Yahoo LifestyleThese Stomp Rocket Stunt Planes Are One of the Hottest Gifts for Boys This Year
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These Stomp Rocket Stunt Planes Are One of the Hottest Gifts for Boys This Year
While it may seem that the toddler years were here just a minute ago, your now-5-year-old is headed off to school. That means a whole variety of new skills to sharpen, new friends to make and play with and new interests to explore — something to keep in mind when shopping for gifts for kids starting their elementary school journeys.
"At this age, they should be able to maintain a longer play sequence with multiple steps and multiple partners," says 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 and gifts for kids in this age group will stimulate movement in space, challenge their cognition, help to develop balance and coordination, encourage pretend play and help them practice those early reading skills, says Magdalena Oledzka, PT. It's why they'll enjoy toys like sports equipment and outdoor toys, building blocks, activity books, art supplies, role-play items that encourage imaginative games and beginner board games.
With those growing brains and bodies in mind, the experts at the Good Housekeeping Institute regularly tests and evaluate toys in all areas of interest. First, the Parenting Lab experts check the toys to make sure they're safe and well-constructed, then hand them off to kids who make sure they're fun to play with. Here's our picks for the best toys and unusual gifts for 5-year-old boys in 2022.
Many of these picks have earned top marks at the Good Housekeeping Institute's tests, and many are even past Good Housekeeping Toy Award winners. We've also added in a few editor's picks, bestsellers and hot toys of 2022 to keep the list as up-to-date as possible for the lucky kindergarteners out there. Add them to your carts before Black Friday, and you'll be at a huge advantage in your holiday shopping.
LEGO/Stomp Rocket - 2/32
CrazyForts – Fort Building Kit for Kids – Indoor Creative STEM Building Construction Toy – Durable and Portable kit to Encourage Team Building Skills and Creative Thinking– 69 Pieces
amazon.com - 3/32
Knight Owl
Christy Ottaviano Books
amazon.com
$14.99
A little owl becomes an unlikely protector of a kingdom — and, when he's confronted by a dragon, he has get creative. Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved this book for the way it plays on readers' expectations. “I liked the clever play on words and how it teaches that you can be small and still be brave,” one tester said. Ages 2 – 5
Christy Ottaviano Books - 4/32
Creative Ocean Fun Building Kit
LEGO
amazon.com
$15.99
This LEGO set provides the perfect mix of guided builds and open-ended play. It comes with more than 300 pieces, along with ideas for six mini ocean-themed builds (a Viking ship, a yellow submarine, an underwater drone, a seahorse, a whale and a turtle). They can create their own undersea adventures! Ages 4+
LEGO - 5/32
Hape Flexistix Leonardo’s Elements Construction Toy, STEM Toys, Building Toy Set, Educational Toy Set
amazon.com - 6/32
Express Your Feelings Sensory Bottles
hand2mind
amazon.com
$20.79
Good Housekeeping testers loved using these as fidget toys, seeing the different ways the different liquids moved through the bottles. But each one also has an emotion that goes with it — angry, scared, happy or worried — so they can be used to start conversations about feelings. Ages 3+
RELATED: The Best Sensory Toys for Exploring Different Textures, Sights, and Sounds
hand2mind - 7/32
Stegosaurus 3-D Puzzle
Studio Roof
kidochicago.com
$13.00
For kids, the fascination with dinosaurs never ends, and you can combine his love of dinos with his engineering skills with this 3D puzzle. Made of recycled cardboard and vegetable dye, it'll look great on display in his room. Ages 4+
Studio Roof - 8/32
Stunt Planes Set
Stomp Rocket
amazon.com
$24.99
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+
Stomp Rocket - 9/32
Jurassic World Captivz Mega Egg Clash Edition
Toy Monster
amazon.com
$52.36
Kids have to actually dig through "lava slime" to get some of the treasures out of this egg — and Good Housekeeping Institute testers loved doing it! When it's done, it comes with three buildable dinosaur, a vehicle, a play mat and lots more. Ages 3+
Toy Monster - 10/32
DoodleJamz JellyPics
Sky Castle
amazon.com
$9.99
Fidget toys are still incredibly popular, and this gives kids something (quiet!) to do with their busy hands. It's filled with a gel-like liquid and beads that kids can push around against the background picture. The background comes with a two-sided picture, or they can print and use their own. There's also the JellyBoards, which come with colored gel inside and no beads. Ages 5+
Sky Castle - 11/32
Good Housekeeping 123 Cook!
Hearst Home Kids
amazon.com
$19.80
Encourage his love of cooking and baking with this easy-to-follow cookbook. It offers 50 easy recipes they can use to get started. In addition to instructions for how to make things like Ooey-Gooey Glazed Cinnamon Rolls or Totally Twisted Pasta with Cherry Tomato Sauce, it also offers tips from Good Housekeeping experts on kitchen tools and techniques. Once they've mastered these, they can move on to Good Housekeeping Kids Cook! Ages 4+
Hearst Home Kids - 12/32
Botley the Coding Robot
Learning Resources
amazon.com
$57.91
This fun robot is a great way to introduce kids to coding without using screens. 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, there's also a (more expensive) Botley 2.0. Ages 5+
RELATED: The Best STEM Toys for Kids
Learning Resources - 13/32
Pokémon Holiday Long John Pajama Set
Hanna Andersson
hannaandersson.com
$29.00
Now he can get into the holiday spirit and celebrate his love of Pokémon all at the same time. These jams feature a festive Pikachu print, and they're 100% cotton so they're soft and comfy. They come in baby and adult sizes, too, so the whole family can get in on the act.
Hanna Andersson - 14/32
Real Bugs Nanos
HEXBUG
amazon.com
$24.99
Thes robotic creepy-crawlies really look like actual insects — they also have realistic movements and can even scurry around obstacles. You get five bugs in the pack: a cicada, a cockroach, a Japanese beetle, a water scorpion and an assassin bug. Ages 3+
HEXBUG - 15/32
L0-LA59 (Lola) Droid Toy
Hasbro
amazon.com
$18.49
Whether they watched the Obi-Wan Kenobi series or not, they'll get a kick out of this lifelike little droid. It has lights, sounds and reactions just like the real droid from the show, and it can also be posed in a variety of ways when it's time to go back on a toy shelf. Ages 4+
Star Wars - 16/32
Squishmallows 5" Plush Mystery Box, 5-Pack - Assorted Set of Various Styles - Official Kellytoy - Cute and Soft Squishy Stuffed Animal Toy - Great Gift and Stocking Stuffer for Kids
amazon.com - 17/32
Light Up Activity Board
Crayola
amazon.com
$39.99
Kids can combine and re-combine the translucent shapes to make endless art projects, then trace and color them in. It'll get them experimenting with color mixing and how shapes can work together to make a larger picture. The set comes with three markers, 22 shape clings, three “Complete the Scene” transparency sheets, along with a light-up board that holds the markers. Ages 3+
Crayola - 18/32
Stunt Shot Indoor RC Stunt Vehicle
Air Hogs
amazon.com
$22.89
With its big, soft wheels, this remote-controlled car is meant to be driven inside the house. The previous 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+
Air Hogs - 19/32
World of Disney Eye Found It Board Game
Wonder Forge
amazon.com
$19.99
You'll need to clear off a lot of space for this game — the board is six feet long! But when it's unfolded, set the timer, and head off to seek out as many of a certain item as you can find in the extra-large scene (bells, flags, cats, apples, etc.), challenging players on their memory and matching skills. It's the perfect family board game, because the rounds are quick by design, it's easy to learn, and the game is cooperative, so if one player wins, everyone wins! Ages 3+
Ravensburger - 20/32
Untamed Raptor by Fingerlings
WowWee
amazon.com
$29.99
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+
WowWee - 21/32
Ada Twist's Big Project Book for Stellar Scientists
Abrams Books for Young Readers
braveandkindbooks.com
$14.99
Kids who are into the scientific method, problem solving and questioning the world around them will love digging into the 40+ science-themed projects in this workbook. They can learn how to track the phases of the moon, grow a garden or make a vehicle that runs on renewable energy, among other fun ideas. Ages 5+
Abrams Books for Young Readers - 22/32
Orboot Globe
Shifu
amazon.com
$27.98
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+
RELATED: The Best Educational Toys
Shifu - 23/32
TOP SECRET TOYS Giga Pets AR T-Rex Dinosaur Virtual Animal Pet Toy, Upgraded 2nd Edition with New App, Glossy New Red Housing Shell, for Kids of… All Ages! Nostalgic 90s Toy, 3D Pet Live in Motion
amazon.com - 24/32
Criss Cross Crash Set
Hot Wheels
amazon.com
$58.99
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. Ages 4+
Hot Wheels - 25/32
The Fun Shop Look & See Puzzle
Upbounders
amazon.com
$19.99
By the time they turn 5, they're ready for more complex jigsaw puzzles with more pieces. This puzzle, featuring a fun toy-shop scene, is 72 pieces, so it presents a big enough challenge. But the fun doesn't end when the puzzle is done; there's a seek-and-find component, and the border of the image has toys that kids have to look for in the rest of the scene. Ages 5+
Upbounders - 26/32
Pretend & Play Calculator Cash Register
Learning Resources
amazon.com
$28.49
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+
Learning Resources - 27/32
3D Shark Mask
OMY
kidochicago.com
$28.00
This mask can really get his creativity working, since he gets to color it in before he assemblies it into its mask form. When he's done, he can role-play as shark, or just display it as a work of art. Ages 3+
OMY - 28/32
Quadrilla Race to the Finish Marble Run
Hape
amazon.com
$32.99
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+
Hape - 29/32
KidiZoom Creator Cam
VTech
walmart.com
$40.99
With the KidiZoom Creator Cam, he can create his own high-definition videos, just like his favorite YouTube stars. 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+
walmart.com - 30/32
GeoSafari Jr. Kidscope
Educational Insights
amazon.com
$20.41
By the time kids are 5 years old, they're vocabulary sponges and curious about science. This talking microscope helps empower them to learn more about the world around them. 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+
Educational Insights - 31/32
Scissor Skills Activity Pad
Melissa & Doug
amazon.com
$7.99
This activity pad is all about teaching fine motor skills while adding in cognitive development with activities like sequencing, mazes, animal art and more. The book progresses from simple to more complex cutting activities as your child's skills advance. Ages 4+
Melissa & Doug - 32/32
How we choose the best toys
Before including our favorite picks in an article, the Good Housekeeping Institute does rigorous toy testing to ensure we're recommending only the best. Many of our choices come from our yearly Toy Awards, where we test each item based on the following criteria:
✔️Safety: Our engineers and analysts make sure that each toy reaches all safety standards. They also assess things like pinch points and make sure toys won’t shatter into small pieces to pose a potential choking hazard.
✔️Ease of Use: We look at each toy to evaluate how simple it is to assemble, how well it’s constructed and how durable it is during play.
✔️Kid Approval: Aside from testing each toy for skill-building attributes, like how well it develops social-emotional skills, all our final decisions come from more than 100 children, ages 1 to 15, who assess the fun factor!
Hearst Owned
