The toys suggested below are generally appropriate for typically developing five-year-olds. Many of these same toys are also suitable for kids who are not developing according to typical milestones, though they may need to be used differently. (For information on selecting or adapting toys for kids with disabilities, see Selecting Toys for Children with Disabilities or visit the National Lekotek Center at www.lekotek.org or www.ableplay.org.) Parents and caregivers must always ensure that any toy they let a child use is safe for that child.

• Art materials
• Balls
• Beanbags
• Bicycle
• Blocks (all sizes)
• Books
• Bowling set
• Camera
• Card and board games (simple)
• Cash register and play money
• Clay
• Climbing equipment
• Computer
• Cooking equipment
• Crafts
• Crayons
• Dishes (nonbreakable) and other housekeeping toys and work role-play toys
• Doctor kit
• Dollhouse with furniture
• Dress-up clothes
• Fingerpaints
• Flashlights
• Jump rope
• Kits—crafts, science
• Loop loom
• Magnetic letters, numerals, and objects
• Magnifying glasses
• Miniature people, animals, farms, vehicles, etc.
• Musical instruments
• Paints and paintbrushes
• Parents who sing, talk, and read to their child
• Picture lacing cards
• Plastic bat and balls
• Puppets
• Puzzles
• Roller skates
• Scooter
• Stencils
• Toy clock
• Trins
• Wagon
• Wheel toys
• Workbench with child-size tools

Adapated from Play with Purpose by Theodosia Sideropoulos Spewock and Jean Warren. Published by Brighter Vision Publications, Don Mills, Ontario, Canada: 2000. Page 69.

Provided By Susan J. Oliver, Tropomedia
This information is provided on behalf of the toy experts at your neighborhood toy store.