Gift Ideas for a 5-Year-Old Girl She Will Actually Use
At five, she has opinions about everything: which socks are the good socks, why the purple cup is the only acceptable cup, and exactly what she plans to wear to the holiday dinner. That makes shopping for her fun, and a little nerve-racking. If you are hunting for gift ideas for a 5-year-old girl, here is what the Deux par Deux team, a Canadian children's clothing brand, would put under the tree, from pajamas to play.
Article Summary
The best gifts for a 5-year-old girl mix something to wear with something to play with, for Christmas or her birthday: cozy pajamas, a dress she can twirl in or a warm hat, plus building toys, art supplies, board games or a new book. Below you will find a quick list of ideas, tips for choosing each one, answers to common questions and links to more gift guides.
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Best Gifts for a 5-Year-Old Girl at a Glance
- Pajamas she will wear every night
- A dress made for twirling
- A warm winter hat
- Headbands or tights for a smaller present
- Blocks or magnetic tiles
- Colored pencils and a big pad of paper
- A cooperative board game
- A simple card game
- A picture book for bedtime
What Do 5-Year-Old Girls Like?
A five-year-old is old enough to care about what she wears and young enough to turn a cardboard box into a castle. The best gifts speak to both sides of her.
- She picks her own outfits now. Choose pieces with a little personality, like a print or a color she already loves.
- Her imagination runs the show. Open-ended gifts beat single-use ones, because she will invent a new game with them every week.
- She grows fast. Soft, easy-to-wear styles and a quick look at the size guide keep the gift useful for longer.
Non-Toy Gifts She Will Wear All Season
We are a clothing brand, so we admit to a soft spot for gifts she can wear. They also have one big advantage: they get used every single day.
Pajamas for Cozy Mornings
Pajamas are the safest bet on the list. She will wear them every night, and they look great in a pile of wrapped presents. Our girls' pajamas come as one-piece or two-piece sets, made from organic cotton, in sizes 2 to 12.
For something extra festive, the Holiday Shop gathers pajamas and tees for the season's celebrations. Need inspiration? Browse our Christmas pajama ideas.
A Dress for Family Gatherings
If she loves to twirl, a dress is a gift she will ask for again and again. Our girls' dresses and jumpsuits come in sizes 2 to 14, in cotton, viscose, denim and mesh, from everyday styles to dressier ones for the big dinner.
The real test at this age is the twirl. Pick something that moves well, with a soft neckline and nothing scratchy.
Hats, Headbands and Stocking Stuffers
Cold weather is on its way, and a warm hat is a gift she will reach for every morning. Our winter hats collection has plenty of styles to choose from.
For a smaller present, the girls' accessories collection includes headbands, scarves, tights and bags, which makes it a good stop for stocking stuffers.
Best Toys for a 5-Year-Old Girl
We make clothes, not toys, so we will keep this part short and general. These are the kinds of gifts that tend to go over well at five.
Creative play is worth encouraging. Naître et grandir, a Canadian resource for parents, explains that it can support a child's self-esteem and help even the shyest kids express their emotions and ideas.
Building Toys for 5-Year-Olds
Wooden blocks or magnetic tiles let her design houses, towns and whole worlds. Building also feeds storytelling, since every tower needs a family to live in it.
Art Supplies for 5-Year-Olds
A set of colored pencils and a big pad of paper can fill a quiet afternoon. Let her work at her own pace and skip the urge to correct the colors. The sky can be green.
Board and Card Games for 5-Year-Olds
Cooperative board games and simple card games teach turn-taking and gracious losing, and they give you a reason to sit on the floor together. Look for games with short rounds, since her patience for long ones is still growing.
Books for 5-Year-Olds
A new picture book makes a lovely small gift, and it comes with a built-in bedtime ritual. Here are three we would happily read aloud:
- The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch, a clever tale of a princess who outsmarts a dragon
- Stella, Queen of the Snow by Marie-Louise Gay, a cozy winter story about a big sister and her curious little brother
- Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak, a bedtime classic for big imaginations
Easy Ways to Pair Gifts
Pairing one practical gift with one playful gift gives her something exciting to unwrap and gives you something she will use daily.
- Pajamas and a new picture book
- A warm hat and a set of colored pencils
- A dress and a board game for the whole family
Frequently Asked Questions
What Should I Get a 5-Year-Old Girl for Christmas?
A mix works best: one thing to wear, such as pajamas, a dress or a hat, and one thing to play with. That way the gift is exciting on the day and still useful in January.
What Should I Buy a 5-Year-Old Girl for Her Birthday?
Pick something she can use on the very same day. A dress for the party, a set of art supplies or a new picture book all work well. If other guests are bringing toys, a wearable gift will stand out in the best way.
What Is the 5 Gift Rule for Kids?
The rule is simple: something she wants, something she needs, something to wear, something to read and something to do. The ideas in this guide fit it well. Pajamas are something to wear, a picture book is something to read, and a board game or art set is something to do.
What Are Some Unique Gifts for a 5-Year-Old Girl?
Build a small themed bundle instead of buying one big item. For example, pair a book about her favorite animal with pajamas in a matching print, or combine colored pencils and a sketchbook with a warm hat. A gift that tells a little story feels more personal.
What to Buy a 5-Year-Old Girl Who Has Everything?
Choose something she will wear or use up. Pajamas, a hat, headbands, art supplies and new books all get used daily and never gather dust on a shelf.
What Size Does a 5-Year-Old Wear?
Our size 5 fits children who are 105 to 110 cm (41 to 43 in) tall. Height is a better guide than age, so measure her and check the size guide. If she falls near the edge of a range, size up.
Is Size 5 the Same as 5T?
Not quite. 5T is the last toddler size, cut shorter and wider, while a size 5 follows kids' proportions, longer and slimmer. If she is between the two, go by her height.
Are Clothes a Good Gift for a Five-Year-Old?
Yes, as long as she will enjoy wearing them. Choose a print or color she already loves, and keep the fabric soft and easy to pull on without help. At five, getting dressed alone is a point of pride.
Still Browsing?
Shopping gets easier when you start from her favorite things: the color she asks for, the animal she draws, the game she wants to play again. For more inspiration, browse our gift guide by age, or head to our ideas for a 4-year-old girl if you are shopping for a little sister.