13 Best Educational Toys for 5 Year Olds That Make Learning Fun

The best educational toys for 5 year olds are the ones that actually get played with, again and again.

When my son was that age, I looked for toys that helped with early reading, motor skills, and focus but still felt like fun.

We tried a lot (some flops, some favorites), and the ones that stuck were hands-on, screen-free, and sparked real curiosity.

Whether you’re shopping for a gift or just trying to cut down on screen time, these toys are worth a look.

Educational toys for 5 year olds including balance stepping stones, science kits, magnetic tiles, and interactive globe.

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Best Learning Toys for 5 Year Olds

At age 5, kids are curious, energetic, and constantly soaking up information, which makes this a great time to introduce toys that help them learn while they play.

The homeschool toys below were chosen for how well they support early development, from motor skills and coordination to creativity and critical thinking.

They’re the ones we used most at that age, and many are still favorites today.

Science Magic Kit

This science kit is a wonderful blend of science and magic, ideal for children aged 5-7. It includes 10 magical science experiments, fostering a love for science and chemistry. Children learn about chemical reactions, gravity, and more in a fun way, making it a perfect tool for educational entertainment.

GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope

Featuring the voice of Bindi Irwin, this talking microscope is designed for young explorers. It offers 60 beautiful full-color images and 100 facts about animals, plants, and everyday household items. This educational game enhances a child's knowledge in biology and environmental science, promoting curiosity and learning through interactive toys.

Stepping Stones for Kids

These stepping stones are designed to enhance physical development in children aged 5-7. They encourage balance, coordination, and imaginative play. This set of 11 stones of varying sizes and heights supports physical education, making it an excellent choice for active play and motor skills development.

Ticket to Ride Board Game First Journey

This fun game offers an exciting and accessible introduction to the world of cross-country train adventures for kids of all ages. This game features a brand-new map and simplified rules, making it an ideal choice for introducing new players to the concept of strategic travel.

Kids collect train cards, claim routes, and strive to connect cities across America. This game is perfect for families and young players eager to embark on their very first railway adventure. Check out our Ticket to Ride review, but I promise you will love it!

Magnetic Tiles

This set of 100 magnetic building blocks encourages creativity and fine motor skills development. Ideal for children aged 5-7, it supports imaginative play and spatial reasoning. Kids can create endless 3D structures, fostering an early interest in geometry and architectural design.

Clue Junior Game

The Clue Junior game is an excellent choice for preschoolers aged 4 and up, offering two levels of fun that grow with the child. Level 1 focuses on teamwork, where players collectively solve the Playground Mix-up mystery by finding clues in seek-and-find picture tiles. It’s a wonderful way to introduce young kids to the concepts of cooperative play and problem-solving.

As children become more adept, they can switch to Level 2, the Science Lab Mystery, which introduces more competitive elements. This version of the game encourages critical thinking and deduction as players figure out a more complex scenario. Suitable for 2-6 players, Clue Junior is not only a great educational tool but also a fun family game that can be a delightful gift for preschoolers and families.

Monopoly Junior Board Game

The Monopoly Junior game is a wonderful adaptation of the classic board game, tailored for younger players. This edition is quicker and simpler, featuring properties that are relatable and engaging for kids, such as a zoo and a video game arcade. It includes four beloved tokens: Little Scottie, Little Hazel, Toy Car, and Mr. Monopoly's top hat, adding a familiar touch to the gameplay.

The process of buying properties and placing "sold" signs provides a fun, interactive experience. Additionally, this game is a great tool for parents to introduce their children to basic counting and math skills through simple transactions with single banknotes. The game ends when one player goes bankrupt, and the richest player is declared the winner, making it a great way for kids to learn about money management in an entertaining setting.

Who Knows Geography Better?

This educational puzzle game is a fantastic tool for children to learn about world geography. It includes a large, colorful map of the world with landmarks and animals representing different regions.

The game also features 93 questions to challenge and educate kids about various countries, enhancing their geographical knowledge and cognitive skills.

Check out our favorite geography board games for kids too!

GeoBingo World

GeoBingo is a fun, educational game that combines the excitement of bingo with learning about the geography of the world. It includes 50 country cards, each featuring interesting facts about the country, and 8 geographical bingo boards.

This game is great for teaching children about different countries, their locations, capitals, and landmarks, making learning geography an enjoyable experience.

Stomp Rocket Jr

This outdoor toy is perfect for young children to learn about basic physics and aerodynamics. The Stomp Rockets. allows kids to launch rockets by stomping on a pad, watching them soar up to 100 feet in the air. This hands-on experience is not only thrilling but also educational, as it teaches the principles of flight and gravity.

Wooden Building Blocks Set

This set of wooden blocks is an excellent tool for fostering creativity and motor skills in children. The blocks come in various shapes and sizes, allowing kids to build and create while improving their spatial reasoning and hand-eye coordination. This classic toy is perfect for developing a child's imagination and fine motor skills.

Learning Resources Teaching Time Clock

This educational set is designed to teach children how to tell time in a fun and interactive way. It includes a large demonstration clock for instructors and a smaller student clock for hands-on practice.

The set is perfect for introducing young learners to the concept of time, enhancing their understanding of hours and minutes, and developing their time-telling skills.

Interactive Educational Globe

An interactive globe that brings geography to life using augmented reality. It offers a hands-on learning experience about different cultures, cuisines, monuments, inventions, animals, and maps of the world.

This globe is an innovative educational tool that uses technology to make learning about the world engaging and fun for children.

19 Best Books for 5 Year Old Boys That Keep Them Reading

If your child loves toys that teach, they’ll likely enjoy stories that spark curiosity too. This list features our favorite books that held my son’s attention at age 5—full of humor, adventure, and just enough challenge to grow early reading confidence.

25 Best Board Games for 5 Year Olds That Kids Actually Love

Many of the educational toys in this post also double as games, which is why we’ve rounded up even more board games designed specifically for 5-year-olds. These picks build social skills, critical thinking, and attention spans—all while having fun as a family.

What are the Benefits of Educational Toys for 5 Year Olds

Educational toys for 5-year-olds can significantly enhance various aspects of development:

Toys that demand precision, like building sets, are great for developing fine motor skills by engaging small muscles.
Hand-eye coordination is enhanced through activities like catching a ball or completing puzzles, where visual tracking and hand movements are aligned.
When faced with challenges in games, children employ problem-solving skills, learning to think critically and creatively.
Playing with others, children develop social skills, learning to communicate, share, and cooperate.
Toys that encourage running, jumping, or climbing, help in honing gross motor skills, crucial for physical development.
Role-playing and storytelling toys are excellent for boosting communication skills, aiding in expressing thoughts and emotions effectively.
Through games that require strategic thinking, children’s critical thinking is sharpened, fostering analytical skills.
Simple counting or shape-based toys lay the foundation for math skills, integrating learning with play.
Cognitive skills are nurtured by toys that challenge memory, logic, and recognition, essential for child development.
Creative thinking blossoms when children engage with toys that allow for imaginative and innovative play.
Educational toys contribute significantly to personal development, addressing various developmental milestones.
Emotionally, these toys aid in emotional development, helping children understand and manage their feelings.
Developmental milestones in areas like language, cognition, and social interaction are supported by age-appropriate educational toys.
Lastly, creative skills are fostered through arts and crafts, encouraging self-expression and imagination.

Last Updated on 14 May 2025 by Clare Brown

Best Learning Toys for 5 Year Olds

What are the Benefits of Educational Toys for 5 Year Olds

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