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Forbes
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Forbes
I'm A Former Teacher And Mom: These Are The Best Toys And Gifts For 5-Year-Olds
Playing with a 5-year-old is so fun. Their minds are full of imagination and creativity, and they still have a sense of childhood wonder that tends to get lost as kids get older. As a mom of three and former early educator, I know the best toys for 5-year-olds aren't just about fun—they also support their development, encourage independence and cater to their interests. Have a kid who likes structured activities? The KiwiCo Nature Walk Lantern turns every walk into an adventure. For budding readers, the SpringFlower Sight Word Game adds an engaging twist to learning. And for the ones who are constantly grabbing your phone to take pictures, the VTech Kidizoom PrintCam is a kid-friendly option you won't have to worry about them breaking. The best toys for 5-year-olds capture their interests and support their development. ILLUSTRATION: FORBES / PHOTO: RETAILERS 'Toys play an essential role in the healthy development of 5-year-olds, as this is a critical time for fostering social, emotional, cognitive and physical growth,' says psychiatrist Dr. Zishan Khan. He explains that the right toys can help kids improve their problem-solving skills, language development, emotional expression and more. Learn more about my top picks for the best toys and gifts for 5-year-olds. Amazon Lego City Police Car While small and simple, this Lego set is great for 5-year-olds. Since it's only 94 pieces, they'll be able to finish building it before they get frustrated or lose interest. When they're done, they have a fun car to play with. Sets like this help build resilience and teach kids to follow multi-step directions—a common kindergarten readiness marker. Let their imagination run wild with this building set that allows them to create forts and other playful structures. As a bonus for parents, they won't be moving furniture all over the house to construct their project. It comes with 82 pieces, and you can always buy multiple sets for larger structures. Amazon Magna-Tiles Builder XL Magna-Tiles are a classic for a reason. They stick together well, making them easy to build with—even for younger kids. The sets are also interchangeable, allowing kids to get creative. Gummer also likes Magna-Tiles as they can help develop creativity and STEM skills. This specific set is designed for them to create their own construction site, with some fun extras you won't find in other sets like a crane and dump truck pieces. Amazon Sunny & Fun Ultra Climber Inflatable Water Slide Park Inflatable water slides get kids moving outside, and are a great springboard for social interaction. My kids are always inviting friends over to play on our inflatable water slide. This option features a climbing wall in the middle with dual slides, ideal for slide races and larger groups of kids. If you're looking for a way to help your 5-year-old get active and tire them out, this is it. My daughter and her friend recently tried this sun art set, and it was such an enjoyable, creative activity. Kids arrange stencils on magical paper and then leave them in the sun. After a few minutes, the stencils transform the paper, and they can draw and color to complete their art project. After we used this for the first time, my daughter kept heading outside to create more. This lightweight bike, designed for kids ages 5 to 8 years, is made for road and trail riding. If they're still learning to ride, you can use it as a balance bike, or you can add training wheels. Once they're ready to ride independently, it functions as a traditional bike with a kickstand. The seat adjusts to grow with them, so hopefully you're not buying another bike next summer. The Lovevery Reading Skill Set does a great job of making learning to read fun. Parents select their child's reading (or pre-reading) level and recieve a developmentally-appropriate box filled with games, activities and books that help support their reading journey. My daughter and I played a game from the skill set, and it aligned perfectly with what she was learning in school. Outfoxed is fun for kids and adults alike, making it ideal for family game night and bonding. Khan recommends games like this that emphasize turn-taking and teamwork, helping kids learn patience and empathy. In this game, everyone works together to solve a mystery, so everyone wins or loses together. Amazon Who Would Win?: Ultimate Showdown Popular among the 5-year-old crowd, this book pits animals head-to-head, determining which would win in a competition. Along the way, kids learn about the each animal's characteristics and develop their own hypotheses about which one might win. It's a great resource for building early argumentative writing skills. As 5-year-olds start learning to read, practicing sight words becomes a large part of the process. This game provides a fun way to reinforce those words and improve their reading fluency. When a word is called out, the first to swat the correct fly wins. In our guide to the best kids smartwatches , the TickTalk 5 is our pick for the most fun. Exciting features for younger kids include music streaming and the ability to send GIFs and e-greeting cards. Parents will appreciate that it allows kids to call home and has superior GPS tracking, making it a little easier to part with them while they're at school or camp. Robust parental controls—including pre-approving contacts—keeps it safe. For kids with long-distance family members, this is a great way to keep in touch, too. For kids who love to steal your phone to take pictures, a camera of their own can make everyone happier. My daughter has been using her VTech KidiZoom PrintCam for years, and it's so fun to see life from her perspective. They can print their pictures out instantly, and the camera is pretty easy for kids to use. Bitzee is an interactive toy that kind of reminds me of a GigaPet or Furby. Kids interact with the toy to unlock new characters. This Harry Potter version features new characters arriving on the Hogwarts Express as well as iconic scenes from the films like Ron playing Wizard's Chess and Harry playing Quidditch. If your child isn't into Harry Potter, there are other Bitzee versions , too. Though it might seem like a blast from the past, walkie-talkies give kids a chance to talk to their friends or siblings without a phone or other high-tech device. In all honesty, they're likely more resistant to drops and rough play than other, more expensive smart devices. This affordable set comes with three units, so your kids can communicate with you or each other. Mierzejewski recommends Chompsaw, a power tool kids can use for cutting cardboard. Whether they love to design their own art projects or simply enjoy deconstructing things, they can have at it with all the cardboard boxes you don't know what to do with. The tool is designed so that it doesn't pinch kids' fingers, so they can independently create to their imagination's content. 'The Chompsaw has been a big hit with my youngest who is obsessed with creating things and being a 'maker'. I love that it's safe so I can let her use it by herself without worrying,' says Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear editor Esther Carlstone. This workbench is a step up from the smaller tool set your child may have had as a toddler. It's a 58-piece set that allows kids to create and experiment, learning about many STEM concepts. It also comes with an app to help walk your child through their discoveries. This beautiful lantern is a fantastic structured project for kids. Once completed, it can light up their room at night or accompany them on a nighttime nature walk. The kit also includes educational information about why leaves change and how the seasons work. Amazon Crayola Inspiration Art Case Coloring Set Don't let this basic coloring set fool you. It's full of creative potential with markers, crayons and colored pencils. It provides an easy way to keep their supplies organized so you don't have broken crayons all over the house. I've also found that there's enough room in the case to store loose paper or a thin coloring book. Amazon Kinetic Sand Squishmotion Kinetic sand has long been a go-to open-ended toy for little kids, and this set has a unique squishy foam that makes it look like the sand is growing and moving. Caregivers will appreciate the storage case that makes clean-up easy. Other popular themed sets include the Mermaid Crystal Playset and Treasure Hunt set . Amazon Fat Brain Toys Hey Clay Animals According to Gummer, craft sets are a great way to help kids strengthen the hand muscles they'll need for writing. Since kindergarten often involves plenty of writing, molding clay and other hands-on activities can build those muscles in advance. Whether they design their own animals or follow the step-by-step instructions that come with the set, kids will have fun letting their creativity run wild. For a 5-year-old who is headed off to kindergarten or away from home, this locket is just right to give them an adorable accessory and help them have a little piece of home. You can choose to upload a photo to have it permanently placed in the locket, or you can add a photo yourself. My daughter has been wearing this locket lately, and she loves to open it up and look at the picture. One of my daughter's favorite things to do is listen to the Yoto Daily Podcast every night before bed. It's a nice routine for her, and she learns quite a bit from it, too. The Yoto Player is a screen-free audio player, and kids can play the podcast, music and pre-loaded cards filled with stories and songs. You can also record your own cards—I like to have friends and family record stories for my kids and then I add them to our Yoto cards for a special surprise. This starter set comes with the player and six Disney-themed cards. Mierzejewski recommends plush dolls to help provide emotional comfort, and Squishmallows are all the rage. My daughter told me that the unicorn Squishmallow is the most popular at her school, but lean into your child's interest when picking one out. These super plush and squishy stuffies are available in a wide variety of animals and designs, including an ostrich, a sugar glider and a praying mantis. If you're ready for 24/7 concerts throughout your home, a mini karaoke machine is a great gift. You can play songs via Bluetooth for your 5-year-old to sing along to, and there are two microphones so siblings, friends and family can join in on the fun. Khan shares that kids can use action figures to act out real-life or fantasy scenarios, which helps support their emotional expression and social understanding. All three of my kids have played with these Marvel action figures for years, and they've proven to be extremely durable and high-quality. They often use them to act out scenes from movies or in their own creative play scenarios. This Sticki Rolls pack features the ever-popular Stitch. What's especially cool is that the beads on the necklace and bracelet are rolls of stickers that kids can pull off to share with their friends. It's a playful way for them to show their personality and practice sharing. The Forbes Vetted baby and kids gear team has been following toy trends, attending toy fairs and testing toys with our families for years. We frequently publish toy and gift guides, including the best gifts for 4-year-olds , the best dinosaur toys and the best toys for 6-year-old boys . The author of this article, Alicia Betz , is an experienced parenting journalist and mom to three. She follows the top toy trends and stays up to date on new releases and toy updates. She also regularly tests toys with her kids. , is an experienced parenting journalist and mom to three. She follows the top toy trends and stays up to date on new releases and toy updates. She also regularly tests toys with her kids. The editor of this article, Esther Carlstone has been reporting on parenting topics for the past decade and is a mom to three. She also regularly attends toy fairs and trade shows and has owned many of the toys on this list. has been reporting on parenting topics for the past decade and is a mom to three. She also regularly attends toy fairs and trade shows and has owned many of the toys on this list. We interviewed three experts: Dr. Zishan Khan , a child, adolescent, and adult psychiatrist at Mindpath Health; Ali Mierzejewski, editor-in chief at The Toy Insider ; and Amanda Gummer , a research psychologist specializing in child development and play, and founder of Good Play Guide. They provided insight on what toys are best for 5-year-olds, what stages of development 5-year-olds are in and how play can support that development. What Should I Get A 5-Year-Old Who Has Everything? Any time you need to buy a gift for a 5-year-old who already has tons of toys, I recommend something consumable, practical or educational. From our list of top toys, the Crayola Inspiration Art Case Coloring Set and Who Would Win?: Ultimate Showdown are great options. If they already have Legos or Magna Tiles, an expansion pack is a great idea. What Should A 5-Year-Old Play With? 'At this age, children benefit from toys that encourage imaginative play, physical activity, problem-solving, and social interaction. Quality toys should be robust, age-appropriate, and have enough flexibility to be played with in different ways,' says Gummer. Remember to choose toys that align with their interests. What Do You Buy A 5-Year-Old Boy? When shopping for a 5-year-old boy, consider his interests. 'By now, they'll have a slew of favorite on-screen characters, so anything featuring their big screen besties will be a hit,' says Mierzejewski. Some of our top picks include the Lego City Police Car, Guardian Bike and Marvel Avengers Ultimate Protectors Pack.
CNET
21-07-2025
- Business
- CNET
Amazon Deals of the Day: This 50% Discount Brings These Anker Earbuds to Just $20
Amazon sells a vast array of products, with new ones arriving daily across many categories, including home essentials, tech gear and furniture. As much as the retail giant loves adding new products, Amazon also loves cutting prices. Deciding which offers are worth grabbing (and which aren't) is a full-time job -- our job, specifically. That's why we scope out the top deals for you. Today, we found the already affordable Anker earbuds at 50% off, bringing them back to their record-low price. We also caught the VTech baby monitor for only $5 more than its record-low price. And lastly, we spotted the Feierdun adjustable dumbbells for a nice $50 off, also down to a record low. Just about all of us use wireless earbuds in some capacity, so having a solid pair is pretty important. But a good pair doesn't have to cost you hundreds of dollars. The Soundcore by Anker P20i earbuds are a great pick, one that I personally use regularly. These earbuds have built-in microphones for making calls without all the background noise. There are also over 20 preset equalizers you can pick from to make sure you get the perfect sound for you. The battery life is lenghty as well, with one charge giving you 10 hours of battery and the case extending that to up to 30 hours. These earbuds come in multiple colors, so you can chose which one you like best. These earbuds are normally $40, already a great price. But Anker just sliced that price in half, bringing them down to $20, a record-low price. Just keep in mind only three of the five color options, black, white and blue, are down to $20, so be mindful when picking which color you like. Just about all parents use a baby monitor to keep eyes on their babies. But finding one that has the features you want yet also lands within your budget isn't always the easiest. VTech makes some of our favorite monitors and now you can get one for less. The VTech VM819 baby monitor is pretty compact so it can fit anywhere, plus it's also mountable so you can stick it on the wall if you need. It has two-way audio so you can speak to whoever's on the other side through the camera. Ans it has night vision as well, so you can keep eyes on your kids at night. The camera angle is also adjustable, allowing you to tilt and pan the camera as needed. It also is a great tool to keep eyes on your pets or even elderly family members if needed. This monitor is now down to $40. Although it's only a 17% savings, it's only $5 more than the record-low price seen earlier this year. But it's still a great deal if you need something now. If you have a home gym, you probably have some dumbbells to go with it. But buying all the weights can be pretty expensive and take up a lot of room. That's why adjustable dumbbells are more convenient. These Feierdun adjustable dumbbells can be used five different ways. You can use them as a tradition dumbbell, barbell, kettlebell, weight plate and even as a push up stand. The weight can be adjusted from six to 22 pounds. The dumbbell bar is sturdy too, as it's made of a thickened steel plate and has a non slip diamond texture. This set comes with 12 weight plates, dumbbell and barbell bars, kettlebell handles and even a kettlebell base rod. This kit is usually $130 but for a limited time, it's down to $80. That's a nice $50 savings, not to mention a record-low price. With so many deals on Amazon, deciding which ones are worth your money can be difficult. But CNET's combed through what the world's largest online retailer has to offer and gathered the best deals for you to check out.
Business Wire
25-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
VTech Hospitality Phones Achieve Zero Touch Provisioning Certification with Xorcom PBX Systems
TIGARD, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--VTech Hospitality, a leading provider of innovative communication solutions for the hospitality industry, is excited to announce that its guest room telephone offering sets have successfully achieved Zero Touch Provisioning (ZTP) certification with Xorcom's PBX systems. This certification marks a significant milestone in simplifying the deployment process, providing enhanced efficiency for resellers and seamless installation experiences for end users. VTech Hospitality Phones Achieve Zero Touch Provisioning Certification with Xorcom PBX Systems Share With the ZTP certification, VTech's sets can now be automatically configured upon connection to the network, eliminating the need for manual setup. This development dramatically reduces installation time, mitigates human error, and ensures faster, more reliable deployments for hotels, resorts, and other hospitality venues. 'We're thrilled to offer this Zero Touch Provisioning integration with Xorcom's PBX systems,' said Chad M. Collins, Vice President, Sales at VTech Hospitality. 'This partnership allows us to provide a more streamlined and automated solution, making the installation process faster and easier for our mutual resellers, while improving overall efficiency and guest experience for our customers.' As hospitality technology continues to evolve, ZTP has become an essential tool for simplifying device deployment, improving operational efficiency, and minimizing downtime. For resellers, this certification translates into a more cost-effective, hassle-free deployment process, allowing them to focus on delivering top-tier services to their clients. For end users, it means a quicker and more reliable installation, enhancing the overall user experience from the moment the device is powered on. 'We're excited about how this certification helps us better serve both our partners and customers,' said Eran Gal, CEO at Xorcom. 'It allows us to deliver a more efficient solution that benefits everyone involved, from resellers to end users, reducing setup time and ensuring a smooth, seamless process.' VTech Hospitality is committed to continuous innovation in the hospitality technology space, ensuring its products meet the evolving needs of the industry while providing unmatched ease of use and reliability. For more information on VTech Hospitality's products and services, visit About VTech Founded in 1976, VTech is the largest manufacturer of residential phones in the US, and the global leader in electronic learning products from infancy through toddler and preschool. It also provides highly sought-after contract manufacturing services. VTech's mission is to integrate economic growth, environmental protection and social responsibility in its business strategies to design, manufacture and supply innovative and high-quality products for the wellbeing of people and benefits of society, aiming to drive sustainable value for its stakeholders and the communities. © 2021 VTech Communications Inc. All rights reserved. VTech® is a registered trademark of VTech Holdings Limited.
Telegraph
31-03-2025
- Telegraph
AI teddies could ‘harvest data from your children'
AI-powered teddy bears could harvest data from young children, the UK's leading computer scientist has warned. Sir Nigel Shadbolt, a leading researcher in artificial intelligence, has raised concerns about 'smart toys' that use artificial intelligence to converse with children. He said: 'When AI is integrated into the cuddly soft toys that a child grows up with, what does that do to the interaction, to the companionship, to the sense of self? 'It might allow that language deficit that children suffer in some homes to be eliminated because teddy is there to have those extended and rich conversations that really might enrich the child. 'But they also could be used to survey, they could be used to appropriate and harvest data from the child.' A privacy threat In 2023, Allan Wong, the chief executive of VTech, a Hong-Kong based electronics company which manufactures toys, suggested that AI-powered teddy bears could be available within the next few years. Last year, Skyrocket, a Los Angeles-based toymaker, released the first talking stuffed toy to use AI software, called Poe the AI Story Bear. The toy, which hit the market in August, can generate and read aloud stories to children. Sir Nigel, who was speaking at the Oxford Literature Festival, partnered with The Telegraph, said such technology could pose a privacy threat. He called for strong regulation on how much data was stored by the toys and how it was used. 'We are going to see increasing efforts to build these consumer products,' he said. 'We can imagine a world in which those capabilities are cheap to implement, the models are easy to replicate and copy, so what will the protection around those classes of object be? 'In the past we worried with teddy bears about whether children would swallow the eyes if they came off.' 'This is an entirely different class of challenge. It is quite immediate.' Sir Nigel is executive chairman of the Open Data Institute which he co-founded with Tim Berners-Lee, the creator of the World Wide Web. He was speaking about his new book, As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence, which he co-wrote with Roger Hampson.
Associated Press
01-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
VTech® Introduces New Products at Toy Fair® 2025
Award-Winning Product Lines Expand with Innovative Toys NEW YORK, March 1, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, VTech® will showcase its exciting lineup of engaging new toys at Toy Fair® 2025, continuing to expand its popular baby, infant, toddler and preschool categories with products that introduce early learning concepts in fun and interactive ways. Reinforcing its commitment to fostering developmental milestones through play, VTech's latest collection includes the VTech Baby® 4-in-1 Steps & Stages Activity Center™, Buzz & Learn Activity Table™, Get Growing Tractor & Mower Ride-On™, Explore & Write Deluxe Activity Desk™ and the Kidi Superstar Jr. DJ Mixer™. 'We're so excited to showcase our newest introductions at Toy Fair,' said Karen Balduf, Vice President of Marketing, VTech Electronics North America. 'Spanning a wide range of developmental stages, our toys ensure that from baby to preschool and beyond, we're offering fun and educational play for every age.' Highlights of VTech's Toy Fair 2025 lineup include: 4-in-1 Steps & Stages Activity Center™ – This transforming activity center adapts to different stages of development, allowing little ones to explore music, colors, counting and imaginative play. With multiple configurations—including sit-at, crawl-around or all-around—children can engage with light-up piano keys, a talking giraffe phone, a shape sorter, a pretend driving panel and more. (Ages 3+ months) Buzz & Learn Activity Table™ – See what the buzz is about and fly around the honeycomb of seven developmental play zones that introduce colors, numbers, animals and more. This 2-in-1 activity table grows from floor play using the tabletop to standing play by adding the legs. Pop up the cute fox using the light-up buttons and hear music notes, buzzing bees, numbers and colors. Fox is excited to be with friends! Turn the book page to hear about different animals. Build coordination skills by inserting blocks into the hive shape sorter and press the top for a sweet surprise. Turn the flower gears, wiggle the honeypot and move the animal sliders and beads that make every day a bee-utiful day to play! (Ages 9-36 months) Get Growing Tractor & Mower Ride-On™ – This 3-in-1 grow-with-me toy easily transforms from a push mower to a ride-on tractor, adapting to your little farmer's growing skills. Hit the road with the removable dashboard to hear safety tips, listen to the radio and explore exciting pretend-play locations. Turn the steering wheel, shift gears and honk the horn to bring imaginative adventures to life! Changing weather? Flip the Weather Selector to hear forecasts for sunny, rainy, stormy or snowy days. With 12 sing-along songs, 36 melodies and over 240 sounds and phrases, kids will be ready to mow, grow and go! (Ages 12-36 months) Explore & Write Deluxe Activity Desk™ – This interactive learning desk combines touch-sensitive technology with engaging content to help kids learn letters, numbers, shapes and more. With an innovative guided writing pad that encourages proper letter formation, interactive activity pages and a transformation feature that turns the desk into an easel or chalkboard, it's a versatile tool for creative learning. (Ages 2-5 years) Kidi Superstar Jr. DJ Mixer™ – Budding musicians can mix and create their own tunes with this interactive DJ mixer. Kids can explore instrument, character and animal sounds while spinning the light-up turntable and adjusting the tempo. They can also sing along to built-in songs reinforcing letters, numbers and colors across three music styles. The interactive game mode helps children develop rhythm and coordination as they follow patterns on the screen. (Ages 3-6 years) For more information about VTech's latest product offerings, visit About VTech® VTech is a world leader in age-appropriate and developmental stage-based electronic learning products for children. As a pioneer in the learning toy category, VTech develops high-quality, innovative educational products that enrich children's development and make learning fun. With a rich 45-year history, VTech has not only established itself as a learning authority but also consistently remains at the forefront of innovation with multiple award-winning products, including prestigious Toy of the Year (TOTY) Award winners. The company also has a broad range of award-winning infant, toddler and preschool products available in 28 different languages worldwide, with more than 100 new products introduced every year. In order to further strengthen VTech's position as a learning authority, new products are developed with critical insights from a dedicated team of in-house learning experts. VTech Electronics North America, L.L.C. is based in Arlington Heights, Illinois. VTech Electronics Limited is headquartered in Hong Kong with distribution globally. 973-588-2000
