At around 5 years old, many children begin to gain significant social skills, sharpening their fine motor skills and growing their understanding of reading and math. Between ages five and seven, these skills will continue to develop noticeably.

So, when choosing toys for this age group, it is good to invest in ones that will help children play while practicing physical and mental activities. For shared imaginary play, you might invest in dress-up or play sets, like a play kitchen. Newly earned fine motor skills can take the fun of building sets to new levels. There are also many strategic board games and card games that are great for this age range.

Each age marks some significant changes and developments. For instance, if you’re looking for toys for 5-year-olds, you might focus on sensory toys or stuffed animals and plushies for comfort cuddling. Meanwhile, toys for 6-year-olds could expand into more complex arts and crafts projects, while toys for 7-year-olds may include ones that require more responsibility, like remote-control cars and toy drones.

Kids can make a toy out of just about anything, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want a treasure trove of well-designed ones. When buying toys for your child or choosing gift toys, it is good to think of the categories that will fit the child best and add some variety to their collection.

You could focus on educational toys, pretend-play toys, outdoor toys, games and strategy toys, navigation-based toys (like remote control vehicles) or creativity and art-based toys. If you are choosing the best educational or STEM toys for your child, think of the skills they are currently developing.

By age seven, children have improved spatial awareness, enabling them to participate in sports and games where they can play more independently. Kids of this age may benefit from toys like kick scooters and other ride-on toys. Just make sure you also invest in the necessary safety gear, like a helmet, for anyone riding on these toys.