Yahoo LifestyleThese Stomp Rocket Stunt Planes Are One of the Hottest Gifts for Boys This Year
- 1/22
These Stomp Rocket Stunt Planes Are One of the Hottest Gifts for Boys This Year
By age 5, kids are off to school, allowing them to explore social and emotional development with friends, engage in deeper cognitive learning and improve their physical development as they are able to handle more complex tasks. They are learning basic math skills, how to properly hold a pencil and how to behave in a classroom.
"They should be able to maintain a longer play sequence with multiple steps and multiple partners," according to Gayle Kligman, M.Ed, the executive chairman of Family of Kidz. "They can negotiate among themselves who will have specific roles. They are more verbal with each other and are able to do more symbolic play."
The best toys for this age group will stimulate movement in space, challenge their cognition, help to develop balance and coordination, encourage pretend play and early reading skills, according to Magdalena Oledzka, PT. It's why they'll enjoy toys like sports equipment, building blocks, activity books, art supplies, pretend play and beginner board games.
With that in mind, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly test and evaluate toys for kids of all ages. We even bring kid testers into our labs to make sure the latest toys are actually worth buying. With these milestones in mind, our picks for the best toys and gifts for 5-year-old boys focus on creative, physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills — and some are even GH Toy Award winners.
If you're looking for more suggestions for the rest of the family, check out our list of the the best new toys of 2021 before they sell out, as well as our gift guides that include toys for 1-year-olds, toys for 2-year-olds and more. These are the best toys and gifts for 5-year-old boys in 2021:
- 2/22
Orbeez Challenge
Spin Master
Walmart
$19.97
Oddly satisfying and limitless fun, these water beads bounce, explode and crush. Coming with over 2,000 Orbeez, this set is complete with six tools and a play space that makes for mess-free storage, inspired by the TikTok-famous #OrbeezChallenge. Our testers loved these beads, but parents noted the build quality for the system could be improved. Ages 5+
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- 3/22
Ghostbusters Proton Blaster
Hasbro
amazon.com
$35.58
Kids can pretend to bust ghosts with this Ghostbusters Proton Blaster, complete with sound and light effects. The Blast ‘n’ Trap and the Proton Stream attachments were beloved by our Lab testers. When kids attach either accessory, its sounds are activated. Ages 5+
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- 4/22
GeoSafari Jr. Kidscope
Educational Insights
amazon.com
$27.49
By the time kids are 5 years old, they're vocabulary sponges and curious about science. This talking microscope will help empower them to learn more about science. Little scientists can switch through 15 slides of animals, plants and beyond. Parents and kids alike enjoyed that it's simple, easy to use and offers a lot to learn. Ages 5+
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- 5/22
Batman Bat-Tech Batcave
DC Comics
amazon.com
$179.99
This child-sized superhero figure is packed with adventure – inside the Batcave are 10 different areas to play. It's stacked with interactive sounds activated by the elevator that travels up and down. If they've already got the action figures in their play chest, they can also play with them on this set. Plus, it comes with an exclusive Batman figure. Ages 4+
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- 6/22
Fort Kit
Crazy Forts
amazon.com
$46.22
Crazy Forts makes it easy for kids to assemble their own DIY fort structures. Once the fort is built, kids just need to add bedsheets on top to act as makeshift walls. Kids can really use their creativity as they build out whatever forts they dream up, or they can just use the instructions if they'd like a blueprint to follow. Ages 5+
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- 7/22
Mibro
Really R.A.D. Robots
amazon.com
$39.99
During toy testing, kids were able to figure out this quirky robot in just a few minutes. Your 5-year-old boy will have a blast driving it around and getting it to say silly phrases and sounds. He will view this robot as his buddy and partner-in-crime, using it as an undercover agent to spy on friends. Kids can even pass messages along to others by talking through him. Ages 5+
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- 8/22
Stunt Planes Set
Stomp Rocket
amazon.com
$29.99
This set includes three different foam planes for kids to launch into the air: a looper, a glider and a wildcat — each charting its own trajectory. The looper is designed to curve in the air, the glider soars high in the sky and the Wildcat is a stunt machine. Kids learn about basic aeronautic principles as they adjust the flight path angle, apply different forces (it's 100% kid-powered), and factor in wind. Ages 5+
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- 9/22
Botley the Coding Robot
Learning Resources
amazon.com
$49.45
This fun robot is a great way to introduce kids to coding. During toy testing, kids immediately loved it — especially since the challenges get more difficult and evolve as skills are mastered. Advanced features include coding up to 120 steps, programs with if/then logic, obstacle avoidance and black-line follow mode. If you're looking for an upgrade, a (more expensive) Botley 2.0 was released this year. Ages 5+
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- 10/22
Stunt Shot Indoor RC Stunt Vehicle
Air Hogs
amazon.com
$29.99
With its big, soft wheels, this remote-controlled car is meant to be driven inside the house. The Good Housekeeping Toy Award winner's wheels are large enough to roll over obstacles and carpets, but squishy enough so they don't damage walls or furniture. Ages 5+
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- 11/22
Untamed Raptor by Fingerlings
WowWee
amazon.com
$27.50
This interactive raptor is sure to entertain kids with its roars, hisses and even purrs. It features the same technology as Fingerlings, so the dinosaur responds to touch, motion and sound, to keep kids busy role playing. Ages 5+
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- 12/22
Orboot Globe
Shifu
amazon.com
$54.99
At first glance, this globe seems odd: There are no borders drawn on, and no labels on any of the countries. That's because the globe uses augmented reality, and kids can cover over each area with their devices to find out about its history, environment and other world facts. Ages 4+
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- 13/22
Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Learning Resources
amazon.com
$31.99
Since 5-year-olds are starting to learn basic math in kindergarten, fake money is a great way for kids to practice counting, addition and subtraction. This cash register has a built-in calculator for kids to familiarize themselves with how to use one, and they will love handling life-size "money." Ages 3+
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- 14/22
Criss Cross Crash Set
Hot Wheels
amazon.com
$49.99
All four paths collide in the crash zone in this fun Hot Wheels set that's made of 16 feet of track. Thanks to all the twists and turns, the set won't take up too much space even though it's lengthy. Plus, there are plenty of parking spaces to conveniently store extra Hot Wheels vehicles. It's great for fostering curiosity and developing problem-solving skills while still playing and having fun. Ages 4+
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- 15/22
KidiZoom Creator Cam
VTech
walmart.com
$44.99
He's always watching toy reviews on YouTube, but with the KidiZoom Creator Cam, he can create his own high-definition videos. This kit includes a green screen, a library of animated backgrounds, a tripod that's easy for little hands to hold and even a built-in microphone. Easy on-screen editing is available too, and parents can upload the videos on a computer via the included USB cable. Ages 5+
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- 16/22
Quadrilla Race to The Finish Marble Run Blocks
Hape
amazon.com
$27.08
The sturdy, well-constructed wooden pieces can be continuously reconfigured to send marbles racing. The system is great for teaching kids STEM principles and problem solving skills with a mixture of spins, drops, and speed based on how they set up the layout. Each color block has a different function, making it a creative approach to marble runs. Ages 4+
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- 17/22
Squeakee The Balloon Dog
Squeakee
walmart.com
$30.00
Most interactive toys attempt real, lifelike characteristics, but Squeakee is cartoonier and more whimsical. But the tech is still impressive: This toy responds to voice, sound and movement and eats, plays and can be trained to do tricks. You can even make him "deflate," and he'll lay down! Ages 5+
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- 18/22
Scooby-DOO! Adventure in The Mystery Mansion Playset
Playmobil
amazon.com
$99.99
Toy testers thrilled to all the features in this haunted house playset. A staircase turns into a slide, there's a trap door on the second floor and a revolving bookcase sends characters back outside, among others. The set also comes with Scooby, Fred, Daphne and a vampire who can be "unmasked," revealing a true (human) culprit. Playmobil offers smaller Scooby-themed sets as well. Ages 5+
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- 19/22
Lost Kitties Multipack
Hasbro
amazon.com
$10.46
Inside each multipack are five Lost Kitties figurines, 10 accessories and five stickers hidden inside a moldable "shaping compound." Once your kids unearth all the goodies, they can store the compound in the provided bag. It's great for teaching kids patience as they try to collect all of the kitties. Ages 5+
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- 20/22
Play-Doh Treehouse Building Kit
Play-Doh
amazon.com
$15.99
Just when you thought you'd seen everything Play-Doh can do, they come up with a set for bigger kids. Here, creators can fashion a treehouse out of the modeling compound, add on extra like windows and a slide and use them as a playset for the two included figures. Ages 5+
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- 21/22
Scissor Skills Activity Pad
Melissa & Doug
amazon.com
$6.47
This toy is all about teaching fine motor skills. It also layers in cognitive development with activities like sequencing, mazes, animal art and more. The book progresses from simple to more complex activities as your child's skills advance. Ages 4+
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- 22/22
The Fresh Squad Daniel
The Fresh Squad
thefreshdolls.com
$39.99
If you're looking for a new friend for imaginative play, Daniel has a cool, relaxed vibe that kids really respond to. He's part of The Fresh Squad, a line known for realistic facial features, not-molded hair (Malik's is in real braids) and many points of articulation. Ages 3+
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