The 8 Best Gifts for 6-Year-Old Boys in 2019

From the active to the imaginative these are the toys to purchase

By Julie Ryan Evans

Updated 06/20/19

hot-wheels
Courtesy of Amazon
Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our review process here. We may receive commissions on purchases made from our chosen links.

Our Top Picks

Best for Little Adventurers: Little Pretender Walkie Talkies at Amazon

"Impressive power with three channels and a two-mile range."

Best for Kids Who Love Robots: Thinkgizmos Remote Robot at Amazon

"Command the robot to walk, talk, turn, aim and fire foam disks."

Best Classic Toy: Foam Strike Sling Shot at Amazon

"Safe and easy to use, this little launcher still has some serious power."

Best Outdoor Toy: Skywalker Trampolines Round Trampoline at Amazon

"This bouncer will be with you for the long haul."

Best for Kids Who Love Cars: Hot Wheels Criss Cross Track at Amazon

"Comes with more than 16 feet of track and forms figure-eight loops."

Best for Sports Fans: Game Zone Baseball Game at Amazon

"This fun tabletop game provides all the thrills of baseball."

Best for Budding Scientists: Magic Science Kit at Amazon

"Will teach him some of the science behind the magic at the same time."

Best for Little Builders: Fort Boards Kids Fort Building Kit at Amazon

"Comes with 44 boards (8 x 8 inches) and 46 connectors."

  • 01 of 08

    Best for Little Adventurers: Little Pretender Walkie Talkies for Kids

    Excellent

    Breaker 1-9, here’s a great gift for a 6-year-old boy. Whether he’s playing cops and robbers, immersed in a spying game or out on any other imaginative mission, these walkie talkies will deliver his message in top secret fashion.

    While they’re made specifically for kids with a special ergonomic design that fits well in little hands, they also boast some pretty impressive power with three channels (enough for flipping fun, but not too many to be confusing) and a two-mile range.

    Each set comes with two walkie talkies that feature a call alert function, a flashlight and a belt clip for on-the-go fun.They can be used inside or out, and are sure to inspire lots of active and creative play. They can also be used for practical purposes such as when mom needs to call him for dinner. Note that each unit requires three AAA batteries, which aren’t included. 

    Little Pretender Walkie Talkies Review
  • 02 of 08

    Best for Kids Who Love Robots: Thinkgizmos Remote Control Robot

    Very Good

    “Greetings, Master, I await your command.” What little boy doesn’t dream of hearing those words? With the press of a button on the remote, he can command the robot to walk, talk, turn, aim and fire foam disks from his chest, or even bust a move and dance. This robot can do pretty much everything but make the bed. To really up the wow factor, the robot can be also programmed ahead of time to move and fire on his own. Ambush attack!

    The robot comes with 12 easy-to-load disks in a variety of colors, and replacement discs can be purchased separately. It does take six AA batteries, which aren’t included, so you want to have some on hand as he’s going to want to rip this one out of the box and start using it right away.

    RoboShooter Robot Toy Review
  • 03 of 08

    Best Classic Toy: Foam Strike Sling Shot

    Very Good

    A boy and a sling shot, what could wrong? Nothing with this safe, soft version. It will give him all the thrill of pulling back the sling, aiming and firing, without any worries about broken windows or worse. While it’s safe and easy to use, this little launcher still has some serious power. It can launch its ammo—1 ½" foam balls—up to 60 feet!

    This set comes with one sling shot and four foam balls (extra balls can be purchased separately). It can be used indoors or out, and is a great way to keep little ones active as they shoot and retrieve balls all day. You can set up targets for an extra challenge, or find a friend with one and wage an all-out (friendly) war. This set comes at a great price, too!

    Foam Strike Slingshot Review
  • 04 of 08

    Best Outdoor Toy: Skywalker Trampolines Round Bouncer Trampoline with Enclosure

    If he's got a lot of energy or you want him to be a bit more active this trampoline with enclosure takes the cake. Recommended for children three to seven and with a weight limit of 100 pounds, this bouncer will be with you for the long haul.

    The enclosure prevents gaps from occurring which is where a lot of injuries have happened in the past. It also uses stretch bands instead of springs so little fingers don't get caught. It measures 48 x 48 x 56 inches so it is perfectly sized for one kiddo without taking up a ton of real estate. 

    Check out our other reviews of the best trampolines available on the market today.

    Continue to 5 of 8 below.
  • 05 of 08

    Best for Kids Who Love Cars: Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash Track Set

    hot-wheels-criss-cross
    Courtesy of Walmart

    Gentlemen, start your engines. This Hot Wheels Criss Cross Crash Track Set comes with more than 16 feet of track and forms figure-eight loops for a dizzying race to the finish line. A car feeder feature allows him to load his cars and send them soaring.

    To up the stakes even more, there are motorized boosters and a giant crash zone for a bang-up good time. One Hot Wheels vehicle is included, but you’ll want to add more for maximum racing action. When assembled, the track measures 2.8 x 24 x 15 inches—plenty of room for racing without taking up too much space. Plus—mom and dad will appreciate the parking spaces throughout the track for storing all the race cars when the final flag of the day has been waved.

  • 06 of 08

    Best for Sports Fans: Game Zone Super Stadium Baseball Game

    Take him out to the ballgame with this realistic indoor baseball game. This fun tabletop game provides all the thrills of baseball without having to leave the house.

    A spring-loaded hitter starts the game by taking his turn at bat. The pitcher selects a pitch using a lever. Will it be a curve ball, a slider, sinker or a fastball—any are possible. The batter then swings to send the ball (hopefully) flying, then runs as magnetized infielders try to field the ball and get him out.

    Made for one or two players, it’s a great way to learn the mechanics of the game or use your knowledge to strategize and win. The set comes with a bat, pitcher, three base runners and seven fielders. There’s also a score sheet, score pins and an instruction manual—everything needed for great game so realistic he’ll swear he can hear the crowd roaring. He will have to bring his own peanuts and Cracker Jacks though.

  • 07 of 08

    Best for Budding Scientists: Scientific Explorer Magic Science for Wizards Only Kit

    For the mad little scientist wanting to explore the magical world around him, this science kit is a perfect fit. Part magic kit, part chemistry set, it will help him mystify and amaze his family and friends, while actually teaching him some of the science behind the magic at the same time.

    It comes with a whole bunch of really complex sounding chemicals like polyacrylate copolymer, red cabbage powder and zinc sulfide, but they’re all kid-friendly and won’t blow up his lab. There are also test tubes, a wand, measuring scoops and other materials needed to create the magic.

    Some tricks he can perform include making a feverish fizz of bubbling frothy foam and making a test tube crystal ball that lets him see into the future. (We predict he’ll see himself writing an extra enthusiastic thank you note for this gift).

    There are nine activities in all, each one cooler than the next. Be ready to be amazed.

  • 08 of 08

    Best for Little Builders: Fort Boards Prime Pack - Kids Fort Building Kit

    No more couch cushions and blankets over the dining room table to make a makeshift fort, this set of fort boards will help him build the fort of his dreams. The set comes with 44 boards (8 x 8 inches) and 46 connectors for amazing building capacity. Plans are included for cars, houses, submarines and castles, but his imagination is the only limit to the things he can build with these boards.

    The pieces can be snapped together at 30, 60, 90 and 180-degree angles and are easily taken apart (breaking them apart is almost as fun as building them!), so they can build and rebuild over and over again. Not only will they love building their own private lairs, but it’s a great learning activity that promotes STEM skills as well as creativity. Additional sets can be added to make bigger creations as well. Now, if only they’ll let you in on the building fun. 

Products Tested by

How We Tested

We bought three top-rated gifts for 6-year-old boys and our reviewers (and their kids) tested them for six hours. We asked our testers to consider the most important features when using these gifts, from their entertainment value to their durability. We’ve outlined the key takeaways here so that you, too, know what to look for when shopping.

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. There are action-oriented toys that work on major motor skills or options for improving precision and aim. Either way, any 6-year-old will enjoy a gift that gives him a reason to run, jump, or get active during playtime.

Imagination At the age of 6, most boys 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? 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. 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.

Test Results: Little Pretender Walkie Talkies for Kids (Best for Little Adventurers)

Excellent

What We Like

  • Easy to use

  • Clear sound quality

  • Flashlight feature

What We Don't Like

  • No volume control

  • Wish it came in other colors

These walkie-talkies were a hit with one of our testers because they were easy to use and their sound quality was “clear with no static.” One reviewer also noted that they had a “fun built-in flashlight.” In terms of negatives, our testers didn’t like that there was no way to control the volume, and one reviewer wished there were more color options.

Test Results: Thinkgizmos Remote Control Robot Fires Discs, Dances, Talks - Super Fun RC Robot (Best for Kids Who Love Robots)

Very Good

What We Like

  • Entertaining

  • Kid-friendly materials

  • Discs shoot fast

What We Don't Like

  • Very loud

  • Cheap-looking packaging

One of our testers observed that her children loved using this kid-friendly toy: “The discs shoot far and fast which was exciting for my son,” she explained. “It’s also great that the discs are soft so I didn't have to worry about them accidentally hitting his younger brother.” On the other hand, one reviewer didn’t like that the toy was “very loud,” and also that its packaging “felt cheap and made the toy feel less special.”

Test Results: Foam Strike Sling Shot (Best Classic Toy)

Very Good

What We Like

  • Easy to use

  • Entertaining

  • Balls soft and kid-friendly

What We Don't Like

  • Made with cheap plastic

  • Some balls arrived dented

This toy was easy for kids to set up themselves, noted one of our testers. One reviewer also thought it was kid-friendly and entertaining: “The balls are soft and made of foam so we don't have to worry about injuries,” she explained, “and they go far!” The downsides? Our testers thought that the frame was made of cheap plastic, and one reviewer reported that when the toy arrived, some of the balls were already dented.