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    Gifts for Kids 5 to 8: 10 Picks, Sorted by Whether They Play Alone or Together

    For a child from about five to eight, bought by someone who knows whether this kid disappears into a project for an hour or wants someone to play with.

    Picks for shoppers in Canada. Links go to Amazon.ca, where prices are shown in CAD.Updated October 18, 2026

    Affiliate disclosure: the merchant buttons on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through one we earn a commission from Amazon.ca, at no extra cost to you. It does not change which products we picked or what we say about them.

    Three quick picks

    Different answers for different situations. The full list and the reasons are below.

    For a kid who disappears into a project

    LEGO City Passenger Jet

    A first proper LEGO build at 118 pieces, with a starter brick and picture instructions for a four or five year old. The other two quick picks are played with someone.

    View on Amazon.ca

    For siblings, or a family that plays together

    Goliath Elefun Butterfly Blasting & Catching Game for Kids

    One to four players chasing butterflies with nets. The dance mat is music to play and show off; this is a game for the whole room.

    View on Amazon.ca

    For a kid who has to move

    FAO Schwarz Premium Piano Dance Mat

    A jumbo floor piano they play with their feet, and it records what they play. The LEGO jet is the sitting-down pick.

    View on Amazon.ca

    Some kids want a project, some want a partner

    By five, most children have a clear way of playing. Some will sit with a building set or a box of markers for an hour and not look up. Others will bring every toy to the nearest grown-up or sibling, because the fun is in doing it together. A gift that fits one kind of kid can land flat with the other, so this guide is sorted that way: the first six picks are for playing alone, the last four are for playing with someone, or for someone to watch.

    Think about the house too. A solo gift is a gift to the parents as well, because it buys them an hour. A together gift is a gift to whoever is around to play, so it suits a family with siblings, cousins at the holidays, or a grandparent who likes to join in.

    Five to eight is a wide range. A five year old and an eight year old are very different players, so check the age on each pick. One pick below is listed from seven and two from six, and we say so.

    We do not show prices on this page. Amazon prices move daily, so every button goes to the live product page on Amazon.ca.

    • Does this child settle into a project, or look for someone to play with?
    • Who will be around to play: siblings, cousins, a parent after work?
    • How old are they? One pick starts at seven and two at six.
    • Will the parents welcome something loud? Three of the together picks make music.

    Compare the picks

    Current prices are on Amazon.ca, shown in CAD. Each button opens the product there.

    Compare all 10 picks
    1. LEGO City Passenger JetA five year old ready for a first proper LEGO set
    2. Schleich Horse Club Truck and TrailerA horse-mad kid who plays out long stories
    3. Mr. Sketch scented markers, 40A kid who draws every day
    4. emotoBOT COR-A robotA kid who wants a pet that talks back, without the screen time
    5. Little Live Pets koala KikiA five or six year old who still loves a cuddly toy
    6. Rainbow Loom AutoLoom caseA seven or eight year old who makes bracelets for everyone
    7. FAO Schwarz electric guitar and ampA kid who plays air guitar to every song
    8. FAO Schwarz karaoke microphone and standA performer who needs an audience
    9. FAO Schwarz piano dance matA kid who cannot sit still
    10. Elefun butterfly gameSiblings, cousins, or a whole family on a snowy afternoon

    All 10 picks

    LEGO City Passenger Jet
    1

    LEGO City Passenger Jet

    Best for: A five year old ready for a first proper LEGO set

    by LEGO

    A starter build: a starter brick and picture instructions

    • Ages 4 and up, 118 pieces
    • 4 minifigures: a pilot, an airport worker and 2 passengers
    • A starter brick element and pictorial building instructions
    • Finished jet about 27 cm long

    Why it fits

    It is small enough to finish in one sitting and gives them a plane to play with afterwards, which is the best way to start with LEGO.

    Skip this if

    They already build bigger LEGO sets. At 118 pieces it is made for beginners, and an experienced builder will be done in minutes.

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    Schleich Horse Club 119-Piece Lakeside Truck and Trailer (Ages 5+)
    2

    Schleich Horse Club 119-Piece Lakeside Truck and Trailer (Ages 5+)

    Best for: A horse-mad kid who plays out long stories

    by Schleich

    Figures and a whole scene, rather than a build

    • Ages 5 and up, 119 pieces
    • A truck, a trailer, 2 horses, 2 poseable riders and a dog
    • Barrels, jumps and stable gear
    • The trailer holds up to five horses, and its roof doubles as a shelter

    Why it fits

    A child who loves horses will run a whole competition, trail ride and stable day with this, alone, for an afternoon. It also grows with other Schleich sets they may be given later.

    Skip this if

    They are not interested in horses. It is a themed set, and the theme is the whole appeal.

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    Mr. Sketch Scented Markers, Chisel & Fine Tip, Assorted Colours, 40 Count
    3

    Mr. Sketch Scented Markers, Chisel & Fine Tip, Assorted Colours, 40 Count

    Best for: A kid who draws every day

    by Mr. Sketch

    The quietest gift on this page, and every colour smells different

    • 40 markers in assorted colours
    • Chisel and fine tips
    • Scented tips
    • Ages 3 and up, AP certified non-toxic

    Why it fits

    A child who draws runs through markers fast, and forty in one cylinder is a real upgrade from a school pack. The scents are the part that makes it feel like a present.

    Skip this if

    They are past markers and into paints or pencils. It is also an easy gift to duplicate, so check they were not given a big set last year.

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    emotoBOT COR-A Interactive Robot
    4

    emotoBOT COR-A Interactive Robot

    Best for: A kid who wants a pet that talks back, without the screen time

    by emotoBOT

    Works fully offline: no Wi-Fi, AI or Bluetooth

    • Ages 6 and up
    • 2-inch animated LED face and touch sensors on the front, head, heart and back
    • 100 plus activities in English, Spanish, German and French, including games, dances, yoga, timers and chats
    • Built-in battery charged over USB-C, cable not included

    Why it fits

    A robot companion appeals to the age that wants a pet but cannot have one, and this one needs no app or account, which is what most parents look for first.

    Skip this if

    The child is five. The maker lists it from six. Also check the family has a spare USB-C cable, since one is not in the box.

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    Little Live Pets My Baby Koala Kiki Interactive Plush (10.2 in)
    5

    Little Live Pets My Baby Koala Kiki Interactive Plush (10.2 in)

    Best for: A five or six year old who still loves a cuddly toy

    by Little Live Pets

    A plush that yawns, blinks and eats its leaf

    • Ages 4 and up, about 10.2 inches tall
    • 40 plus sounds and reactions, including yawning, blinking and munching
    • Responds to belly tickles and gentle pats
    • A feeding leaf, an adoption certificate and 3 AAA batteries in the box

    Why it fits

    The younger end of this age range still wants something to look after, and a koala that feeds and reacts to a pat makes the looking-after feel real.

    Skip this if

    They are seven or eight. It is made for the younger end of the range, and an older child may see it as a little kid's toy.

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    Rainbow Loom AutoLoom Creation Case
    6

    Rainbow Loom AutoLoom Creation Case

    Best for: A seven or eight year old who makes bracelets for everyone

    by Rainbow Loom

    An Auto Loom hand tool for fishtail bracelets, faster than weaving by hand

    • Ages 7 and up
    • 1 Auto Loom and 9,000 rubber bands
    • 200 clips, 50 pony beads and 3 sticker sheets in an organizer case
    • No batteries: the Auto Loom is worked by hand

    Why it fits

    Bracelet-making is the craft that kids at the top of this range trade at school, and the case keeps nine thousand small bands in one place.

    Skip this if

    They are under seven, which is the age on the box, or there is a toddler in the house. Small rubber bands get everywhere.

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    FAO Schwarz Stage Stars Kids Electric Guitar & Amp, 6-String Beginner Set
    7

    FAO Schwarz Stage Stars Kids Electric Guitar & Amp, 6-String Beginner Set

    Best for: A kid who plays air guitar to every song

    by FAO Schwarz

    A real six-string guitar at three-quarter size, with its own amp

    • 3/4-scale, 6-string electric guitar
    • 6-inch amp with tone and volume controls
    • A strap, a pick holder and a sticker sheet
    • Beginner-friendly controls

    Why it fits

    It is a real instrument sized for a child, so it can be the start of lessons rather than a toy. Played alone it is practice; played for the family it is a show.

    Skip this if

    Nobody at home can help them tune it or show them a first chord. A guitar with no one to start them off often ends up in a closet. The listing also gives no age.

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    FAO Schwarz Karaoke Microphone with Stand, Device Holder & Built-in Speaker
    8

    FAO Schwarz Karaoke Microphone with Stand, Device Holder & Built-in Speaker

    Best for: A performer who needs an audience

    by FAO Schwarz

    Plays songs from a phone or tablet, so it never runs out of music

    • Recommended for ages 6 and up
    • Adjustable-height stand with a device holder and built-in speaker
    • 5 preloaded songs and audio from smart devices
    • LED light show and voice effects; battery operated

    Why it fits

    Some kids are only happy with a crowd, and this turns the living room into a stage. It suits a family that will sit down and watch.

    Skip this if

    The parents dread noise. It is the loudest gift on this page, and it is played for an audience by design.

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    FAO Schwarz Premium Piano Dance Mat
    9

    FAO Schwarz Premium Piano Dance Mat

    Best for: A kid who cannot sit still

    by FAO Schwarz

    A jumbo floor piano they play with their feet

    • 101 by 29 inch mat with 24 step-on keys and 38 notes
    • 5 pre-programmed songs with guided play
    • Records and replays their own tunes
    • Adjustable volume control

    Why it fits

    Music and moving in one toy. It records what they play, so a performance can be played back for whoever is watching, and siblings can take turns making up tunes.

    Skip this if

    The house has no long stretch of open floor. At over eight feet long it needs a hallway or a cleared living room.

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    Goliath Elefun Butterfly Blasting & Catching Game for Kids
    10

    Goliath Elefun Butterfly Blasting & Catching Game for Kids

    Best for: Siblings, cousins, or a whole family on a snowy afternoon

    by Goliath

    The only game on this page: one to four players chase at once

    • Ages 4 and up, 1 to 4 players
    • 25 butterflies and 2 catching nets
    • The elephant's trunk stands 3.8 feet high
    • Needs 4 C batteries, not included

    Why it fits

    It is a running-around game that adults can play too, so it works at a holiday gathering when the kids need something to do together.

    Skip this if

    You forget the batteries. It takes four C batteries, which few homes keep, so buy them with it. With two nets, players take turns once there are more than two.

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