The 19 Best Toys for 6-Year-Old Boys of 2023

Commerce Photo Composite — Verywell / Sabrina Jiang

Six-year-olds are full of energy with many different interests as they’re in the middle zone between little kids and big kids. By this age, they’re more independent and quickly developing mental, physical, and social skills.

“At six, most kids have started to build an ability to follow rules, so [they] can benefit [from] games with a mild increase in complexity and that requires an understanding of following steps as laid out by the rules,” according to Justin Schreiber, DO, MPH, board-certified pediatrician and child psychiatrist of Pennsylvania.

He adds that the best toys for this age group offer “opportunities [for] imaginative play with peers,” are more complex and challenging, and offer opportunities to practice reading. We carefully looked at toy safety, age recommendations, ease of cleaning, material, and value when reviewing products.

Here are the best toys for 6-year-old boys on the market.

Our Top Picks

3Doodler Start + 3D Pen Set at Amazon

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SGILE RC Robot Toy at Amazon

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Fat Brain Toys 2-in-1 Musical Jump ‘n Toss at Amazon

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Globber Flow 125 Foldable Scooter at Dick's

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Anthropologie Kids Croquet Set at Anthropologie

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Air Hogs Super Soft Jump at Amazon

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GAMZOO STEM Building Toys at Amazon

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Learning Resources Tumble Trax Magnetic Marble Run at Amazon

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The Nugget Foam Couch at Nuggetcomfort.com

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GEOMAG Magnetic Toys at Amazon

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In This Article

Our Picks
What to Look For
Why Trust Verywell Family

Amazon

The 3Doodler Start + 3D Pen Set tops our list because children will love watching their own creations come to life. Safe for kids as young as 6 years old, this pen makes 3D creations without any hot parts that can cause an injury by burning. It comes in a set that also includes 48 strands of starter plastic (in eight different colors), an activity guide, and a micro USB charger. Once your kiddo uses up their starter plastic, you can purchase filament refills for under $20.

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

Price at time of publication: $50

Courtesy of SGILE

What’s cooler than robots? This one is safe for kids as young as 3 years old, comes with remote control, and features a motion sensor on the chest that allows it to move by following hand commands. In addition to the pre-set controls, kids can also program up to 50 of their own motions for the robot to follow.

The robot also has patrol mode that allows it to walk around without running into obstacles, it can sing, and it has a rechargeable battery (and comes with a USB cable).

Price at time of publication: $35

Courtesy of Fat Brain Toys

Perfect for playing outside and for kids with a lot of energy, this toy has two small poles that kids are supposed to jump over as they spin around. The poles have three height settings and there are two rotation speeds to make the jumping more or less challenging, and kids can choose to play with or without music.

When they’ve exhausted their energy, they can convert the toy into a ring toss game for some more low-key fun.

Price at time of publication: $26

Courtesy of Globber

This scooter is made for kids as young as 5 years old and up to 220 pounds. The handlebars have strong grips for traction, can be set to various heights, and feature limited steering to give kids better control when riding.

The deck of the scooter is covered in non-slip material and is designed for stability and safety. When it’s not being played with, this scooter folds in half for easy storage.

Price at time of publication: $110

Courtesy of Anthropologie

Kids can enjoy a fun, colorful game of croquet with this woodland-themed set. It’s made from wood and polyester and comes with a green mallet and ball, a red mallet and ball, one peg, and six hoops cut into different shapes such as an apple tree and a mountain.

This set is great for kids as young as 3 and can be played indoors or outdoors, but it should be stored inside to avoid damage.

Courtesy of Air Hogs

This remote control car is designed for some serious jumping because it can get up to 22 inches in the air. It has the ability to roll over small obstacles and is equipped with soft wheels so it can crash into walls without damaging them.

It’s safe for kids as young as 4 years old, is made from durable materials, and has a rechargeable battery (the remote requires 2 AAA batteries, though).

Price at time of publication: $34

Courtesy of GAMZOO

With this toy, kids get two cars in one because it’s designed to transform into two different models. Before using the car, kids get to build it using the included instructions and it comes with a single, easy-to-use remote control that allows the car to drive and spin and turn on flat surfaces.

It’s designed for kids between 6 and 12 years old, the car requires 3 AA batteries, and the controller requires 3 AAA batteries.

Price at time of publication: $44

Courtesy of Learning Resources

Marble runs are always fun, but this one stands out because instead of interlocking pieces, it’s constructed out of magnets on a magnetic board (or a fridge door). It’s safe for kids as young as 5 years old and comes with 14 magnetic foam pieces and four marbles.

The set also includes 10 activity cards with instructions for making different marble runs, but there’s no telling how many cool paths kids can create on their own using their imaginations.

Price at time of publication: $25

Courtesy of The Nugget

This might look like just a piece of furniture, but it’s so much more. The little couch is built using two sets of cushions in different sizes (each set is made up of two cushions) and two triangular pillows. All of the pieces are covered in a microsuede fabric, which is available in a wide variety of colors and is removable and machine washable.

In addition to being set up like a couch, the Nugget can also transform into forts, slides, climbing adventures, and more. It’s a toy that’s designed for open-ended play and will be one that kids will come back to again and again.

Price at time of publication: $229

Courtesy of GEOMAG

Kids as young as 5 years old can safely play with this 52-piece set of magnetic toys. They come in various shapes and click and bond together to create cool 3D figures. It’s a great toy for fine motor skill development, critical thinking, and problem-solving. Not to mention, it’s a lot of fun and a good opportunity for creativity.

Price at time of publication: $40

What Experts Say

“They have much better fine motor skills at this age and with being able to follow directions then building with things like small blocks can provide a lot of interest," -Justin Schreiber, DO, MPH, Member & Co-Chair of PA Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics

Courtesy of AirFort

If you have a box fan at home, then this is a toy you should definitely consider for your 6-year-old. The tent measures 77 x 50 inches and is made from breathable, durable fabric. It’s designed without a floor to make getting in and out easy, it has a window so that parents can easily peek in to check on the kids, and there is a mesh divider between the tent and the fan so that kids don’t accidentally hurt themselves.

When the tent isn’t in use, it folds up into a compact carrying bag and weighs only 24 ounces.

Price at time of publication: $60 for starry night

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

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

Price at time of publication: $35

Courtesy of LEGO

6-year-olds who love to build things will have a lot of fun with this 212-piece LEGO set. It’s made for kids as young as 5 years old and has all of the parts necessary to build a helicopter, a motorbike, a power station, and fire flames, plus it comes with three LEGO figurines.

The best part about LEGO toys, though, is that after your kiddo has finished the build and played with it, he can take everything apart and create something all his own using the same pieces.

Price at time of publication: $40

4.8

Courtesy of Fat Brain Toys

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.

Price at time of publication: $40

Courtesy of Cat vs Pickles

With this purchase, you get two cute plush cats that are small, soft, and sensory-friendly. The cats are filled with beans, giving them a little bit of weight and making them great for fidget play or pretend play. Plus, with each purchase, you get a name tag for each cat with a name and bio and a QR code for a free game download of Cats vs. Pickles.

Price at time of publication: $12

Amazon

Perfect for kids who love science or are just full of curiosity, this little microscope is made for kids as young as 5 years old and comes with 15 round slides, all of which have four separate pictures that kids can view by rotating the slide on the microscope tray.

The microscope magnifies images three times larger and it’s equipped with all kinds of adjustable features so that kids can get the perfect focus. In addition to the microscope and slides, this set also comes with a science guide that’s packed with hundreds of fun facts.

Price at time of publication: $55

Courtesy of EzyRoller

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

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

Price at time of publication: $110

Amazon

If your 6-year-old is a fan of Mario, then he’ll have so much fun putting together this 231-piece LEGO set that brings the Nintendo game to life. It’s made for kids 6 years old and up and comes with everything they need to build a course like a Goomba, a mystery block, and so much more.

The set also includes a Mario figure that has LED eyes with sensors, so he talks and reacts as he goes through the course. It’s an awesome set that brings together video games and LEGO builds.

Price at time of publication: $60

Courtesy of superwin

How amazing are these gloves? They come in three colors and three size options and include a battery pack that brings them to life. Each set of gloves features three different colored lights and has six different flash settings.

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

Price at time of publication: $19

Final Verdict

You really can’t go wrong with any of the toys on this list, but our favorites are the 3Doddler Start+ Essentials 3D Pen Set (view at Amazon) the Air Hogs Super Soft Jump (view at Amazon), and the Nugget (view at Nugget Comfort).

What to Look for When Buying Toys for 6 Year Old Boys

Complexity & Reading

By the time they are 6 years old, pediatrician Justin Schreiber, DO, MPH says kids are starting to learn how to read, so any toy that allows them to practice and strengthen this skill is an excellent choice. Additionally, he says, “at 6, most kids have started to build an ability to follow rules, so [they] can benefit [from] games with a mild increase in complexity and that requires an understanding of following steps as laid out by the rules.”

Opting for toys that will have your 6-year-old thinking critically and problem-solving is great, but when you’re shopping be mindful of age-appropriateness. Selecting a toy or game that presents a challenge will likely be a lot of fun for a kid, but if it’s too challenging or too complex, they’ll probably get frustrated with it and it will end up collecting dust and never played with.

Imaginative Play

6-year-olds are in a sweet spot where they’re beginning to show interest in more big-kid activities, but they’re not completely out of the little-kid stage. An example of this is their continued love for imaginative play.

Dr. Schreiber notes that in addition to imaginative play, they’re also more socially developed, so any toy that offers opportunities for them to play pretend with their friends will be a hit. He suggests toys or activities where “they can dress up or that allow them to act out situations, such as dolls, action figures, or playsets” are really good for this age group.

Collaborative Play

According to Dr. Schreiber, “toys that can be enjoyed with friends” are really good for 6-year-olds because they can help them “build friendships.” So, look for toys that can be played solo or with a group and are age-appropriate in complexity. From this age on, kids are going to continue to want to play with friends, so if you invest in toys and games that allow for collaborative play, they’ll likely be played with more often and for longer.

Why Trust Verywell Family

Ashley Ziegler is a full-time parenting writer and mom to a 2 year old and a 5 year old. Over the years, she has researched and tested hundreds of children’s products including clothes, diapers, strollers, car seats, toys, and more, both for her writing as well as for personal use. When creating this list of recommendations, she considered the expert opinion of a pediatrician as well as the products’ quality, longevity, age-appropriateness, safety, and shopper reviews.

More Toys and Gifts for Kids

When it comes to toys and gifts for kids, our team has you covered. The Verywell Family team of editors (who are parents or have nieces and nephews of their own) have tested, gifted, and personally recommend every item we feature. Find more of our top gift and toy picks for every age and stage here: