The 34 Best Gifts for 6-Year-Olds

When my older son was about 6, he became fixated on the idea of building his own robot. We signed him up for a one-time robot-building class at a local makerspace, and he came home with an adorable little robot crab that could successfully skitter across the dining room table, intelligently sensing the edge and reversing course. It wasn’t until years later that I realized this beloved mini bot was actually from a simple, inexpensive set, the 4M KidzRobotix Table Top Robot, which we could have easily bought ourselves. We’ve lost a couple of this little guy’s legs, but the robot crab is still active and displayed with pride on a shelf in my son’s room. We were later given the Tin Can Robot, made by the same company. That was also a fun project, but the robotic results were less satisfying, and the crab remains my son’s favorite.

—Kalee Thompson

When Keewa Nurullah’s son received a Puzzle Huddle puzzle, it was a special moment. “It’s such an awesome representation for kids of color,” said Nurullah, owner of the children’s shop Kido Chicago. This company’s puzzles range from 15 to 200 pieces. And they feature Black children as doctors, astronauts, and other professions, including scientists, as with the Chemistry Girl Puzzle. These puzzles help to increase the visibility of Black people in prestigious careers—and they present a fun and appropriate challenge for most children this age.

—Kelly Glass

The delightful Where’s Waldo? Deluxe Anniversary Edition features Martin Handford’s sprawling drawings and, of course, Waldo, dressed in his signature red-and-white stripes and tucked amid the scenery. Other characters—Waldo’s dog, Woof (but only his tail), his friend Wenda, and his foe Odlaw—are also craftily hidden within the scenes. Waldo addresses readers (aka Waldo fans, Waldo watchers, and so on) with a postcard on each spread, and then the fun begins. When my almost-6-year-old and I sat down to search, we got lost in the pages, sometimes finding Waldo immediately and other times not locating him at all. Handford’s illustrations are terrific, packed with enough wacky detail, bustling energy, and stripes to throw off even the most sharp-eyed Waldo spotter. For the truly ambitious, each scene has a foldout panel with a checklist of even more items to find.

—Ingrid Skjong

This silly but tricky card-stacking game is perfect to play in pairs or with a group of friends. To build a tower, players take turns carefully stacking L-shaped “wall” cards and flat “roof” cards. The challenge lies in following the symbols on the cards, which show players how to place the walls and when to move the wooden rhino figure to the upper story—with the card tower becoming more unstable as it grows taller and taller. The game is over when a player successfully places all of their roof cards or makes the tower topple. Rhino Hero offers both easy and expert modes (the latter one requires players to place the cards in more-challenging, less-stable configurations), so this game can grow along with your children’s skills. Rhino Hero is a favorite from our guide to the board games we love for kids.

—Courtney Schley

Homemade scratch paper is a thing. But if DIY isn’t for you, choose one of Scratch and Sketch’s activity books. Available in an assortment of themes, such as Wild Safari and Fashion Show, the books are filled with surprises. Unicorn Adventure allows kids to either trace along with the story or doodle on blank pages with a wooden stylus, revealing multicolored swirls or gold and silver glitter. (Other titles aren’t traceable, but they encourage duplicating basic drawings.) We’ve found that kids will spend hours working on the pages, including on airplane trips.

—Ingrid Skjong

It’s gooey, squishy, stretchy, and brightly colored. It’s slime, and if your kid is 6, there’s a good chance they love it. You can buy this Play-Doh Slime Variety 6-Pack (with different slime textures, including traditional and super-stretchy). Many kids (including mine) prefer to make their own slime, since creating can be part of the fun. We’ve enjoyed the slime kits from Cra-Z-Art, and this current Nickelodeon Stress Less Slime kit includes everything you need to make lemon and lavender slime.

—Kelly Glass

The Sleeping Queens Card Game involves a mix of math, memory, strategy, deduction, and luck, and it’s ideal for kids who are 6 and up. In fact, this fast-paced card game was actually invented by a 6-year-old, who reportedly couldn’t get to sleep because her brain was too busy brewing up the concept (her parents then helped her complete the vision). The cards feature appealing drawings of royal characters, with whimsical, unconventional personas (the Pancake Queen, the Tie-Dye King). These characters have fallen under a sleeping spell, and players must wake them up by using the right combination of cards. Endlessly replayable, Sleeping Queens is subtly educational yet mostly just fun.

—Caitlin Giddings

The Tulip One-Step Tie-Dye Party Kit is meant to supply enough materials for a group to tie-dye together, but I like that one or two kids can get a lot of mileage and experimentation out of it too (with some grown-up supervision). The little plastic bin comes packed with squeeze bottles in 14 vibrant colors, along with gloves, rubber bands, and some step-by-step directions for achieving different effects. (Garments are not included.) New to tie-dying? Check out this guide for some helpful pointers.

—Winnie Yang

For crafty little ones, the Made by Me Easy-to-Knot Quilt Making Kit is a substantial gift for a modest price. After a couple of hours and a few dozen knots, 24 fabric squares (included) transform into an adorable blanket that’s display-worthy and large enough for kids to sleep under. (The kit comes with a variety of stick-on icons and decals that kids can use to personalize their creations.) Because making this quilt requires no needles or glue, most kids can complete it independently once they’ve learned the ropes. Although the kit is designed for kids who are 6 and up, parents of some younger, craft-adept kids may find it age-appropriate, too, and the repetitive knotting helps kids practice fine motor skills. Multiple kits can combine to make a supersize quilt, like the one my daughter created for herself.

—Nancy Redd

When my son was about 6, my mom taught him how to play the dominoes game Mexican Train. It was truly a full-circle moment, since it’s been my extended family’s go-to vacation activity for more than 20 years. Players build their “train” by matching the number of dots on one end of a domino to the number of dots on the preceding tile. They can also start another line of tiles—a “Mexican train”—that all players can use. (Note that the name of the game has murky origins, but apparently it has nothing to do with Mexicans or actual trains.) The winner is the first one to get rid of all their tiles. Watching my son strategize how he’s going to lay out his tiles always blows my mind. The Cardinal Classics Mexican Train Dominoes Deluxe Set says it’s for players age 8 and up, but my child took to it right away. It comes with a set of dominoes, a carrying case, a starter station, and nine different-colored little choo-choos to mark each player’s train of tiles. All aboard!

—Amy Miller Kravetz

Perler’s Fused Bead Kit is a great rainy-day activity for kids who have the focus and fine motor skills to pick up tiny beads with an oversize pair of tweezers. It’s simple: Junior crafters place the colorful beads on the pegboard to make animal designs (or they can get creative with their own patterns). Fusing the beads requires the help of a grown-up with an iron, but the bulk of the activity is solitary, self-directed fun. This kit includes 5,000 beads, five pegboards, 12 googly eyes, and one sheet of reusable ironing paper, plus instructions and tweezers. If you want to beef up your bead supply for cheap, add this set from IKEA to your collection.

—Caitlin Giddings

When my daughter joined our family yoga practice, this 60-inch Gaiam Kids Yoga Mat was the perfect accompaniment. (It’s technically recommended for kids who are 5 to 8, but my daughter started using it at 3. And she had no trouble rolling it out next to my mat, where she loved trying poses on its grippy, textured surface.) The mat is 3 millimeters thick, so it’s a little less cushy yet lighter and easier to roll than Wirecutter’s adult yoga mat picks. And it’s made of the same rubber-free polyvinyl chloride (PVC) as Gaiam’s adult version. This mat has survived more than a year of tiny yogi feet, with no signs of wear or fading to the cute pattern.

—Caitlin Giddings

I have yet to meet a person—of any age—who hasn’t been beguiled by Rat-A-Tat-Cat. (And if I do, let’s hope we don’t find ourselves cooped up together on a rainy day.) Like many of the best games, this one is deceptively simple: Each player is dealt four cards, ranging in value from zero to 9. With every turn, the goal is to trade your high-number cards for lower-number ones. When you’re confident that your combined score is the lowest in the bunch, you knock on the table—drama is encouraged here—and declare “Rat-A-Tat Cat!” to signal the end of the round. Since the rounds go quickly, we usually keep a tally, and the first player to hit 100 is out. You can make the game easier by increasing the number of cards that appear face-up, which requires less memory. My husband and I initially started playing that way for the benefit of our son, and we quickly realized that it was our own feeble, time-ravaged brains that needed the crutch.

—Ingela Ratledge Amundson

Hey Clay is a high-quality modeling clay that comes with app-based instructions, allowing young kids to create some truly adorable critters. Each kit includes 18 mini canisters of soft, brightly colored, non-sticky clay that’s foamy and flexible yet firm enough to produce cartoony, detailed creations. (The kits come in several versions, including Dinos, and Bugs, each with different instructions and color combinations.) A Hey Clay kit “allows young children an intro to professional clay-molding techniques,” said Ann Kienzle, owner of Play, a children’s toy shop in Chicago. Kids can mold on their own, or you can download the accompanying app, which includes lively, step-by-step visual tutorials for creating specific animals or creatures. The straightforward voice instructions have fun sound effects, and they will guide your young artist through each step; kids can also learn age-appropriate art techniques, such as making textures and sculpting facial features. The clay hardens fully in 24 hours, creating a permanent work of art that’s officially ready for play.

—Kelly Glass

Even when my son is skipping or running 4 feet ahead of me, he always manages to stop and spot a ladybug crawling on a plant or notice a new patch of grass cropping up in an unusual place. Nature slows him down, in a good way, so a terrarium, like the Uptown Farmer Dinosaur Night Light Terrarium, was the perfect gift for him. As we unpacked our kit, we discussed the little ecosystem we were about to grow. And he was unusually patient about waiting the several days it took for the chia and wheatgrass seeds (both included) to sprout. The kit’s instructions are simple enough for many 6-year-olds to follow independently, with some oversight: You layer the soil, rocks, sand, and seeds, and then you spray the surface with water. While my son waited for the first sprouts to appear, I enjoyed watching him gently water and turn his mini greenhouse toward the sun each day. The terrarium doubles as a night-light, and my son likes the colorful stars and moon it projects onto his ceiling at bedtime. Once the grasses have outgrown their space, we can replant them outside, purchase replacement seeds and soil, and do it all over again. Uptown Farmer Kids also makes mushroom- (currently unavailable) and unicorn-themed terrariums.

—Kelly Glass

I’ve brought my kids to meetings and community gatherings since birth, and when they’re bored, it’s hard on all of us. I found one way to keep them entertained: Wikki Stix. Made of yarn and covered in food-grade wax, these sticks have brought hours of imaginative fun. (Sensory warning: Little ones who are sensitive to textures may not like the feeling of the wax on first contact.) At ages 4 and 7, my children used Wikki Stix to make flowers and stick people, but they can also be used to practice letters and numbers and to make 3D figures. I appreciate how economical they are, since they can be reused and applied to any surface (with easy cleanup). With nearly 500 stix, the Big Count Box ensures you won’t run out for a while, even if you have multiple kids. There are also other options, like the Numbers & Counting Cards–themed box (to help with foundational math skills) and the Wikki Fun…For Seniors kit (for multi-generational fun). There’s even a Super Wikki Stix option, with sticks that are each 3 feet long!

—A. Rochaun Meadows-Fernandez

These are far from the most practical slippers. But they are far and away the most fun. Lazy One’s Animal Paws come in close to a dozen styles, from black bear, to dino, to tiger, to whatever imaginary pink creature your kid would love to be most. My own kid has been lurking around in hidden corners of our home in his shaggy Yeti paws for the better part of a year now, and they’ve held up well. The slippers are soft and not at all sturdy, but they do have little plastic bumps on the soles, for slip resistance, and they’re machine washable. They’re sized to fit the entire family, just in case you want to look and act like a sloth of hibernating bears.

—Kalee Thompson

Just as its name suggests, Fat Brain Toys’ Box & Balls consists of eight nesting wooden boxes and eight bouncy balls. They can be arranged in numerous configurations for games requiring a creative eye and a steady hand. Note, however, that this set requires some preliminary preparation to fully enjoy it: If a kid jumps in without orienting themselves, they’ll be underwhelmed. Before getting started, carefully look over the game ideas printed on each box (they have names like “Long Shot” and “Up and Over”). Once your kid finds the games they like and grasps how to play them, they’re in for some good old-fashioned fun (they can also make up their own games). I particularly appreciate the open-ended play the set encourages. I can see my son’s wheels turning as he decides on the setup that will result in musical, xylophone-like sounds when the balls bounce squarely off the boxes.

—Kelly Glass

By age 6, kids likely have a favorite building toy, whether it’s Lego, Magna-Tiles, or classic wooden blocks. But the tiny, colorful Plus-Plus pieces offer kids something a bit different. They have a unique, puzzle-piece-like shape (as the name suggests, each one looks like two plus signs). And kids manipulate them into just about anything, from tiny figures to towering plinths. Ann Kienzle, owner of Play in Chicago, said that due to their versatile nature, these pieces are a good fit for creative young minds. Kids can puzzle together flat works of art or engineer three-dimensional constructions. Plus-Plus sells project-based kits (for building rocket ships, making jewelry, and more) as well as open-ended sets. We think the Plus-Plus Super Tube—which stands over 3 feet tall and is filled with 500 pieces—is likely to impress a young builder. (Note that the Plus-Plus pieces are tiny—about ½ by ¾ inch—and could pose a choking hazard for younger children.)

—Kelly Glass

What’s not to love about a disco ball? The Luditek Disco Ball Light pair can sit on a table or be mounted on a wall, giving you all the multicolor-light goodness of a classic disco ball without the huge hanging sphere and spotlights. The set even has sound-activated modes to pulse along with the beat of your kid’s favorite songs. And you can use the included remote to change the lamps’ light colors, patterns, and speed. (Note: Steer clear if you’re choosing a gift for a kid who has seizures or photosensitivity.)

—Dan Frakes

The ThinkFun Roller Coaster Challenge is a puzzle that, when put together correctly, doubles as a working roller coaster. “The game gets kiddos working with their hands, thinking sequentially and logically, [and] problem-solving,” said Jena Olson, president of the STEM educational nonprofit Kid Spark Education at the time of our interview. “It’s also fun for grown-ups, which results in greater STEM learning due to having a mentor with the child.” Strong readers who are up for the challenge can try following one of the 40 instruction cards by themselves. Or they can play with an adult or simply use their imagination to construct roller coasters of their own design. The true test comes when a kid places the roller-coaster car on the tracks. Does it make it all the way down? Let the experimentation begin.

—Kelly Glass

Featuring the tiny, popular robotic insect called the Hexbug Nano, Ravensburger’s Bugs in the Kitchen is a fast-paced board game that’s all about strategy and speed. Each player (up to four) chooses a corner as their bug trap. The game board is set up like a maze, with rotatable barriers in the shape of forks, knives, and spoons. Players take turns rolling a die to determine which utensils they can rotate, creating a path to trap the Hexbug in their corner and thereby winning the round. All the while, the automated Hexbug scuttles and jitters randomly across the board. Winning the game requires forward thinking (planning out which maze pieces to turn) as well as quick reactions (to the constantly moving Hexbug). Shelley Simon, formerly the purchasing manager at Dr. G’s BrainWorks in Champaign, Illinois, recommends this game for 6-year-olds because it’s silly on the surface but teaches strategy. So it’s a new challenge for the big kid moving away from purely luck-based board games. (We also recommend a pack of Hexbugs in our gift guide for 3-year-olds).

—Kelly Glass

I got my son his first Hanna Andersson Faux Shearling Hoodie when he was in preschool, then bought him a new version every year for the next decade. The outside is made with a super-soft sweatshirt material; the inside is a yummy faux shearling. (Why Hanna Andersson doesn’t make a version of this for adults, as it does with its pajamas, I’ll never understand; size 12 is the max.) This hoodie is very toasty—my son would use it to forego a proper coat well into the winter months—yet not overly bulky, so it can still be layered under a jacket without creating a Michelin-Man effect. Not one of our many Hanna zip-ups ever got a hole or a rip, despite enthusiastic use, and I was never tempted to shop around for alternatives. (Plus, they go on sale frequently.)

The patterns of the Faux Shearling Hoodie change each season, but the quality and coziness stay the same. Though the annual offerings typically start to go out of stock by early spring, it's no cause for alarm—they always come back like clockwork. And if you want something to tide you over, my family has also had good luck with Hanna Andersson's warm-weather hoodies, like this Striped Loop Terry Zip Up Hoodie. Lightweight, absorbent, and pleasantly spongey, it feels like the kind of timeless yet nostalgic piece that could brighten up a beach vacation in any era.

—Ingela Ratledge Amundson

It’s reasonable to question why a kid needs their own camping chair when most adult versions will work just fine. But in my experience, when kids have special pieces of gear just for them, they get excited about spending a night in the woods. When our daughter was only 1, my husband and I bought her the REI Co-op Camp Chair - Kids’ for practical reasons—we didn’t have three camping chairs. But this chair, Wirecutter’s favorite kids camping chair, has turned out to be one of my top camping purchases. Our daughter is always excited to set it up and sit in it—preferably in front of the fire, with a stick and marshmallow in hand. And the lightweight chair (just 4 pounds) is constructed of sturdy steel, shows almost no sign of wear after five seasons of use, and has a beverage pocket large enough to hold a water bottle. My favorite part is a detail I wish every adult chair had: an integrated strap that, when clipped, keeps the chair folded and doubles as a shoulder strap.

—Rachel Hurn

A family friend attached Surfer's The Original Stand Up Surfing Swing to their playscape last year, and our pack of high-energy little ones descended on it in a frenzy. Essentially just a sturdy wooden skateboard deck with ropes and handles attached, this swing offers kids two options: Sit on it, for a mellow, relaxing ride, or do what any junior thrill-seeker would do, and stand on the board to rock it to great heights. You can control the ride’s intensity by mounting the swing to a standard swing set (for younger kids) or to a tree (for older daredevils). The included 60-foot rope is long enough to hang this swing from a 15-foot tree branch (10 to 15 feet is the optimum height; anything over 20 feet is considered “extreme”). And this swing is easy to hang without a ladder (you attach a weighted object to the rope and toss it over a branch; consult this demonstration video on YouTube).

—Caitlin Giddings

If your child is wild about a particular athlete, wearing their jersey is the ultimate tribute. After scouring eBay, we scored a vintage Vince Carter Toronto Raptors jersey for my basketball-loving son. He wears it at every opportunity, and he even gets fist bumps from strangers in the street who are fellow fans. If you prefer new items, you can purchase official jerseys from your favorite team. But we’ve found that pre-owned youth jerseys are available on eBay for most teams in every major-league sport—usually at a fraction of the cost.

When going the eBay route, you’ll want to choose a seller with high customer ratings and lots of previous transactions in their history. Also, the item listing should show four to five photos of the jersey at different angles, and it should disclose whether there’s any visible damage or wear and tear. (Check the seller’s return policy, too, in case there are any discrepancies once the shirt arrives.) Concerned about the jersey’s authenticity? Check what year the seller claims the jersey is from, since they vary over time, and do a quick Google Images search to make sure that it’s a match. From there, prices and sizes depend on availability and demand (we paid about $40 for my son’s Vince Carter jersey, but it’s now going for $60). A good rule of thumb is that if you can find an adult jersey, the youth version should be a bit cheaper; at the time of publication, the same Vince Carter jersey in an adult size is currently selling for $250 on eBay.

—Lara Rabinovitch

KiwiCo’s Kiwi Crate, appropriate for kids ages 5 to 8, was our favorite of the boxed projects we tested for our guide to the best kids craft subscription boxes. Our kid testers found the included activities engaging, and their parents thought they were clever. Parents also appreciated that some projects—like the mini pinball machine we tested—could be played with after they were made, thereby reducing useless craft clutter around the house. Rather than concentrating on traditional crafts, the kits focus on hands-on activities that explore science, technology, engineering, art, and math (an educational approach known as STEAM, which helps foster skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving). For example, one kit used acids and bases to make art; another gave kids the materials to make a glow worm, so they learned about phosphorescence. We found that lower-elementary-age kids needed an adult’s help with many projects, which overall we judged to be both appropriately challenging and original.

—Jackie Reeve

From fuzzy rainbow hearts to a simple yet distinctive strawberry-and-mint color block (pictured above), the State Bags Kane Kids pack is a practical yet high-style gift for an elementary-school kid. (It’s a pick in our guide to the best kids backpacks for school.) State Kids’ patterns and prints feel more modern and sophisticated than those of backpacks typically geared toward children. And this durable, 12-liter pack also offers plenty of space and a panel of pockets to organize a child’s favorite little things.

—Ellen Lee

We got my daughter a Micro Maxi scooter when she was around 6, and it quickly became as much a transportation tool as a plaything. She rides her scooter all around our hometown of Philadelphia, often for several miles at a stretch, as we go to parks or on other outdoor excursions. The scooter’s large, smooth-rolling wheels, durable build, responsive steering, and easy-to-reach foot brake in the rear allow her to navigate city sidewalks and crossings safely and confidently. She also has plenty of fun zooming around the playground or joining neighbors for scooter rallies around our block. The Maxi is Wirecutter’s pick for the best kids scooter. And I’m confident it’ll last us for many years, growing along with my daughter until she’s well into her preteens and beyond (the scooter can carry 110 pounds, and the adjustable handlebar can accommodate a rider up to 5-foot-3). The Micro Maxi is also available in a foldable version (with LED lights), which is convenient for storing or toting around. You can see the full range of options on the Micro website.

—Courtney Schley

While it has three wheels, the Razor RipRider 360 isn’t a typical tricycle, because it likely won’t work for kids under age 6, due to the height required to reach the pedals. But it’s not a pedal bike, either. Instead, it’s a low rider with one large, rubber front wheel and two scooter-esque back wheels, which drift from side to side as a child pedals. The older kids in our tricycle and balance bike testing group loved racing it up and down the street, and one Wirecutter editor watched her 6-year-old burst into giggles as he picked up speed and leaned into turns.

—Jenni Gritters

The L.L.Bean Sonic Snow Tube offers the fastest, smoothest, and longest ride of all the snow toys we tested for our guide to the best sleds. Unlike most inner-tube-style sleds, the Sonic has a hard-shell bottom, allowing the rider to glide effortlessly over bumps and icy patches. Thanks to this sled’s easy-to-grasp tow strap, even young sledders can haul it back to the top of the hill. The Sonic is easy to inflate, doesn’t lose any air, and is just as good on icy snow as it is on fluffy powder. The one real hitch is the high price. But considering the sled’s overall quality—not to mention the hours upon hours of fun multiple Wirecutter families have had with this thing—we think it’s worth the price for people who sled regularly. The tube comes in large or extra-large and in six different fabric patterns.

—Doug Mahoney

An annual membership to a local natural history museum, zoo, or aquarium is a gift that encourages family bonding. It also supports children’s developing interests in specific subjects or critters. My son had already been fascinated by sea creatures—especially the predators of the marine bunch—when his grandmother gave him a membership to Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium for his sixth birthday. At the time, he carried one of a few shark toys with him everywhere. But visits to the aquarium—where there are over 32,000 fish, sea creatures, and other animals—gave him a real way to explore the wonder of life under the sea. Like many aquariums nationwide, the Shedd doesn’t just offer exhibits—it also provides experiences where kids can touch starfish, meet the sea otters, and even pet a penguin.

—Kelly Glass

For one day, hand your kid the reins. A Yes Day (popularized the 2021 film starring Jennifer Garner) lets your child be the boss and plan a dream day. Eating ice cream for breakfast? Yes! Bouncing up and down at a trampoline park until everyone’s legs turn to jelly? For sure! Donning purple wigs to get pedicures at the mall? You know it! To present the gift, you can make a Yes Day coupon, or draw an IOU with pictures of potential activities. It’s also helpful to plan ahead by keeping a running family wishlist, or you can set up an ideas jar, to fill during moments of inspiration. (Otherwise, when kids are suddenly faced with the prospect of near-limitless options and way too much freedom, confusion can set in.) You’ll also need to establish basic ground rules, including budget, start and end times, and geographical and other practical constraints (a private jet to Tokyo Disney would probably not be a yes). If your kid is likely to burn this golden opportunity on nonstop video games or a TV bender, you could consider instituting screen-time policies as well. But the rest is up to them. My son recently chose laser tag, blue slushies, and a trip to the video arcade for one delirious, fun-filled afternoon.

—Lara Rabinovitch

This article was edited by Ellen Lee and Kalee Thompson.