Toys for a 5 Year Old Boy

My first suggestion is to talk to his parents and find out what he's REALLY into: does he want to be a train engineer, a firefighter, a chef, a mechanic, a cop, a fighter pilot? He may enjoy the trendy stuff for a few days, but getting something he's truly interested in will be the best buy, even if it only runs ya $10 bucks :) You can really fill a gift box then!

My son has been interested in Ben10, Bakagan, Spiderman, etc., since he was about 5. He's now 6 1/2 and while he still likes them, he is now into anything Star Wars & Indiana Jones: Wii, DS (he'll be getting this for Christmas), but EXPECIALLY Legos! He's getting the Legos Darth Vader/Tie Fighter set for Christmas.

He has loved trains since he discovered the train store when he was 3 and even though he is 6 1/2, he does still enjoy his Fisher-Price GeoTrax. He can spend days designing and re-designing layouts without help from adults. They are also big and chunky and snap together and STAY together until he's ready to change them. They are just the right size for little hands and they have Remote Control (RC) trains AND planes.

My son also goes back and forth between chef, firefighter and police officer (his Daddy's profession). He has some time to decide and some jobs can be combined: Train chef, Railroad Police, Police officer/Firefighter/EMT in some departments.

Definitely ask first :)

Merry Christmas!

My son loves his Legos. If he likes to build things, he will love Legos. And if he loves Star Wars or Indiana Jones, they have those movied themed Legos too. I would recommend that he have someone to help him though. My hubby loves to help. He has just as much fun as our son!

My son and his friends are into the Leapster 2 game system. They are about $50 and the games range from $15-$24. There are a bunch on sale right now.

Get him a plasma car. We got ours at Target for around $55 and it has been a big hit. Very fun and easy to ride.
Oh, I just looked and they are now $70. Still worth it though if you want to spend that much. All those other little toys just get lost or forgotten it seems to me.

Transformers, Bakagan, Star Wars Legos, anything they can build with---Tinker toys, Lincoln logs-are oldies but goodies with my kiddos

transformers is very in right now, and they have a variety of prices.

Hi M., I havn't read the other responses so forgive me if I'm repeating. My son is 5 & he is very into anything outdoors. Scooter, skateboard, rollerblades. When he has to be indoors, he loves his leapster. They have lots of games for his age & it is in your price range. Also, anything hot wheels. You might want to get him one of those carry cases with wheels & then fill up another box with lots of cars. He will go crazy over that. Merry Christmas

Batman, Spiderman, Transformers and perhaps Star Wars action figures and accessories.

Another big hit - anything Hot Wheels related.

We just bought our nephew a Discovery View Master with reels that talk to you about the picture. We bought pictures reels of Afrian animals and dinosaurs. This particular View Master will also work with non-talking reels.

Happy hunting.

Transformers and Bakugan are both popular. My son is big on Spiderman but his main gift from Santa this year will be a digital drumpad with headphones!

Hi M.,
Here are a few ideas.
Check out this great puzzle http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZsBq5kE-zlk The puzzle is called Perplexus and is so cool!

Also there are GI Joe, Magician sets, a firehouse that is like a dollhouse but is a firehouse, a set of drums for a child. This is a start. Once you get going ideas will come. There is a really nice GI Joe doll for boys that is about $50 and is interactive and has buttons to press. I bought one for someone else and my son loved it.

Good luck, and have a wonderful Christmas,

W., mother of two little boys.

5yo is a bit young for things like Spiderman and Ben10 in my opinion. Those are things my 8yo is interested in. For a five year old, what about something like a V-Motion, a Leapster, hot wheels cars, Legos, and Kid K'nex? That would be more age appropriate. Or does the 5yo have a favorite Disney character? Or for a gift that will really last, what about a membership to a zoo or museum?

I have 5-year-old twin grandsons that absolutely love to build with legos. There are so many different themes and prices. They also like transformers, batman, spiderman, cars, etc. They just got a racetrack for their birthday and love playing with that. Good Luck!

I don't go for the trendy gifts. So many of them are played with for a short time and then put away for the next trendy thing. I recommend a bicycle (and helmet), a scooter, a family pass to the zoo or children's museum, an art easel with supplies, a pet (with parents' approval). These are gifts that will last and be used over and over, providing special memories of that wonderful god mother!

I can tell you my five year old boy likes 1.Lego sets $49 to about $90, like lego Indiana Jones, Lego Star Wars, Lego City Police Headquarters 2. Superhero squad toys (mini action figures of Marvel comic super heroes only more cartoonish) around $6 a pack 3. Star wars light sabers about $20 3. Bakugan (little magnetic plastic animal dragon figures that come rolled up into a ball) there is a wide variety of things for bakugan like cards and battle arenas, but I'd keep it simple, 4. If he has a WII, Xbox, or PS3, maybe he'd like super mario smash brothers, super mario galaxy, Lego Batman for WII etc., Lego Indiana Jones or Lego Indiana Jones 2 for the WII or Xbox or PS3. 5. Board games like Connect Four, Guess Who, Operation, Candyland, Chutes and Ladders, Pictureka, Chess, Sorry Sliders. 6. A bicycle. Just a few ideas. Hope this helps. Merry Christmas!

My sons, now 21 & 29, loved building with Legos from about age 5 to 13, and my nieces & nephews--between 4 and 11, love them, too! Hoe this helps!