It seems like overnight my little, beautiful baby boy has turned into a big kid. He’s hitting the 5-year-old milestones like speaking really clearly, being aware of his gender, and telling some amazing stories. But what truly amazes me is his burst of independence. He loves getting his own snacks from the fridge, filling up his cup with water, and is no longer shy about telling his father and I what he wants to eat or do each day. He is truly becoming his own little person and wants to explore and learn on his own.
Since we’re still following safety protocols for COVID, he’s not engaging with a ton of other kids right now. So I’m using his upcoming birthday as the perfect opportunity to shop for some new toys to support his development, independence, and curiosity (plus he’s no longer obsessed with many of the toys I carefully picked out for Christmas and his previous birthdays).
Despite my reluctance, I have to admit that he isn’t my baby boy anymore. He is starting to grow into his own person who needs more age-appropriate toys to not only entertain him, but also stimulate his mental growth.
If you too have an almost 5-year-old in your life, here is a list of some of the best 5th birthday gifts for any budget.
Under $30 Gifts for 5-Year-Olds
Manhattan Toy Company
Playdate Friends Doll Nico
Walmart
Blokus Junior
Montessori Screw Driver Board
Montessori toys encourage independent play and this screw set can help improve hand-eye coordination.
Alphabet Affirmation Flashcards
This set is perfect for practicing self-love and reinforcing the alphabet.
Bath Bombs with Surprise
Children will love how these bath bombs fizz and turn their bath water different colors. Plus, each one comes with a prize inside.
Flybar
Flybars are a blast from the past that offer fun for kids and nostalgia for their parents.
Manhattan Toy Company
Space Dog
KIDO
3D Dinosaur Puzzle
Source: Kampus Production | Pexels
Under $50 Gifts for 5-Year-Olds
Kids Camera
This camera is perfect for the kid who's always asking to take pictures on your phone. Encourage their interest in photography with their own digital camera.
Learning Resources Gears
This toy is great for children to work on their fine motor skills and introduce engineering concepts.
LEGO Classic
LEGOS are a classic for a reason. This box of nearly 800 pieces encourages children to use their creativity.
Fort Kit
This fort kit offers endless imaginative possibilities while also boosting problem solving and cognitive skills.
Under $100 Gifts for 5-Year-Olds
Young Chemist Box
Gift a monthly KiwiCo crate subscription for hands-on learning. Designed by childhood development experts and educators, KiwiCo's STEAM activities make it easy for parents to offer their kids something new and engaging each month.
Use code EVERYMOM for 30% off your first month's subscription of any line!
Botley 2.0
Introduce coding concepts to kids with this next generation of the award-winning botley robot toy.
Plugo Letters
My boys love using their Plugo to practice their letters. This gift is perfect for learning and having fun.
Zoe Doll
The Zoe Doll is a beautiful representation of Black children, and helps teach Black children and parents how to style Black hair.
$100+ Splurge Gifts for 5-Year-Olds
Scooter
The perfect ride to grow with your kid, Micro Kickboard's Maxi Deluxe scooter is made for ages 5-12. It has an adjustable handle and smooth gliding ride. Plus, this version features components created from recycled ocean plastic.
Hot Wheels
For the car loving kids in your life, this Hot Wheel set is sure to be endless fun.
Climb 'n Slide
Little trampolines make the days a lot more fun (and bedtime a lot easier for parents).
iPad mini
Tablets offer endless entertainment and educational options for children. A 5-year-old's birthday could be an occasion to gift them one of their very own (with limits, of course).
This post was in partnership with Manhattan Toy Company but all of the opinions within are those of The Everymom editorial board. We only recommend products we genuinely love.
