Gift Guide: Boys Ages 5-9

“The Ollyball lives up to its name as being the ultimate indoor ball. My grandson and I play for hours with this ball without any worries about breaking anything even a lamp. Great way to burn up their energy during rainy days. And finally it’s surprisingly sturdy.”

What is a Terrarium? It is a miniature garden within a container that simulates a natural environment. It works!

These have been a huge hit for my kids this year, and they come in lots of different themes. These are also great for keeping busy in the car.

A big hit with this age. Would be a great stocking stuffer.

Ages 6-99 can enjoy this fun game you can easily take with you. There are a variety of themes to choose from!

I can’t say enough good things about this unique, quirky, well-designed book. Inventive, and joyously colorful, this fill-in journal designed to help kids capture nearly everything that’s uniquely rad about them. I’ve enjoyed learning about and laughing with my son as he has filled it out.

After we checked this book out form the library, my 6- and 9-year-old have been fighting nonstop on who gets to read it. Sibling fights are a sign of a coveted toy! I will for sure be buying this one this season.

I know this seems random but we got some for my boys and they are pretty fun to play with! My 6-year-old especially likes them.

My 6-year-old son has one of these and think it’s the coolest toy in his collection. I like it better than traditional spinning wands because of the variations it provides. It automatically slows if met with resistance (meaning it doesn’t hurt if you touch it when using it.

Anyone else remember using these as a kid?! They have made them even better!

I got these for my 6-year-old last year and they were a huge hit! They work great to throw off a deck. 🙂

I know. I know. There is a risk in bringing live insects into your home. However, the benefits outweigh the risks when it comes to an ant farm! Kids love watching the busy little creatures (ordered separately) dig their tunnels and make a home.

This is a classic for a reason. Easy to learn and so fun, especially for this age. If your kiddos don’t have it, snag it this holiday. Great for road trips, family game night, or playing with friends.

If the kiddo you’re buying for is into Pokemon, buying them a binder to keep their cards organized would be a huge win! I plan to get this for my 9-year-old and filling it with some rare cards that he will go bananas over.

This book is so clever and cute. This is one of my personal favs, and the kids love it too! Make this gift extra special by pairing with the Crayola Ultimate Crayon Collection – 154 crayons and includes a sharpener.

Grandma gifted my son this book, and it was crazy how much he loved it. This is the age when the silly jokes start, and this book has great ones I even found hilarious!

This is probably the game played by my 7- and 9-year-old. It’s a classic that is easy to learn and moves fast enough to keep their attention. It’s one of those games that every household should have.

One of those simple things that kids LOVE. These come in 10 colors.

Another hit for my kids this year. I’d say ages 6-7 is the sweet spot for this game.

For the LEGO-loving boy in your life, this is an essential book. It can help him think outside the LEGO instruction manual and pour gas on his already creative imagination.

This is super cool and very affordable toy that every boy or girl (and adult!) who is around it likes to play with. This small little box–which takes up very little space–contains 150 highly magnetic and well-engineered sticks, as well as metal balls. Children will learn how magnets work as they attract and/or repel one another. In addition to building all kinds of cool structures, we’ve even come up with some fun “magic” tricks with these magnets, too.

My kids LOVE this. It’s great for all ages too! In fact, according to Amazon, I’ve purchased it three times. Probably because I often give this as a birthday gift. This year, it’s going to my nephew! The giant bubbles are easy to make and you can use any bubble solution.

These are the softest, squishiest stuffed animal ever, and there are SO many to choose from. My kids even use them instead of pillows.

These things are SO cool! My boys both loved theirs. It’s a fidget toy that is great for car rides.

My 7 year old LOVES this. Be warned – it doesn’t not work as well as shown in the picture. But it does the job and the kids have a lot of fun on it.

Play solo or with friends! It offers a collection of one- and two-player games, complete with buzzing, beeping, exciting music, and voice-guided instructions and feedback from Mission Control. Includes the option to adjust the volume or mute it altogether.

This was a hit in my house this summer. Watermelon Ball is a water-filled ball that mimics the flotation of a watermelon. The ball will sink then slowly rise to the surface when thrown in water.

A fun book to help your child communicate how they feel! I especially love that the cover has a feelings chart on the back.

On the heels of Despicable Me 4, this would be a great gift!

My boys have a version of this and have been playing it nonstop. It’s a great indoor game for those cold winter months!

My kiddo’s 3rd-grade teacher had these in her classroom and my kids were elated to finally have some at home to tinker with. Don’t worry, they can’t get shocked. It’s a great educational toy that provides a lot of experimenting and learning.

PlusPlus is a unique construction toy with one shape and endless possibilities. Every piece easily connects to the next in any direction. Create colorful flat mosaics or work in 3-D to make more intricate builds.

My kids got these affordable and very fun walkie talkies a few Christmases ago and still play with them. They’ve worked really well for us.

There are so many projects your budding engineer can create with this building set. Ebooks included for beginner, intermediate and advanced builders. Some of the reviewers even bought a second set to make additional creations.

I am 100% getting this for both my boys this year. Each kit includes 10 Geodes to smash open and discover what is inside.

With almost 5 full stars on 22K+ reviews, it’s sure to be a hit! This basketball hoop hangs over the back of the door for indoor play.

I’m pretty sure this car that races up walls and ceilings might be the coolest gift of the holidays. The car itself is USB rechargeable, but don’t forget the extra AAA Batteries for the laser control.

A fast, fun dice game that encourages fast reactions and is super easy to learn. That’s why it was named one of ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids. (Ages 7 to 97)

Allows kids to create endless options of marble tracks and marbles. All ages enjoy this building set. Be sure to get the extra marbles. My kids love building multiple runs and competing in marble races. Pro tip: Buy extra marbles!

Have a science lover in your family? This kit is filled with over experiments, gig kits, erupting volcanos and more!

My 7-year-old LOVES these. We got this exact set a few years ago and he still wants to read them regularly.

Perfect for hunting treasure in the park or backyard, this junior metal detector is adjustable and light. It really works too…my kids found some cool discoveries with it.

I had a toy similar to this growing up and had so much fun with it. The set features two 12″ bouncy mesh trampoline-style discs and 1 OgoSoft koosh balls. Kids and adults can either throw the discs or hit the balls back and forth. Ogodisk can be played indoors, outdoors and even in the pool!

Race and create epic car crashes with this fast-moving, action-packed track. This one is a blast! Requires four D batteries you can get here.

Still the perfect gift for this age. Check out the City Lego Sets or Superhero Lego Sets.

My kids have been known to sneak the family Echo Dot into their rooms to play music and games. Since it’s not filtered, this makes me a little nervous! This kid edition comes with daily time limits and the ability to review activity. It plays music, tells stories, calls approved friends and family, and has more kid-friendly skills. Excited about this option! The updated 4th generation comes in a panda or tiger.

My kids have had SO much fun with these. They play with them inside, outside, with friends, and even with daddy. They make great sound effects, have a vibration feature, and are easy to learn how to use. I do wish they were rechargeable but they require AA batteries to work so stock up on those.

Polly’s kids talk about theirs every single day! She recommends getting the 2-year warranty (it replaced her daughter’s after a year). This slim fitness tracker for kids makes it easy to keep track of their steps, sleep and activity, without adding extra bulk. This activity tracker syncs with an app that kids and parents will both love; kids will have a blast taking on challenges and adventures, and parents will appreciate the convenience of assigning chores and rewards.

It’s like three lego sets in one! I got this for my son for his birthday this year and it was a huge hit. Not only did it feature some of his favorite Marvel characters but it felt extra special to have THREE of them.

The classic 3-wheeler of the 70’s just got a whole lot better. This is a coveted scooter among elementary kids in Polly’s neighborhood.

Boys and girls of almost all ages will enjoy this classic, high-quality magnetic block system. We have these at church in our younger elementary classrooms and they continue to be one of the most well-loved toys. They are definitely an investment, and you can start with a smaller set here.

I’m planning on buying this for my 7 year old this year. This ride-on scooter will have them moving but at a pace that parents can handle. It includes handles for them to hold onto and a battery to power the scooter to go up to 6.5 mph.