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Home » Blog » Award Winning Toys for 5 Year Olds | Wonderful Gift Ideas for Kids

Award Winning Toys for 5 Year Olds | Wonderful Gift Ideas for Kids

Last Updated: February 27, 2023 / at: 1:43 pm

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Perfect for STEM learning! (Buy from Amazon)

Welcome! If you’re looking for meaningful gift ideas for your child then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve hand picked some wonderful award winning toys for 5 year olds. There’s something here for a wide range of children, including yours.

Table of Contents —
  1. Award Winning Toys for 5 Year Olds
    1. Build & Imagine: Malia’s House
    2. BeginAgain Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle
    3. Peaceable Kingdom Mermaid Island board game
      1. Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears!
      2. Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears!
    4. Q-bitz Jr.
    5. Educational Insights Panda Rollers Game
    6. Math for Love Tiny Polka Dot
    7. Educational Insights Kanoodle Jr.
    8. Educational Insights Wiggle Waggle Whiskers
    9. Kids First Automobile Engineer Kit
    10. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy
    11. Fisher-Price Think & Learn Teach ‘N Tag Movi
      1. Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center
    12. Educational Insights Design & Drill BrightWorks
    13. Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Microscope
    14. Green Toys Dump Truck
    15. Fat Brain Toys Bamboo Builder Marble Run
    16. Spirograph Junior

If you’re going to buy toys for your child why not buy her (or him) the best of the best? We know it can be a lot of work researching toys that are high quality and have actually won awards so we thought it would be helpful to do the research for you. We think you’ll find something unique and thoughtful in this article.

We’ve seen the aisles stocked with toys that go above and beyond expectation for 5 year olds. There are so many options with a lot to offer from the classics to the best educational toys imaginable, but let’s look at what really matters. Is it a toy the child will enjoy and how might it benefit their growth and development? By highlighting award winning toys for 5 year olds, these selections have proven to be some of the best that were well received by parents and kids alike.

Award Winning Toys for 5 Year Olds

Toy manufacturers, like any other, have a primary goal in mind – to come out with a product that will sell. It must meet the appeal of the buyer as well as the consumer. The toy industry is a huge market of manufacturers competing against each other to have the best toys that children will want to play with and parents will want to buy. Thus, we have numerous award programs that seek out and recognize toys who meet the standards for being the best.

There are various levels that award programs will use to determine what makes the best toy. This can vary from one program to the next but most look for similar factors that are important to parents including:

  • Entertaining – The toy industry looks at how well a toy is received. A toy that is entertaining should hold a child’s interest and keep them engaged for a length of time. The frequency in play (how often a child plays with the toy) is another indicator of how entertaining a toy is.
  • Appealing – How much appeal a toy has can be a determining factor in how well it sells as well as how often it’s played with. When sitting on a shelf stacked against hundreds or thousands of similar products, it should stand out and appeal to the person buying it.
    Educational – This is an important factor that parents like to find in toys. Children spend a great deal of time playing with toys so those promoting skill-building interaction are highly favored.
  • Safe – You would think a product aimed for children wouldn’t have potential hazards, but there are plenty. Small parts on a toy that can come loose could pose a choking hazard for infants and children under the age of 3. Organizations that seek out the best toys will take safety concerns regarding the materials and composition of the toy as well as warning labels into careful consideration.
  • Age-appropriate – Toys that are aimed at a specific age range should meet the qualifications that are in place for those ages. If a toy is too simple or ha test in durability. A better quality constructed toy that will last will be played with longer.s too many features than the age it is being marketed towards, children will likely lose interest fast.
    Durability – A child can be really rough on their toys. Institutions and programs seeking the best will look for toys that stand up to the

Award winning toys are those that have passed rigorous testing and product reviews that set them above the rest. These products which have received a seal of approval from one of any of the prestigious award programs, such as the Toy Association, were chosen from hundreds to thousands of nominations in the industry to be named the best. Check out this list featuring award winning toys 5 year olds will love and parents can trust.


Build & Imagine: Malia’s House

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Build & Imagine: Malia's House
Watch your child become a designer, builder, and storyteller.

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Features:

  • Build Malia’s House a new way, every time you play! Durable Story Wall panels connect magnetically.
  • Customize your adventure with magnetic accessories that stick to the panel walls and wooden dress-up dolls.
  • Grow your story with additional Build & Imagine play-sets!
  • Recommended for girls and boys ages 4-8.
  • Develops early engineering skills (spatial reasoning, problem solving, and creativity) as well as language skills.
  • Unlike a traditional bulky dollhouse, Build & Imagine StoryWalls stack flat, making our play-sets easy to transport and store.
  • The San Francisco Chronicle described Build & Imagine’s play-sets as “innovative toys that teach science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).”

Overview

There are many different elements combined in this new twist on the classic dollhouse. The house features two-sided magnetic panels for girls to build and imagine their own custom dollhouse into numerous combinations. The magnetic set comes with a Malia doll and a Skylar doll that they can dress up with different outfit combinations and accessories. It also includes various magnetic props for endless storytelling possibilities.

Awards: The Build & Imagine: Malia’s House provides a unique take on the classic dollhouse that young girls have adored for decades. It received the Parents Choice Gold Award as well as The National Parenting Seal of Approval for incorporating valuable elements that support STEM learning, encourage language skills and imagination, and a system that can be expanded with compatible building toys for long-lasting value. Another factor parents like is how easy and convenient it is to pack up and travel with. Additional recognition this toy has received include the Dr. Toy Best Classic Award, PAL Top 10 Language Learning Toys, and a finalist of ASTRA Best Toys for Kids.


BeginAgain Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toys for 5 Year Olds
Made from rubberwood with non-toxic, child safe stains.

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Features:

  • ABC PUZZLE ANIMALS – From letters to colors to animal names to storytelling playtime, BeginAgain Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle game is the educational toy for toddlers with a world of possibilities!
  • WOODEN PUZZLE PLUS – Multi-colored and diverse puzzle pieces have the animal’s first lowercase letter on one side, and an uppercase on the other. Kids can enjoy building the puzzle, or playing with animals separately.
  • NATURAL WOODEN TOY – Handcrafted from plantation-grown, sustainable rubberwood, BeginAgain Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle is made from plants NOT plastic, for a healthier planet and healthier kids.
  • PLAY AND DISPLAY – BeginAgain Animal Parade A-Z Puzzle educational toy for toddlers comes in a beautiful beech wood tray that measures 4” wide x 22” long, to use for storage, travel or to display between playtimes!
  • BeginAgain DOES IT BEST – Based in Fort Collins, Colorado, BeginAgain designs eco-friendly, well-balanced toys that teach, challenge and let kids explore.
  • 26-piece puzzle featuring animal and alphabet learning fun
  • Made from rubber, wood, and non-toxic child-safe stains
  • Includes a durable wood display box – great for easy clean up and storage
  • Independently safety tested and free of BPA (Bisphenol A) and Phthalates
  • Great for character storytelling and challenging puzzle play
  • Helps develop Fine motor and problem solving skills
  • Perfect gift for back to school and the holidays

Overview

What 5 year old doesn’t love animals!? This cool, unique puzzle consists of 26 wooden animal pieces that interlock together to form a puzzle or can be played with separately. Each animal features the letter its name begins with in uppercase on one side and lowercase on the other. It’s a great educational toy for preschoolers to learn and recognize letters of the alphabet as well as animal names. The pieces are composed of sustainable non-toxic materials that are safe for children and better for the environment than plastic.

Awards: The BeginAgain Animal Parade puzzle was a Toy of the Year 2014 Awards finalist for its creativity and originality, creative execution of artwork, and play value. It is one of the best selling among educational toys for toddlers with animal characters that encourage storytelling and problem-solving skills.


Peaceable Kingdom Mermaid Island board game

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds
Young kids will love this.

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Features:

  • An award winning cooperative game where the race to the treasure is on!
  • Players work together to beat the Ogre to the treasure by creating a path from start to finish; if they are successful everyone wins!
  • Children learn strategy and social development skills with no reading required
  • Winner of four awards including Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award and and PAL (Play Advances Learning) Seal of Approval
  • For 2 to 4 players ages 5 years and older; Peaceable Kingdom packaging is all designed to be frustration free – naturally!

The Mermaid Island board game is a fun game of strategy for ages 5 years and up. The spin and move game is a little different from typical board games where players compete against each other to win. The object of the game is to help the mermaids swim back to Mermaid Island before the arrival of the Sea Witch. If all the mermaids make it back to the island everybody wins. The concept behind the cooperative games produced by Peaceable Kingdom is to encourage children to play well together and build positive social development skills.

Awards: Peaceable Kingdom received the Best  Toy Award by Good Housekeeping for their cooperative game Mermaid Island in quality, skill-building initiative, and safety. The game fosters non-stressful play, shared decision making, and creative problem solving in a 100% green board game made from recycled materials for a healthier planet and kids.


Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears!

Build & Bloom Building Set —Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Mix, match, and create your own beautiful, spinning flower garden!

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Features:

  • Spark imagination and build STEM skills with this mix and match spinning flower garden
    Award-winning toy develops critical thinking, problem solving and fine motor skills
  • Interchangeable parts allow for endless combinations and designs
  • 116-piece set includes colorful gears, flowers, butterflies, bees, ladybugs, wiggly stems, and more!
  • Ideal for ages 4+
  • Let imaginations blossom! Mix, match and create your own beautiful, spinning flower garden
  • Parts are all interchangeable, allowing for endless combinations and designs

Awards Won:

  • The Toy Insider Top Summer Toys Award Winner (2015)
  • Creative Child Magazine, Preferred Choice Award in Builder Construction Toy Category (2015)
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, Gold Seal Award (2015)
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio, SNPA (Special Needs Adaptable Product) Award (2015)

This blooming garden doesn’t require a green thumb to make it thrive. Excite active imaginations in this gear set of mix and match spinning flowers that offer endless possibilities. This blooming garden is truly one of a kind. The set comes with 116 pieces to provide hours of creativity and imagination using gears and interchangeable components. The building set links the STEM approach to planning out what to build, problem solving and creative thinking. The spinning gears can be manipulated by hand providing fine motor skill building for toddlers and preschoolers. Included with the set are flowers, wiggly stems, butterflies, ladybugs, and bees to build their own beautiful flower garden.

Awards: The Build & Bloom building set by Learning Resources has quite a few awards behind it

including the The Toy Insider Top Summer Toys Award for 2015 in nature and educational toys. It received the Preferred Choice Award in the Builder and Construction Toy category of the 2015 Creative Child Magazine, and took two awards by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for the Gold Seal Award and Special Needs Adaptable Product Award in 2015.


Learning Resources Gears! Gears! Gears!

Deluxe Building Set  (100 Pieces) — Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Innovative toy. Winner of 4 awards.

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Learning Style: Visual, Tactile
Skill Development: Counting, Sorting, Matching, Patterning, Problem Solving, Cause & Effect, Critical Thinking, Sequential Thought, Spatial Relationships, Creativity, Fine Motor, Eye-Hand Coordination, Visual Processing, Color Identification

Features:

  • Different every time you build, this versatile, interconnecting gear set fosters imagination and provides opportunities to experiment with simple mechanics and science.
  • Supports STEM by introducing children to sorting, grouping, counting, designing, constructing, and putting physics into play with spinning gear movement. Learning gets more intricate as children’s abilities advance.
  • Boost fine motor skills while promoting reasoning and problem solving as children create moving experiments with spinning, colorful action.
  • 96-piece set includes 48 uniformly-sized gears in six colors: red, orange, yellow, green, and purple,
  • 8 interlocking square base plates, 19 square pillars, 8 pillar extenders, 12 six-way axles, and Activity Guide.
  • Winner of 4 awards
  • GEARS! GEARS! GEARS! ® provides many opportunities for young children to experiment with simple mechanics and science
  • Bright colors and easy-to-assemble pieces encourage children to create moving masterpieces

Includes:

  • 46 Colorful gears (blue, green, orange, red, purple), 26 square pillars, 21 six-way axles, 6 interlocking bases, 1 crank handle, and activity guide

Another best seller for Learning Resources, the deluxe building set offers a more gender-neutral option at building and redesigning. The gear set introduces simple mechanics and science with gears, cranks, connectors, interlocking plates, and an activity guide. They’ll be inspired to plan out and build endless combinations into 3-D construction projects. The set is compatible with other Gears!Gears!Gears! products to expand and add on to additional sets. The pieces snap together for easy construction that also provide a challenge for growing minds.

Awards: The Gears!Gears!Gears! Line has taken 4 awards for recognition among the best builder and construction toys. The Deluxe Building set earned the Gold Seal Award in 2016 by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio for new products designed to enhance children’s lives with valuable skills. It previously earned Platinum Choice award and maintains A Blue Chip choice for developing dexterity and creativity in children 3 years and up.


Q-bitz Jr.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Builds visual intelligence and STEM skills.

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Features:

  • GAMES THAT TEACH: Q-bitz Jr. is more than a whole lot of fun. It is an entertaining way to introduce your child to pattern matching, spatial reasoning and problem solving! Q-bitz Jr. from
  • MindWare builds visual intelligence and STEM skills.
  • VISUAL DEXTERITY CUBED: Q-bitz Jr. will challenge your child’s visual agility, pattern identification,
  • problem solving skills and hand eye coordination. If you’re the first to complete the pattern, shout “Q-bitz!” and collect the card.
  • INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP PLAY: Q-bitz Jr. is a fantastic game for individuals and groups alike. Either play by yourself in a tense race against time or try to land the best time in groups as large as 4.
  • Correctly arrange your cubes to match the pattern on the card. The player with the most cards after six rounds wins the game.
  • EXTENDED PLAY: The included Parent Guide offers additional ways to learn and problem solve using the cubes from Q-bitz Jr.
  • INCLUDES: 60 pattern cards, (4 sets) of 4 wooden cube-and-tray sets, Rules and Parent Guide.

This visual play product consists of various games that introduce patterns, matching, and problem solving fun. There are 4 wooden cube/tray sets that contain a design on each side of the cubes. There are 60 pattern cards which a player must try and match the pattern from their card using their cubes with the best time. Players can play against each other for up to 4 players or play on their own. A game consists of 6 rounds with the objective to get the most cards by correctly arranging the cubes to match. The games are fun and entertaining while helping children learn valuable concepts like spatial reasoning, pattern identification, and hand-eye coordination.

Awards: The Parent’s Choice Foundation awarded Q-Bitz Jr. with a Gold Award in Spring 2017 Games for building cognitive skills that enhance key areas such as critical thinking, memory, and observation.


Educational Insights Panda Rollers Game

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Helps your child develop in a wide range of areas.

"Buy from Amazon" buttonFeatures:

  • Practice matching patterns
  • Enhance visual discrimination skills
  • Develop social skills
  • Visual discrimination and matching game for preschoolers
  • Includes 4 sets of panda face cards (12 in each set), 1 panda dice shaker, 16 reward tiles, and game guide
  • All-play play pattern perfect for 2-4 players
  • The player with the most reward tiles wins

This is a fun visual game for preschoolers that incorporates color-matching. It consists of 4 panda face cards for up to 4 players, a panda dice shaker, and reward tiles. Each player gets a turn to shake the panda shaker, then all players look at their cards to find the two that match the color of the panda dice eyes. The first player to correctly match their cards to the shaker receives a reward tile. When all of threward tiles are gone, players will add up their tiles; the one with the most bamboo is the winner. It’s a suitable award winning board game for 5 year olds that doesn’t require reading, but does incorporate some early math skills.The nature of the game play encourages positive sportsmanship and helps develop important social skills.

Awards: The Panda Rollers Game received the Gold Award by Parent’s Choice in Fall 2017 Games for fine-tuning motor skills, improving color discrimination skills, and appeal. During product testing reviews, preschoolers were completely engaged in the game and were provided opportunities to learn even further based on the premises of the game.


Math for Love Tiny Polka Dot

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

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Features:

  • Sixteen easy-to-learn games help kids fall in love with numbers!
  • Playfully teaches counting, arithmetic, and logic
  • Vibrant, colorful designs
  • Easy to adapt for any child

Tiny Polka Dot is a collection of cards that feature vibrant designs to teach counting, numbers, and logic. It was designed by a mathematician and approved by teachers for classroom-use as an effective aid for teaching children math in a fun way. The set offers 16 playful games that can be adapted to grow with children from 3 to 8 years of age.

Awards: Tiny Polka Dot has received 6 different awards for recognition as of 2017. It has been recognized by Creative Child Magazine for Product of the Year as well as Game of the Year. It also earned the Parent’s Choice Gold Award, Brain Toy award, Brain Child Award Winner by Tillywig Toy Awards and the 2017 National Parenting Product Award.


Educational Insights Kanoodle Jr.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Puzzle book with 60 kid-friendly puzzles.

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Features:

  • Fun and challenging puzzles are perfect brain food for little ones
  • 60 puzzles and different levels of difficulty will keep your kids challenged as they advance
  • Cool all-in-one carry case stores puzzle pieces, puzzle board and puzzle booklet
  • Large puzzle pieces are easy for kids to handle
  • Practices spatial-reasoning skills.
  • Encourages problem solving skills.
  • Develops critical-thinking.
  • Builds fine motor skills. Fun and challenging puzzles are perfect brain food for little ones
  • 6 Large puzzle pieces, perfect for small hands.
  • Puzzle book with 60 kid-friendly puzzles
  • Puzzle board that doubles as a carrying case. (with handle)
  • Multi-language instruction guide. (English, Spanish, French, and German)

Get those little minds turning with this best-selling puzzle game. Kanoodle Jr. offers over a hundred puzzling challenges that will put their problem-solving skills to the test. It comes with 12 puzzle pieces and an illustrated puzzle book which they can pick a puzzle from to follow and set up the challenge. It tests spatial reasoning and critical thinking to figure out the remaining pieces. Children can progress as they master 2-D puzzles to take on the challenge of constructing 3-D puzzles to continually challenge them. The pieces all fit conveniently in a carrying case that make it great for travel play.

Awards: The Kanoodle Family has received numerous awards for recognition including Best Vacation Toy Winner for the Kanoodle Jr. by Dr. Toy. It also earned the Parent’s Choice Silver Honor in Spring 2017 Games for building chttps://www.amazon.com/Educational-Insights-EI-3078-Kanoodle-Jr/dp/B01N33PWCW/ref=as_li_ss_tl?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1513465234&sr=1-4&keywords=Educational+Insights+Kanoodle+Jr.&linkCode=ll1&tag=chainjourn-20&linkId=2d943588318cc723cc86f8cc444db4d7ognitive skills in critical thinking and persistence.


Educational Insights Wiggle Waggle Whiskers

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Preschool strategy game builds counting skills & introduces simple strategy.

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Features:

  • Inspired by the classic game “Dots and Boxes,” players build fences and claim backyard space by putting their pet inside
  • Purr-fect preschool strategy game builds counting skills and introduces simple strategy
  • Includes 48 plastic fence pieces, 20 puppies, and 20 kittens
  • Players take turns placing fence pieces on the board. Once all of the land has been fenced in, count to see which pet has claimed the most land!
  • For 2 player

Introduce simple strategy and counting skills with this fun preschool game that takes a new spin on the classic ‘dots and boxes’ game. The game comes with a land base which 2 players build a yard by taking turns placing fence pieces to form a yard. When a yard is completed the player places their pet inside to claim it. When all of the land has been filled in players will count how many yards they have. The player with the most claimed yards is the winner. This game is easy for preschoolers to catch on and fun to play while developing spatial reasoning, strategy, and social skills.

How to Play :

  1. Players pick dogs or cats and take turns placing fence pieces on the board.
  2. Complete a fence square, place your pet inside, and take another turn!
  3. Once all of the land has been fenced in, count the dogs and cats to see which pet has claimed the most land!

Awards: The Parent’s Choice foundation recognized Wiggle Waggle Whiskers with a Spring 2017 Games Silver Honor. It was rated highly for building skills in strategy and geometry.


Kids First Automobile Engineer Kit

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Beautifully illustrated storybook. Engaging way to teach basic engineering.

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Features:

  • Bulky building set for teaching early learners the basics of engineering
  • Encourages fine motor skills, logic, creativity, critical thinking
  • Kids get to save the day with the awesome power of engineering!
  • Use bulky snap-together parts to build 10 models for helping characters
  • Build a minivan, crane truck, race car, fire truck, forklift, motorcycle, dune buggy, harvester tractor, ice cream truck, school bus
  • Only one model can be built at a time
  • Each model corresponds with a different task in the story
  • Learn about the concept of wheels, pulleys, gears, and more
  • Includes 70 building pieces, durable storage case with snap-shut lid
  • 32-page storybook and illustrated building manual included
  • Wheels each measure 2.75 inches in diameter
  • Reliable Thames and Kosmos design and construction with strong, long-lasting materials

Give children the adventure of engineering with their first model building kit. The Automobile Engineering Kit comes with 70 building pieces that are easy for preschoolers to build with in fun colors. The instructions are provided in a user-friendly storybook style that illustrates 10 different models for kids to follow and build from. They’ll enjoy completing tasks to build various types of automobiles that support STEM learning.

Awards: There are so many skills that are introduced and encouraged with this Automobile Engineering Kit earning the Parent’s Choice Gold Award. Fine-motor skills are incorporated in building the models as well as math and science skills among many others.


Fisher-Price Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar Toy

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Best Toys for 3 Year Olds
Amazing design makes learn to code fun and easy.

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Features:

  • 1 motorized head and 8 easy-to-connect segments for endless combinations!
  • Kids connect the segments to make Code-a-pillar go forward, left, right or wherever they choose
  • Each segment lights up as the action happens!
  • Motorized head segment features lights, fun character sounds and blinking eyes to bring Code-a-pillar to life!
  • Can you reach the target? Challenge kids to configure the segments so Code-a-pillar can get to the targets and reach their goals

This was a hot Holiday Toy List item the year it was introduced to the market and the hype was well earned. The Think & Learn Code-a-Pillar is a motorized caterpillar consisting of a head and 8 segments that connect together with numerous combination possibilities. Kids can tell the code-a-pillar to go where they want from forward to left or right and even dance by configuring the segments correctly. Target cards are provided to help direct the code-a-pillar by planning out a path beforehand. They can rearrange the segments again and again to program a desired path that really challenges their problem-solving skills.

Awards: The Code-a-Pillar made the list as one of the best STEM toys by incorporating valuable concepts in the STEM approach. The toy promotes critical thinking and understanding sequences in programming that teach kids to code.


Fisher-Price Think & Learn Teach ‘N Tag Movi

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Encourages preschoolers to get their minds and bodies moving.

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Features:

  • 3 ways to play! Alpha Fun Actions Think & Move Shapes Learn & Play Games
  • Teach ‘n Tag Movi can move here, there & everywhere—360 degrees of mobility!
  • Light-up buttons on Movi’s head enhance game play
  • See Movi’s facial expressions change during play—60+ different faces!
  • Teaches preschoolers following directions, critical thinking skills & gets them up and moving!

This little guy will help your child in key areas of development in a friendly manner they’ll love to follow. The Teach ‘N Tag Movi is a fun robot that plays games with your preschooler to help them follow directions and get moving along with him with his 360-degree mobility. The robot features 6 games in 3 different game modes to teach them to follow along, dance, and test critical thinking skills.

Awards: The Parent’s Choice Foundation recognized the Think & Learn Teach ‘N Tag Movi under recommended award winning toys for 5 year olds based on parents’ reviews and kid testers. It encouraged preschoolers and even older children to move to the dance moves and other commands aiding in development critical for starting Kindergarten.


Educational Insights Design & Drill Activity Center

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Follow the patterns — from trains and boats to flowers and fish.

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Features:

  • Perfect for STEM learnings
  • Builds construction and fine motor skills
  • Enhances creativity
  • Kids can drill fun-shaped bolts into the board to re-create the pictures found in the Activity Guide or create their own original designs
  • 120 Chunky plastic bolts in 5 colors, a reversible power drill, a screwdriver, 3 drill bits (Phillips, socket, flathead), and a combination wrench for tiny hands
  • 20 Colorful easy-to-follow design activity cards
  • Built kid-tough, durable
  • Requires 3 AA batteries, not included

Building and drilling are two activities that children love to engage in. This Design and Drill Activity Center satisfies a child’s need to build while instilling hand-eye coordination. The activity center comes with 120 plastic bolts, a screwdriver, combination wrench, a reversible power drill, 2 drill bits, and 20 activity cards. Little builders can design their own creations or re-create the designs by following the activity cards.

Awards: This Design & Drill Activity Center introduces and enhances a wide range of critical skills that have earned it multiple awards. It has received the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award, and recognized with a Recommended Award by Parent’s Choice as well as the National Association of Parenting Publication Award to name a few.


Educational Insights Design & Drill BrightWorks

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Safe introduction to engineering and construction.

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This Design & Drill Brightworks is a cool twist on the Design & Drill Activity Center. It features a light up activity board with translucent bolts to add illumination to their creations. The BrightWorks includes a power drill with socket bit as well as a flat top bit, 80 bolts, and a guide that features 12 patterns to follow and recreate. It is compatible with the Design and Drill Activity Center for expanded play and shared among siblings. The added light effect as children insert the translucent bolts to follow the designs from the guide book inspire matching and pattern skills as well as creativity.

Awards: Alongside the Design & Drill Activity Center, the Brightworks also received recognition from the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio with a Platinum Seal Award. It was also awarded Parents’ Magazine Best Toys and a Toy of the Year finalist for 2016 and 2017.

  • National Association of Parenting Publications Awards (NAPPA).
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Best Toy Award.
  • Family Fun Magazine – Toy of the Year Awards Finalist.
  • Canadian Toy Testing Council 3 Star Seal.
  • Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal Award.
  • iParenting Media Award Toys and Games.
  • Learning Magazine Teachers’ Choice Award.
  • – Parents’ Choice Recommended Award.

Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. My First Microscope

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Even preschoolers can see a magnified hidden world with ease.

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Features:

  • Even preschoolers can see a magnified hidden world with ease, thanks to 2 extra-large eye-pieces and a chunky, kid-sized focusing knob!
  • Examine everything from a rock to a penny, stamp, or leaf in magnified 3-D with this fully functional dissecting microscope!
  • Encourages an early love of scientific investigation and discovery!
    Features 8x magnification, simple focusing knobs, LED light for enhanced viewing, non-skid feet, and sample tray.
  • Winner of the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Seal, Parents’ Choice Silver Award, and Toy of the Year Finalist.
  • Supports STEM learning through scientific exploration and the introduction of a key scientific tool.
  • Designed by a scientist and mother of two!

This Jr. Microscope is designed specifically for preschoolers to give them a better close-up view of various objects. It provides the perfect opportunity to feed their curiosity about things around them to make new discoveries. The microscope has two large eyepieces for easy viewing and a chunky kid-friendly knob to adjust magnifications up to 8x. They’ll be eager to find things to observe from rocks to pennies and everything under the sun while gaining skills in using a microscope and STEM learning.

Awards: The My First Microscope won the Gold Seal Award by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio. It received the Parents’ Choice Silver Award in Spring 2014 Toys for its appeal and ease-of-use by testers. It was also a finalist in the 2015 Toy of the Year Award.


Green Toys Dump Truck

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Made in the USA from 100 percent recycled milk jugs.

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A toy as simplistic as this dump truck may not seem as appealing as some of the other award winning toys 5 year olds love but you’d be surprised. This truck is ready to haul loads with a fully functional dump tank. The award-winning eco-design is made from recycled materials that are safer for the environment and for kids to play – 100% recycled milk jugs! It’s also easy to clean and can even go in the dishwasher after a day’s work.

Awards: The Green Toys Dump Truck is recognized as Best Outdoor Toy by the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio as well as the iParenting Outstanding Product Award. It even earned Ultimate First Dump Truck Crisbie Award.


Fat Brain Toys Bamboo Builder Marble Run

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
Available in a variety of sizes.

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Features:

  • Strong, sturdy marble run sets made of bamboo and other sustainable materials; open-ended construction creativity; includes 30 marbles, instruction book, rope marble catchers
  • Endless building possibilities; Follow instructions to get started; Combine with other Bamboo Builder Marble Runs to create the ultimate marble-run metropolis
  • Perfect for ages 4 to 10; Features hand-crafted, carbonized tracks, colorful bamboo cylinders, sustainable wood powder spirals – Safe for kids, friendly to the environment; BPA-Free
  • Creative construction hones fine motor skills, visual spatial skills, early engineering skills;
  • Inspires creativity, critical thinking, three-dimensional thinking; Teaches problem-solving and innovation
  • Easy-to-open packaging doubles as storage box; made in China

There’s something mesmerizing about watching a marble run through various obstacles along a pathway. This marble run is designed with sturdy bamboo and sustainable materials to create a captivating construction with exponential possibilities. The set comes with 30 marbles, rope marble catchers, and an instruction booklet. The open-ended construction provides a world of creativity and fine motor skills to design and build, yet easy enough to follow for children 4 years and up.

Awards: Fat Brain Toys is a well-known brand of toys designed to inspire learning with recognition that has been featured in USA Today, The New York Times, ABC’s Good Morning America and more. The Bamboo Builder Marble Run was recognized with the Parent’s Choice Silver Honor for building strong cognitive skills, visual and motor skills, and various STEM activity through play.


Spirograph Junior

Award Winning Toy for 5 Year Olds.
The classic toy designed for small hands. Bold shapes are easy to hold.

"Buy from Amazon" button

Who doesn’t love drawing and designing creations with the iconic Spirograph. This award-winner is certainly not new to the toy industry but it remains a time-honored favorite. The Spirograph Jr. features a drawing tablet as a work station that also serves as storage and has jumbo-sized gears for ease-of-use. An instruction guide is included to copy and recreate designs with design sheets and 5 washable markers. What makes this toy so great is the combination of art and creativity with motor-skill building activity that also introduces geometric shapes.

Awards: The Spirograph Jr. earned the Parents’ Choice Fun Stuff Award for Fall 2017 Toys as it rated a platinum play value among consumers.


If you’re shopping around for the perfect gift for a 5 year old, look no further than from one of these selections that passed the test. It’s these award winning toys 5 year olds gain valuable skills from that can have an influence on potential careers. No matter the occasion, these toys are guaranteed winners for every family.

Last Updated: February 27, 2023 at 1:43 PM / by Chainsaw Journal

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