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20 Best Educational Toys for 5-Year-Olds

Updated 6 July 2022

Danny is the father of a 5-year-old who loves video games and a very active 2-year-old who is always playing outside. He has made plenty of mistakes buying toys in the early years of parenthood, so hopes he can help others avoid the same fate.

This post may contain affiliate links.

Buying a gift for a 5-year-old isn‘t as simple as it might appear. This is a crucial age in which they are eager to learn and absorb the world around them. The perfect toy should entertain them, but also provide some kind of challenge to aid in their physical and intellectual development. 

To help you find the right toy, we have combed through the best educational toys for every 5-year-old. Not everything online is always as it seems, so we weeded out any fake reviews to bring you a solid list of only parent-approved toys.

1Qurious Space | STEM Flash Card Game | (Best Budget Educational Toy)

For the space-loving kids, this Qurious Space STEM Flash Card Game teaches numerous facts and trivia. Suitable for the whole family, there are many games included on the double-sided cards such as a memory game, speed matching, and photo trivia. When all is done, pack up everything inside the included collectors tin.

What we love

  • Variety of play options to appeal to different skill levels
  • Features high-contrast images so that non-reading 5-year-olds can join

What We Don't Like That Much

  • The printed text could be larger
Qurious Space | STEM Flash Card Game | (Best Budget Educational Toy)

2Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set (Best Quality Educational Toy)

Tackle early STEM learning head-on with this Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set. As a screen-free toy, no phone or tablet is required. There are 80 advanced steps for kids to work through as well as 40 additional ones to discover. Kids can play with the following mode, looping commands, and unlock hidden features while learning basic coding.

What we love

  • Interactive remote that beeps and lights up in response to the coding buttons
  • Various levels of coding difficulties

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Botley recognizes larger objects more than smaller ones
Learning Resources Botley the Coding Robot Activity Set (Best Quality Educational Toy)

3Momila Light-up Terrarium Kit (Best Eco-Friendly Educational Toy)

The Light-up Terrarium Kit is among the 20 best educational toys for 5-year-olds with a green thumb. In a contained space, kids can create a terrarium, decorating it as they see fit and witness life grow inside their mini-garden. With a see-through jar, they can witness how the roots grow, and at night, the terrarium is illuminated with a magical-like glow.

What we love

  • Light-up mechanism recharges via USB plug-in
  • Plenty of ways for kids to personalize the jar

What We Don't Like That Much

  • The jar doesn't have any measurement lines
Momila Light-up Terrarium Kit (Best Eco-Friendly Educational Toy)

4Snap Circuits Beginner, Electronics Exploration Kit

With 14 parts, the Snap Circuits Beginner Kit gives kids room to create more than 20 different projects. It’s easy for young kids to follow thanks to the color manual, and it can serve as an easy STEM introduction, teaching kids how to solve problems and follow along with directions.

Similar: 15 STEM kits for Teens

What we love

  • Extra layers of safety features
  • Instructions are kid-friendly and easy to follow

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Not all of the pieces are transparent
Snap Circuits Beginner, Electronics Exploration Kit

5Scrabble Junior Game

The Scrabble Junior Game can help kids take those first steps into spelling and reading. It has four cute and brightly colored characters kids will love moving along the track as they score points. With a double-sided board, this game also cleverly involves all young ones regardless of their developmental progress.

What we love

  • One side has color-coded words and pictures for kids younger ones, and the other offers more independent play
  • Features adorable, friendly characters to play with

What We Don't Like That Much

  • No extra letter tiles for the advanced side of the board
Scrabble Junior Game

6ThinkFun Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game

The Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game is a unique twist on bingo to help kids with their numbers and math skills. This straightforward game can be played with the whole family, and it’s straightforward enough for kids to catch on fast. The learning never stops as children play since the double-sided cards allow for either counting or addition.

What we love

  • Teaches a variety of skills including pattern and number recognition
  • Pieces are durable and long-lasting

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Could use a bit more sight words for evenly distributed challenges
ThinkFun Zingo 1-2-3 Number Bingo Game

7CoolToys Monkey Balance Cool Math Game

The Monkey Balance Cool Math Game is one of the best educational toys for 5-year-olds that keeps them stimulated as they learn. There are 65 engaging pieces that are well-designed and colorful. This interactive game teaches several skills such as math, number recognition, cause and effect, and can even aid in gross motor skill development as kids tackle balancing.

What we love

  • Pieces are vibrantly colored and are a good size for young kids to grasp
  • Provides an easy, fun introduction to adding and subtracting

What We Don't Like That Much

  • The cards could be made from stronger material
CoolToys Monkey Balance Cool Math Game

8SpeedRipper Cube

The SpeedRipper Cube features a design that’s user-friendly enough for 5-year-olds to enjoy. It features smooth twisting and the ability to adjust the tension. It’s sure to push their brains in many ways such as teaching motor skills, color association, and memory development. The cube is well-built too with non-toxic material and non-fading, vibrant colors.

What we love

  • Features a beginner-friendly design
  • Construction is durable and the colors are eye-popping

What We Don't Like That Much

  • The cube may become loose and require frequent tightening
SpeedRipper Cube

9Crayola Inspiration Art Case

Art is a wonderful educational medium for 5-year-olds, and the Crayola Inspiration Art Case gives kids more than enough tools to play and learn with. There are 140 art supplies including the large case for storage and transportation. This teaches young kids the various shades of the same color, how to mix colors to create a new one, and how to show off their creativity.

What we love

  • Storage case keeps everything well-organized
  • Dozens of supplies and numerous colors for kids to enjoy

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Kids who aren’t careful could damage the case
Crayola Inspiration Art Case

10Shifu Orboot (App Based): Augmented Reality Interactive Globe for Kids

Kids go on a journey around the world with this Augmented Reality Interactive Globe. This is a hands-on toy that includes a passport and travel guide to help kids along their way. There are puzzles and activities to enjoy, and with the companion app for a compatible smartphone or tablet, kids learn thousands of incredible worldly facts from different cuisines to maps and the various animals.

What we love

  • Endless amount of facts and images for kids to explore and learn about
  • Passport allows for more interaction and pretend-play

What We Don't Like That Much

  • A steady hand is needed to focus on the locations
Shifu Orboot (App Based): Augmented Reality Interactive Globe for Kids

11Moose Toys Chocolate Bar Maker

The Moose Toys Chocolate Bar Maker is a fun and delicious way to entertain kids and educate them. Creating chocolate treats is an obvious excitement for young children. It offers a yummy way to teach them hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and explore creativity. They can even add other treats to their chocolate molds to create unique bars for friends and family.

What we love

  • Simple product that's easy for kids to learn
  • Includes fun filling inserts to create different types of candy

What We Don't Like That Much

  • A bit difficult to clean
Moose Toys Chocolate Bar Maker

12NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Morphing Matter Pack

Stimulate a child’s senses with this Morphing Matter Pack. You can opt for choosing one of the six colors or purchase the multi-color pack so kids can enjoy them all at once. The matter substance is light, fluffy, and moves slowly to excite kids as they watch it ooze through their hands. Kids can jump into imaginative play as they mold and combine the matter.

What we love

  • Easy to mold into various shapes
  • A non-toxic mixture that's hypoallergenic and gentle on sensitive skin

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Could use a lid for storage
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Morphing Matter Pack

13Sphero SPRK+ App-Enabled Robot Ball

The Sphero SPRK+ is a programmable robot that allows kids to play through STEM coding. It’s beneficial for kids at various skill levels. Beginners focus on drawing a path for the robot to follow, and as kids grow and learn, they can reach the intermediate and advanced levels and eventually learn to write JavaScript. Even at the lowest level, kids have hours worth of fun.

What we love

  • Various skill levels for kids to work through for years to come
  • Kids can create mazes or play an assortment of games on the app

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Initial setup takes time
Sphero SPRK+ App-Enabled Robot Ball

14JOYIN 154pcs Marble Run Premium Toy Set

The fun doesn’t stop with this Marble Run Premium Toy Set as kids can explore their creativity and engineering skills. They can create different tracks, developing their hand-eye coordination along with logic-solving skills. This comes with more than 100 plastic pieces and 50 glass marbles.

What we love

  • Pieces are bright and vividly colored
  • Room for kids to create a variety of creations

What We Don't Like That Much

  • The pieces might need more stability
JOYIN 154pcs Marble Run Premium Toy Set

15Osmo – Creative Starter Kit for iPad

Kids can bring their creations to life with the Osmo Creative Starter Kit. As they draw, they can watch Mo give life to their work in his animated world. There are also more than 60 engineering educational levels for children to play and draw through. Furthermore, this kit encourages kids to self-guide themselves and have fun through the process.

What we love

  • "Mo" character offers encouragement no matter what kids draw
  • Board is slim and stable to hold the paper in place

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Markers might dry out fast
Osmo – Creative Starter Kit for iPad

162 Pack DIY Bird House Kit

This Bird House Kit is a wonderful way to inspire a child’s creativity and give them a project they can complete together with friends or family. This comes with two unassembled birdhouses, so parents can help kids put it together before giving them room to paint the house however they’d like. This inspires creativity, imagination, and helps their hand-eye coordination.

What we love

  • Includes the paint and paintbrushes that are kid-friendly size
  • Easy assembly process

What We Don't Like That Much

  • May take some patience to paint inside the hole
2 Pack DIY Bird House Kit

17Insect Lore Butterfly Garden

The Insect Lore Butterfly Garden is a hands-on activity parents and kids can experience together. Kids can learn to care for live insects as the kit arrives with five live baby caterpillars. With the see-through container and mesh garden, children have front-row seats to the entire transformation process. The included STEM journal has useful facts and activities to explore.

What we love

  • Includes all the food needed for the caterpillar and butterfly stages
  • Clear lid and mesh design makes it easy to see into the habitat

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Caterpillars may arrive at different stages of their lives
Insect Lore Butterfly Garden

18National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World

Though not exactly a toy, this Little Kids First Big Book of the World from National Geographic is a fun way to educate children about a variety of cultures. They can learn to read and discover new languages, animals, capital cities, and a slew of different landscapes. There are hundreds of colored images as well.

What we love

  • Images are large and feature vibrant coloring and details
  • Everything inside is well-organized for easy viewing

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Some sections are a bit advanced for younger ones
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of the World

19My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things

Another hands-on reading experience for 5-year-olds is the My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things. This is one of many in a series that contains cute, colorful illustrations and games that entertain and educate kids. There are six different sections filled with fun facts about the human body, animals, and more.

What we love

  • Good variety of facts for kids to learn
  • Text is a good size for beginning readers

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Information may be a little too simple and could benefit from having more detail
My Encyclopedia of Very Important Things

20Yileqi Flower Craft Kit

For kids who adore flowers, this Yileqi Flower Craft Kit is fun and exciting. There’s no need for real flowers when children can create their own alongside a unique vase. Once finished, it can sit in their room or they can give it away as an adorable, colorful gift. This is a great way to keep their hands busy and let them stretch their creativity.

What we love

  • Several pieces for kids to create distinctive creations
  • Pieces feature multiple bright colors

What We Don't Like That Much

  • Kids may need help creating the flowers
Yileqi Flower Craft Kit