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We hope you love our recommendations! Some may have been sent as samples, but all were independently selected by our editors. Just FYI, BuzzFeed and its publishing partners may collect a share of sales and/or other compensation from the links on this page. 32 Toys From Walmart That Won't Disappoint A 5-Year-Old Because my 5-year-old has taste, opinions, and zero chill—and some of these still impressed him. 1. A folding scooter for a STEAL of a price (less than $20!!) that will surely give any 5-year-old with energy to burn the zoomies the moment they receive it. 2. A Kinetic Sand pizza set every five-ish kid in your life will adore because who doesn't want to create squishy sand pizza in their very own pizza oven? Plus, the Kinetic Sand physics means that it really *does* look like the dough rises after being squished down, so this is BASICALLY an educational toy, too. You're welcome. 3. A FurReal Maggie the interactive cow plush—Moo-ve over creepy robotics you might remember from the '90s: There's some new, improved 'bots in town! Maggie has over 50 sounds and reactions, drinks from her play bottle, moos, and even plays a little cowbell, all while still feeling like a REAL PLUSH. 4. A Paw Patrol fire rescue command center my own five-year-old has circled MANY TIMES in the Walmart toy catalog because of course he wants to save Adventure Bay with his good pals Marshal and Chase by his side. (And yes, the cars really do launch the "water" to help put out the fires!) 5. A Hello Kitty Snack Shop game *technically* meant for six and up, but your Hello-Kitty-obsessed kiddos are going to manage to work together to serve special treats in the Snack Shop before closing time ~beautifully~. (Plus the game pieces are 10/10 going to hangout with their Littlest Pet Shop friends while not saving snack time.) 6. And a Carrera Paw Patrol race track that'll have even you questioning your grasp on physics in the most fun way. My son has been OBSESSED with this and is learning a lot about physics through play, especially by moving the ramps along the track. 7. A cuddly, snuggly sleeping Pikachu Pokémon plush your resident Pokémon trainer will adore for bedtime snuggles, Pokémon-watching snuggles, and everything in between. Reviewers also say these make perfect travel companions thanks to their pillow-like qualities, so it might just be the ideal gift for a 5-year-old that's facing a bunch of holiday planes, trains, and automobiles. 8. A real-life John Deere tractor, they'll love for the bright colors and high zoomy potential, and you'll love it because it gets them outside! This is one of those "remember when" gifts your kids will still talk about around the holiday table decades after opening it. 9. A Pets Alive mommy and baby turtle robo water toy with turtles that really swim in water and *also* walk on land because this toy is heckin' accurate. And just plain charming??? Forget the 5-year-old's: I'm buying this for my desk. 10. A set of four mini Speks gump stress balls I can ~personally~ testify will keep your kiddo (and you) happily squishing the hours away with some good ol' fashioned sensory fun. It's a GREAT way to give the fives something to do with their hands while they're listening to music, watching movies, or just zoning out while traveling. 11. A Walmart-exclusive remote control flying Toothless toy so they can learn the important responsibility of training their own dragon. Yes, it really flies. Yes, this is going to please your 5-year-old IMMENSELY. 12. A brand-new LeapFrog LeapMove active learning game system that comes preloaded with games that make kids the controllers. They can flap their arms to soar into numbers, race through word obstacle courses, catch glowing "orb" letters, and basically get out some of their boundless energy, all while keeping learning ACTUALLY fun. 13. Or a splurge-worthy Nex Playground Active Play System, supposedly designed for the small human crowd, but adults also love this thing. If you remember the Xbox Kinect times, THIS IS THE SUPERIOR, CHEAPER, MORE COMPACT VERSION. With games like Fruit Ninja, a How to Train Your Dragon flight simulator, and dancing galore, this handy, device-of-your-hand size device plugs directly into your TV or projector with an HDMI cable and is ready to go. 14. A mystery Hatchimals Alive! because there's a reason these took the toy lists by storm when they first came on the scene in — and I'm gonna hold your hand when I say this — 2016. Give the small friends in your life the gift of ~anticipation~ as they wait for their new furry friend to hatch from the egg and charm them with music, dancing, and 100+ sounds and reactions! 15. A Strider balance bike for the littles in your life who have a need for speed but aren't quite ready for pedals just yet. These bikes are all the rage for a reason: They're the perfect fun transition tool to take your kid from scootin' to peddlin' in the neighborhood big leagues in no time. 16. A National Geographic Build Your Own Volcano kit so your kid can take part in the time-honored tradition of "let's make that thing explode" to learn some hands-on science facts. 17. A Jurassic World interactive Bitzee that will appeal DEEPLY to any parent who remembers Tamagotchis fondly, but with the 21st-century twist of the little characters interacting with the motion of the box, too. Give this to your little dino fanatic or the kid in your life who needs their own touchstone small tech toy (that isn't a tablet) to look back fondly on from their future. 18. A Backyard Discovery cedar playhouse because there is no better investment in "put the tablet down" in your five's life than a little outdoor (or indoor!) home they can call their very own. This playhouse comes with a kitchen and cookware, a chalkboard, and a mailbox, so they're fully equipped to kick the iPad to the curb for many hours. 19. A Peppa Pig interactive Baby Evie doll if your kiddo is OBSESSED with Peppa's new lil' sis and wants some hands-on cuddles. Evie makes over 20 sounds when she's given her bottle or pacifier, when she's bounced up and down, or when she's laid down for her nap time. 20. A MindWare elevator marble run for those rainy fall days when "just go outside" is ~not an option~ and you want to entertain your kid with some good ol' fashioned "watch the marble go!" until the sun comes out. Let them learn three-dimensional thinking, fine motor skills, logic, and have a ball— all without *you* losing your marbles. 21. The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel preschool board game to make matching, counting, and fine motor skills FUN to practice. This is a perfect intro to the big world of board games, so you can get younger kids ready to compete in the big leagues of family game night down the line! 22. A 26-piece Magna-Tiles travel set perfect for car rides, restaurants, and waiting rooms at a fraction of the price (but not the quality!) of their big sets. Motor skills and building skills get used with this set, and this is now a staple in my son's toy bag. 23. A Melissa & Doug dentist kit because practicing dental hygiene should absolutely include an all-blue matching color scheme and teeth that actually wiggle on the teeth set. (BRB. Buying this to teach my kid AGAIN how to brush the back teeth properly.) 24. A Crayola light-up tracing pad that will give your kiddos hours of entertainment and pencil-holding practice as they trace and draw their way to the outer limits of their ~imagination.~ 25. A new Crayola Bluey Scribble Scrubbie set so they can color Bluey and Co. to their heart's delight and *then* get to scrub them clean in the lil' working pool sprayer. *Basically* a 2-in-1 kinda toy that they can use over and over again, thank GOODNESS. 26. And a hide-and-seek Bluey game because sometimes kid wranglers just don't want to stuff themselves into a closet and wait a hundred years to be found, so let me introduce you to your new fave adorable sidekick. Just hide Bluey somewhere nearby, and she'll shout hints and sing that absolute bop of a theme song when found! 27. A throwback-tacular Dora Casita play set with sound effects, furniture pieces, Dora and Boots figurines, and all the interactive elements kids want from a magical animated playscape. Get ready to hear delighted kids say, "C'mon! Vamonos, everybody!" the minute they open this gift. 28. An ultra-portable TonieBox starter set that includes Elsa, Mirabel, and Moana for a screen-free experience any kiddo will love jamming out to. With just a quick *plunk* of their fave character on top of the TonieBox, your kiddo is instantly immersed in their beloved songs and stories with PLENTY of room to let their imagination wander and grow. 29. A Step2 modern kitchen play set if they're favorite thing to do is help you stir in the kitchen and they could use some free play space to expand on their culinary skillset. 30. Or a Step2 Pro Tool Bench set is likely to turn your burgeoning "I do it" sidekick into a DIY enthusiast. I know from experience that the screens will all be forgotten when they undertake their first "big project." 31. A LeapFrog learning bundle to give your little reader a delightful boost. The smart stylus and book set comes loaded with activities and read-along functions that'll keep your learner eagerly turning the pages. LeapFrog readers today, BookTok readers tomorrow. 32. An Elphaba and Glinda Care Bears set if the kiddos in your life can sing the entire soundtrack from Wicked and are counting down the days until the sequel. These will give them all those good Ozian vibes, but WITHOUT any buttons that actually sing, so their parents will still love you, too. Reviews for this post have been edited for length and/or clarity. Why Trust BuzzFeed Shopping? BuzzFeed Shopping is service journalism first: our writers and editors spend all day shopping so you don’t have to, vetting products, fact-checking brand claims, and surfacing what actually helps in real life. We center readers over revenue, recommend products with authenticity (using real experiences, not ad-speak), and reflect our diverse audience, inclusive of a variety of price points, people, and needs. We cut through fake deals, favor useful info over glossy fluff, and recommend both budget and splurge options with context so you can decide what’s right for you — and still have a little fun along the way. Ashley Schumacher is a freelancer who has been writing for BuzzFeed Shopping for over two years with an emphasis on home goods, parenting items and toys, beauty products, and anything that can make your day-to-day life run a little smoother. When she’s not writing, you can find her reading too many books and traipsing about her North Texas home with her husband and son.
