It has 100 wooden beads on 10 rows, plus number tiles and math sign tiles. Your child can count beads, then build a simple sum.
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The best toys for 5 year olds and up are number, logic and memory toys, like an abacus, a bead maze, a memory game, a logic puzzle and a number train.
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So we might say that the values of man have their beginning in the work of the child.
At five, many children want games with rules and tasks with a clear goal. They also start to count and to name some letters and numbers.
What changes at five
Children reach these steps at different times. Many parents notice them around the fifth birthday.
Rules and turns
Many five-year-olds can follow the rules of a simple game. They can also take turns with other children.
Counting to ten
Many children this age can count to 10. Some can also name a few numbers when you point to them.
Longer attention
Many five-year-olds can stay with one activity for 5 to 10 minutes. Toys with a clear goal suit this stage well.
First letters
Many children this age can name some letters. Some write a few letters of their own name.
Our top three picks for five and up
One for numbers, one for a family game and one for logic.
Players roll a color die and lift the peg they think matches. Two to six players can join, so the whole family can play.
Your child sets a new bead pattern, then slides each disc to match the color above it. Every round is a new puzzle.
What to look for at five and up
At this age, look for toys with a goal, a rule or a number to work out. Good choices also show your child when the answer is right.
- Numbers. The Wooden Magnetic Number Train has 11 number cars, from 0 to 10, that join with magnets. On the Wooden Magnetic Bead Maze, your child steers beads with a magnet pen. One bead goes in well 1, two in well 2, and so on up to ten.
- Logic and sorting. The nine peg people on the Montessori Wooden Peg People Board differ in height and width, and each one fits its own socket. The Wooden Three-in-One Sorting Box holds three sorting games under one lid.
- Letters and writing. The Wooden Matching Board comes in four themes: shapes, numbers and math signs, capital letters, or lowercase letters. The Wooden Double-Sided Standing Easel comes with magnetic letters and numbers, chalk and dry-erase markers.
- Real jobs. The Kids Real-Cooking Tools Set has nylon knives for soft food, a peeler and steel cutters. The steel pieces really cut, so an adult must stay with your child.
- Outdoors. The Outdoor Insect Observation Kit has a clear box with a magnifier lid, a bug net and tweezers. It is made for ages 3 to 8.
For more number toys, see Montessori Math Toys. For climbing and balance toys, see Montessori Gross Motor & Climbing Toys.
When the toys get too easy
A five-year-old can finish a puzzle quickly and lose interest. Before you buy something new, try one of these steps.
- Add a rule. The Numbers board of the Wooden Counting & Fishing Board has plus, minus and equals pieces. Use them to turn the catch into a small sum.
- Change the setup. Move the Rainbow Balance Stepping Stones - 5 Piece Set farther apart. Mount the Kids Rock Climbing Wall Holds - 10 Piece Set higher and wider over time.
- Rest the toy. Put a toy away for a few weeks, then bring it back. Children often find a new way to use it.
- If a toy is too hard, look at Montessori Toys for 4 Year Olds.
- Babies in the home. Many of these toys contain small pieces or small magnets. Store them where babies and younger siblings cannot reach them.
Questions about toys for five and up
Many five-year-olds enjoy toys with numbers, rules and a clear goal. The Wooden Tabletop Abacus with Number Tiles and the Wooden Magnetic Bead Maze both let your child count real beads.
Think about what your child likes to do now. For a larger gift, the Wooden Double-Sided Standing Easel comes with a 29-piece art kit. For a smaller gift, the Montessori Felt Quiet Book - 7-in-1 has numbers, letters, a clock, real buttons and a zipper.
Look for toys that let your child count real objects and see the number. The Wooden Magnetic Number Train has number cars from 0 to 10. On the Numbers board of the Wooden Counting & Fishing Board, your child catches fish with a magnetic rod and counts them.
Many five-year-olds can play simple games with rules and turns. In the Wooden Stick-Drop Tower Game, players pull sticks and try to keep the balls from falling. The Wooden Color Memory Game asks each player to remember where each color is hidden.
Toys for balance and climbing let your child move indoors or outdoors. The Rainbow Balance Stepping Stones - 5 Piece Set are for stepping and balancing, not for climbing. The Kids Rock Climbing Wall Holds - 10 Piece Set are holds only, so an adult must mount them on a wall or board.
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