The Best Toys for 6-Year-Olds Are Super-Fun—And They Help Your Kid Learn New Skills (2024)

• Our Picks

• Our Review Process And Experts

• Factors To Consider

• Your Questions, Answered

• Who We Are

LEGO is a crowd favorite (among both the parents we surveyed and their kids), and this Super Mario kit is no exception, which is why it's our top spot.Combining the fun of building, players must overcome enemies and obstacles while enjoying instant responses via the LCD screens and speaker.Great for solo or group play, kids will love the free app that is available to enhance the experience.

This scooter holds riders as young as 5 years old andup to 220 pounds. Parents we surveyed recommend scooters for kids because they provide children with physical exercise without sacrificing fun. As for this scooter, the handlebars havestrong grips for traction, can be set tovarious heights, and featurelimited steeringto give kids better control when riding.

Thescooter's deck is covered in non-slip materialand designed for stability and safety. When it’s not being played with, thisscooter folds in halffor easy storage.

The Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad is great for little artists to practice their fine motor skills.The pad comes with items to trace right away, like the thin LED tablet, 10 sheets of paper, and a set of 12 Crayola colored pencils.We love that you don’t have to purchase expensive tracing paper once you run out; plain white paper will work great with this product.

6-year-olds who love to build things will have a lot of fun with this212-piece LEGO set. It’s made for kids as young as 5 years old and has all of the parts necessary tobuild a helicopter, a motorbike, a power station, and fire flames, plus it comes withthree LEGO figurines.

The best part about LEGO toys, though, is that after your kiddo has finished the build and played with it, they cantake everything apart and create something new with the same pieces.

This beautifully written and illustrated book about what each state in the USA has to offer is a great gift for a 6-year-old who is just learning the states and where they're at. This book will keep kids busy and is a great learning resource.

This oversized squishy pillow is part of a co-branded collection between Crayola and Kohl’s and is downright cute, huggable, and soft. One of our writers received a free sample of the squishy pillow and says the pencil design is even cuter in person. The Crayola x Kohl’s Oversized Squishy Pillow measures 24 x 16 x 15 inches, so kids can lounge with it comfortably.

It’s available in four colors—princess blue, dark red, rose violet, and deep lavender—and each comes with a different face (a helpful design feature for kids expressing emotions). For example, the princess blue squishy pillow has a silly winking face, while the deep lavender is in a peaceful slumber. It’s important to note that the pillows are spot clean only, which our writer says has been easy to do after her 4-year-old wiped Veggie Straw dust all over “Big Blue.”

You can check out the rest of the Crayola x Kohl’s collection here.

Learning is fun with these magnetic tiles, which are a great way to introduce your child to colors, shapes, and architectural design.The parents we surveyed say their kiddos are big fans of magnetic tiles because of the endless creations they can create independently or with siblings or friends.The best part is that you won't be in physical agony if you accidentally step on one of the pieces.

A great game for the whole family, it can be played with 2 to 10 players.The game comes with 12 teacups in three sizes and four colors, where each player plays a card and creates wacky stacks of teacups.Fans of the game say it's a mix between Jenga and UNO, but so much better than both!

Get kiddos excited for bedtime with a glow-in-the-dark pillowcase that allows kids to draw and write with light. Use the included light wand (or any other small flashlight) as a drawing utensil, and the glowing design will fade away in about five minutes. We think any fear of the dark might vanish right along with it. The 100% cotton pillowcase is safe to toss in the washing machine (cold water only), so you don’t have to worry about ruining the material.

“How does a mouse feel after a bath?” Squeaky clean! These punchlines may be corny for adults, but they’re silly and age-appropriate jokes for 6-year-olds. There are 60 easy-to-read pages in the book, along with illustrations to make kids laugh. And if they really enjoy this, there’s a second volume!

Perfect forkids who love science or are just full of curiosity, this little microscope comes with 20 pre-prepared slides, all of which have separate pictures that kids can view by rotating the slide on the microscope tray. Themicroscope magnifies images five times larger, and it’s equipped with all kinds ofadjustable featuresso that kids can get the perfect focus.

Yes, bikes are cool and all, but thisscooter and bike combois particularly awesome. It comes in a few different colors and is safe for kids as young as 4 years old andup to 150 pounds. To ride it, kids sit in the seat, hang on to a hand brake, place their feet on the bar in front of them, and then push it back and forth to get going.

It’s made fromhigh-quality materials, is easy to set up, and is a great way for kids to get outside and get some energy out.

Come on, Barbie, let’s go…Observe life under the sea! Barbie is a marine biologist ready to explore the deep blue sea with her mobile lab and over 10 accessories, like fins, a snorkel, and more. One of our writers received a free sample of this Barbie doll, and she loves how all of Barbie’s gear stored in her easy-to-open (and close) mobile lab case. Plus, kids can decorate the inside of her case with the included sea-themed stickers.

In true Barbie fashion, several of the accessories fit on her hand for more realistic play. While Barbie’s swimsuit is molded to her body and is not removable, her additional swim top is a breeze to remove so kids can dress her in other outfits they may have at home.

A classic toy that has been entertaining kids (and adults) since 1960, the Etch-A-Sketch blank canvas and pencil-free drawing fosters endless creativity.Use the knobs to draw anything that comes to the imagination, then give it a shake, and it erases the screen to a blank canvas.

With this purchase, you gettwo cute plush catsthat are small, soft, and sensory-friendly. Thecats are filled with beans, giving them a little bit of weight and making them great for fidget play orpretend play. Plus, with each purchase,you get a name tag for each catwith a name and bio and a QR code for afree game downloadof Cats vs. Pickles.

This original guessing game is a fun and lighthearted board game for the entire family that engages children in verbal communication.Each player chooses a mystery character, and through a process of elimination, you go back and forth, trying to guess by asking yes or no questions.

The artwork is fun and is a good way for kids to practice reading and memorizing the names on the cards.

Let your kid be a creator with this camera!With 20+ backgrounds and the ability to create your own, the camera is easy for kids to use with a battery that will last for up to 2 hours.It comes with a tripod and the option of front-facing or selfie mode, which is a huge hit.

Parents can rest easy with the worry of accidental content sharing as this device is not connected to Wi-Fi.

A game your child can play alone, Rush Hour Junior teaches logic and sequential reasoning.Parents are big fans of the multi-level challenges ranging from beginner to expert that can grow with your child.Easy to transport, this game is perfect to take on the go or on a long road trip.

Perfect forplaying outsideand forkids with a lot of energy, this toy has two small poles that kids are supposed tojump over as they spin around.The poles havethree height settingsand there are two rotation speeds to make the jumping more or less challenging, and kids canchoose to play with or without music.

When they’ve exhausted their energy, they canconvert the toy into a ring toss gamefor some more low-key fun.

Jam like a real rockstar with this kids’ microphone that connects to your favorite music apps. With four different voice effects, kids can echo, sound like a chipmunk, and change their pitch–both low and high. Plus, the microphone is rechargeable, so their concert isn’t interrupted.

Explore a variety of fascinating subjects, like STEM, geography, or cooking, with kits from KiwiCo. Simply choose a subscription, pick a delivery plan, and receive crates filled with supplies for science experiments, geography exploring, and more.

A perfect teaser for 6-year-olds, this puzzle encourages problem-solving and concentration.The object is to build a puzzle solution between the red gear and the yellow wheel without moving them.The manufacturer suggests it is best for ages 6+, but with four levels of problem-solving, this teaser can be used for a few years.

Introduce your 6-year-old to a classic game of strategy and planning without the stress. With Story Time Chess, each playing piece features illustrated characters to help children learn the moves of each piece. Once kids get the hang of the game, flip the board over to play a chess match on a standard battlefield.

Convenient to take anywhere, the Go Pop! Roundo is great at entertaining.The object of the game is to be the player who forces the opponent to pop the last bubble, so you must think ahead.It can also be used as a fidget toy that can help relieve stress and anxiety.

While these don’t look like much from the outside, they will be a toy your child does not tire of.They are perfect for sensory and tactile stimulation and can be stretched, pulled, twirled, wrapped, and squeezed. Each unit is 12 inches long, made with quality material, and stretches up to 8 feet.

If you have a kid who enjoys Connect 4, Sequence is a great next step.This strategy game uses animals and has unicorns and dragons as wild cards to add fun and excitement. Ideal for little ones between 3 and 6 years old, there is a version for adults and big kids that your tot can graduate to after they've mastered this one.

Cruise the sidewalk in style with a ride-on toy that provides minimal assembly and effortless operation. With no gears, pedals, or batteries, kids simply wiggle and twist to make the ride-on car move. It’s safe to use indoors and outdoors as long as you have a smooth, flat surface. Important note: The company does not recommend using this ride-on toy on wood floors.

The 3Doodler Start + 3D Pen Set makes kids' creations come to life.Safe for kids as young as 6 years old, this pen makes3D creations without any hot partsthat can cause injury by burning. It comes in a set with48 strands of starter plastic(in eight different colors), an activity guide, and amicro USB charger. Once your kiddo uses up their starter plastic, you can purchase filament refills for under $20.

The pen also has aone-year warranty, and there is a 24/7 customer support center if caregivers need some help troubleshooting problems.

The Basic Fun Cutetitos Donutitos are adorable, soft, and available in various animal friends. Based on the trend of pet owners wrapping their pets in blankets like a burrito, Cutetitos are a variety of stuffed animals wrapped in a burrito blanket.With each purchase being a mystery, there are 12 different Cutetitos to collect with some being very rare.

It is important to find books that your kid wants to pick up from an early age, and "Dragons Love Tacos" is a must-have on the shelf. This is a charming story about how a boy tries to befriend dragons through tacos (of course).There's no real moral to the story. It's just a really fun and silly book to enjoy together.

With a sense of humor, this book will teach your kid about emotions and following directions, all through just a simple yellow dot! It's a great interactive story as the adventurous dot wiggles, pushes, and jumps off the page.

Although this gift works for kids of all ages, a first grader is the perfect age for this high-speed remote-controlled car. Let them take it outdoors for hours of fun or create videos of high-speed chases.

This is the perfect toy for imaginative play, problem-solving, and fun. Friends and siblings will love this fort-building kit, and it’s great for kids of all ages.The next step up from a simple tent, creative play and fort-building with this kit will keep your 6-year-old busy for hours.

If you have a box fan at home, then thisair fortis something you should definitely consider for your 6-year-old. The tentmeasures 77 x 50 inchesand is made frombreathable, durable fabric.It’s designed without a floor to make getting in and out easy,it has a windowso that parents can easily peek in to check on the kids, and there is amesh divider between the tent and the fanso that kids don’t accidentally hurt themselves.

When the tent isn’t in use, itfolds up into a compact carrying bagand weighs only 24 ounces.

A toy innovation that encourages experimentation and fine motor skills, Squiz can be used almost anywhere there is a surface to stick to.With 8 different shapes, the flexible pieces connect easily and pop apart to create whatever your child imagines.

Marble runs are always fun, but this onestands outbecause instead of interlocking pieces, it’sconstructed out of magnets on a magnetic board(or a fridge door). It’s safe for kids as young as 5 years old and comes with14 magnetic foam pieces and four marbles.

The set also includes10 activity cardswith instructions formaking different marble runs, but there’s no telling how many cool paths kids can create on their own using their imaginations.

What’s cooler than robots? This one comes with a remote control and features amotion sensor on the chestthat allows it to move by followinghand commands. In addition to the pre-set controls, kids can alsoprogram up to 50 of their own motionsfor the robot to follow.

The robot also has patrol mode that allows it towalk around without running into obstacles, it cansing, and it has arechargeable battery(and comes with a USB cable).

This arcade pinball machine may be small, but it works like the real thing. Its small size allows kids to play on a desk or kitchen table without sacrificing all the cool features a pinball machine has, like the ball launcher or lights.

This might look like just a piece of furniture, but it’s so much more. The Nugget Play Couch includesfour foam pieces(two triangle pillows, a cushion, and a base). In addition to being set up like a couch, the Nugget can alsotransform into forts, slides, climbing adventures, and more. It’s a toy that’sdesigned for open-ended playand will be one that kids will come back to again and again.

All of thepieces are covered in a microsuede fabric, which is available in a wide variety of colors and isremovable and machine washable.

With this toy, kids gettwo cars in onebecause it’s designed totransform into two different models. Before using the car,kids get to build itusing the included instructions, and it comes with a single,easy-to-use remote controlthat allows the car todrive, spin, and turn on flat surfaces.

It’s designed for kids between 6 and 12 years old. Thecar requires 3 AA batteries, and thecontroller requires 3 AAA batteries.

With this set, kids 6 years old and up can startpracticing their archery skills in a safe and fun way. It comes with afreestanding targetthat stands 36 inches tall, an adjustable tension bow, five suction cup arrows, and a carry quiver.

Kids canplay with this inside or outside, and the target is easy to set up and tear down between uses.

This toy is so much fun because kids can either sit on it to rock back and forth or stand on it for a balance challenge. Regardless of how they use it, though, they’ll get a real kick out of it because the bottom is covered in suction cups that pop with every move of the board.

This board is safe for kids as young as three, can hold kids weighing up to 110 pounds, and is made from strong, durable plastic. It’s a great toy for open-ended play or for kids who need to get a little bit of energy out.

How amazing are these gloves? They come inthree colors and three size optionsandinclude a battery packthat brings them to life. Each set of gloves features three different colored lights and hassix different flash settings.

They turn on and off easily with the wearable battery packs, and theycome with four replacement batteriestokeep the fun going longer.One note: these gloves use very small batteries that are not safe for kids under 3 years old.

There are so many different ways kids can play with this set of8 nesting boxes and bouncing balls;we can’t even begin to list them all.Each box comes with its own suggestion for play, but with a dash of imagination, it’s the kind of toy that kids can play with in multiple ways.

Each box ismade from an unfinished basswood designand comes with its ownball that can be tossed, rolled, bounced, hidden away, and more. This toy is safe for kids as young as 5 years old.