The Ultimate Fifth Birthday Gift Guide

Five is pivotal: they’re officially one whole hand old, which means literal high-fives all around. It’s a milestone year for so many reasons—many five-year-olds are headed off to school, they’re relatively self-sufficient, and they’re fantastic little conversationalists.

Five-year-old interests and hobbies are as unique as they are, and we’ve pulled together our favorite things for them from all over the board and at every price point! Whether they’re into coding (or you think they might want to be), ballet or building, stick a pin in this list for your favorite five-year-olds and let’s get into it.

For more gift ideas for kids of all ages, check out our Birthday Gift Guides.

roundup of the best fifth birthday toys with the text "The Ultimate Fifth Birthday Gift Guide"

Fifth Birthday Gifts Less than $25

National Geographic Little Kids Big Book of Why

At five, kiddos start asking a lot of smart questions, and many of them revolve around whys. This interactive question-and-answer reference guide includes information, hands-on games, simple recipes, crafts, and more.

It also answers some big questions they may or may not be asking: Why do planes fly? How does mushy dough become a crispy cookie? Why does my skin wrinkle in the tub? 

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why (National Geographic Little Kids First Big Books)


Sago Brothers Air-Dry Clay Set

The zen of rolling, molding, and sculpting is so fun to encourage at a young age. This non-toxic (and air drying!) clay set comes with 24 colors, three tools, and a 72-page instruction book. Hours of screen-free play!

Buy it: Amazon

Sago Brothers Set of 24 Colors Modeling Air Dry Clay for Slime add ins & Slime Supplies (Packaging May Vary)


Hexbug Nano 5-Pack

If you have kids and critters, you’re definitely going to want to grab a set of these Hexbug Nanos. They’re robotic, light-up bugs that vibrate and move on their own. 

Cats love them, as do cackling five-year-olds who can create full playgrounds for them or set them loose around the house. Big entertainment lies ahead.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

HEXBUG Nano 5 Pack - 4 nanos Plus Bonus Flash Nano - Sensory Vibration Toys for Kids and Cats - Small HEX Bug Tech Toy - Batteries Included - Multicolor


Outfoxed! Board Game

Also featured in our Best Board Games for Kindergarteners round up, Outfoxed! has young players looking for Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie, which has gone missing. Now, it’s a chicken chase to crack the case! 

Players move around the board to gather clues, then use the special evidence scanner to rule out suspects. They have to work together quickly before the fox escapes! Will your littles halt the hungry hooligan, or will they be Outfoxed?

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Gamewright Outfoxed! A Cooperative Whodunit Board Game for Kids 5+, Multi-colored, Standard, Model Number: 418


Kiwi Crate (Individual Crate or Subscription)

Grab a single crate or sign up for a monthly subscription. Kiwi Crate was developed for kids 5-8 and celebrates their natural creativity and curiosity. 

Projects are STEAM-based and designed to spark a love for learning. Build an arcade claw, explore all things flight, or dig into the science of trees. Each kit comes with several projects, an inspiration booklet, Kiwi’s explore! magazine, and access to more online DIYs. 

Buy it: Kiwi Co

roundup of toys in a kiwi crate subscription box

Insect Lore Butterfly Garden

Do you have Hungry Caterpillar enthusiasts in your house? Witness butterfly metamorphosis in real life with the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden. 

You and your kiddos will enjoy this engaging, hands-on educational activity, which lets kids care for live insects as they undergo metamorphosis. Over approximately three weeks, kiddos look on as the bugs transform from caterpillars to chrysalides to beautiful Painted Lady butterflies. 

When you’re ready to start, claim your live caterpillars online!

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Insect Lore - Butterfly Growing Kit - With Voucher to Redeem Caterpillars Later


PlusPlus Open Play Set

Plus-Plus is a unique construction toy—one simple shape contains endless possibilities and hours of fun!

Every piece easily connects to the next in any direction. Create colorful flat mosaics or work in 3-D to make more intricate builds. This kit comes with 400 pieces, including a baseplate and an idea book.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Plus-Plus - Learn to Build Basic Color Mix, 400 Piece - Construction Building STEM | STEAM Toy, Interlocking Mini Puzzle Blocks for Kids


Birthday Cake Squishmallow

They’ll walk around hugging their Birthday Squishmallow and singing happy birthday to themselves (and everyone else) for months to come. It doubles as a very comfortable pillow that can be added to their Squishmallow squad.

Buy it: Amazon

Squishmallows Food Snack Squad 6 asst Plush Doll Toy 8" (Dorina The Cake)


Crayola Inspiration Art Case

One case, so many art options! The Crayola Inspiration Art Case comes with 64 crayons, 20 short colored pencils, 40 washable markers, and 15 large pieces of paper – everything for your five-year-old to create many masterpieces.

Buy it: Amazon

Crayola Inspiration Art Case Coloring Set, Kids Art Supplies Set, Gifts For Kids Ages 5 +, 140 ct


Snap Circuits Beginner

This snap circuits beginner kit includes 14 parts that allow burgeoning builders to create more than 20 projects while learning how switches and circuits work. It also has a manual with step-by-step diagrams perfect for early “engineers.” Lights, sounds, and motion—hurray!

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Snap Circuits Beginner, Electronics Exploration Kit, Stem Kit For Ages 5-9 (SCB-20)


Fifth Birthday Gifts Less than $75

Robot Pet Shop

Robots and pets combined? Double cool!

This hands-on introductory mechanical engineering kit includes a 32-page, full-color storybook manual that follows the adventures of Ty and Karlie Omega, two young engineers, as they visit the robot pet shop and encounter all sorts of adorable robotic pets.

Step-by-step assembly instructions guide kiddos as they build eight motorized models of the robots from the story: an owl, French bulldog, sloth, panda, chameleon, cat, turtle, and rabbit.

Buy it: Amazon

Thames & Kosmos Kids First Robot Pet Shop: Owls, French Bulldogs, Sloths & More! STEM Experiment Kit for Young Engineers | Build 8 Motorized Robots of Cute Animals | Play & Learn with Storybook Manual


Magna-QuBix Magnetic Building Shapes

There are infinite ways to put together these colorful magnetic 3D shapes! Powered by neodymium magnets, these blocks click together when they’re near each other, unlocking your little’s love for building and design. Use them to build flowers or dinosaurs or vehicles! 

If you have classic Magna-Tiles, they can also be used to “decorate” your creations. Or, try using a magnetic baking sheet for a base and voilà: portable building! ⁠

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Magna-Qubix 29-Piece Clear Colors Set - The Original, Award-Winning Magnetic 3D Building Shapes - Creativity and Educational - STEM Approved


Ballerina Jewelry Box

Misty Copeland is already an icon, and now little girls can imagine her (or themselves!) twirling in this beautiful box. This jewelry box features a ballerina in a real fabric skirt and, when it opens, plays Waltz of the Flowers. Open the box to find a sweet ballerina bracelet and necklace set.

Buy it: Amazon

The Memory Building Company Musical Black Ballerina Jewelry Box for Girls & Little Girls Jewelry Set - 3 Dancer Gifts for Girls


Lego Classic Creative Brick Box

Is your kiddo ready for 484 LEGOS? Are you? The best part about all these small pieces is that five-year-olds will spend hours engaging in pretend play. The kit allows kids to create toy trains or tiger figurines with a classic collection of LEGO bricks.

This set includes classic LEGO bricks in 35 colors, windows, toy eyes, 18 tires, and a green baseplate. Everything fits inside the container for storage. No tripping hazards here!

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696 Building Toys for Creative Play; Kids Creative Kit (484 Pieces)


Bonaok Wireless Karaoke Microphone

Your mini performer will love this portable microphone that comes in nine different colors! It’s a wireless karaoke microphone, a speaker, and a recorder, with 48 colorful LED lights flickering to the beat and jazzing up the show. 

Buy it: Amazon

BONAOK Wireless Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone with Controllable LED Lights, Portable Handheld Karaoke Speaker Machine Birthday Home Party for All Smartphone(Q78 Rose Gold)


MacKenzie Duffle Bag

Give them an adventure of a lifetime with this monogrammable weekender available in an array of colors and patterns. It’s super-durable (made from rugged, water-resistant 600-denier polyester), spacious, and features an adjustable, detachable shoulder strap and two convenient carrying handles.

Buy it: Pottery Barn Kids

kids blue unicorn duffle bag with rainbow strap

Blisslights Sky Lite Laser Projector

Your little astronaut will love this laser projector! It puts on a show with drifting stars against a transforming RGB nebula cloud that brings instant ambiance to their bedroom.

Download the app and connect with Bluetooth or use simple button controls that make it easy to cycle through light effects, adjust brightness, or start or stop the projector’s rotating motion.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

BlissLights Sky Lite 2.0 - RGB LED Laser Star Projector, Galaxy Lighting, Nebula Lamp (Blue Stars, Smart App)


Echo Dot Kids

Pick between an owl or a dragon for this Echo Dot, created especially for kiddos. They can ask Alexa questions, set alarms, and get help with their homework. It also comes with a year of Amazon Kids+, which gives them access to thousands of hours of kid-friendly Audible books, interactive games, and educational skills.

Buy it: Amazon

All-New Echo Dot (5th Gen, 2022 release) Kids | Designed for kids, with parental controls | Owl


Marble Genius Marble Run Super Set

Marble lovers rejoice. This Marble Run is a great way to introduce your kids to something you loved growing up—in a whole new way! ​​

The 85-piece set includes 26 “action” pieces and eight base pieces, all of which are see-through, allowing kids to take in all the action. Plus, it comes with 56 glass marbles and an interactive app with nine step-by-step guides and fun challenges.

Buy it: Amazon

Marble Genius Marble Run Super Set - 150 Complete Pieces + Free Instruction App & Full Color Instruction Manual


Bruder Dump Truck

Bruder trucks are realistic replicas of the real thing with functioning parks, making them perfect gifts for little kids who love trucks.

The Dump Truck features working steering and wheels, a tipping bed, and gates and doors that open and close. Tip the cab forward and check out the engine! It’s as functional as sturdy and ideal for indoor and outdoor play.

Buy it: Amazon or Walmart

Bruder 02815 MACK Granite Dump Truck for Construction and Farm Pretend Play


Fifth Birthday Gifts Over $75

Botley the Coding Robot 2.0

For early adventures in coding, look no further than Botley! With the help of a 78-piece activity set, Botley helps kids as young as five learn to code through 100% screen-free play. Your little coder can build sequences up to 150 steps in 6 directions.

Botley can also code by color, put on a light show, or transform into a train, police car, ghost, and more. Kids can even test their memory with the lights and sounds of a game of Botley Says! Plus, Botley lights up and has night vision so play can continue in the dark.

Kids will be solving their first coding and STEM challenges just minutes after getting Botley out of his box.

Buy it: Amazon

Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot 2.0 Activity Set, Coding Robot for Kids, STEM Toy, Early Programming, Coding Games for Kids, 78 pieces, Ages 5+


Osmo Coding Starter Kit

Use Osmo to transform your tablet into a hands-on coding adventure. Designed for ages 5–10, this Coding Starter Kit builds coding skills in progression with three hands-on learning games.

Kids learn to code as they connect colorful blocks of code in the physical world to chart the adventure on their screen. No WiFi is necessary, but Osmo Starter sets do require an iPad or Fire Tablet.

Buy it: Amazon or Target

Osmo - Coding Starter Kit for iPad - 3 Educational Learning Games - Ages 5-10+ - Learn to Code, Coding Basics & Coding Puzzles-STEM Toy (Osmo iPad Base Included)


Yoto Player

This cute music player allows kiddos to insert content cards from Yoto’s curated library of 300+ titles into the speaker box for hours of entertainment and learning. Kids’ imaginations will run free with bestselling audiobooks, music and singalongs, educational activities, free children’s podcasts, radio, and more!

Large dials make it easy to change volume and skip forward and back, and it’s portable with a rechargeable battery that even supports Bluetooth. Best of all, it’s kid-tested for durability and parent-tested for easy setup from the app.

Buy it: Amazon

Yoto Player – Kids Audio Player & 7 Cards Starter Pack | Speaker Plays Content Cards with Bestselling Audiobooks & More | Includes Sleep Trainer, Clock, Nightlight All-in-One


Gym1 Indoor Gym Set for Kids

The Gym 1 is the ultimate indoor playground for young kids! The core unit easily attaches to standard doorways without tools, then easily clip on one of the attachments for hours of fun!

The four-piece set includes a pull-up bar, swing, plastic rings, and wood-and-rope ladder. The six-piece set also has a trapeze bar and swinging rope.

Buy it: Amazon

Gym1 - 6 Piece Indoor Doorway Gym Set for Kids - Indoor Swing for Kids Includes Kids Swing Chair, Rings, Hanging Trapeze, Ladder, Swinging Rope & Pullup Bar - Sensory Swing Set Accessory Playground


Lifetime Geometric Dome Climber

So much climbing, so little time! This 54″ free-standing climbing dome features real rock climbing hand grips and powder-coated steel construction. Kids will spend hours climbing and dreaming up new games on their backyard jungle gym.

Buy it: Amazon

Lifetime 90939 Geometric Dome Climber Jungle Gym, 4.5' High x 9' Wide, Blue & Brown


KidKraft So Stylish Mansion

This KidKraft mansion is an open-concept dollhouse that allows multiple kiddos to play simultaneously (and without bickering!).

It includes 42-piece furniture and accessory set, fits 12″ dolls (including Barbie), and offers 360° play access. Plus, it’s on wheels, so it’s easy to move to wherever they want to play that day. Dreamy!

Buy it: Amazon

KidKraft So Stylish Mansion Wooden Mid-Century Dollhouse with EZ Kraft Assembly, Open-Concept, Wheeled Base and 42 Accessories, Gift for Ages 3+


Tubelox Deluxe Building Set

With this life-size construction toy, build anything from sizable creative structures to usable cars, scooters, and rocket ships. This 220-piece set includes pipes, connectors, tires, and panels for multiple building possibilities. And the best part is the structures support up to 75 lbs, making them sturdy enough to play on!

With Tubelox, kids can apply engineering and building skills, all while using their imagination and having a blast!

Buy it: Amazon

Tubelox Deluxe Building Set - The Ultimate Kids STEM Toy Set - Create Anything - Supports Kids Weight for Endless Possibilities | 220 Piece Set

Grab anything from this list? We’d love to see it! Tag us in your posts: @thriftylittles on Instagram and Facebook


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The Ultimate Fifth Birthday Gift Guide

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