13 Clever Gifts for 5-Year-Old Boys That'll Boost Their Brainpower

5 years old is the age when kids stop asking what and start asking why and how instead. They no longer merely learn about the world around them but begin to understand it. That is because their mental abilities are improving, and they are reaching new developmental milestones. 


You'll notice that your 5-year-old is now capable to:

  • Count numbers up to 20 (even 10 is OK)
  • Correctly use phrases like last night, tomorrow, or next week
  • Stay focused for longer than 5 or 10 minutes
  • Write simple words
  • Find and match similar patterns
  • Solve simple puzzles

Activities that build upon these milestones are something you should be encouraging. There are many ways to do that, but let's start with the one that gets you the most brownie points as their favorite adult - buying cool toys.


Here are some great gift ideas for 5-year-old boys classified by categories to help you make the smartest choice:

Toys for Memory Improvement

These toys will help your 5-year-old work on both their visual memory and working memory. Here’s why that’s important - following everyday instructions at home, kindergarten, or school requires your kid to process new information in relation to the old one he has "stored" in his brain. 


However, how much and how fast he can do that depends on his memory. Take a look at some of the toys that will help him improve his memory:

Montessori Memory Match.

By remembering the positions of the pawns they already checked and combining them with newly discovered ones, a child strengthens and develops new neural pathways. Moreover, the game requires their little hands to be careful and thoughtful when placing figurines. Picking a pawn up and fitting it within many others densely placed will train hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills.

Montessori Memory Game.

Sit down with your little brainiac, set up the board, and start collecting pairs. Young minds might have an advantage, but hey, you still have the game in you. This is an event you will reminisce about for ages. Let's call it "a great memory-off."

Montessori Double-Sided Matching Game.

This game fits both memory and problem-solving improvement categories. First, your little memory game wiz needs to remember the patterns on the cards and then replicate them on the board. But, here's a catch - he can't just put pieces wherever he likes. He needs to navigate every single piece through the board's set pathways. It's harder than it looks.

Toys for Developing Problem-Solving Skills

Puzzle-like toys have been around for ages. They are a great way for kids to practice patience and persistence. Not only that, but they also teach children to try different approaches when facing a problem. Most importantly, these are all skills that will serve your 5-year-old well once he starts school. Here are some of our top picks for puzzle-inspired toys.

Montessori Magnetic Tangram Book.

This book has tons of patterns and images that your kid needs to replicate using only 7 pieces. It may not seem like a lot, but you would be surprised at how much can be achieved with so few elements. Tangram dates back to the 19th century, and it's a great tool for supporting your child's growing knowledge of shapes.

Montessori Sorting Puzzle.

Our Sorting Puzzle is similar to the Tangram Book. However, it comes with different shape cards and a metal storage casing.

Montessori Shape Puzzle.

This one is definitely more advanced, as there are whopping 180 pieces in the box. However, not all of them have to be used at the same time. Once again, there are pattern cards that provide instructions on how to create various images. Plus, we have included a separate bag for storing pieces since they are so easy to misplace around the house.

Montessori Wooden Tetris.

We call it Tetris since it looks like one. However, it’s much more similar to regular puzzles, as the ultimate goal in this game is to fit all the pieces within the frame. There is only one way to do it, so your 5-year-old must use all his patience and focus on this one.

Toys for Boosting Creativity

When people talk about "creative" kids, they often say things like, "Oh, look at what Ryan came up with - the grass on his drawing is purple! So imaginative!." The point being, they are focusing on the end result. 


However, what matters the most is the process of creation. That's when children experience mental and personal growth. Read more about why creative expression is so important for children.


If you're looking for toys that will let your favorite 5-year-old boy test his ideas, look no further:

Montessori Magnetic Set.

Help your kid build designs from his make-believe blueprints. There are 36 parts your 5-year-old can use to construct a castle, bridge, car, or anything that comes to mind. This is an excellent toy for open-ended play.

Montessori Wooden Toolbox.

Put on safety helmets, goggles, and gloves, and start drilling. Or banging! Or sawing! Everything goes, really. The idea is to get that boy to create and express himself. We all loved building stuff as kids, and now your kid finally gets the proper tools to do so.

Montessori DIY Fun Chair.

Affinity towards design, construction, building, and drawing starts when we are young. Some of us find it within ourselves, and some don't. That's where Fun Chair comes in handy. Holding those little tools, reading "blueprints," and assembling parts develop children's fine motor skills, logical reasoning, and problem-solving skills. But, more importantly, it nurtures the love for creating.

“Get Ready for School” Toys

Finally, school starts in less than a year, and it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if your 5-year-old already knew some basic calculus and writing. To help him learn this through play, we've prepared a few toys he'll have a ton of fun with:

Montessori Smart Board.

Solve problems, think analytically, and work independently - those are the requirements your child will be asked to meet both in school and later at work. It won't be easy, but you can give your kid a head start. Math toys like this one will not only prepare your kid for future challenges, but they'll do it through fun and play.

Montessori Wooden Spelling Game.

This toy is an excellent way to introduce spelling. Colors, cards, pictures, and cut-out letters will entertain them while they develop language skills, pronunciation, comprehension, punctuation, and all those other big, important words.

Montessori Monkey's Math.

On one side, there are numbers and equation cards, and on the other, monkey figurines and a balancing scale. Number "8" weighs as "5" and "3" combined, and 6 little monkeys weigh as much as the number "6". Finding the right balance will prepare your little mathlete for any math problem they face in class.


Getting a gift for a 5-year-old boy is not that tricky. Ask him or his parents what he likes to do and what he likes to play with. Does he already have some similar toys? 


The idea is to get him away from excessive screen time and engage in active gameplay as much as possible. And, if you can add an educational element to his playtime, even better.


Whatever the occasion, you'll find something on this list. Be it a birthday, Christmas, or Easter present, you can't go wrong with these. All these highly educational toys are designed to follow the Montessori teaching method - they are not only fun, but they also encourage a hands-on learning approach. 


And if you're looking for even more suggestions, check out our collection of Montessori toys for 5 year olds.


However, if you need further assistance, please reach out to us at info@montessorigeneration.com, and we'd be glad to talk to you about that perfect gift for a 5-year-old boy.

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