The Best Gifts for 5-Year-Old Boys That *Just* Might Tire Them Out

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Rambunctious, fun, messy, and, yes, sometimes just a little bit gross — we never realized how many different ways one could make a fart joke – but they’re also thoughtful, funny, and incredibly sweet. We’re talking, of course, about 5-year-old boys. Look, we know we’re a little bit biased here, but we think they’re the best. On the one hand, they’re still so little. (Have you ever seen a 5-year-old wear a backpack? They look like tiny little turtles with big ol’ shells.) On the other hand, they’re growing into themselves and finding their voice. Being 5 is basically the best of all possible worlds.

So what gifts for 5-year-old boys can you give them that encourage this journey into Big Kid-dom? We have found something for everyone, from high-energy sporty kids to sensitive artistes, would-be spies, to little boys who maybe need just a little bit of help seeing that kindergarten is fun. We also wanted to make sure to include games you could play together because, at this magical age, the fun is contagious.

Toniebox Starter Set

The perfect gift for the 5-year-old boy who is learning to read but isn’t quite there yet. Just put one of the line’s 159 toy figures on top of the Toniebox (this starter set includes one) and your child will get to listen to a story. Great for bedtime or reading along.

More: 30 Gifts for 7-Year-Old Girls That Are as Amazing as They Are

Kids Rock Painting Kit

Painting on paper? How quaint. Why not let him express himself with this fun project. Set includes 10 rocks, paints (including glow-in-the-dark paints), stickers, and even googly eyes to create nifty little treasures for people in your community to find or to decorate your own yard.

Classic Jenga

Move pieces carefully out of place and onto the top of the stack. As the game goes in, the structure gets more and more wobbly. Perfect for the careful kid, or the kid who likes to knock things down. (It’s a win-win.)

Magic Mixies Magical Misting Cauldron

Mix the magic ingredients to conjure a new plush friend. We’re honestly always stunned by how cool this toy is – potion really creates a foggy mist and he’ll love his new, chatty Mixie friend.

Spidey and His Amazing Friends Deluxe Headquarters Playset

We love this toy because it does awesome double duty as both a vehicle and a playset. Your 5-year-old boy will love having adventures with Peter, Miles, and Gwen as they use their spider powers to save the day.

Hammerhead Kin

Each Slumberkins plush comes with its own unique book, lesson, and memorable affirmation. Hammerhead Shark not only looks cool (and adorable), but he helps teach kids that it’s OK to get mad, but it’s important to know how to stop and take a breath.

Solar System Floor Puzzle

Whether he’s looking up at the sky or down at the ground, he’ll be seeing stars… and planets, moons, and the sun! We love that this round 48-piece, floor puzzle is the perfect level of difficulty (not too easy but not too challenging) for most 5-year-olds.

Antarctic Expedition Playset

We’re big fans of Schleich playsets, which are known for their high quality and attention to detail. Your 5-year-old explorer is going to love this set, which includes an intrepid explorer with his sled dogs, igloo, and new penguin friend.

Collectible Action Figures

Paw Patrol has been a childhood standard for just about a decade now and kids don’t seem to be letting go of this fascination any time soon (especially with a hit movie this year and another in the works). This set includes Chase, Marshall, Skye, Rubble, Rocky, and Zuma.

Mutant Mayhem Figurines

Mutant Mayhem was one of our faves this summer, and now your little guy can reenact his favorite moments with this set of four action figures. Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello, and Raphael are all included.

City Barn and Farm Animals Toys

Whether he likes to build the set or play with it, this is a perfect gift for 5-year-old boys who like animals and creative play.

This kit comes complete with everything he’ll need to make a working farm, plus human and animal minifigures! (We also think he’ll love the great big tractor!)

Foldable Trampoline

This is the perfect gift for a 5-year-old boy who wants to bounce — as well as for the caregiver who wants him to get out all that energy but doesn’t want a massive trampoline in their yard.

This 48-inch model can be easily folded away but provides plenty of bouncing fun.

Remote-Control Robot

What 5-year-old boy hasn’t wished for a robot of his own? This little guy is controlled by a remote, can move in all directions, and even dance! (And just look at those big adorable LED eyes.) Perfect for imaginative play and encouraging his inner engineer.

Spider-Man Costume

The perfect gift for 5-year-old boys who love Spider-Man toys and using their imagination. Besides, he’s already perfected climbing everything in your house (how did he get on top of the cabinets…?), so why not make his Spidey-status official with this costume?

Light-Up Dance Mat

Your boy will be the lord of the dance with this fun dance mat. Bluetooth allows him to connect to his favorite music, follow the prompts, and step on the corresponding light-up arrow in three different games to get his wiggles out. It’s good exercise and great fun.

Poop Bingo

Do we love our 5-year-old boy’s potty humor? Nope. Is there anything we can do about it? Absolutely not. So you can stay mad about it forever, or you can just lean into it.

This Bingo game will teach your kid to match the animal with its, *ahem* you know — so at least it’s educational.

Fort Building Kit

Take living room fort-building to the next level with this set of rods. Just build your fort and drape a blanket over it. (We recommend a bedsheet!) No longer will their fort fall and slump — and no longer will you be interrupted every 5 seconds with cries of “Ahhh! Fix it!” It even comes with a handy carry bag for simple storage.

The Complete Elephant and Piggie Collection by Mo Willems

Gerald is serious. Piggie is silly. Gerald is careful. Piggie is enthusiastic. But through it all, these two are best friends.

Their adventures are funny, sweet, and perfect for early readers to practice and gain a true love of reading. This volume contains all 25 in the series, from Today I Will Fly to The Thank You Book.

Operation the Game

What better way to show him how fun (and nerve-racking) life as a surgeon can be than with this classic board game? Use the tweezers to relieve the patient of hilariously literal ailments — a frog in the throat, a tricky funny bone...

Encourages hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and weeding out the kids who shouldn’t go into medicine…

Personalized Cookie Baking Book and Apron

Your little chef will love seeing himself (and you!) in this sweet story about a kid and his adult baking. And since we know he’ll be so inspired, it comes with his very own apron. Perfect for holiday baking or encouraging everyday kitchen skills.

Children’s Loom

You probably remember having a small loom as a kid, but this sturdy wooden loom from Melissa & Doug takes it to the next level.

The extra-large frame comes with 91 yards of rainbow yarn, a wooden needle, and a design booklet. But, of course, he can use his own yarn to make any design his little heart desires.

Long Range Walkie-Talkies

These walkie-talkies are designed for kids without sacrificing durability and quality.

This set has two walkie-talkies that come equipped with 21 channels that allow your child to chat long-distance(ish) with everyone in the neighborhood… and only the kids in the neighborhood, since a key lock prevents kids from changing the channel — aka they only talk to the people you want them to.

Whatchamadrawit

Encourage creativity, communication, and fun with this unique game. Contestants will have to draw a picture based on 96 silly prompts like, “Draw a scarecrow that is scared of crows” or “Draw an ice cream cone house.” The first one to finish wins and keeps the card, and the player with the most cards wins.

“The Book with No Pictures” by B.J. Novak

You might think a book without pictures would have no appeal for a 5-year-old. But your boy will lose his mind laughing as the book “makes” you (yes, you) say hilarious things. What choice do you have? It’s written down. You have to read it: That’s the rule of reading.

Classic Ride On

We all agree that the best day in gym class was when the teacher brought out the seated scooters, right? The EzyRoller is like that, but better. Sit back in the chair and move your legs to propel, glide, drift, and spin. And because the sturdy design can hold up to 150 pounds, it’ll provide years of fun.

Arts and Krafts Library

Your child will be able to make just about anything he wants with this expansive collection of supplies.

Today: pom pom monsters with googly eyes and pipe cleaner arms. Tomorrow: a solo exhibition at the Guggenheim.

City Space Shuttle

Blast off to Mars or galaxies unknown with this awesome kit. He can build a space shuttle piloted by two intrepid astronauts. Once he reaches his destination, he can put together a rover to collect samples to bring back to Earth.

Bow and Arrow Set for Kids

Whether he’s pretending to be Robin Hood or Hawkeye, your little boy will love this archery set, which comes with a bow, six arrows, a quiver, and a target.

Suction cups ensure the arrow will stick to the bullseye (and also that no one gets hurt if he misses). The bow lights up for nighttime play!

Light-Up Air Rockets

Whether your child dreams of becoming a rocket scientist or just loves stomping around, he’ll love these light-up air rockets.

Set the trajectory of your LED rocket, stomp down, and watch it sail up to 100 feet in the air.

Zingo

Practicing sight words has never been this fun! This Bingo-style game won the ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award.

Match chips with pictures on them to the word and picture on your card. Make it a little harder and use the flip side of the chips with just words instead.

Sensory Theraplay Subscription Box

This monthly box will bring five to seven unique toys and sensory items right to your boy’s doorstep. While it is curated with children on the autism spectrum and sensory processing needs in mind, everyone can enjoy these tactile, fidget, and sensory products.

Criss Cross Crash Track

This toy has been a classic for years, and with good reason. Because there’s only one thing cooler to 5-year-old boys than cars: super-fast cars that occasionally crash into each other!

Four Hot Wheels zip around the hairline turns along 16 feet of motorized track. Will they crash? Of course — but when is the question!

Country Horseback Ride

Whether he wants to be a cowboy or a master equestrian, your little boy can daydream and have lots of make-believe adventures with this adorable set of horses and riders. The set includes three humans, three horses, and everything he’ll need for hours of fun on the trail.

City Great Vehicles Holiday Camper

Camping is fun, especially when you have air conditioning and a real bed — and aren’t actually outside. That’s why we love RVs so very much. Your little boy will love building this set and then taking the adorable family of three camping in comfort and style.

BMX Bike

It’s a special time in every child’s life: the day he is ready for a Big Kid Bike. This one is super cool. With removable training wheels (it’s only a matter of time now), he’ll have fun zipping around like a pro.

Imaginext DC Super Friends Bat-Tech Batcave

To the Batcave, Robin! Or at least, to this awesome mini version from Imaginext. Your little superhero will be thrilled with this action-packed gift for 5-year-old boys that will provide hours of fun, screen-free imaginative play.

“Yeti in My Spaghetti” Kids Game

This game hinges on that classic problem I think all of us have encountered at some point: Yetis falling into our spaghetti! This quick, high-suspense, easy game is a cross between Jenga and Don't Break the Ice, and your 5-year-old boy won’t be able to get enough of it.

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