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The best toys for six-year-olds have to do a lot. Most importantly, they have to be fun and engaging - but, it’s great if they encourage interaction with family and friends as well to help build those developing social skills.
From slime to Barbie dolls and mix and make toys there are plenty of fun options at this age. Child development expert and GoodtoKnow expert panellist Dr Amanda Gummer says: "At aged six, children are at a crucial stage of development and their curiosity and imaginations are really growing. When choosing toys or gifts for six-year-olds, opt for ones that will help foster creativity, problem-solving skills, and encourage social interaction whether as a bonding experience when you’re playing with your little one, or with their siblings or friends."
This list of the best toys for six year olds is based on a range of factors, including feedback from parents and kids, our own product testers, customer reviews and ratings as well as the top toys for 2024, as chosen by industry experts. We’ve also considered a range of price points to suit any budget or occasion.
Best toys for six year old boys and girls
Why you can trust GoodtoKnow. Our experienced Consumer Editor & parent reviewers spend hours testing products to help you make the best choice. Find out how we test and review products.
1. Barbie
Barbie has seen a resurgence of late, thanks to the recent blockbuster movie, and her popularity is still riding high. Dolls make great toys for six year olds - they provide an opportunity for pretend play and problem-solving, while also building on their emotional intelligence. In a Boston University article about Barbie's popularity, clinical instructor of child life and family-centered care Ann Herzog says that Barbie 'can foster a child’s development by encouraging language and communication and by offering opportunities for pretend play and problem-solving.' She adds: 'Play with dolls, in particular, allows for emotional expression, developing empathy, and practicing problem-solving skills.'
The recent blockbuster movie has reignited Barbiemania for adults and introduced younger children to the iconic toy. If you want a six year old's joy to go next level, stick the movie's soundtrack on as they play. It'll build on their social skills and get their imaginations running wild.
What is Malibu Barbie without her Malibu house? With six rooms for a child to explore, this is a gift that keeps on giving, every time they play. There are also 25 accessories included, that can be arranged and rearranged time and time again to help kids immerse themselves in role-play and storytelling.
For some travel-themed play, look no further than Barbie's camper. Complete with seven play areas, including a kitchen, fire pit and pool, and more than 60 accessories, this toy will spark a six-year old's imagination brilliantly. The stories they can tell with this playset are literally limitless!
2. Audio players
No-screen toys, like the popular audio players Yoto or Tonie, can make a great gift for this age group. These players help to encourage independent play and learning, can help with language development and are easy (and safe) enough for a six year old to operate by themselves with ease. Not sure which player is right for you? Read our Toniebox review to see how it faired in our tests. We've also put the Yoto player through its paces, and you'll be able to read that review very soon.
If you know a six year old who already has a Toniebox or Yoto player, then a new Tonie audio character or Yoto card makes a great gift (but it's always worth checking which they already have in their collection to avoid doubling up).
The Toniebox is a great shout if you're looking to buy an audio player for a six-year-old. Our tests found that it's really easy to operate, which means kids can use it independently, and there are loads of Tonies to choose from to suit any interest.
For an audio player with retro vibes, and extra functionality, then the Yoto player will be right up your street. When we tested it, we loved that it has an optional nightlight, clock, room thermostat and that you can set alarms on it.
If you know a six-year-old who has seen Wonka, then this Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tonie is a great way for them to continue the story of Roald Dahl's famous chocolatier.
3. Dinosaurs
To a six-year-old, dinosaurs are seemingly other-wordly, awesome and fantastical creatures, made all the more exciting by the fact they actually used to exist! They are also prolific in a child's world - they can be seen on TV, on clothing, in books and even in food form - which only adds to their appeal.
Studies even show that intense interest in dinosaurs can have a significant benefit on a child's development, including increased knowledge and heightened attention.
This interactive Hungry T-Rex toy includes a pump-action launcher in the shape of the prehistoric lizard and eight foam balls. The idea is to shoot the balls into the Jurassic creature's tongue. But just watch — this scaly creature might spit them back out.
While a six-year-old might not have watched Jurassic Park yet, they can still get in on the action with this LEGO set which recreates the dilophosaurus ambush scene from the movie. With 211 pieces, it'll help improve their problem solving skills.
Know a budding paleontologist? Then this dinosaur egg kit is sure to be a hit. Little ones will love digging through the dinosaur egg to find the dino hidden within. Each dinosaur also comes with an information card filled with fun facts.
4. Toy Pets
By six-years-old, kids could already be pestering their parents for a pet, but a real-life version may not be the right solution for the family at this point. But a toy pet could be a perfect way to teach some key skills that come along with pet-ownership, without the additional responsibility.
A digital pet that interacts to swipes, tilts and touch makes Bitzee a great gift. Each Bitzee starts as a baby, and needs to be fed, played with and rocked to sleep to help them grow into an adult, and the more you play, the more Bitzees you can collect.
This toy ticks loads of boxes. Firstly. problem-solving skills get a workout as they build the dog house, their imaginations can run wild as they discover paw prints, and then there is an adorable surprise reveal when their new toy puppy appears as if by magic!
Originally released in the late 1990s, Furby's are still popular today. The curious little creature has five voice-activated modes and over 600 phrases, jokes and songs for kids to enjoy. It also responds to hugs, pats on the head and feeding its pizza charm.
5. Mix and Make Toys
Mix and make toys tend to offer various types of play in one package - there is usually a element of experimentation or mixing of ingredients, followed by or combined with a particular process or action, before a mystery reveal of another toy inside.
Not only do toys like this spark imagination and creativity, they can help introduce the notion of delayed gratification too.
With easy to follow instructions, kids will love mixing the dough and baking their own sweet-scented, interactive plush toy with this playset. And as we stated in our Cookeez Makery review, repeat play is really easy and enjoyable.
Add the ingredients and follow the experiment's steps to create a shark beast to save the world. With more than 80 lights, sounds and visual effects, including very cool 'bio-mist', it's no wonder we gave Beast Labs a rave review!
This magical little toy is a bestseller - and for good reason. Before the pixling doll is magically revealed inside, kids need to mix and add a special potion and add it to the bottle. And which doll they'll create is a surprise to boot.
6. LEGO
You absolutely can't go wrong buying LEGO as a gift for a six-year-old. But do make sure it's age appropriate first - a LEGO set with too few or too many pieces is sure to leave them disappointed.
There are lots of reasons why LEGO is good for development, including the positive impact it has on problem-solving skills, focus and self confidence. GoodtoKnow's child development expert Dr Gummer adds: "I really like building or construction sets like LEGO that encourage spatial reasoning and fine motor skills."
Another bestseller, this LEGO Creator set is perfect for six-year-olds to put their problem-solving skills to the test by following the instructions to build the dragon. But it doesn't end there, they can also build a fish and a phoenix out of the same pieces.
Building this Moana-based LEGO set will get a six-year-old using their problem solving skills and when complete, they'll get a boost of self confidence and have loads of fun imagining how far they'll go.
Another three-in-one set, this Space Shuttle is selling like hot-cakes. The 144 pieces can make a space shuttle, spaceship or an astronaut with posable arms and legs. Plus it's less than £10 - bargain!
7. Educational games
Kids are like sponges when it comes to absorbing information, so incorporating learning into play can be a great way to build on their cognitive development. Plus games like this are perfect for playing with friends and family, which can help children learn how to be a gracious winner or a good loser.
Help a six-year-old learn addition, subtraction, and multiplication without realising it by disguising it in game form. Tested by teachers, this is one of Orchard Toys' best-selling toys for six-year-olds. No wonder - kids will love it.
With 20 different experiments on offers, this is a great toy for a budding scientist. Whether they make the test tube kaleidoscope, their own bouncy ball or lava, they'll also be engaging their imaginations and creative problem-solving skills.
A literacy version of the Maths game, Magic Spelling features magical rub and reveal cards to not only allow children to check their own answers, but to also make practicing spelling more like fun and less like learning.
8. Sylvanian Families
Another toy to encourage role-play and storytelling, while also sparking creativity, is anything from the world of Sylvanian Families, which was introduced in the UK in 1987. More than just adorable animal characters, the toys on offer include playsets, accessories and more.
For someone new to Sylvanian Families, this cottage playset provides everything you need to play - a house, basic furniture and a chocolate rabbit figure, but you can add to the fun and buy the furniture starter set, as well as additional figures, separately.
When first launched in the late 1980s, Sylvanian Families figures were limited to woodland creatures like rabbits, hedgehogs and mice, but now you can get more exotic animals like pandas, kangeroos and these adorable elephants.
This furniture starter set can be a great addition to a playset, offering even more creative ways to play. There's a fridge, oven, toilet, sink, and adorable little accessories including pies, and fun kitchen utensils.
9. Hot Wheels
Hot Wheels toy cars date back to the later 1960s, and still hold strong appeal today, thanks to their low price point, engaging appearance, and the nostalgia they can instill in parents and grandparents alike.
Kickstart a Hot Wheels collection, or add it an existing one with this assortment of 10 cars. With realistic and authentic details, each car is designed in 1:64 scale, making them the perfect size for little hands to enjoy (and collect).
If crashing and smashing is more your six-year-old's speed, then you can't go wrong with a monster truck (or four). Each has its own specific colour and authentic details, and comes with stats on their strength, crash attack skills and motor-vation.
This track builder playset comes in a container shaped like a petrol can, and is packed with all a six-year-old needs to go wild and create the race track of dreams. They use their creativity and problem-solving skills as they go.
10. Squishmallows
Squishmallows were the biggest selling toy of 2023 - super squidgeable and uber soft. No wonder six-year-olds love them! They come in a range of sizes and iterations (like the Fuzz-a-Mallow variant) and can cost anywhere from £5 to £50, so you can easily find one to fit any budget.
They are infinitely collectible too - and there are loads of adorable characters to choose from.
Cute and oh-so-squishy, you absolutely cannot go wrong with gifting a six-year-old a Squishmallow. Whatever they're into, they'll find it impossible to resist the engaging and super-soft characters, which also double up as a fun cushion.
With an adorable shaggy haircut, with a cute flower hair clip, Joelle the Teal Bigfoot is an adorable Squishmallow with various textures for curious fingers to enjoy. Large enough to cuddle too.
For a fuzzy twist on the Squishmallow, enter the Fuzz-A-Mallow. Just as adorable and squishy as the original Squishmallow, but with a new fuzzy texture that kids will adore. Each has a unique name and story for kids to discover too.
11. Board games
A good board game will help encourage interaction with friends and family members, along with encouraging a healthy dose of friendly competition. Dr Gummer, who is also the founder of The Good Play Guide, says: "I love a family board game night, or taking the time in a busy weekend to digitally detox with a puzzle or trivia game and there are loads of age appropriate options for cooperative play and strategic thinking."
Yet another bestseller on this list, this fast-talking kid-friendly board game can help foster creativity, language development and social skills. It can be played with friends and family, but can also be played solo for a bit of independent play.
Get six-year-olds in on the Monopoly fun with this Junior version of the classic family board game. This version is dual sided with two different levels, so the game can easily be tailored to skillset and capability.
Another junior take on a classic board game, Cluedo Junior encourages six-year-olds to turn detective and solve the case of the broken toy and find out which toy was broken, by who and when.
12. Slime
Slime can be a bit hit and miss (often a hit with children and a big miss with their parents), but if you know a six-year-old who likes getting their hands dirty, then will love a slime-based gift. This kind of sensory play can help calm an anxious child too - it draws focus to one or more of the five senses and encourages mindfulness to promote relaxation.
However, slime should definitely be avoided if the child you know hates getting stuff stuck to their fingers - they really won't enjoy it. They might prefer the Squishmallow instead - soft and tactile without the gloopy hands.
Slime is undoubtedly messy, but the inflatable tray in this dino-themed set, you get an inflatable tray to help keep the gloopy fun contained (and it's easy to clean). The set also includes five packs of slime mix and eight dinosaur figures.
Create a range of super-tastic treats with this new So Slime Sensations set. It helps kids learn how to follow instructions to create a specific end result, and getting messy is a great form of sensory play that can help foster their understanding of the world around them.
Budding scientists will love this Slime lab, where they get to create their own slimy creations including glow-in-the-dark slime, bouncing putty and gummy bug. There are seven fun experiments in total, with accessories to help personalise their creations.
13. Polly Pocket
Polly Pocket has had a bit of a redesign in recent years, so is more substantial than it used to be, a fact that will be music to the ears of parents who were worried about choking hazards.
With lots of sets to collect, featuring cute, bright character cases as well as the eponymous Polly and friends, these toys make great gifts for six-year-olds, without breaking the bank.
If you know a little dog lover, then they'll adore this grooming parlour themed Polly Pocket set. It has water features too - including a hot tub (which bubbles when the paw button is pressed) and a shower!
With a strawberry bear exterior (with a fidget tongue that makes the eyes move), this Polly Pocket set opens to reveal a strawberry-themed garden playground, complete with fruit basket lift to the top of the tree to gather fruit.
Another variation on the classic Polly Pocket theme, this set has a Hedgehog exterior, and opens to reveal a fun cafe play set, including Polly and her friend, as well as two pets, including a cat and a bunny.
14. Jigsaws
According to parenting expert Amanda Jenner: "Jigsaw puzzles are great as they tend to have a longer attention span at six and love a challenge and this is really good for their cognitive skills and helps them to play independently."
They'll hone their problem-solving skills as they try and fit the pieces together, and feel great sense of achievement when they manage to complete it. If you know their favourite book or TV show, then you can always look for the jigsaw puzzle tie-in to win all the brownie points you can.
Based on the doll collection, TV show and movie franchise about the offspring of famous monsters, this jigsaw puzzle makes the perfect gift for a Monster High fan. There are three 49-piece puzzles in the box to help build on their problem-solving skills.
As well as the 96-piece jigsaw puzzle which depicts a colourful world map, this puzzle set also includes 100 country cards with more than 400 facts to help kids learn about the world. A must-buy for any explorers in the making.
Helping to foster their concentration skills and creativity, this Disney-themed, 100-piece puzzle has broad appeal, with characters from a variety of famous Disney and Pixar movies to find. Kids will love it!
15. Heroes of the Goo Jit Su
Like Stretch Armstrong, but infinitely cooler, toys from the Heroes of the Goo Jit Su range can be stretched, pulled, twisted and squished before returning to their original shape.
These can make great fidget toys and be useful to encourage mindfulness and keep anxiety at bay.
Offering mess-free sensory play, and a toy that can keep little hands entertained and anxiety at bay, this particular Spiderman figure is wonderfully squashy, stretchy, and twistable before returning to its original form.
Meet Thrash, part shark, part warrior hero send to protect the world from gooey ocean villains. He can be stretched to three times his normal size, has a delightfully squishy body and his solid head can unleash a chomp attack when necessary.
A new-look Thrash is back in this two pack, where he can balled against the evil Hammerhook to see who emerges victorious. Thrash is filled with gel-beads which makes him squishy, while Hammerhook's gel filling makes him super stretchy.
Do six year olds still play with toys?
Six-year-olds definitely still play with toys - they love pretend play but are also ready for some more challenging games. They love playing with friends or family, but by the age of six, many kids have mastered independent play and are ready for a little more freedom.
GoodtoKnow's child development expert Dr Amanda Gummer adds: "Play is essential for the holistic development of six-year-olds. It’s crucial to promoting cognitive growth by encouraging problem-solving, critical thinking, and decision-making skills. Allowing children to engage in imaginative play and explore different scenarios, enhances their creativity and emotional intelligence. I’m a big fan of interactive play experiences which at six, will help children develop essential social skills such as cooperation, communication, and even resilience, laying a solid foundation for positive relationships and interactions with others as they get older."
If you've seen or heard that the six-year-old in your life doesn't play with toys anymore, it could be that they have too much choice. Like us, kids can get overwhelmed and overstimulated and this can happen if they're surrounded by too much choice and left wondering where to start.
How to choose the right toy for a six-year-old
Understanding the developmental needs of a child of six is crucial to choosing the right toy for them. Dr Gummer adds: "When choosing gifts for six-year-olds, I always recommend thinking about a child’s interests, and developmental needs. Art supplies such as paints, markers, and craft kits provide opportunities for creative expression and imagination. Outdoor toys like bikes, scooters, or sports equipment can promote physical activity and coordination, and construction toys can help with spatial awareness and reasoning.
"By making smart gift choices that align with children's interests and developmental milestones, a child can benefit from enriched play experiences that support their growth and learning journey."
How many toys should a six year old have?
The number of toys is up to you (and your little one, of course) and there is no exact number as to how many kids should have. But according to one study, when little learners had fewer toys in their environment it allowed them to play more creatively, focus and play with each toy longer.
The study tasked toddlers to engage with four toys, followed by 16 toys. The results showed that with fewer toys, participants had longer durations of toy play and played with toys in a greater variety of ways, therefore putting their creativity skills to the test, supporting their development and promoting healthy play.
Ultimately, kids don't need piles of toys to be happy, they just need a handful of the right toys for their interest, imagination and creativity to flourish.
What is the 20 toy rule?
As its name suggests, the 20 toy rule involves asking your child to select the 20 toys they want to play with over the next week or two weeks and carefully stash away all others.
Along with helping keep your living room or playroom clutter-free and tidy, the 20 toy rule gives your little one a chance to really play and engage with their toys and do so in a more focused way. This should hopefully benefit their creativity levels and kick start their imagination at the same time.
How we chose the best toys for six year olds
For this guide to the best toys for six-year-olds, we drew up a short list of suitable items based on our product knowledge and extensive research, making sure everything we picked was suitable for this age range. We spoke to parents of six year olds (and got feedback from the kids themselves) to see what toys they liked the best and why. Where possible, we also called products in and put them in the hands of six-year-old testers to try them out.
We also spoke to child development experts, including GoodtoKnow panellist Dr Amanda Gummer, to find out exactly what types of toys are suitable for six-year olds and the benefits that they, and play in general, can offer to children of this age.
Read more: How we test
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