The Best Gifts for 5 Year Olds (2026)
For the child who is suddenly, wonderfully, unstoppably five.
Five is a brilliant age for gifts. Children this age have real opinions, real interests, and real staying power with things they love — but they’re still young enough to be completely delighted by the right toy. The key is finding something that matches where they are: growing independence, imaginative play, a love of rules and games, and an endless appetite for doing things themselves.
These are our favourite gifts for five-year-olds in 2026 — chosen for play value, quality, and the kind of lasting appeal that survives the first week.
Soft toys and companions (ages 5+)
For children who want a friend they can take everywhere.
Little Dutch Plush Animals in a Bag — Jackie & Marley
The Little Dutch Plush Dogs are among the most charming soft toys we stock — each one comes tucked inside its own little carrying bag, making the unboxing feel like a proper event. Jackie is a warm tan and cream dog with that instantly loveable Little Dutch quality; Marley is equally irresistible in a slightly different colourway. Both are beautifully made, the right size for carrying everywhere, and the kind of soft toy that genuinely becomes a child’s companion rather than sitting on a shelf. A wonderful gift for any five-year-old who loves animals.
Shop Plush Dog in a Bag — Jackie →
Shop Plush Cat in a Bag — Marley →
Games (ages 5+)
For children who are ready for proper games — and winning.
Hurry Up Chicken Butt
The name alone makes five-year-olds dissolve into giggles — and the game lives up to it. Hurry Up Chicken Butt is a fast, funny card game that’s genuinely easy to learn but hard to put down. It’s the kind of game that gets pulled out at every family gathering and works brilliantly across ages, meaning parents actually enjoy playing it too. A brilliant birthday gift that immediately becomes a household favourite.
Puzzles and building (ages 5+)
For children who love to figure things out.
Banana Panda Mix and Match Trains Puzzle
A puzzle with a twist — the Banana Panda Mix and Match Trains set features chunky train pieces that can be combined in multiple configurations, so there’s no single “right answer” and the play continues long after the first solve. Beautifully illustrated and robustly made, it’s perfect for five-year-olds who love trains and are ready for something more engaging than a standard jigsaw. The mix-and-match format means it stays interesting as the child grows.
Shop Mix and Match Trains Puzzle →
Janod Magnetibook Collection
The Janod Magnetibooks are one of those gifts that genuinely live up to the hype — a magnetic play book where children arrange characters and scenes on illustrated backgrounds using magnetic pieces. The collection spans a wonderful range of themes: Dinosaurs, Unicorns, Firefighter, Construction, and more, so there’s a perfect one for every five-year-old. Beautifully made, endlessly replayable, and compact enough for holidays and car journeys. A wonderful gift for creative, imaginative children who love constructing their own stories.
Shop the Janod Magnetibook Collection →
LEGO Books
LEGO books are one of the most underrated gifts for five-year-olds — beautifully produced, endlessly pored over, and the perfect companion to any existing LEGO collection. Whether it’s a step-by-step ideas book, a character encyclopaedia, or a themed activity book, they spark creativity and keep children absorbed for hours. A brilliant gift on their own or paired with a LEGO set, and the kind of book that gets read, re-read, and brought to the table at building time.
Shop LEGO Books at Good Gifts →
Imaginative and creative play (ages 5+)
For children who turn everything into a game.
Liewood Quentin Sushi Play Set
Play food sets are brilliant for this age, and the Liewood Quentin Sushi Play Set is a cut above the standard offering — beautifully designed, in that signature Liewood palette of warm, muted tones, with a selection of sushi pieces that are as pleasing to look at as they are to play with. It sparks imaginative restaurant play, hosting, and storytelling, and looks genuinely lovely on a shelf when not in use. A wonderful gift for children who love food play and parents who appreciate beautiful design.
Active play (ages 5+)
For children who need to move.
Stapelstein Wobble Board — Super Confetti
The Stapelstein Wobble Board is one of those rare gifts that is genuinely hard to put down. Children use it for balance, for rocking, for sitting, for building — it functions as a bridge, a see-saw, a boat, a mountain, a step. The Super Confetti edition is the most joyful colourway in the range and works beautifully indoors and outdoors. Five-year-olds are exactly the right age to get years of use from this — it will still be in use at eight, nine, and beyond. One of the best gifts we stock at any age.
Shop Stapelstein Wobble Board — Super Confetti →
For bedtime and winding down
For the child who always needs one more story.
Moulin Roty Storybook Torch
A torch that projects storybook illustrations onto the ceiling or wall — the Moulin Roty Storybook Torch is one of those genuinely magical gifts that makes bedtime feel like an event. The disc-based stories are beautifully illustrated in that distinctive Moulin Roty style, and extra discs are available separately. A wonderful birthday or Christmas gift for five-year-olds, and one that parents enjoy almost as much as the children.
Shop Moulin Roty Storybook Torch →
Our top pick
The one gift that will genuinely stop them in their tracks.
Kidywolf Projector — Galaxies
A galaxy projector that fills an entire bedroom ceiling with stars, nebulae and cosmic colour — the Kidywolf Galaxies Projector is the kind of gift that turns an ordinary bedroom into somewhere extraordinary. Children this age are at peak wonder about space, and this feeds that fascination beautifully. The projection quality is genuinely impressive, and it doubles as a soothing night light for children who need something to look at as they drift off. A big-spend gift that fully earns its price.
Shop Kidywolf Projector — Galaxies →
Not sure where to start?
Our recommendation depends on what the child loves most:
For animal lovers — the Little Dutch Plush Dog in a Bag is a gift they’ll carry everywhere.
For imaginative players — the Liewood Sushi Play Set or Janod Magnetibook are brilliant choices that will be used daily.
For active children — the Stapelstein Wobble Board is our single strongest recommendation for a lasting, versatile gift.
For a magical bedtime gift — the Moulin Roty Storybook Torch at a lower budget, or the Kidywolf Galaxy Projector for something really special.
For a fun family gift — Hurry Up Chicken Butt will have the whole family laughing within minutes.
Browse our full gifts for 5–6 year olds collection or find the perfect gift using our gift finder.
FAQ
What are the best gifts for 5 year olds?
The best gifts for five-year-olds combine imaginative play with growing independence. Our top picks for 2026 are the Stapelstein Wobble Board for active children, the Janod Magnetibook for creative play, and the Moulin Roty Storybook Torch for a magical bedtime gift. All are beautifully made and built to last well beyond the fifth birthday.
What toys are good for 5 year olds?
Five-year-olds thrive with toys that let them take the lead — imaginative play sets, puzzles, games with simple rules, and creative tools. The Liewood Sushi Play Set and Janod Magnetibook are brilliant for imaginative play, while Hurry Up Chicken Butt and the Banana Panda Trains Puzzle are perfect for children who enjoy a bit of healthy competition.
What is a good gift for a 5 year old girl?
The Little Dutch Plush Dog in a Bag, Janod Unicorns Magnetibook, and Moulin Roty Storybook Torch are all consistently popular with five-year-old girls. The Kidywolf Galaxy Projector is also a wonderful gift for any child with a growing interest in space and stars.
What is a good gift for a 5 year old boy?
The Stapelstein Wobble Board, Banana Panda Mix and Match Trains Puzzle, and LEGO Books are all brilliant for five-year-old boys. Hurry Up Chicken Butt is also a great choice for children who love fast, funny family games.
What’s a good gift for a 5 year old under £20?
Hurry Up Chicken Butt and the LEGO Books are both excellent options under £20 — genuinely high quality with real lasting play value. The Janod Magnetibooks are also brilliant value at this price point.
Where can I buy gifts for 5 year olds in the UK?
All the products featured in this post are available directly through Good Gifts, from trusted UK retailers.