The Best Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys To Entertain And Thrill Them (2024)

Table of Contents
Best Toys For 6-Year-Olds Boys, At A Glance Best Building Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys An Action-Packed Building Set From Lego Lego City Fire Station With Fire Truck A Car Track They Can Build Picasso Tiles 2-In-1 Marble Run Car Race Track Combo Fill It With Water For An Extra Dose Of Fun Playmobil Water Park With Slides An Open-Ended Set So They Can Flex Creatively K'nex Beginner 40 Model Building Set Best Educational Toys For 6-Year-Old Boy Puzzles To Encourage Empathy Inclusion Puzzle (Set Of 4) A Cooperative Family Game Gnomes At Night Help Develop Their Communication Skills Tall Tales Story Telling Board Game Best Outdoor Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys A Scooter That Will Last For Years Micro Kickboard Maxi Scooter A Familiar Favorite Stomp Rocket Original Stunt Planes A Pop-Up Swing Set Slackers Swing Line An Active Outdoor Target Game Koosh Face-Off Get Ready For The That Big Snowfall BigMouth x Squishmallows Snow Tube This Ball Bounces Out Of This World Waboba Moon Ball Best Pretend Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys They’ll Conduct Experiments To Create A Beast Beast Lab Stealth Strike Big Cat Beast Creator 'Deliver' Pies With Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo And Donatello Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Delivery Van Encourage Friendly Competition Beat The Parents A Fort That Occupies Minimal Space When Stored The Original Air Fort The Ultimate Toy For Any Hot Wheels Fan Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage A Fearsome Beast Jurassic World Dominion Therizinosaurus Best STEM Toys For 6-Year-Old Boy Learn About Anatomy Through Play Dissect-It Plus Upgraded Frog Dissection Toy Kit This Kit Combines Building And Environmental Science Craft-Tastic Nature Make A Bug Hotel A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Science Environmental Science: Oil Cleanup Best Tech Toys For 6-Year-Olds Boys Turn Their Drawings Into Real Video Games Pixicade: Mobile Game Maker How We Chose The Best Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys References

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The best toys for 6-year-old boys cater to their fledgling interests and new curiosities, whether that’s building, creating arts and crafts, playing sports or pretending to be their favorite character. “Finding toys that speak to his interests while fostering his cognitive, motor and social-emotional development is important,” says Dr. Fae Dopwell, board-certified developmental behavioral pediatrician at Pediatrix Developmental Medicine of Dallas.

In my experience, kids are even more fun to play with as they approach 6 years old and beyond. They’re able to sustain their play for longer periods of time, they’re learning how to read and think more critically, and they start to get good at board games. So much so that Mariel Benjamin, licensed clinical social worker at Mount Sinai Medical Center, suggests no longer letting kids win so you can help develop their cognitive flexibility.

So what toys should you buy to inspire him? We’ve grouped these toys and gifts for 6-year-old boys into categories to help you narrow down the best toys based on your child’s interests. Some of our favorites are Beat the Parents, an active board game that you might enjoy too and the classic Micro Kickboard Maxi, a lean-to-steer scooter to keep them moving. If you’re shopping for other kids on your list, check out the best toys for 8-year-olds and the best toys for 6-month-olds.

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Best Toys For 6-Year-Olds Boys, At A Glance

Best Building Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys

An Action-Packed Building Set From Lego

Lego City Fire Station With Fire Truck

According to Dr. Dopwell, a lot of 6-year-old boys like to build—and this checks out after a quick scan of our own playrooms. What better way to build than with a classic: Lego. This set has over 800 pieces, and offers plenty of action and opportunity to build, including a two-story fire station with movable garage doors, a fire truck and plenty of fun scenes. It also comes with five minifigures and a fire dog. With so many components to this set, it’s well worth the money.

A Car Track They Can Build

Picasso Tiles 2-In-1 Marble Run Car Race Track Combo

We have a lot of different magnetic tiles in my house, and the Picasso Tiles race track is the most played with set by a landslide. Kids can use this combo kit to build a race track for the included battery operated cars, and they can also build a marble run. When they use their creativity and engineering skills, they can even combine the two to create an integrated marble run race car track.

Fill It With Water For An Extra Dose Of Fun

Playmobil Water Park With Slides

My kids have played with this water park building set for years, and we’ve used it both indoors and outdoors. I like this toy for kids who struggle a bit to get into the zone while playing. It provides just enough inspiration for them to think up imaginary play worlds. The set has 132 pieces including two water slides and two figures.

An Open-Ended Set So They Can Flex Creatively

K'nex Beginner 40 Model Building Set

K’nex sets are another building classic. This 141-piece set is designed for beginners ages 5 and up. There are plenty of pieces for kids to create a variety of builds as they learn to use this building medium. “I recommend open-ended toys, the kind of toys that can have more than one purpose and can be used for imaginative play,” says Benjamin. And that’s exactly what your 6-year-old gets when they open a box of K’nex.

Best Educational Toys For 6-Year-Old Boy

Puzzles To Encourage Empathy

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Inclusion Puzzle (Set Of 4)

Each puzzle in this set has 25 pieces, which should be relatively easy for most 6-year-olds to complete, depending on their experience with puzzles. The real learning, however, comes after they assemble each of the four puzzles. The completed projects feature children with different abilities, which can help you teach your child empathy and inclusion. Dr. Dopwell explained that 6-year-olds are working on learning empathy at this age. During play, children are often curious and receptive to new ideas, so it’s a great time to have conversations about differences.

A Cooperative Family Game

Gnomes At Night

This cooperative family game is for two to four players who have to work together to help the gnomes get to the treasure. Playing games like this helps kids learn a variety of social-emotional skills. “They are not only learning to share, but how to work as part of a team and appropriately engage with others in a turn-taking manner,” says Dr. Dopwell.

Help Develop Their Communication Skills

Tall Tales Story Telling Board Game

Six-year-olds are learning how to communicate effectively, especially during conversation, according to Dr. Dopwell. This game, which requires kids to tell stories, helps develop those communication skills. As the stories get wackier and sillier, the whole family will be laughing and having fun.

Best Outdoor Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys

A Scooter That Will Last For Years

Micro Kickboard Maxi Scooter

My daughter has used a Micro Kickboard Scooter for years. In fact, we’re in need of a new one, not because hers is worn out, but because she has outgrown her mini version. According to Dr. Dopwell (and parents of little boys around the world), 6-year-old boys are very active. This scooter can help them burn some energy in a constructive way. It features lean-to-steer technology and can grow with them until they’re 12.

A Familiar Favorite

Stomp Rocket Original Stunt Planes

Even with the release of newer and more advanced toys, Stomp Rockets continue to persist as a favorite outdoor pick for all ages. This version of the classic toy swaps airplanes for rockets, and includes three planes so your 6-year-old can compete with friends or siblings to see who can soar the highest.

A Pop-Up Swing Set

Slackers Swing Line

If you don’t have the space (or budget) for a full-size swing set in your backyard, this Slackers Swing Line offers an easy alternative. All you need is two trees to install the kit and your 6-year-old is ready to soar to new heights. Besides the two mesh swings, the kit includes a steel monkey bar and two gym rings for kids to practice their gymnastics skills.

An Active Outdoor Target Game

Koosh Face-Off

Get your 6-year-old outside into the fresh air with this target game. Benjamin explained that many 6-year-olds are starting to enjoy games that have rules. The rules vary according to the three different ways you can play this game: center toss, around the world and classic champ. No matter which way they play, it gets them off their feet and focuses their energy on a fun ball toss game.

Get Ready For The That Big Snowfall

BigMouth x Squishmallows Snow Tube

Sled riding was a staple of my childhood, and it is for my kids, too. Send your kids down the hill in style with this inflatable snow tube styled after Benny the Big Foot Squishmallow. Inflatable snow tubes are nice because they don’t take up room in the garage year-round, and they make for a comfy ride down the hill.

This Ball Bounces Out Of This World

Waboba Moon Ball

When in doubt, a ball is the perfect gift for any kid. It’s open-ended, it’s active and you can never have too many of them. “Balls and sports equipment are great gifts, too, as these will help them develop their inhibitory control and support movement,” says Benjamin. Moon balls are designed to bounce super high. Your 6-year-old might make up their own game with the ball, or they might just spend hours seeing how high they can get it to bounce.

Best Pretend Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys

They’ll Conduct Experiments To Create A Beast

Beast Lab Stealth Strike Big Cat Beast Creator

After following the experiment directions complete with mist and lights, your child will create their own beast: a big cat or a shark. My 5-year-old daughter was really into the experiment process, and I’ll admit I found it pretty fun and exciting, too. It was one of the best toy unboxings I’ve seen. After the unboxing experiment is finished, they’ll have a toy they can take pride in, because they helped create it.

'Deliver' Pies With Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo And Donatello

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Mutant Mayhem Pizza Fire Delivery Van

Straight from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem movie that came out last year, this van lets 6-year-old boys join the mutant reptiles on their mission to take down Superfly. What looks like an unassuming pizza oven is actually a pizza launcher capable of firing off up to eight pies. Don’t be surprised if your 6-year-old gets a hankering for some ‘za after playing with the van.

Encourage Friendly Competition

Beat The Parents

In this competitive trivia and challenge game, kids are pitted against their parents to see who wins. The twist: Each team places a wager before the game begins, so the stakes are high! “Age-appropriate board and card games and puzzles are fun as they interact with others, learn to read the rules and try to complete or win an activity,” says Dr. Dopwell. This is one of our favorite games to break out during family game night.

A Fort That Occupies Minimal Space When Stored

The Original Air Fort

Kids love to make forts, and I’ll be honest, I don’t mind cozying up with my kids in a well-built fort, especially on a rainy day. The Air Fort makes it simple (and quick) to build an epic fort. All you need is the fort and a box fan, and your 6-year-old will have the perfect space to hang out, read books, play and imagine. It’s great if you’re short on storage space too because it folds up small when not in use.

The Ultimate Toy For Any Hot Wheels Fan

Hot Wheels Ultimate Garage

This is one of the only “big ticket” toys with which my 6-year-old nephew consistently plays. This Hot Wheels garage is over 3 feet tall and holds over 100 cars. This is a win for parents too if you’re looking for a place to store all of those tiny cars. The garage features an elevator, race tracks, jumps and more.

A Fearsome Beast

Jurassic World Dominion Therizinosaurus

If your little one was brave enough to sit through Jurassic World Dominion, they’ll be familiar with the formidable Therizinosaurus. Just like on the big screen, this dinosaur figure slashes, chomps and even makes sounds. Aspiring paleontologists unfamiliar with the movie will still have a roaring time playing with dinosaur.

Best STEM Toys For 6-Year-Old Boy

Learn About Anatomy Through Play

Dissect-It Plus Upgraded Frog Dissection Toy Kit

What’s more fun to a 6-year-old boy than dissecting an animal? Not much. With this kit, they can get all of the education of dissection without actually dissecting an animal. The squishy frog has a skeleton, organs, veins and arteries. It comes with surgical instruments, a dissection table and a 12-page instruction manual.

This Kit Combines Building And Environmental Science

Craft-Tastic Nature Make A Bug Hotel

With no tools required, your 6-year-old can create their own bug hotel. Once it’s built, they can decorate it and leave it outside for critters to find a home. If you have a child who always wants to bring bugs, rocks and sticks inside, maybe this will encourage them to leave nature out in nature.

A Hands-On Approach To Environmental Science

Environmental Science: Oil Cleanup

Any toy that helps kids learn while playing is a winner. This one helps them learn about oil spills, how they affect the oceans and what it takes to save marine life. This is another toy that can help teach empathy. It’s also ideal for 6-year-olds who are learning to read and write, because they can practice with the included instruction booklet and lab notebook.

Best Tech Toys For 6-Year-Olds Boys

Turn Their Drawings Into Real Video Games

Pixicade: Mobile Game Maker

Many parents try to limit screen time, but it can feel like a constant battle. Pixicade can give your 6-year-old the best of both worlds by teaching them how to create their own game to play when they use a screen. The mobile game maker guides kids through drawing and creating their own games. When they’re done, they get to actually play their game on their device.

How We Chose The Best Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys

To find the best toys for 6-year-old boys, I combined my experience as a mom, teacher and product reviewer with research and conversations with experts. I took into account toys I’ve tested, or my editor, Rose Gordon Sala has, and I recommended many toys we’ve used in my house for years. I’ve also researched the current toy trends and considered the latest and greatest toys along with tried and true favorites. I spoke to two experts to gather their insights into play and toys as well: Dr. Fae Dopwell, board-certified developmental behavioral pediatrician at Pediatrix Developmental Medicine of Dallas and Mariel Benjamin, licensed clinical social worker at Mount Sinai Medical Center.

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The Best Toys For 6-Year-Old Boys To Entertain And Thrill Them (2024)

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