Collection: - 4 to 5 Years Old

There's a tremendous explosion in learning ability at this age, and it's a good time to introduce interactive educational toys that teach math and verbal skills, such as phonics boards or tablets with parent-approved games.

"Choose toys that say positive things like 'Good job. Let's try again' instead of ones that make negative beeping noises whenever kids get an answer wrong," suggests Marianne Szymanski, founder of Toy Tips, an independent toy testing and review service for consumers.

Kids are now able to imagine that they are someone else and may fantasize about being teachers, pilots, ballerinas, athletes, fairies, or anything they like!

Top toys for 4- and 5-year-olds

• Art supplies, craft kits, Play-Doh
• Blocks of different shapes
• Computerized toys that teach phonics, reading, or math
• Construction sets with large pieces, such as Magna Tiles, Legos, or fort-building kits
• Puzzles of greater complexity
• Action figures
• Barbies and other dolls
• Costumes
• Transportation toys, such as parking garages, airports, and train stations
• Board games that don't require reading, such as Hungry Hungry Hippos, Chutes, and Ladders, or Candy Land
• Soccer balls and basketball
• Active games such as Jenga or The Floor Is Lava
• Bicycles (with training wheels)