Key Points
- Our #1 Best Overall LEGO set for 5-year-olds is the LEGO Friends Dolphins Rescue Mission set.
- Because 5-year-olds may have smaller hands and wandering minds, a set with less than 500 pieces is ideal. This also makes clean-up easy.
- All of the sets that we’ve listed below have been deemed safe for kids 4 and up, except for the Dolphin rescue set, which is 6 and older. However, many parents have said it’s great for preschoolers, too, as long as they’re ready.
- Keep your child’s age, your budget, and storage options in mind before buying a bunch of new sets.
If you’re someone who has never played with LEGOs, chances are that you’re in the minority. Many kids grow up playing with these building blocks. LEGO even releases collector’s sets and adult sets as people age.
However, the new generation of kids may expect different play options, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorite options for the younger kids. After extensive research, the top choices for the best LEGO sets for 5-year-olds are as follows.
- Best Overall: LEGO Friends Dolphins Rescue Mission
- Best Budget Option: LEGO City Sky Police Jet Patrol
- Best Classic Set: LEGO Classic Brick Box
- Best for Hours of Play: LEGO City Ocean Exploration Base
- Best for Travel: LEGO Creative Suitcase
#1 Best Overall LEGO Set for 5-Year-Olds: LEGO Friends Dolphins Rescue Mission
- Submarine model measures over 3” high, 5” long, and 4” wide
- 363 pieces
- Includes Stephanie and Kacey mini-doll figures, 2 dolphin toys, a toy submarine, a shipwreck, and 2 hidden treasure chests
We choose the LEGO Friends Dolphins Rescue Mission as the overall best because it’s an easy-to-build set that has secret compartments for playtime. Before we dive in, it’s important to note that this set is technically for kids 6 and older. However, 5-year-olds should easily be able to work with this set, and can even play with friends and adults alike!
With that note, this kit comes with a 5-inch submarine and shipwreck that has a “trap” door where a dolphin will be housed. This is what makes this set so cool. Once built, your kiddo can go on a rescue mission and hook the hidden dolphin with their submarine.
The set also comes with two minifigures, two dolphin figures, treasure chests, an extra watercraft, and ocean accessories like fish and a treasure map. This set can also be used during water play because the map can get wet and “reveal” where the treasure is!
Luckily, none of the pieces look hard to put together, so your child should be able to build it themselves with you on standby. And, the set has more than just building going for it.
It also offers hours of playtime and fun secrets to uncover. However, if your child still likes hiding things or putting items in their mouth, you might want to be careful with the small figurines. Check out the LEGO Friends Dolphins Rescue Mission kit on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| It has secret compartments for curious kids. | The kit contains many small figures which can be dangerous. |
| It comes with multiple figures for extra playtime. | It’s the most expensive set on our list. |
| This set can be played with in the water. |
Best for Parents on a Budget: LEGO City Sky Police Jet Patrol
- Includes 2 LEGO City minifigures
- Sky Police jet measures over 2” high, 5” long, and 4” wide
- 54 pieces
If you’re on a budget but want to buy a LEGO set for a 5-year-old, one of the best that you can grab is the LEGO City Sky Police Jet Patrol Kit. After all, LEGO kits can be incredibly expensive, with many costing at least $100 or more.
For kiddos that love police and airplanes, this kit is perfect. And, with just 54 pieces included, it’s easy to build. It’s also great for small hands and easy-to-distract minds.
The kit comes with all the pieces your child will need to build a plane, including minifigures like a police officer and a robber. The base of the plane is also one piece, which makes building easier and keeps pieces from going missing.
You can also combine it with other city sets for even more playtime. The only potential con we can see with this set is that it’s super easy to build, which means your child will most likely spend more time playing than building. So, if they’re easily bored and prefer the building process, this kit may be too small. Check out the LEGO City Sky Police Jet Patrol Kit on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| This set can be combined with other city sets from LEGO. | May be too easy for some kids. |
| The base of the jet is one piece to avoid the jet falling apart. | |
| This set is affordable compared to others. |
Best Classic LEGO Set: LEGO Classic Brick Box
- 7 buildable toys with gear-driven functions
- 500 pieces
- Each functional model comes with a step-by-step, pictorial building guide
LEGO lovers all recommend the Classic Brick Box. Why? Because it’s just a bin with 500 LEGO pieces to create whatever you want. The only limit is your imagination. With that said, it’s perfect for kids who want to build a bunch of new things and love the building process.
Luckily, this kit also comes with a few instructions for items your child can build, if they choose to use them. Essentially, this set of pieces can be turned into anything.
It also comes with a bin for storage when your child is done playing with the LEGOs. So, you won’t accidentally step on them or lose them. And the box is fairly small, so storage is simple and easy. Check out the Classic Brick Box on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Comes with a bin for easy storage. | The pieces are fairly small. |
| Great for kids with big imaginations. | |
| The kit includes building instructions for some items. |
Best LEGO Set for Hours of Play: LEGO City Ocean Exploration Base
- Features interchangeable living and research modules, a docking submarine, an underwater drone, shark and stingray figures, and more
- 497 pieces
- The exploration base measures over 7” high, 10” wide, and 5” deep
With 497 pieces, the LEGO City Ocean Exploration Base is perfect for kids who love ocean life. It was also created with the help of National Geographic Explorers, so it’s pretty legit.
The set comes with five researcher minifigures, a submarine, an underwater drone, and living and research “quarters.” It also has shark and stingray minifigures.
One of the main downsides to this kit is that with so many pieces, especially the miniatures, it’s a bit hard to store. And it doesn’t come with a case or anything, so you’ll want to have your own storage solution. Check out the LEGO City Ocean Exploration Base on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Includes a base to make building easier. | Kit has a lot of small pieces with no storage options. |
| The kit contains mini animal figures, like sharks. | |
| The set was created with National Geographic Explorers help. |
Best LEGO Set for Travel: LEGO Creative Suitcase
- The suitcase measures 10" high, 11" wide, and 2" deep
- Additional resources online (instructions, videos, and more)
- Features convenient sorting compartments
For those who love to travel, or who always feel like they’re on the go, a great way to keep your kiddo busy is with the LEGO Creative Suitcase set. This set has 213 LEGO pieces and they’re all contained in the carrying case so your child can take it with them no matter where you go.
The set comes with typical LEGO bricks of varying sizes and colors. And it also has a few “special” pieces, like wheels and eyes, for your child to build people and cars. The case itself has separate compartments for sorting and storage.
If your child needs some inspiration, the kit also has instructions on how to build a few items, like cars or buildings. While this kit is great for travel, little hands may lose pieces while in a car or on a plane.
So, we’d recommend having a way to keep everything contained. Adding a LEGO baseplate to the kit can be helpful. Check out the LEGO Creative Suitcase set on Amazon.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| The set is small enough for travel. | The set doesn’t come with a base for building. |
| This set has an age rating of 4+, so it’s great for small hands. | |
| The case has compartments to make storage easy. |
How to Pick the Best LEGO Sets for 5-Year-Olds: Step by Step
Before you pick a LEGO set, there are a few things to keep in mind, including:
- Age Range
- Pieces
- Storage
- Price
Here’s what you should know.
Age Range
While we’ve listed the best LEGO sets for 5-year-olds, there are many other options out there. Be sure that you check the intended age range of whatever set you get.
Some come with too many pieces or small figures that can be a choking hazard, or simply get lost if your child isn’t old enough.
Pieces
Along with the age range, too many pieces can quickly become overwhelming for younger children. Try to stick to under 500 pieces for each set, with the sweet spot being between 200-300 pieces.
Storage
Storing a bunch of LEGO kits may seem daunting, but it can be pretty easy! If you’re able to have a bookshelf or large box-type storage (like a table that opens up or an ottoman), you should be able to store quite a few sets at one time.
Price
While LEGOs can be expensive, especially if the set has been retired and is now a collectible, don’t feel like you have to spend a bunch of money. A lot of sets are sold secondhand for cheap or often go on sale at places like Target. Be sure to stick to your budget!
What to Know Before Buying LEGO Sets for 5-Year-Olds
Before you choose a LEGO set for your 5-year-old, you’ll want to remember that while these are toys, they can become problematic. Always keep a watchful eye on your kid and feel free to jump in and help with the build.
LEGOs can be fun for the whole family! But the small pieces can be choking hazards or hurt little feet, which is why an adult’s presence is important.
Using LEGO Sets for 5-Year-Olds: What It’s Like
Most people grew up with, or around, LEGOs. And these sets are an amazing way to boost play, imagination, and curiosity. Almost every 5-year-old will love LEGOs, especially if the set includes something they already enjoy!
Summary Table
| Rank | LEGO Set | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | LEGO Friends Dolphins Rescue Mission | Has secret compartments for curious kids. Comes with multiple figures for extra playtime. Can be played with in the water. | The kit contains many small figures which can be dangerous. Itâs the most expensive set on our list. |
| #2 | LEGO City Sky Police Jet Patrol | This set can be combined with other city sets from LEGO. The base of the jet is one piece to avoid the jet falling apart. This set is affordable compared to others. | May be too easy for some kids. |
| #3 | LEGO Classic Brick Box | Comes with a bin for easy storage. Great for kids with big imaginations. The kit includes building instructions for some items. | The pieces are fairly small. |
| #4 | LEGO City Ocean Exploration Base | Includes a base to make building easier. The kit contains mini animal figures, like sharks. The set was created with National Geographic Explorers help. | Kit has a lot of small pieces with no storage options. |
| #5 | LEGO Creative Suitcase | The set is small enough for travel. This set has an age rating of 4+, so itâs great for small hands. The case has compartments to make storage easy. | The set doesnât come with a base for building. |
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