20 Best Toys & Gift Ideas for 6-Year-Old Boys in 2018

Congratulations: your little one has entered middle childhood! And while the middle often gets a bad rep (looking at you, middle seats, middle child syndrome, and middle school), it’s not such an awful place to be. At 6 years of age, children are starting to show off improving locomotor skills (running, skipping, jumping), stronger hand-eye coordination, social understanding, improved self-control, and a better control of their emotions.

Given their growing propensities, it’s important to provide them with resources and tools that will continue to challenge them and help them grow. Picking out a gift for a 6 year old can be a fun event; there are tons of top-notch products out there that can be fun for the whole family, but especially for your little one. Games, toys, and activities that require physical activity are popular among 6 year olds, as they still have large reserves of energy. Building kits of any kind are also a great choice: LEGOs, train tracks, terrarium kits, anything that will force the kid to work through both assembly and play.

Here are 20 of the most exciting and popular products on the market for this age group. We’ve combed through to select options that will not just be fun, but help your child along their developmental path as well. No one says they can’t grow and learn while they play!

Our Top 3 Picks

20 Best Toys for 6-Year-Old Boys

The Original Stomp Rocket: Ultra 4-Rocket Kit by Stomp Rocket

Kids will always be fascinated with anything that shoots and flies. Brownie points if you find gifts like The Original Stomp Rocket. It comes with four foam-tipped rockets that shoot skywards up to 200 feet high up into the air. There are no complicated gizmos; just plain old leg power. 

Benefits – The Original Stomp Rocket promotes science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) development. A Stomp Rocket Stompin’ Science book (sold separately) explains how parents and teachers can use the Stomp Rocket to teach kids about trajectory, force, and other scientific topics.

What We Like about It – It’s a very great way to strengthen leg muscles, as well as help develop muscle coordination as kids attempt to land on the launch pad with all their might. It may look easy but one miscalculated step and the rocket may only reach a few feet off the ground.

Pros

• Travels well
• Few parts to assemble
• Provides opportunities for kids to learn and play together
• No batteries required

Cons

• It’s tempting for kids to misuse the launcher in an effort to make the rocket fly higher which may result in damage or premature wear and tear
• Small parts may pose a choking hazard for younger siblings

Car Designer by ZOOB

When it comes to toys for boys, cars are always at the top. With the ZOOB Car Designer, any kid with a fascination for cars can actually enjoy building a toy replica of 4 different vehicles including three cars and a 12-wheel car transporter. The 76-piece set is no ordinary construction toy as it comes in a very unique design. The kit comes complete with an instruction guide.

Benefits – This kit is great for both independent or interactive play. The many pieces allow for ample creative opportunities. Little builders can use their imaginations to construct everything from motorcades to monsters. Or, they can practice their direction-following skills by studying the instruction guides.

What We Like about It – This construction toy is something that is beneficial in helping a 6-year-old boy develop his creative problem-solving skills as well as counterfactual reasoning skills. While the kit comes with a guide, the endless possibilities of joining the different pieces together simply means kids can actually create anything.

Pros

• Contains everything required to build three different cars that can be played with simultaneously
• Includes tires made from durable rubber
• The pieces are engineered to move even after being put together
• Perfect for boys who like things that move and morph

Cons

• Some children may have difficulty following the instruction guides
• Not all pieces interlock

Big League Blaster Gun with Foam Darts and Dartboard by Newisland

If not cars and flying objects, little boys are always fascinated by things that shoot. The Big League Blaster Gun understands this preference and as such has made it sure that the darts are made of safe materials. Ten colorful darts can be shot up to distances of 30 feet often depending on the angle upon which the blaster has been aimed. The simple operation of the blaster gun is perfect for young kids.

Benefits – The darts will stick to any smooth surface, so boys can seek out or create different kinds of targets. Invite a few friends over, and friendly competition is sure to ensue. Young superheroes can be well-equipped as they engage in dramatic play, and the fact that the Blaster Gun comes in Captain America colors is just an added bonus.

What We Like about It – It’s made of one solid plastic so it should be shatter-proof. Additionally, it teaches kids about concentration and focus as well as excellent control of finger coordination. Makes for great imaginative play as well.

Pros

• Blaster gun is made from durable, eco-friendly materials
• No batteries required
• Lightweight
• Easy-to-load dart ammo
• Foam darts are compatible with most Nerf guns

Cons

• Can be hard to aim
• Dartboard is made from paper (printed on back of box)

Doinkit Darts Magnetic Dart Board by Marky Sparky

For children who would like to venture into the world of darts, then giving them the Doinkit Darts Magnetic Dart Board will be one of the best gifts for a 6-year-old boy. The magnetic dart board is made of high-grade Neodymium allowing for excellent magnetic attraction with the similarly magnetic-tipped darts.

Benefits – This dart set lends itself to many opportunities for learning and socializing. Because it is safe, appropriate for ages 6 and up, and able to play in a variety ways by simply varying throw distances or point-keeping systems, the Doinkit Darts Magnetic Dart Board can provide unlimited entertainment for kids and adults alike. Or, turn it into a math or science lesson by demonstrating trajectory, magnetic strength, force of impact, and scorekeeping methods.

What We Like about It – It is lightweight and is a good learning tool for appreciating magnetism. Furthermore, it teaches about focus and concentration including mastery of the different muscle movements of the wrist and the arm. This teaches young boys about accuracy.

Pros

• Magnet-tipped darts are much safer than traditional darts.
• Dartboard is easy to hang
• Strong magnetism ensures that the darts stick firmly on impact
• Dartboard is ideally sized with a 16-inch diameter

Cons

• The feel and weight of the magnetized darts are different than traditional ones and make them slightly harder to throw with precision.

Mini Explorer Light Up Terrarium

This Mini Terrarium allows your child to grow their own world inside a cute 4 x 6-inch jar. The terrarium includes a light-up lid with a micro-USB charging cable. The instructions are clear and easy to follow, and the kit includes the necessary soil, blue sand, river rocks, wheatgrass, and chia seeds. Additionally, adorable little bunny and mushroom miniatures and removable stickers allow children to customize their little habitat. A spray bottle and wooden stick make planting and watering seeds a cinch. They can layer the rocks, soil, and blue sand as they please, so even if your family is growing multiples, they can still all be personalized. Mini Explorer believes that just because your explorer is small, it doesn’t mean the adventure has to be. Their products are modeled to ignite a lifelong passion for learning, knowledge, and self-sufficiency.

Benefits – This Mini Terrarium helps children spark an interest in biology and botany. Grow your own mini-habitat together, and use the opportunity of launch points of discussion about the life cycles of plants and people as well.

What We Like about It – This kit is extremely easy to use, and serves as a fun crafts and science project. Kids love making their own toys, so getting to assemble and decorate this as they please will give them a creative outlet as well as a scientific experiment to help them learn about plant life cycles and photosynthesis.

Pros

• Includes all necessary supplies
• Stickers and miniatures to decorate with
• Light-up jar lid
• Micro-USB charging cable
• Clear, concise step-by-step instructions

Cons

• The light has a short lifespan and requires a lot of charging

Luwint Children’s LED Fingerlight Gloves

Light up the room (or night!) with these Luwint LED Fingerlight Gloves. With six modes and three colors, these gloves flash bright, colorful patterns. It’s easy to switch between settings and patterns; simply press the button on the wrist to cycle through your options. Made of wool, the set is soft and warm, with good elasticity and breathable fabric. The Luqing Fingerlight Gloves Set includes a set of four batteries for hours of light shows. The batteries are easily replaceable, and if you have any problems with the product, contact the company within three months for a no-questions-asked money-back guarantee. Made to fit children ages 5 to 12, but with adult sizes also available, this gift is a great way to bring the family together for some disco and techno inspired fun. Made of high-quality technology and materials, it’s safe and fun for everyone!

Benefits – This toy is a great way for your child to flex the part of their brain that deals with dimension and space. Because they have to attach the pieces to individual notches to create that 3D effect, they’ll be learning how to think and visualize from different angles. This type of thinking is more abstract in nature, which is often required later in life in fields like science, philosophy, and art.

What We Like about It – This toy is made with nontoxic and eco-friendly wood, so you can feel good about your purchase.

Pros

• Sound-activated movement
• Roaring sound
• Encourages abstract thinking
• Great activity for bonding

Cons

• Batteries not included

GeoFlux 3-D Kinetic Sculpture & Interactive Spring Toy

Affordable, entertaining, and an Amazon’s Choice item, this offbeat toy packs a lot of punch when it comes to keeping your kids occupied. Don’t be fooled by the small package; once opened, watch it spring magically to life within seconds! Made of high-quality stainless steel, this fun product can be twirled, spun, and rolled across all kinds of materials, including your arm. Its one-of-a-kind design is interwoven continuously, creating a truly indestructible and safe toy that can be played with over and over again.

Benefits – Although you wouldn’t quite know it at first glance, this unique toy operates based on simple scientific principles that are important to your child’s education. Gravity and friction keep this coil twirling along any surface, whether it’s your arm or a string of rope. This is a great opportunity for you to discuss these basic concepts while playing with your child with this peculiar but fascinating toy.

What We Like about It – Parents say that this is an excellent ice-breaker toy for birthday parties, summer camps, and other social gatherings where kids may be shyer than usual.

Pros

• Educational
• Safe
• High-quality stainless steel
• Affordable

Cons

• May be too big for child’s arm

Play 22 Toy Truck

When it comes to fast cars, every little boy is always fascinated with them… That’s why the Play22 Toy Truck Transport Car Carrier is such a cool gift! It comes with six miniature cars that resemble the Hot Wheels cars and also comes with various road cones and caution bars, so your child can turn any space into a raceway. He’ll love playing with these on his own or with a friend.

Benefits – Just in case this isn’t the first set of cars your child has, this transport truck definitely has room. It’s a great starter toy but also makes for a great addition to an existing miniature car collection.

What We Like about It – This is a simple toy that encourages a lot of imaginative play. Whether your child pretends he’s a pro racer zooming down the track, or a cool street racer who never loses a race, these cars allow him the freedom to do so.

Pros

• Makes transporting cars easy
• Comes with roadblocks
• Allows kids to add to the collection
• Serves as storage for all accessories as well

Cons

• Hot Wheels brand cars might not fit

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LEGO Creator Sea Plane by LEGO

Imagine a seaplane that can be transformed into a catamaran before being transformed yet again into a swamp boat. What you now have is not the latest member of the Transformers but rather LEGO Creator’s newest addition to its line-–the Sea Plane. With 53 building blocks, kids will surely never run out of ideas on how to build another vehicle using these blocks.

Benefits – There are many reasons for LEGO’s designation as a “classic” toy. Here are just a few of the LEGO-building aids for fine-motor-skill development. It introduces young children to the concepts of geometry, symmetry, and scale. It enables them to turn their imaginative ideas into something tangible. The LEGO Creator Sea Plane brings all these benefits and more in one small box.

What We Like about It – Any building toy is great for developing problem-solving skills, self-regulation, creative-thinking, and critical-thinking skills. And with the LEGO trademark, what’s not to like?

Pros

• Can serve as either a great starter set for a LEGO newbie or as a fabulous addition to an existing LEGO empire
• All three models can be built fairly quickly
• Swampboat model can hold a minifigure (not included)
• Features realistic propeller
• Finished sizes of the the constructed swampboat, sea plane, and catamaran fit little hands perfectly

Cons

• Swampboat and catamaran models don’t actually float
• Contains many small pieces (not recommended for kids with young siblings or tender-footed parents)

1/14 Scale Ferrari LaFerrari Radio Remote Control Model Car by RASTAR

Let your kid feel the power of the prancing horse right in his hands and you will understand why the Ferrari LaFerrari RC Model Car is something 6-year-old boys will surely adore. The 1/14 scale model car is beautifully detailed right down to the five-spoke wheels, the streamlined body, and the characteristic sexiness of the front grille and side mirror. It comes with fully operational headlights and rear lights. It features a spring suspension system that is independent of each other. You can check out our full line up of remote-controlled cars here.

Benefits – This sleek car helps promote motor skills, hand-eye coordination, imaginative play, and the understanding of cause and effect. The functional lights give kids the opportunity to connect the action of pushing the button to the consequence of the lights turning on and off. And since the car operates via remote, they’ll hone their coordination as well!

What We Like about It – It’s hard not to love the prancing horse. Almost everybody wants to have a piece of this Italian supercar. For kids, this means countless hours of imaginative play while at the same time teaching about dexterity and fine-motor control.

Pros

• Detailed die-cast replica
• Functional head and rear lights
• Independent spring suspension system
• Remote control is easy to use
• Kids work hand-eye coordination and motor skills

Cons

• Some cars stop being able to turn via remote after a short period of use

Super Stadium Baseball Game by International Playthings

If you are looking for gifts for 6-year-old boys who happen to be fans of the Yankees, then look no more. Just give them the Super Stadium Baseball Game and they can command their own players right in the comfort of their own rooms. The game is a cross between a pinball arcade and a mini baseball where kids place the batter’s hand either left or right depending on where they want the ball to fly. The fully magnetized infield allows for great ball movement.

Benefits – Young baseball fans can recreate their favorite plays while honing concentration and coordination skills. With all the different controls, they can change both the speed and trajectory of the balls they pitch. The magnetized baseball infield provides for ball movement. With all these cool features, boys may just start loving the mechanics as much as the game.

What We Like about It – It’s all about the correct timing of the swing; only this time, it’s about when to push the button to activate the batter. This requires excellent hand-eye coordination, lightning-quick reflexes, and truly immersive play. Also great for competitive play.

Pros

• Brings a real baseball game to life with everything from a score pad to a spring-loaded bat
• No batteries required
• Instructions and score sheet included
• Single or multi-player

Cons

• Ball pitcher can be tricky to maneuver

 Draw Like a Pro Artist Studio by ALEX Toys

Have you seen a kid getting so frustrated flipping the tracing paper back and forth simply because the lines are skewed? If your child is like that, then better get him the Draw Like a Pro Artist Studio by Alex Toys. Images on the rotating slide are projected onto a backlit platform to be traced. It’s pretty much like the ViewMaster we’ve all come to love during our time except that this time, the images are not viewed, they are projected and traced. The kit comes with 124 slides, 10 sheets of paper, and six markers. For more like this, check out our best art sets for kids this year.

Benefits – Our favorite way to use these gloves? Glow-in-the-dark dance parties. It’s a creative way to get children up and grooving, which helps to improve overall physical health as well as creative expression. These gloves are also great for outdoor games and sports, especially when the sun goes down and the lights will glow extra bright in the darkness.

What We Like about It –These gloves can be used for so many things. They’re of a sturdy quality, and can be used by most any age. Six year olds especially will get a kick out of the flashing lights, and be able to utilize them creatively.

Pros

• Six different settings/patterns
• Three neon-colored lights
• Soft, breathable wool fabric
• Easy-to-replace batteries
• Top-quality electronics with a money-back guarantee

Cons

• Run large

Evviva Sciences Ant Farm W/ LED Light

This Ant Farm is recommended for children ages 8 and up, but with parental supervision, it would be the perfect gift for any science and bug-loving 6 year old! Boys are often fascinated with bug life, which is why having bugs of your own is so cool to them. This ant farm allows kids to easily peer into their controlled environment and watch as ants create amazing tunnels and shelters. This kit includes everything except the live ants.

Benefits – Just by observing ants in their natural habitats, kids will learn important things such as how they survive in the wild, how they build homes, and what they eat. It’s a great way to teach kids about bug life!

What We Like about It – It’s challenging to find science-related toys and experiments that are safe for kids age 6 and that they’ll easily understand, which is why this kit is so perfect. It doesn’t take much and by simply observing, they’ll be learning.

Pros

• Features an LED light for easy viewing
• Thick, solid materials
• Comes with a magnifying glass
• An e-book is included

Cons

• Does not come with ants

Toysmith Get Outside GO! Pro-Ball Set, Pack of 3

Three of the most popular sports are included in this versatile set; one soccer ball, basketball and football offer hours of physical exercise both indoors and out. This is because each one is made of a durable yet soft plastic material that is safe for young children and won’t damage the house. Let your little boy have a chance to mirror his favorite athletes with these kid-friendly and colorful sport balls. They’re perfect for spending some one-on-one time with your kid in the backyard on a sunny day.

Benefits – It’s common knowledge that young children learn by doing, and they especially love activities where they an easily grip an object or toy themselves. These balls were designed specifically for your child’s 6-year-old hands, in order to give them the best play experience possible. Smaller children can grasp, clutch, and throw these balls with ease. This increases their independence through physical play, and encourages them to literally, “take matters into their own hands.”

What We Like about It – We like that these are made with 100 percent nontoxic plastic, making it safer for your little one to play with.

Pros

• Soft plastic material
• Small size for children’s hands
• Amazon’s Choice
• Set of three

Cons

• They come inflated, so they can pop with overuse

Minecraft Core Player Survival Pack Action Figure by Minecraft

Every kid loves to play Minecraft either on their PCs or even on mobile devices. You can now add dimensionality to their playtime by giving them the Minecraft Core Player Survival Pack Action Figure. The action figure comes with several accessories like a workbench, sword, and a pickaxe. There’s also a bed and chest.

Benefits – Minecraft fanatics rejoice! The fully operational Steve figure looks like he stepped out of the video game. Role play is made all the more realistic with an action figure and accessories in hand. For those wanting to start a collection of some kind, this set can provide a good starting point.

What We Like about It – This is just one character which means you will have to invest in several characters to make the whole Minecraft play more unique and engaging. Great for imaginative play as well.

Pros

• Features true-to-the-game details
• Mini weapons can be stored in the chest
• Sturdy design
• Great collection-starter
• Can be used with Minecraft LEGO sets

Cons

• Contains a few small parts which can pose a choking hazard
• Action figure’s arms can pop off easily

N-Sports Vortex Aero Howler Football by Nerf

Who’s the next Brett Favre or Joe Montana? If you have kids who dream of making it big in the NFL someday, then he really needs to practice making those passes. This can be easily facilitated using the N-Sports Vortex Aero Howler Football. It’s designed with a hand grip to help kids hold it firmly as they make those long-distance passes. The tail stabilizes it on its flight making for more accurate and longer passes. Best of all, it howls in flight.

Benefits – The Aero Howler brings an audible incentive to the playing field. Little boys will hurl it with all their might to see who can get the biggest howl. But it’s not just their throw that will improve; their grip, form, and determination are also likely to gain ground.

What We Like about It – The football is great for strengthening arm muscles as well as hand grip. It teaches kids about accurate shot placement as well as the physics of flight.

Pros

• Uniquely designed
• Fun for both children and adults
• Kids love to hear it howl mid-flight
• Bright color makes it easy to track as it’s thrown
• Great travel toy

Cons

• Takes a good arm to get it to fly far

Discovery Magic Set by Melissa & Doug

Performing magic take a tremendously long period of time to master a single trick. Kids who are fascinated with magic can do well to start early with the Discovery Magic Set which already includes four magic tricks that are easy to master. These include the Sword in the Stone trick, the Chamber of Illusion act, the Magic Jewel Box phenomenon, and the Color-changing String spectacle.

Benefits – Sometimes the best confidence-booster is an enthusiastic audience. The Melissa & Doug Discovery Magic Set affords the perfect opportunity to let a kid shine. Once he masters the art of illusion with careful study and practice, he can thrill a crowd with his magical moxie–and hopefully be ready to answer lots of questions.

What We Like about It – It’s a unique way to boost kids’ self-confidence as they learn to follow instructions to the letter. Seeing themselves performing simple magic tricks can do a lot of wonderful things to their psyche.

Pros

• Made from solid wood
• Tricks are simple to learn
• Kids love the “wow” factor
• Comes with everything needed to perform four different magical tricks

Cons

• Not suitable for younger siblings

Neo Tracks Twister Tracks by Mindscope

Kids would love to build their own highways. With the Neo Tracks twister Tracks, they can now build a dedicated highway for their small motorized toy cars. the system comes with a total of 258 pieces that are flexible enough to be contorted into different road configurations.

Benefits – This track system helps toy cars go the extra mile. Boys will love driving their cars on these colorful tracks. Their own wheels will be turning as they plan out different routes in their minds and invent wild traffic scenarios.

What We Like about It – The toy is beneficial in stimulating creativity and imagination. The different colors of the tracks can also reinforce mastery as well as for brain development.

Pros

• Includes accessories a motorized car
• Easy to assemble
• Brightly colored
• Compatible with other Twister Tracks

Cons

• The suspension bridge accessory does not work very well

Ulysses Delta Kite by StuffKidsLove

Spanning 1.5-meter wide and standing 0.8-meter tall, the Ulysses Delta Kite is the last that you will ever buy for your 6-year-old boy. It’s made of highly durable and ultra-lightweight materials that are also mold- and rust-proof. It comes with a 60-meter flying line and a convenient storage and carrying bag. It also comes with spare parts and a very useful instructional guide.

Benefits – Kites are simple yet fascinating. Learning how to handle the line just right requires focus. Figuring out how to hand it off to the wind requires effort and practice, too. But the end result is a high-flying beauty that makes kids dreams soar along with it.

What We Like about It – It teaches young boys about the value of following instructions and helps teach simple principles in physics. Also excellent in enhancing gross-motor skills.

Pros

• Pre-assembled
• Beautifully designed
• Kite sail and keel is made of parachute-grade material
• Comes with free loss replacement

Cons

• Only one color/design available

DIMY Compact Watreproof Binocular

For the nature-lover, binoculars are the perfect gift for kids who love to explore. They’re easy to take on any camping or day trip and allow kids to view the world in a way they haven’t seen it before. These binoculars are made to be kid-friendly and allow for optimal viewing, which means they’ll be able to easily focus on and observe the world around them.

Benefits – One of the great selling points of these binoculars, in particular, is the fact that they’re kid-proof. Even if they’re dropped, they’re scratch-proof as well as coated in rubber to prevent damage or breaking.

What We Like about It – When it comes to “toys,” many parents don’t think of gifts that can allow their children to explore rather than something they can play with. Binoculars offer a different way of seeing things and will help kids come out of their comfort zone a little bit to observe nature in action.

Pros

• Easy manual focus
• Kid-proof
• Comfortable eyepieces
• 8x zoom
• Various different color options

Cons

• Focusing on anything past 100 yards might be challenging

Toys are very important tools in children’s development. As such, it is very important to look for toys that are developmentally appropriate for 6-year-old boys. The selection can truly be staggering. It is for this reason that we came up with the list of the 20 best toys for 6-year-old boys.

The toys on our list were shortlisted from thousands of products that were given as gifts or presents by parents and other caregivers to children of this age. Individually, we studied the developmental appropriateness, quality of workmanship, and overall safety profile. We also looked into the reputation and trustworthiness of the toy manufacturer. Cost considerations were also factored in in coming up with the shortlist.

 

Criteria Used to Evaluate Toys for 6-Year-Old Boys

 

First-Grade Boys, Their Development, and Their Toys

The developmental milestones of children by the time they reach first grade are simply astounding. They are already capable of understanding of how certain things work in the real world. They also know that different people will already have different opinions. Children at this stage also learn that rules may be relative-–it may apply only to particular situations. They can also start expressing their feelings in greater detail. The most appropriate toys for them should be those that help facilitate the expression of their thoughts as well as help build their understanding of how things work. Moreover, toys that employ some rules may help strengthen their idea of rule-based activities.

Physically, the fine-motor skills of 6-year-old boys are exemplary. Toys that work best at this stage are those that allow them to write, draw, jump, hop, skip, and run. Additionally, toys that help establish balance and coordination are also helpful.

Six-year-old boys now start planning their role-play. Make-believe play still makes up a great portion of their playtime activities but it is now becoming more structured, often with a goal in mind. They now have a better idea of how the real-world operates and this is reflected in their drawings and their interpretations of the different activities they are going to perform. It is therefore important to provide toys that are as realistically close to the actual thing or object to help them make the association.

In addition to these, the language and speech of 6 year olds are already well-developed. They can begin writing and learning the rules of grammar. This helps them communicate better with their peers which becomes the foundation for excellent emotional and social health. This makes toys that help facilitate the development of these skills very important.

Entertainment and Educational Value
Our evaluators considered attention spans and creative abilities of first-grade boys in their consideration of the toys listed above. The ones that made our list are multi-purpose: they can be played with in different ways (thus stretching out the novelty factor)–alone or with friends–as well as used to teach social skills or put into practice things they are learning at school. This is important for those who want to get as much value as possible from their toy purchases.

Boosting Brainpower and Boy Power
The selected toys encourage doing, thinking and moving. First-graders are still rookies in their educational careers and are learning how to balance school, home, and perhaps even sports activities. Well-suited toys can help bolster the both motor skills and communicative skills of 6 year olds without adding to the pressure of structured learning requirements because they are able to play at their leisure.

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) recommends that 6- to 8-year-olds engage in a minimum of one hour of physical exertion each day. The CDC also suggests that parents make time to play with their kids and restrict TV watching/use of electronic devices to two hours or less. Age-appropriate toys help families meet those recommendations.

Social Interaction
In the first-grade, children are working on social skills such as practicing patience, being assertive, admitting mistakes, coming up with solutions, performing tasks without adult supervision, and expressing emotion (without becoming emotional). Group play is an opportunistic time to sharpen these important life skills.

Young boys in particular tend to learn the most about social interaction while physically doing something with others. While girls love to connect by huddling around conversation, most boys would rather huddle around a football. Post-kindergarten boys thrive on action, whether trying to outdo one another through competition or forming a pack to accomplish a feat as a team, they like to channel their energy into movement. They enjoy competition and the chance to prove proficiency and prowess. When boys race cars, play darts, have shooting contests, or throw a ball around with their buddies, they are doing more than just entertaining themselves. They are taking turns, trying to win, learning how to lose, holding each other accountable to rules (or making a case for doing away with them), and, most of all, developing friendships.

Choosing the best toys for 6-year-old boys can really be a challenging feat especially if you take into consideration the fact that there are literally thousands of toys in the market. It is with optimism, nevertheless, that our list of the 20 best will be of excellent use in your search for the perfect gift for your 6 year old.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: My 6-year-old is crazy about LEGOs! How can I get him plugged in with other kids who share his passion?

A: Many libraries offer LEGO clubs that meet one or more times each month and provide the opportunity for like-minded kids to build, create, and explore ideas together. Check with your local library to see if they have one your son can join. If not, ask the librarian what it would take to get a club going, or consider hosting one in your home. LEGO also offers a free magazine subscription for the LEGO fan in your life.

Q: What are some fun accessories that I can buy to go with the Big League Blaster Gun?

A: Amazon sells refill dart packs (starting at $7.99), soft bullet targets (starting at $8.99), and a tactical vest kit ($19.99).

Q: My son is on the autism spectrum and therefore has a different timeline for developmental milestones. What are your toy recommendations for him?

A: Manufacturers such as Calm Focused and Tangle Creations offer some great toy options for kids with sensory and focus challenges. Please check out this list for our specific recommendations for children on the autism spectrum.

Q: Does the RASTAR Ferrari come in other colors?

A: It comes in red and yellow. You can message the Amazon seller to specify color choice.

Q: What is the average amount people spend on gifts for children?

A: It’s hard to nail down a precise dollar amount, but experts on gift-giving etiquette seem to agree that $20 to $25 per child is an appropriate range in most cases.

Consider the following before you start shopping:

• The closer you are to the child, the more likely you are (and want!) to spend more.
• Look at your budget and consider setting aside some funds to be used strictly for presents throughout the year.
• What feels right to you? Sometimes it’s just worth spending a few extra dollars on a gift that you absolutely know will be well-loved, is a perfect fit for that super-special kiddo in your life, or is likely to help him/her in some way. On the other hand, if you aren’t completely familiar with a child’s personality and unique needs, it’s probably not the best idea to break the budget by buying something that’s popular, but expensive. Just because everyone else has it doesn’t mean that it’s right for the particular kid for whom you’re shopping.

Bottom line: It’s not the cost, but rather the correctness of the gift that makes the difference.

Other Age Ranges

1 Years Old
2 Years Old
3 Years Old
4 Years Old
5 Years Old
7 Years Old
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