Toy Ideas for a 5 Year Old Girl

Here is our list of present ideas for 5 year old girls. Some of the items are fairly standard suggestions - after all, not every person giving gifts necessarily knows what children of that age and gender typically like. But we've tried to include a few original ideas too, for people looking for something more unique.

	Kidizoom Video Camera Whether you know an aspiring young film director or someone who wants to be a star, the Kidizoom video camera makes a great present for a 5 year old. It is very robust with simple, intuitive controls that even very young children will be able to make full use of. There are fun effects which can be added to the video clips they've taken of their family, friends, themselves and anything else that catches their eye! You can find out lots more about this toy in our Kidizoom video camera review.
	Scratch and Sketch books There are some lovely art and crafts available for this age group. One of the range of products we really like are the 'Scratch and Sketch' books (you can read our review here). Scratching the specially coated pages with a wooden stylus reveals colourful patterns and holographic paper underneath, really bringing sketches to life. There is a large and growing selection of themes from animals to fairies. A good choice for 5 year old girls is Princess Bella Scratch and Sketch which is part of the trace along series and has printed outlines that will help even less confident artists produce really great pictures.
	Scooter Scooters are generally a big hit with both 5 year old girls and boys, and they are a fun way of getting some exercise too. Depending how dexterous and coordinated your child is, you may want to look at the Ozbozz Cosmic Light scooter. This has 3 wheels to help with balance, is lightweight and best of all - from a child's point of view at least - the deck part of the scooter flashes. Children with good balance may prefer a 2 wheel scooter instead - we like our Nebulus (click the link to read our Nebulus scooter review
	Sylvanian Families I have always had a soft spot for Sylvanian Families and the range of toys is now even bigger and better than when I was child. There are lots of different family sets available, from meerkats to hedgehogs, as well as some great accessories. Items such as the Sylvanian Family school, hotel, wind mill and hospital tend to be very expensive but Amazon generally have a discounted price. At the time of compiling this list the Sylvanian Family Regency Hotel, for example, is only Ł63 (full RRP is Ł109.99).
	Puppet Theatre If you are looking for a toy which encourages creativity and role play then a puppet theatre may be worth considering - there are several theatres on the market, from small table top finger puppet theatres to full sized luxury ones. If you are looking for versatility, then we recommend the Tellatale Hand Puppet Theatre and Shop, which is designed to look like a traditional puppet theatre on one side and like a shop front on the other. At 117cm tall it feels substantial, but it is easy to pack away in its box when not in use.
	Clock Kit If you are looking for gifts for a 5 year old girl, you'll most likely be on to a winner with a craft set. Something with a practical end product which they can keep and put proudly on display is a particularly nice idea. Tiny Toy Reviewer #1 really enjoyed making and painting his own clock - you can read about the clock kit here. Make your own photo frame kits are a good alternative too.
	Hungry Hippos There aren't too many family board games available that are truly suitable for a 5 year old. Although 5 year olds are usually able to follow instructions and take turns, any game that involves a little strategic thinking puts them at a disadvantage, (unless the other players are willing to surreptitiously let them win now and then). Hungry Hippos is great because winning is part luck and part ability to pound the paddle really hard to make your hippo eat the marbles. Good fun for family members of all ages, if a little noisy!
	Harry Potter Harry Potter is a phenomenon that is unlikely to fade any time soon. By this age many children will have seen a film, been read one of the books or will have been introduced to the wizarding world of Hogwarts by a friend or older sibling. So it's a good age to start buying them Harry Potter toys, since the appeal probably won't fade for a few years, ensuring the gift gets plenty of use. There are some great Lego Harry Potter sets and some nice action figures available, but what many kids will really appreciate are some dressing up items. Both Tiny Toy Reviewers (currently aged 7 and 4) really like their Harry Potter costume kit, which comes with a robe, wand and glasses. Glasses aside, the costume kit is generic so can help your little girl emulate any Gryffindor student (I'm guessing most girls would want to play at being Hermione or Ginny Weasley).
	FurReal Friends If your child is desperate for a pet but you don't want to get a real cat or dog then FurReal Friends may be a good compromise. There are a number of different ones available each with their own features and functions, but generally they are cuddly looking robotic creatures which move, make animal noises and respond to your touch. FurReal Cookie is one of this Christmas' (2011) biggest selling toys, but reviews are so-so. However, other products by FurReal are much better rated.