).
That rounds up my list of the best toys for 5 year old boys. Do you have a favorite toy for 5 year old boys that I missed? If so, please leave a comment below to share your pick.
Thanks for stopping by! If you enjoyed this post, be sure to check out my post on the 10 Best Outdoor Toys for Kids.