These Gifts for 5-Year-Old Girls Can Broaden Horizons and Smiles

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It seems like just yesterday your little girl was a toddler, and now she's a 5-year-old. How do you find a gift for a little one who is constantly changing? In the blink of an eye, she's hitting all sorts of different developmental milestones. Showing more independence, carrying on more meaningful conversations, and copying shapes better than she ever has before. One of the best ways to encourage her to learn, explore, and create is through something most 5-year-olds love to do: play.

Toys and games that are educational or just downright fun can help your little girl build social, emotional, and critical thinking skills. The best gifts for this age group are all about keeping her stimulated, active, and imaginative. Plus, it doesn't hurt that these interactive play things can keep her away from the screen for longer.

We've curated the following list of the best gifts for 5-year-old girls, so you can meet her where she's at developmentally and foster her budding mind. From magnetic stacking tiles to Lego sets and soft plushies, you'll be sure to find a gift for your tot that she can get use out of for years to come.

Cutie Reveal Owl

What’s better than Barbie? A Barbie in an adorable animal costume of course! With 10 surprises in store, this doll from the Snowflake Sparkle Series of Barbie Cutie Reveal line delivers the cutest unboxing experience for your 5-year-old girl.

Play Unicorn Playhouse

Every 5-year-old girl should have a space of her own to play, read, create, and rest, which is why we absolutely love this adorable cardboard house. She’ll have hours of fun coloring in the unicorns and other features and then spending time in her own personal cottage.

Squishmallows Malcolm the Mushroom Plush

What do mushrooms and Squishmallows have in common? Not much, except that they’re both having a moment among kids of all ages. Your 5-year-old girl will love cuddling with this FUN GUY. (Get it? Fun guy, fungi?)

Bluey 5-Minute Stories

Not only is this a great gift for 5-year-old girls, who love bedtime stories and all things Bluey, it’s also a great gift for their parents, who love not reading super-long books at the end of an exhausting day (and also Bluey).

Goldilocks and the Three Bears Toy House

Not too big, not too small, this unique play set is just right! The charming cottage comes with Mama, Papa, and Baby Bear and, of course, Goldilocks, as well as a picture book with the story and DIY projects.

Princess Costumes

Inspired by her favorite movies and fairy tales, your 5-year-old girl will enjoy hours of imaginative play with this set of fanciful, beautiful costumes. And since it comes with multiple dresses and accessories, it's perfect for sharing with friends and siblings.

My Puppy's Home Puppy & Kennel

Your 5-year-old girl must prepare for her puppy by building its house and giving it a name. Attach its name tag to the door and it will appear like magic. (Really! It's so cool!) Once they arrive, it will play with your kiddo with 25 sounds and reactions.

Hello Kitty and Friends Backpack

We're going to go ahead and guess that you know an adult who's into stationery... like, really into stationery. As one of those adults myself, I can assure you that it began with sets like this. The adorable micro-backpack comes with stickers, a notebook, and more for creating, playing, and developing a lifelong stationery obsession.

Sequined Tulle Dress with Balloon Sleeves

Honestly, it's giving Glinda the Good Witch and we are extremely here for it. Sure, giving clothes to a child is a risky move -- they want toys -- but considering this is basically an IRL princess dress we think it's a safe bet. Also *gestures madly at the dress; passes out from cuteness*.

ABC Beads

This colorful kit comes with everything your girl needs to make a collection of friendship bracelets and other handmade jewelry. She can learn new techniques with the instruction booklet included or follow her bliss and make designs all her own.

Inspiration Art Set

This set from Crayola comes with 64 crayons, 20 short colored pencils, 40 washable markers, and 15 sheets of paper. The colorful carrying case not only means there’s a place for everything with everything in its place, but she can take it to make art anywhere she goes.

Fashion Plates

You loved this as a kid, and now it’s time to share the fun and fashion with the next generation. Mix and match plates and make a rubbing to create new characters and looks that you can color and detail however you like.

Additional fashion plates are sold separately if your fashionista ever wants to expand her wardrobe!

Beach Backpack

Great for long car rides, plane trips, or boring adult dinners, the beach playset comes with a Polly and Shani doll, a boat, and many hidden secrets on the beach and in the beach house. (Did someone say secret submarine?!)

Child-Sized Guitar

This 30-inch guitar, which includes extra strings, a tuner, a case, and more, is ideal for beginners since it’s easier for small hands to manage. It’s also available in a variety of colors because practicing is more fun when you know you look cool!

Coding Starter Kit

Screentime gets a bad rap, but what if your child took that time to learn some of the fundamentals of coding? Your girl will use blocks to control Awbie, an adorable character who will follow her commands on her tablet device (not included). Compatible with iPad and Fire tablets.

Marble Run

Your little engineer will have fun creating her very own marble race with these sturdy magnetic tiles and tubes.

This set, which can be configured however she wants, is not only fun but encourages spatial learning, cause and effect, and problem-solving skills.

BFF Doll

Fairies are mysterious creatures indeed. You never know quite where you’re going to find one, and, with this toy, you never know who you’re going to find!

Your girl will have fun discovering which of the 12 collectible fairies will be her new friend. Each doll comes in a light-up jar to be the fairy’s house.

Arts and Crafts Supply Library

Having a variety of materials on hand for all your crafting needs is just a good idea, which is why we love this expansive craft library, complete with 1,500 pieces ranging from felt to pipe cleaners to googly eyes!

Dreamhouse 2023

Editor's Note: If the 2023 version is sold out, we recommend this Barbie Dreamhouse as an alternative. Plus, it's currently 12% off!

Barbie’s Dreamhouse is the gold standard of a little girl’s paradise. There’s a slide, people! Plus, with three levels and 10 living areas, this playset will provide hours of fun. Our little testers loved it so much it was named one of our Best of the Best 2023 winners for Best Dollhouse!

Astronaut Galaxy Projector

We absolutely love this galaxy projector, not only because it has a variety of soothing, intergalactic projections in a variety of colors but also because, when not in use, the adorable astronaut makes a fun decoration in and of itself.

Hunter Backpack

When it comes to being delightfully extra, no one is ever going to top 5-year-old girls or Lisa Frank, whose colorful, busy designs embody the spirit of 5-year-old girls everywhere. We love this leopard-themed backpack, with room for all her school supplies and/or random treasures she wants to cart around.

Cooking Time Kitchen™

Five-star chefs have to start somewhere, and often that’s in a pretend kitchen like this one. Perfectly sized for little hands and big imaginations to cook up the best (imaginary) meals ever.

Ride-On Truck

As kids, we always wanted one of these trucks, so we love the idea of helping our 5-year-old girl feel this joy. This baby gets 3 MPH (whee!) and comes fully loaded with an MP3 player, radio, USB port, Led headlights, a horn, and more.

Starry Night Air Fort

There’s nothing quite like a blanket fort or tent to call one’s own. We love this design because it works with a box fan–just turn it on and the whole thing goes up. No more precariously balancing sheets on cushions for her (and no more annoying cleanup for you).

Cardboard Clubhouse

Half the fun of getting our own living space as an adult was decorating, and we know your 5-year-old girl will feel the same way about this cute cardboard playhouse. It’s a literal blank slate just waiting for her creative touch.

Kids Read Daily Book Club Subscription

Encourage a love of reading early by sending a crate of three books a month personalized to their age and reading level, which you can change at any time so that the subscription adapts as your child’s reading grows stronger.

An Elephant and Piggie Biggie: Vol. 1

Even though Piggie is silly and Gerald is serious, the two are the very best of friends. This collection for early readers includes Today I Will Fly!; Watch Me Throw the Ball!; Can I Play Too?; Let's Go For a Drive!; and I Really Like Slop!

Outfoxed Board Game

Mrs. Plumpert’s prized pot pie has gone missing! You know it’s one of the foxes, but who? Edith?? Belvedere? Ingrid?

Gather clues and use the process of elimination to figure out who did it, but hurry: The culprit is getting away! Can you crack the case before they escape justice?

Barbie with Wheelchair

This fully articulated Barbie comes with lots of cool accessories. but her coolest accessory is her shiny red wheelchair. Working wheels, a ramp, and a handbrake mean Barbie can go anywhere your imagination can take her!

This is, hand's down, my daughter's favorite Barbie and has been for a few years now. Her beautiful hair and well-articulated joints have all held up super well.

Kitchen Creations Colorful Café Kids Play Set

Now that she’s at an age where she’s no longer tempted to shove Play-Doh in her mouth the moment you’re not looking (fingers crossed), this set is a great gift for 5-year-old girls. She’ll have fun making all kinds of (inedible but delicious-looking) goodies.

City Ice Cream Truck

In Lego City, as anywhere, there’s nothing quite like hearing the tinkle of the ice cream truck on a hot day in the city. This is a great gift for 5-year-old girls because when she’s done building, she can have hours of fun playing pretend with the functional ice cream truck and two mini-figures.

Bigfoot Kin

This adorable, 14-inch Bigfoot plush is not only a cuddly companion, but he comes with a storybook that emphasizes social-emotional learning in young children through mantras about self-esteem. The best you can be is you… but you’re even better with Bigfoot by your side!

Flower Power Guitar

This adorable hippie-themed instrument is a cross between a classical guitar (six strings) and a ukulele (perfect size for little hands). It's perfect for young musicians who want to learn how to be the next Joni Mitchell, Joan Baez, or Sister Rosetta Tharpe. (Even they had to start somewhere, right?)

Hopscotch Rabbit Family

Truly, there is nothing more adorable than animals doing people things: Hence the charm of Calico Critters, the line of toys that, we suspect, started the whole cottagecore trend.

There’s almost no end to the adorable sets you can collect, so why not start with the Hopscotch Family? Heidi, Harlin, Bell, and Skip can’t wait to meet your 5-year-old girl.

Big Cats Puzzle

Hey, all you cool cats and kittens! Your girl will have fun putting together this big cat-themed puzzle. Once assembled, she’ll enjoy seeing the image change before her eyes as the figures transform from jungle cats to house cats and back!

She Spoke — Voices of Inspirational Women Sound Book by Kathy Macmillan and Manuela Bernardi

This interactive book features profiles of modern feminist icons — Maya Angelou, Malala Yousafzai, and more — who used their voices to change the world.

Your girl can actually hear those voices with a touch of a button, which plays recordings of their speeches. The book includes posters and prompts to encourage activism in her community.

She Spoke — Voices of Inspirational Women Sound Book by Kathy Macmillan and Manuela Bernardi

uncommongoods.com

$25.00

Sloth Plush

We can learn so much from sloths — these adorable, relaxed creatures take their time and know that life is better when you don’t exert yourself. This sloth is incredibly soft and perfect for cuddles, and it makes a great friend or even a fun pillow!

The Floor Is Lava! Game

Now your kiddo can play this childhood classic without jumping on the couch and throwing pillows everywhere. Set foam pads down on the floor and spin for your color — jump along the pads to get to safety because remember: The floor is lava!

Bluetooth Karaoke Microphone

Your girl’s dreams of stardom can come true with this Bluetooth microphone. Connect to her favorite music apps to play any song she wants, or choose from 30 Motown classics that come included. Use voice-changing effects — high, low, echo, or chipmunk — for a bold new sound!

BFF Doll

Fairies are mysterious creatures: yyou never know quite where you’re going to find one, and, with this toy, you never know who you’re going to find!

Indoor Soccer/Hockey Set

Encourage her sporty side with this cool set, complete with everything she needs to play indoor soccer and hockey. Perfect for practice or just having some fun, it comes with two goals, two adjustable hockey sticks, a mini soccer ball, and two hockey balls.

Binoculars

Whether she wants to birdwatch or spy on an older sibling, these binoculars are just the thing. (Although it might be a good time to talk to her about boundaries and respecting privacy.)

Perfectly sized for little ones, these real binoculars will give her a front-row seat to nature, theater, sporting events, and more.

Scoop Ball

Have fun and develop hand-eye coordination with this classic outside game. Just make sure you have enough room because even little arms can send these balls flying with the specially designed scoop!

Friends Holiday Camping

We’re big fans of the LEGO Friends collection, and this simple build– a trailer camper and car – is an ideal gift for a 5-year-old girl, especially one who hasn’t played much with LEGO before. The fairly simple build comes with two mini-figures, which she'll have just as much fun playing with it as making it.

More: The Best Toys for Kids to Cure Them of Their Perpetual Boredom

Remote Control Fire-Breathing Dragon

What 5-year-old girl doesn’t want a dragon for a friend? This little guy shoots out a blast of smoke (water mist) and is controlled with magic (a remote). In addition to breathing “smoke,” it growls, roars, and flaps its wings.

My First Hoverboard

Look, as an adult, it is very natural to be extremely jealous of the fact that kids today have hoverboards when it’s literally all we ever wanted.

But push past that jealousy and realize that you can experience vicarious joy by getting this 5-mile-per-hour toy for the little girl in your life.

Think & Learn Alpha SlideWriter

Now that your 5-year-old girl is kindergarten-aged (go ahead and shed a tear now if you have to), she’s going to be practicing her writing skills.

Make learning fun with this toy: Move the letters to form words and practice on the special magnetic screen; just wipe away when you’re done. The special pencil grip encourages proper hold.

Barbie Dreamhouse 60th Anniversary Edition

Barbie’s Dreamhouse is the gold standard of a little girl’s paradise. There’s a slide, people! Plus, with three levels and 10 living areas, this playset will provide hours of fun. Our little testers loved it so much it was named one of our Best of the Best 2023 winners for Best Dollhouse!

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