Best Toys for 5 Year Olds: Christmas Gift Guide 2026

Child in a helmet riding a navy Banwood Maxi Scooter Vintage along an autumn pavement with an adult alongside

Best Toys for 5 Year Olds: A Christmas Gift Guide for Ages 5 and 6

By five, children want toys that can keep up with them. These gifts are built to.

Five year olds have started school, have opinions about everything and have usually outgrown the toys that suited them at three. The best toys for 5 year olds keep pace with that. They ask for more skill, more imagination or more independence, and they are sturdy enough for a child who is bigger and bolder than a year ago.

The best toys for 5 year olds give a growing child something new to master. An indoor climbing set or bigger scooter suits active play, a twin dolls pram or detailed play kitchen suits more involved role play, and a child-height bookcase supports early reading.

Active play: climbing sets and a bigger scooter

Five year olds need to move, including on wet winter afternoons. The MeowBaby House & Ladder Climbing Set works as an indoor climbing ladder, and with its fabric tent attached it becomes a den for quieter moments. It is recommended from age 3, measures 60 x 61cm and comes in a choice of tent and ladder colours. There are larger sets in our wooden climbing frames collection.

Outdoors, a child who has mastered three wheels is often ready for two. The Banwood Maxi Scooter Vintage is a two-wheel scooter with a lightweight aluminium frame, a wide oak deck and a T-bar that adjusts from 74.5cm to 84.5cm. Banwood recommends it from age 6, so it is best for a five year old who will turn six soon, or as a gift to grow into. A Banwood Classic Helmet, sized for ages 3 to 7, completes the gift.

MeowBaby House and Ladder Climbing Set with pink tent set up as a den in a bedroom

Banwood Classic Helmet in matte navy on a hallway bench next to children's gloves

Child with the Roma RHS Twin Dolls Pram in Fern and two dolls in a playroom, an adult on the sofa nearby

MeowBaby White and Rose Gold Wooden Play Kitchen with its hob lit up in a family kitchen

Role play grows up: twin prams and play kitchens

Role play at five has more characters and more plot. The Roma RHS Twin Dolls Pram in Fern lets a child look after two dolls at once, with seats that recline and reverse and a handle that adjusts from 69cm to 84cm, a taller range than Roma's single prams. See our current styles in the dolls prams collection.

The MeowBaby White & Rose Gold Wooden Play Kitchen adds a hob that lights up with a cooking effect, opening cabinets and seven accessories, which gives a five year old enough detail to run a whole restaurant. It is suitable from age 3, so a younger sibling can join in too.

MeowBaby Montessori Bookcase in beige with books cover forward in a child's bedroom

Early readers: a bookcase at their height

Many five year olds are starting to read, and they are far more likely to pick up a book they can see. The MeowBaby Montessori Bookcase has a top shelf that displays books cover forward, with two full-width shelves beneath for larger books or toys. It is low and stable enough for a child to use on their own, and its little house shape makes it feel like theirs. Browse our kids bookcases.

Add a few new books under the tree and the bookcase becomes part of the gift rather than just furniture.

Frequently asked questions

What are the best toys for 5 year olds?

Toys that ask for a little more skill or imagination suit this age best: an indoor climbing set, a two-wheel scooter for a child ready to move on, a twin dolls pram, a detailed play kitchen and a bookcase for early reading.

What age is the Banwood Maxi Scooter for?

Banwood recommends the Maxi Scooter from age 6, with a maximum user weight of 100kg. For a younger rider, the Banwood Vintage 3-Wheel Scooter is sized from age 3.

Is an indoor climbing set suitable for a 5 year old?

The MeowBaby House & Ladder Climbing Set is recommended from age 3 and is CE certified. As with any climbing toy, adult supervision is recommended during use.

Is a dolls pram still a good gift for a 5 year old?

Yes, particularly a twin pram, which suits the more involved role play of this age. The Roma RHS Twin Dolls Pram has a handle that adjusts from 69cm to 84cm, so it suits taller children.

How do I choose a Christmas gift for a 5 year old who already has lots of toys?

Look for a gift that does something their current toys cannot, such as a place to climb, a bigger ride or a proper home for books. Gifts that adjust as a child grows tend to stay in use for longer.

Toys that keep up

The best toys for 5 year olds meet a growing child where they are and still have more to offer next year. Choose for the skill they are working on now.

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