Shopping for 6-year-old boys brings a unique challenge to consumers. At six-years-old, boys are outgrowing the “baby” toys that once kept them entertained, but they aren’t yet old enough for some of the more mature options that are available. This age group is active and into everything! They are just discovering their own personal preferences for activities, whether it’s a certain sport, hobby, or creative outlet.
The list below offers a review of several great options of gifts and toys for 6-year-old boys. Whether they are emerging scientists, electronic geniuses, or amazing artists, this list has something for everyone!
It’s important to keep the minds of 6-year-old boys stimulated, as they are at the age of developing critical thinking skills, coordination, and developing their passions. Gifting them a toy that will help develop their love of science, technology, engineering, and math will make parents (and their teachers) happy, as well as bring hours of learning fun to the kids!
Travel the world with your 6-year-old boy through this fun, interactive globe! Help your child learn about different countries and cultures as they use a phone or tablet with app to scan the globe. As the phone or tablet passes over each area, new facts such as animals, food, and languages are displayed on the globe! Kids can earn coins with each visited country and complete a passport booklet to help them feel as though they really are traveling the world.
This globe is perfect for geography lessons, as the countries aren’t labeled on the globe itself. So, while the app shows the countries and their borders, kids can be quizzed without the app in use to test their knowledge! When it comes to learning about our world, it doesn’t get much better than this gift!
My family will sometimes do themed dinner nights where we’ll eat food from a different country and learn things about their culture. This globe would be the perfect toy to add to that experience! While any of the toys on this list would be perfect for a 6-year-old boy, the learning opportunities from the interactive globe are hard to put a value on!
No toy list would be complete without a great tablet. From the time kids can walk, it seems they are already experts at all things electronic and touch screen! If it’s time to upgrade your child’s electronics or time to purchase their first tablet, the Fire HD 10 Kids Tablet is a great choice.
The Fire 10 comes equipped with 32 GB of internal storage, which is plenty of room to hold all the favorite apps. An SD card can be added to expand the memory up to a whopping 256 GB! Videos, books, and shows can be downloaded directly the device for offline play. My boys have this tablet and we have gotten plenty of use from it, especially on road trips. The tablet can also be used for educational apps and videos! The HD 10 features the largest available display screen and comes in a kid-proof case, along with a 2-year warranty.
These days it’s more important than ever for parents to be able to contact their kids and know where they are. The Gabb Watch makes this easy. This phone watch is also a GPS tracker. Only parent-approved numbers are allowed to contact or be contacted by this watch.
Kids can call, send a preset text message, or send an audio message. Parents can add additional custom preset texts. Messages sent by the watch show up as a regular text message (unlike many other phone watches).
The GPS is reliable, and you can set up “safe zones” so the watch will alert you when your child enters or exits these zones (school, home, etc). You can also see real time updates showing where your child is.
This watch runs on the Gabb Wireless network, which has excellent coverage even in rural areas.
I love a toy that kid are thrilled to play with when it’s new and still love to play with a few years later. This is definitely one of those! It comes with 5 bases and 60 different pieces that your boy can make endless configurations out of. The pieces fit together pretty snug so that it won’t fall apart as he plays.I love that the 15 glow in the dark marbles can be recharged with an included UV light . . . it is too hard to keep batteries on hand! My favorite thing about this toy is the introduction of physics, motion and aerodynamics to a young mind; it’s a great STEM toy!
5. Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad
This art kit does it all! It comes with 12 Crayola colored pencils, a graphite pencil, 10 blank sheets of paper, 10 pieces of tracing paper, and tracing sheets with designs. You can download additional designs or trace images from coloring books or wherever. The paper locks into the pad so it doesn’t slide around as you are tracing. There is a LED light that lights up the image which makes tracing really easy.
This is a great gift for a 6-year-old who loves to draw. It will help build new skills and gain confidence in his artistic abilities. I love this so much I bought 3!
6. Plugo Letters Word Building Game
I am in love with this learning game! It makes spelling so much fun that your little guy will want to play with it all the time. This game by Plugo is perfect for a 6-year-old. It will sharpen linguistic, reading, comprehension, cognitive, and motor skills. It is a perfect to help prepare for school or to supplement what is being taught in school (great for pre-K K to 4th grade). This game helps kids helps learns letters, spelling, word usage in sentences, grammar, and concepts like nouns, verbs, and vowels.
The game is a word building one that combines hand-on learning with screen time (and we all know that 6-year-olds love screen time!). It has 5 games for letters with 250 levels but also has tons of stories, characters, poems, and puzzles. Plugo Letters is compatible with iPads, iPhones, Samsung devices, and Fire tablets, but be sure and check the list because not all models are supported.
This set comes with a box and in that box is a Letters Trunk and 48 letter tiles. The tiles are used to spell on the Trunk and can be stored in the Trunk. Also included is the Plugo gamepad, which is a foldable mat that has magnets inside so that it can hold the Plugo kit on one side and the device on the other side. I really like this because it is hands on learning without touching the screen! I am not a fan of cleaning fingerprints off of screens!
I am a big fan of this and think you will be too!
7. Grow and Glow Terrarium
The Grow and Glow Terrarium is perfect for the 6-year-old boy who loves to watch things grow! Just add water to included seeds and dirt, and sprouts will begin to grow in as little as three to four days. Glow in the dark stickers make it fun to decorate the terrarium.
Learning about eco-systems by creating their own will enhance any child’s learning of horticulture! The kit comes equipped with everything your child needs to grow two plants, including a water mister and fun garden figurines.
8. Pete the Cat Beginning Reader Books
6 year-old boys love to read books by themselves and this series is one he will love! This set includes 12 mini books that fit into a cute box. Pete the Cat has been a child’s favorite for almost 20 years when it was first published. What little boy doesn’t love the adventures of a mischievous cat?
The My First I Can Read books help young readers learn not only common sight words but also short and long vowel sounds. This set is a great one to get boys excited about reading.
9. National Geographic Geode Kit
As a child, my dad would take my sister and me to geology shows where we always picked out one geode to break open and discover what was inside. The thrill of a “mystery crystal” was so much fun! This Geode Kit from National Geographic will bring the same amount of excitement to any 6-year-old boy.
With protective eye wear and ten geodes in the kit, a household hammer can be used to break open the rocks to see what color crystal is inside. These are actual geodes, not lab created! Supervision is required and help will be needed to use the hammer, but this is a great set to help boys learn about geology and how geodes are formed! The kit also comes with a great booklet about the geodes and the different types that are included.
10. Magic School Bus Chemistry Lab
I am so excited to see that the popular kids’ science show, The Magic School Bus, has resurfaced in popularity over the past couple of years. The show follows science teacher Mrs. Frizzle and her students as they get firsthand lessons in chemistry, biology, and all things STEM! This science kit is themed Magic School Bus and will be a hit with 6-year-old boys!
The Magic School Bus Chemistry lab comes with the materials to create experiments using acids and bases, volcanic eruptions, slime, surface tension, and more. Developed by Harvard graduates, the experiments are designed to spur curiosity and be simple enough for ages 5 and over to complete. Included instruction cards and data notebook packaged in a fun Magic School Bus box is a perfect gift choice for a budding 6-year-old scientist!
11. PJ Masks Table and Chair
Every 6-year-old can appreciate the need for a place to draw, create, and play to their heart’s content. The PJ Masks Table is the perfect set to give your 6-year-old boy a dedicated place to sit while they create! It’s the perfect size for small kids, with a table that measures 24” x 24” and two chairs that hold up to 70 pounds each.
The table and chair fold for convenient storage and are durable enough to outlast the messiest of projects. I have had this set since my oldest was two and it still gets set up for family dinners (so the kids have their own table) and art projects. Your 6-year-old boy will love having his own space with this table set!
12. Aqua Magic Drawing Mat
The Aqua Magic Drawing Mat is the perfect gift for the budding artist in your life! The mat comes with 6 magic pens that can be filled with clean water to then “draw” on the mat. Designs magically appear (mess free!) and then disappear after 3-10 minutes for more clean drawing fun.
The drawing mat also comes with 8 molds, 4 stencils, a rolling stamp, and a fun booklet for more ideas. The fun dinosaur theme is perfect for 6-year-old boys, and the size can accommodate up to two kids at a time! This is ideal for indoor or outdoor play and offers hours of learning and fun!
13. Awesome Jokes Book
I bet your 6-year-old is just starting to discover the magic of reading like mine. This book will tickle his funny bone with jokes like this one: What kind of a key opens bananas? A monkey! It is 69 pages and the jokes are spaced out which makes it easy for young readers to follow. If he is anything like my son, he will love reading the family these age appropriate jokes. The best part is that this book will teach your child that reading can be fun!
Outdoor Gifts for 6-year-old-boy
Young boys often have a hard time staying still for even five minutes. They are constantly on the run and their favorite activities often involve some sort of movement. The toys below are perfect for the 6-year-old boy who loves to stay busy!
14. NERF N-Strike Elite Strongarm
If your 6-year-old boy is ready to start building their NERF arsenal, the Strongarm N-Strike Elite is a great place to start! This classic NERF gun packs a powerful punch, firing six darts in a row in rapid-fire style. Elite NERF darts are designed to shoot straighter and farther, up to 90 feet across the room!
With no batteries required and a hand powered design, this gun will become a quick favorite for the next blaster battle! Pair the Strongarm NERF N-Strike Elite with the tactical vest and get ready to win the best gift award!
15. Threeking RC Stunt Car
This is a very cool remote control car that will thrill any 6-year-old boy. With shock-absorbing rubber tires, this toy can go over all sorts of surfaces including sand, grass, and slippery roads. The best part is that it can flip 360 degrees either forwards to backwards or left to right! Since this stunt car is well-made with heavy duty materials, it will withstand tough play and hold up for a long time both indoors and outdoors.
The only downside of remote control toys in general is that it needs to be recharged regularly. To recharge this model, you need to unscrew the battery cover then plug the battery into a USB charger. Overall, this is an excellent gift option for a 6-year-old boy in your life!
16. Foam Finger Rockets
A favorite toy of my son’s has always been these fun finger rockets that launch into the air. These finger rockets are improved with added LED lights! These are perfect for parties, sleep overs, or any time your kids want to have outdoor fun at night.
An on/off button controls the flashing LED lights, making them visible from across the yard, which ensures that these won’t get lost. Once kids get the hang of the rubber band launcher, the dart-style rockets soar across the room. Safe foam coverings means safe fun for everyone!
17. Hover Soccer Ball Set
My brother-in-law is a soccer coach for a high school team, which means my nephews love anything to do with soccer! My youngest nephew is five and would love this indoor air soccer ball set! This unique soccer ball is surrounded by foam and has a disc-like shape that seems to levitate off the ground as it glides across the floor into two included goals.
The ball recharges with an included USB cord, so no batteries are needed. Fun LED lights can be turned on to add to the game and make this great for indoor play with the lights off! This ball will work on low pile carpet, hardwood floors, tile, and concrete/basem*nt type floors.
A small inflatable regular soccer ball is included with the set as well, perfect for any younger siblings that may want to join in on the fun! This gift is perfect for the 6-year-old boy who enjoys soccer!
18. Inflatable Waterslide and Bounce House
Is there anything better than a water slide on a hot day? Well this super fun waterslide and bounce house takes backyard play to a whole new level! Standing at 8 feet tall and 15 feet long, this can easily fit 4 children at a time and support 200 pounds. Your yard will become a gathering place for neighborhood kids this summer!
With a shark theme, this play set includes a water gun, splash pool, climbing wall, tunnel, and of course a giant slide. The material is extra thick so it will hold up for years to come. But the best part is that although it only takes a few minutes to set up, it will provide hours of outdoor play! It even comes with a carrying bag for convenient storage.
19. UWANTME Nerf Tactical Kit
There are few toys that have stood the test of time quite like NERF guns. My sons and their friends have accumulated so many different models, which means they also have hundreds (maybe even thousands) of NERF bullets! This UWANTME Tactical Vest Kit is perfect for those epic NERF battles if your 6-year-old needs a place to store their darts and clips during the action.
This kit comes fully equipped with a battle-ready tactical vest, safety glasses, wrist straps that hold up to 8 darts, reload clips, a dart pouch to hold another 30 darts, a cloth face mask, and 30 high quality darts. While this vest is not the NERF brand, the darts and accessories are all compatible with NERF guns.
20. Hauck Batmobile Pedal Go Kart
For the ultimate four-wheeled fun, you should get your 6-year old boy this Batmobile pedal go kart! While it’s a bit expensive, I guarantee that his jaw will drop when he opens this gift and he will be the envy of the neighborhood as he protects Gotham in this sporty vehicle.
This is surprisingly easy to put together and to use. It is equipped with handbrakes which control the rear wheels, adjustable bucket seat, and race-style pedals. But keep in mind that this works best on paved, fairly flat surfaces. Also, the maximum user weight is 120 pounds so its best for 4-8 year olds.
21. NERF Hammershot Blaster
The NERF Zombie Strike Hammershot Blaster is another great gun to start building a 6-year-old boy’s collection. This simple to use, hammer action design offers one handed blasting of included NERF darts. The hammer action means that kids can fire the darts “western” style. Let the cowboy antics begin!
The Hammershot works with Elite, Zombie Strike, and original design NERF darts. Included stencils can be used to create Zombie targets, but I would consider waiting until 8 years old to bring those into play!
22. NERF Fortnite TS-R Super Soaker
The NERF Fortnite Super Soaker gun is perfect for those hot summer days when only a good-hearted water fight will satisfy the most active 6-year-old boys! This water gun is modeled after the popular Fortnite game, with fun colors from the Battle Royal edition.
An easy to use cap is popped open to add up to 36 ounces of water into the reservoir. A pump action barrel then shoots the water roughly 40 feet with stellar accuracy! This will keep 6-year-old boys on their toes and cooled off as well!
Games/Building Toys
Something many 6-year-old boys have in common is their love of building and games. At 6 years old, many boys are ready for more advanced games that will challenge their critical thinking skills. They also will enjoy more complex building toys such as full LEGO sets! Consider any of the building toys or games below any 6-year-old boy!
23. Picasso Tiles
This is a great STEM toy that encourages skills such as shape and color ( 8 bright and fun colors) recognition, problem solving, engineering skills, and creativity. You can watch your 6-year-old build animals, dinosaurs, buildings, jets, rockets, and more. Or you can join in the fun and build some of your own. This set includes 100 pieces, which is plenty for a boy to build any creation.
Parents love these. Kids won’t be able to leave them alone. Even teenagers and grandparents will sit down and start designing something. The only problem is that you might need to add another 100 piece set of tiles!
24. REXBETI Kids Tool Set
One of my sons’ favorite activities has always been helping with handyman projects. From their early days of watching Bob the Builder, hammers, screwdrivers, and fresh lumber have always piqued their interest! This 15-piece tool set by REXBETI is the perfect upgrade from the plastic tools your 6-year-old boy may have from their toddler years.
This tool set comes with a real hammer with a smaller grip, perfect for smaller hands. It also comes with real screwdrivers, both flat and Philips head, perfect for small projects! A level, tape measure, heavy duty tool belt, and other real tools are also included! With a two-year warranty, this set will last all through a 6-year-old’s early years and open a world of possibilities for play.
25. Minecraft Sword
Minecraft is a popular video game for kids who love to create worlds with their own imagination and ingenuity. The video game has always encouraged outside-the-box thinking, and now they have toys that correlate with the video game! My oldest son first started playing Minecraft when he was 6 and it remains his favorite game (he’s now 10!).
The Minecraft Sword is perfect for any 6-year-old boy who is just discovering the game and wants to play it in real life. The large-scale toy is of substantial size, but perfect for small hands. The classic Minecraft diamond design is extremely durable and will withstand hours and years of play.
26. Guess Who? Game
When it comes to family game night, there are so many choices for 6-year-old boys. Guess Who? stands the test of time as a beloved matching game for young and old. Players sit on either side of the playing board and lift a square, revealing fun characters. Using only descriptions such as hair color, gender, eye color, etc., the player must try to guess the mystery character. If the player guesses the wrong character, they lose!
This game is perfect for the 6-year-old boy who likes matching games and competition. Critical thinking skills are developed as they try to figure out which “yes” or “no” question to ask next in order to win the round. Guess Who? will quickly become a favorite at family game night with players of all ages!
27. LEGO City Ocean Exploration Submarine 60264
Ask any parent which toys their 6-year-old boy is into and one of the answers is almost always LEGOs! The Lego City series is one of the most popular in the brand for a reason. The builds are challenging, but not so complex that a 6-year-old couldn’t assemble within a few hours. The City series features sets that mimic everyday life, so kids can use their imaginations to play with the LEGOs long after they’re built!
While some sets sit on a shelf after they’re completed, the LEGO City series promises to be one that your kids will enjoy. The Ocean Exploration set features a submarine, underwater drone, coral reef, 4 mini figures, and more! With 286 pieces, this set will quickly become your 6-year-old boy’s favorite!
28. Jenga Game
Jenga is another classic favorite that has been popular year after year. Six years old is the perfect age to start this game, as boys this age are just starting to develop dexterity and understand more complex puzzles. The game is played by stacking rectangle Jenga pieces into a carefully constructed tower.
Players then take turns pulling the pieces one at a time and restacking them on top of the tower. The player who pulls a Jenga piece and causes the tower to fall loses that round!
My family has played Jenga for years and as my boys have gotten older, we have incorporated many fun traditions with the pieces! You can add math problems on each piece that they must solve before restacking, or even vocabulary words that must be defined. I have also added inspirational quotes and relationship-building questions to the pieces to add another element of fun to the game. There really are endless possibilities with Jenga!
29. Mancala For Kids
If you have never played Mancala, you are missing out! This game comes with 48 fun, animal themed pieces that are played across a Mancala board. The game starts with all the pieces distributed throughout the holes in the board.
Players begin by scooping up the pieces, then placing one piece around the board, adding to their “pot” at the end of the board. Players go back and forth distributing the pieces until all pieces are in the pots. The players with the most pieces on their side of the board wins!
This game takes critical thinking skills as players must choose carefully which slot they are going to take pieces from. The game helps with math skills as well, as they will need to strategize how many pieces they must distribute! The game is simple but popular with kids of all ages! Usually played with plastic gemstone pieces, this set uses miniature animal pieces instead!
30. Hot Wheels Super Speedway
For the 6-year-old boy who loves cars, few gifts are as perfect as a new Hot Wheels set! The Super Speedway Blast Track Set combines the excitement of Hot Wheels with a fun game that is sure to keep your kids happy for hours.
Two hand-activated launchers send cars racing side-by-side down ramps that lead to the end of the track where they meet the grandstand. As the front of the car hits the grandstand, characters pop off revealing whose car won the race! Cars can then be reloaded until all characters have been ejected.
The set comes with one Hot Wheels car and is compatible with most others. The Hot Wheels Blast Track set is the perfect gift for any 6-year-old boy!
31. LEGO Creator Deep Sea 3 in 1 Set
The LEGO Creator Deep Sea 3 in 1 is a great set for any LEGO loving boy in your life! This kit comes with 230 pieces that can be built into a shark with crab and treasure chest, a flexible squid, or a giant mouthed angler fish! No matter which configuration they choose, players can always take it apart and build something else.
The Deep Sea 3 in 1 is perfect for multiple kids, as one child can build one character while the other can wait and build the next. LEGO blocks are perfect for building hand eye coordination and have a host of other educational benefits. This is a great set to get your child intrigued with LEGOs and keep their imaginations fueled!
32. Dinosaur 3D Nightlight
This nightlight is perfect for the boy who loves dinosaurs! It is made with 3D technology that makes an impressive T-Rex right in his room. This fun dinosaur nightlight comes with a remote control but it can also be controlled by touch. It uses 3 AA batteries or a 5V USB cable, which is nice because the light doesn’t have to be right by an outlet.
It’s so easy to use. Smart touch technology means your boy can use to choose from 7 colors (red, green, blue, yellow, cyan, purple, and white). But with the remote control it comes with, he will be able to choose from 16 different colors. He can also control brightness, flash, strobe, fade, and smooth mode on the remote.
This is really an impressive nightlight!
Overall Recommendations Based on Reviews
STEM/Learning Toy
My overall top pick for a STEM/Learning toy for a 6-year-old boy would have to be the Interactive Globe. I could foresee using this toy for years to come, beyond the kid ages, to explore the world around us. The available information and in-depth app that allows kids to educate themselves on the different cultures and resources around the world is sure to be an invaluable learning tool in the home.
Outdoor/Active Toy
The Strongarm NERF N-Strike Elite is my choice for best action toy for 6-year-old boys. It’s a fun and easy to use Nerf gun. I love that it encourages kids to get up and get moving. It can be used either indoors or outdoors, which is a huge plus!
Building/Game Toy
In my opinion, the top building/game toy on this list is the REXBETI 15 Piece Tool Set. It is both fun and educational. Kids can learn how to do real fix-it projects with this toy. Boys love using these tools to help their parents with projects around the house.
FAQs
Is a 6-year-old too young to play a board game?
Since boys this age are developing critical thinking skills and becoming more competitive, they are sure to love board games. You’ll find plenty of age-appropriate games with simple rules a young child can understand, such as Mancala, Jenga, and Guess Who. Board games provide an alternative to screen time which is important for young kids.
Do 6-year-olds like Nerf guns?
Nerf guns certainly appeal to 6-year-olds’ love for exciting adventure. Kids will enjoy improving their aim through target practice with Nerf guns. They will also have fun challenging their friends to an epic backyard Nerf battle. With soft foam darts, Nerf guns are safe and won’t cause damage, making them age appropriate for 6-year-olds.
What are good creative toys for young boys?
Many 6-year-old boys are quite artistic and enjoy creative projects. The list we’ve compiled above presents several excellent gifts which will engage a young boy’s creativity. For instance, an aqua magic drawing mat allows children to use pens filled with water to draw colorful designs which disappear after a few minutes. Other options include fun LEGO sets and a terrarium which boys can decorate with stickers.
