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The Spruce / Chloe Jeong
6-year-old boys have varied interests, which means that shopping for them can sometimes be difficult. Luckily, there are plenty of options out there for both active and introspective kids alike.
For the active set, bikes, scooters, and ride-on toys are great—plus help solidify coordination and motor skills, says Dr. Sanam Hafeez, a neuropsychologist in New York City. For a more low-key option, consider figurines, building blocks, LEGO sets, and other items suited for pretend play. Regardless, be sure to consider each toy's recommended age, as well as the skills it'll encourage.
Here, the best gifts for 6-year-old boys.
SPACE JAM Lebron James Ultimate Tune Squad 12-inch Action Figure
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Dimensions: 2.99 x 6.26 x 12 inches | Weight: 1.17 ounces | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 4 years and up
Voice sounds just like LeBron James
Includes basketball accessories
Packaging isn't great for collectors
The Space Jam: A New Legacy action figure looks just like LeBron James himself—the voice also sounds on point, and it even recites phrases and from the movie. LeBron comes with four accessories that attach to his body, including the ACME blocker, a basketball, basket boom, and claws. You can pose LeBron's arms and legs for extensive play.
Little Pretender Walkie Talkies for Kids
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Dimensions: 1 x 1 x 1 inches | Weight: 7.05 ounces | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 5-8 years
Clear sound over 2-mile range
Can add lines for the whole family
Fun flashlight
No volume control
The Little Pretender Walkie Talkies for kids will have your child saying, “Roger that!” with delight as they talk to friends through these sturdy and realistic units. This set gives you FRS functionality in a simple, easy-to-use design. They work well for neighborhood fun and have a 2-mile coverage range.
"The size of these walkie-talkies is ideal. Unlike others on the market, they have a small, slender design that fit perfectly in our 6-year-old son’s hands. He was also able to easily push the talk button on the side and understand the four controls on the front panel, which allowed him to power the device on and off, turn on the built-in flashlight, call, and change channels."—Kaity Velez, Product Tester
Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash Track Set
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Dimensions: 2.75 x 24 x 15 inches | Weight: 1.85 pounds | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 5-9 years
Good for one or more players
Includes more than 16 feet of track
Provides hours of fun
Box only includes one car
Motor can be loud
This Hot Wheels track features four elevated loops for car racing fun, along with multiple ‘crash zones’ for plenty of action and excitement. Motorized wheels propel cars onto the loops of the track and kids have fun guessing which cars go the distance, making many circuits before crashing. Just know that this toy can be a bit loud, thanks to the motor powering cars around the track and the crashing cars.
Treasure X Sunken Gold Treasure Ship Playset
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Dimensions: 16 x 5 x 11 inches | Weight: 1.58 pounds | Material: Not listed | Age Range: Varies
25 levels of fun and adventure
Encourages creative thinking
No batteries needed
One-time use
Kinetic sand requires clean-up
This ship has it all, from a canon to trapdoors and gold-dipped treasure at the end. Kids will love encountering different challenges as they try to rescue the captain and defeat the evil monster. There are surprises everywhere, so this toy is sure to keep their attention.
VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX
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Dimensions: 0.6 x 8.82 x 1.8 inches | Weight: 0.96 ounces | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 4-9 years
Has five games and three action challenges
Includes a camera with photo effects
Voice recorder with voice-changing effects
Alarm, timer, and stopwatch
Low screen resolution
6-year-old boys that love tech gadgets will appreciate the VTech Kidizoom Smartwatch DX. This kid-friendly version of a smartwatch features rugged construction and fun activities and games to keep kids engaged and learning.
Parents find the VTech Kidizoom to be great for getting kids excited about staying active since it has games that are played with the motion sensors. It’s also useful for keeping kids occupied on car rides or running errands without needing to bring along a larger tablet.
Mattel Minions Laugh & Chatter Otto Interactive Toy
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Dimensions: 8.5 x 8.5 x 10 inches | Weight: 1.48 pounds | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 3 years and up
Great gift for Minions fans
Shake Otto to hear him laugh and vibrate
Press hand to hear laughter and Minion Speak
Huggable plush toy for bedtime and traveling
Can be loud
This Minions toy is a fun, interactive one. Otto has more than 20 different sounds and phrases, which are activated based on how he’s moved. He even sings a lullaby and snores when he’s laid down. He comes with a stone and kids will love watching him react when it’s inserted in his pocket.
HEXBUG JUNKBOTS Dumpster Kit
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Dimensions: 3.15 x 1.18 x 1.18 inches | Weight: 8.82 ounces | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 5 years and up
Encourages STEM skills and creativity
Take apart the bots to create totally unique figures
Robots can light up and animate
Lots of small pieces
Kids are in for a surprise, literally, with this toy. The Hexbug dumpster comes with an assortment of more than 50 pieces that can be used to build mini figures or robots. The Junkbots can even be animated with the use of the included motor.
Razor A2 Kick Scooter
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Dimensions: 11.25 x 33.5 x 25.5 inches | Weight: 3.53 ounces | Material: Aluminum | Age Range: Youth
Great for outdoor play
Adjustable handlebar height
Rear brake
No power motor
Give your 6-year-old a new set of wheels with the Razor A2 Kick Scooter. This lightweight and easy-to-maneuver scooter is popular with kids of all ages. It features a wheelie bar in the back for fun moves and a shock absorber in the front for a smooth ride. The Razor A2 supports up to 143 pounds and folds up for easy storage. It's a great way to encourage kids to get outside and stay active, as they race with friends or try new moves in the driveway.
Educational Insights Design & Drill Bolt Buddies Recycling Truck
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Dimensions: 5.8 x 11 x 6 inches | Weight: 2.48 pounds | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 3-7 years
Fun and educational STEM toy
Kids can build and design truck
Packaging box is part of the toy
Box pieces can get worn easily
This STEM toy is fun and educational. Kids use the drill to build the recycling truck, which when completed, has an operational lift arm. They’ll love drilling away with the 18 bolts that are included. Also, though you typically throw away the box toys come in, not with this one. The box is actually a part of the play experience.
Flybar Foam Pogo Jumper
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Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Material: Aluminum | Age Range: 3 years and up
Adjustable handle height
Foam bottom won't harm floors
High 250-pound weight limit
Toy's squeaking noises can be loud
Provide a fun, safe way for your kid to let loose with the Flybar Foam Pogo Jumper. This compact pogo jumper features a soft foam bottom that won’t harm floors and a stretchy handle that enables kids of different heights to use it easily. It has a 250-pound weight limit, and plenty of parents have been known to give the Flybar Foam Pogo Jumper a test run.
Stomp Rocket Dueling Rockets
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Dimensions: 16 x 3.3 x 12 inches | Weight: 1.32 pounds | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 6 years and up
Fun play for backyards and parks
Fun rocket launch competition between players
Launch rockets up to 20 stories high
Only good for two players
Stomp Rocket Dueling Rockets features four rockets and dual launching pads that are designed to be stepped, stomped, and smashed by kids looking to send the rockets high overhead. The rockets themselves are soft, but can soar to great heights. While Stomp Rocket offers a single rocket launcher, the Dueling Rockets version offers the ability for two kids to play simultaneously. Many users also found the Dueling Rockets set-up to have a sturdier base and easier rocket loading system.
LEGO Classic
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Dimensions: 14.55 x 7.05 x 7.09 inches | Weight: 2.2 pounds | Material: Plastic | Age Range: Kid
Classic Legos set is great for hours of fun
Large 484-piece set comes with storage container
Great alternative to screen time
Lots of little pieces to clean up
These classic building blocks are among the most popular toys of all time, and many young boys enjoy the endless engineering and tinkering that comes with a set of Legos. This 484-piece set comes inside of a handy storage container, though don’t be surprised to find that the included bricks don’t fill the container to the brim. Instead, it allows plenty of room for your child to grow his Lego collection over the years.
Ozlife Adventure Kidz Outdoor Exploration Kit
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Dimensions: 8 x 5.3 x 3.2 inches | Weight: 14 ounces | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 3-10 years
Great for camping and hiking fun
Includes binoculars, flashlight, and more
Easy drawstring backpack
Not the most high-grade equipment
Does he love the great outdoors? Equip him for his next adventure with the Adventure Kidz Outdoor Exploration Kit. Along with a drawstring backpack, the set includes binoculars with 4x30 magnification, a crank-operated LED flashlight, a 3X magnifying glass, a compass, and a whistle on a lanyard. While the kit isn't filled with high-grade survival equipment, it’s fun and functional for a child.
Think Gizmos Take-Apart Racing Car
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Dimensions: 15.67 x 10.94 x 2.52 inches | Weight: 1.23 pounds | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 3-7 years
Kids learn to build and take apart cars
Realistic lights and sounds
Needs patience and a lot of hand-eye coordination
For young motor enthusiasts, the Think Gizmos Take-Apart Racing car is a great hands-on gift. This build-your-own-car kit is designed to be assembled by your child and includes a low-speed, battery-operated drill and 30 pieces.
While it may sound challenging for a 6-year-old, parents found it to be a fun and age-appropriate task for their child. A motion sensor allows the car to make sounds for realistic play, but you can turn this function off with a switch on the engine.
Creativity for Kids Create with Clay Dinosaurs
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Dimensions: 2.25 x 10.5 x 12.25 inches | Weight: 1.17 pounds | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 5 years and up
Helps kids learn about dinosaurs
Promotes arts and creativity
Limited amount of times clay can be used
For a budding paleontologist or any little boy that loves prehistoric action, this clay dinosaur kit from Creativity for Kids is a great activity. The kit includes three plastic dinosaur skeletons and five colors of modeling clay to bring the dinosaurs to life. The clay stays moldable for quite a long time, so your child can re-configure the dinosaurs over and over for hours of fun.
Yulu Operation Escape Board Game
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Dimensions: Not listed | Weight: Not listed | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 6 years and up
For solo and up to four players
Three escape room challenges
Great family game
Batteries not included
Challenge the mind with the Operation Escape Board Game. This logic and critical thinking game brings the excitement of an Escape Room into your living room. With three challenges to solve and varying degrees of difficulty, it appeals to children's sense of adventure.
IQ BUILDER STEM Construction Set
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Dimensions: 9.9 x 6.9 x 5.3 inches | Weight: 2.14 pounds | Material: Plastic | Age Range: All
Can make small shapes and large figures and models
Includes eBook for more ideas
Will need additional parts for bigger projects
For the little boy who loves to build, the IQ Builder STEM Construction Set provides an abundance of possibilities. This introduction to engineering set helps kids build structures and shapes with 164 pieces, including building rods in various lengths, connecting balls, and wheels. Just know that if your child really takes off with this STEM construction set, they’ll probably need to add to the initial inventory of pieces to create large-scale projects or more specialized designs.
Osmo - Detective Agency: Osmo A Search & Find Mystery
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Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 1.25 inches | Weight: 3.52 ounces | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 5-12 years
Helps kids learn geography and history
Detective game gives visual and audio clues
Not compatible with all tablets
Osmo creates interactive games that combine a hands-on board and pieces with the expansive learning opportunities available through a tablet. Compatible with an iPad or Fire Tablet, parents love how the Osmo Detective Agency game helps kids learn more about geography while using critical thinking to solve puzzles. You can easily expand your Osmo learning collection with more games once you have the base, which is sold separately.
Marvel Spider-Man Super Web Slinger
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Dimensions: 2.01 x 9.96 x 8.98 inches | Weight: 1.07 ounces | Material: Not listed | Age Range: 5 years and up
Great for fans of Spiderman
Shoots water or silly string for fun
Glove is one size and may not fit everyone
Let your 6-year-old’s imagination run wild with the Marvel Spider-Man Super Web Slinger. Simply slip on the special Spidey glove and attach the canister and holster to sling webs or spray water. The set includes a can of web fluid—which is similar to silly string. Once the canister runs out, you can buy replacements but it’s nice to know that the sprayer also works with water. This Spider-Man Super Web Slinger takes playtime to a whole new level, and parents like that it’s not necessary to keep replacing the web fluid for the glove to remain fun.
3Doodler Start Make Your Own HEXBUG Creature 3D Pen Set
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Dimensions: 8.07 x 5.75 x 2.76 inches | Weight: 10.2 ounces | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 6 years and up
Make robotic creatures
Use included motor to propel the bugs
Hours of hands-on playtime
Replacement filaments can be expensive
Creativity is the name of the game with the 3Doodler. Kids use the 3D pen to create wings, legs, and more that are then added to the insect molds. The pen doesn’t get hot, is BPA-free, and easy to use. After creating the creepy crawler of their dreams, the included motors can be used to propel the bugs forward.
Hasbro Gaming Connect 4 Game
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Dimensions: 1.61 x 10.51 x 10.98 inches | Weight: 1 pound | Material: Plastic | Age Range: 6 years and up
Great for team playing and family fun
Ready to play out of the box
Three ways to win
Pieces can get stuck in game structure
Introduce your child to a classic game for hours of fun. Hasbro’s Connect 4 is a top seller that is simple to learn but offers competitive gameplay. It’s the perfect game for keeping kids occupied on rainy days or to play with parents during a family game night. What people love most about Connect 4 for kids is that it’s ready to play out of the box and a quick round can be played in a few minutes or longer tournaments can lead to an hour or more of fun.
What to Look for in a Gift for a 6-Year-Old Boy
Action
Look for gifts that’ll keep a 6-year-old boy engaged and on the move. Starting at age 6, strength and muscle coordination begins to improve rapidly for your little one. Thus, some 6-year-olds will enjoy a gift that gives them a reason to run, jump, or get active during playtime.
Imagination
At the age of 6, boys may have an active imagination. Put their creativity to use with a toy or game that has multiple configurations or outcomes, allowing them to think outside the box and make creative decisions for themselves.
STEM skills
Who says learning can’t be fun? But to make sure your son will be really engaged in actually building the toy, studies show that you should keep gendered packaging in mind. Help your 6-year-old boy to learn more about science, technology, engineering, or math with fun gifts that teach skills in these useful areas. These are subjects sure to engage as your child is now of the age where he is developing a more mature and logical way of thinking. Many STEM toys and games involve robotics, fun chemistry experiments, or building play structures like forts while using basic principles of engineering. Just be sure to choose an age-appropriate gift and be around to give a helping hand if your child needs help mastering a certain skill.
Recommended Age
Even if a toy looks just right for the 6-year-old in your life, make sure to take a quick look at the age rating on the toy you’re considering to make sure it’s both stimulating and safe, says Kristin Morency Goldman, senior advisor of strategic communications for The Toy Association.
Why Trust The Spruce?
This article was written by Erica Puisis, a freelance writer who has written for The Spruce since 2017. To make this list, she considered each toy's level of action and STEM skills, as well as if it encourages a child's imagination.
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