21 Educational Toys For 6-Year-Olds: What’s Best For Them?

Overview

Educational toys for 6-year-olds help kids learn and master age-appropriate skills or a particular topic while also having fun. These toys can help complement and even enhance school lessons and scholastic understanding.

They might not even realize they’re learning because they’re having fun with play.

What skills do 6-year-olds already know, and which do they need to learn or master at this age? What should you look for when choosing the best and most suitable learning toys?

Find the answers to these questions plus our gift guide to the 21 best toys for your 6-year-old below.

What Toys Are Good For Early Childhood Development (For 6-Year-Olds)?

Find toys and learning games that stimulate your child to think and use their imagination. These toys also make the best gifts for 6-year-olds.

Even at this age, building blocks and wooden play sets remain ideal because they can help enhance their early engineering, planning, and problem-solving skills.

Choosing age-appropriate toys suitable for kids’ skills and learning milestones is important.

You might notice, however, that many toys for 6-year-olds (or younger kids) can still be ideal for a 10-year-old. That’s why choosing high-quality toys is important because they can last longer.

Tips When Choosing Educational Toys for 6-Year-Olds

Toy Safety For 6-Year-Olds

Choking hazards aren’t likely to be a big concern at this age. It’s important, however, to reduce the risks of exposure to chemicals and other unsafe materials.

Read and bookmark “Our Family Health & Safety Philosophy” for your guidance.

Age-Appropriate Toys & Learning Milestones Of A 6-Year-Old

The following are the most common milestones of children beginning six years old and beyond: (1)

Understand the concept of letters and numbers
Understand and can copy/draw shapes
Know some sight words and can read age-appropriate books
Know simple (1-digit) addition and subtraction
Can different right from left
Can explain certain concepts, such as their understanding of how things work
Can understand and follow simple instructions
Can enjoy board games
Likely to enjoy drawing and painting
Likely to have social skills (sharing, cooperating, etc.)

Learning & Entertainment Value: What Do Most 6-Year-Olds Like To Play With & What Toys Do They Like Most?

Here are some toys that 6-year-olds enjoy playing with:

Building toys (LEGOs and smaller blocks are popular for this age group)
Crafting toys and materials
STEM toys (science, technology, engineering, and math)
STEAM toys (STEM + arts)
Games and puzzles
Montessori toys
Musical toys
Stuffed animals
Toy sets for pretend play (e.g., dolls, figurines, costumes, etc.)
Toys for learning practical skills
Books (e.g., short stories, nursery rhymes, and doodle or activity books)
Smart toys, robotics or coding starter kits, and electronics
Wooden educational toys

In choosing gifts for 6-year-olds, try science kits, toy cars, favorite dolls, or toys from popular Disney movies. They’re usually best sellers in stores and online shops because these are the toys that kids in this age group are likely to love.

Smart Toys & Screen Time

Smart and electronic toys teach your child modern, technology-related skills and can be helpful for other learning aspects (reading, vocabulary, math, etc.).

However, be sure to limit screen time to avoid issues such as: (2)

Behavioral problems, including violence
Irregular sleep
Impaired academic performance
Obesity

Educational Benefits: What Skills Do Educational Toys For 6-Year-Olds Help Develop?

Cognitive skills (concentration, IQ, & problem-solving skills)
EQ (emotional quotient) & social skills
Fine & gross motor skills
Imagination & creative skills
Language & reading skills
STEM skills

The 21 Best Educational Toys For Six-Year-Olds

STEM & Montessori-inspired Toys

ALEX Toys Explorer Magic Science Kit – For Wizards Only (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Hands-on science kit

Product Safety: Contains chemicals; follow safety instructions (WARNING: Use with adult supervision!)

Materials: Baking soda, citric acid, vegetable oil, red cabbage juice powder, and other chemicals

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning

Extra Features: Includes instruction kit and “magic wand”

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains chemicals; requires adult supervision

Customer Reviews:

“This was my 6 year old‘s first science kit and he loved it. Great introduction to chemical reactions.” – Reviewer on Smart Kids Planet

“Waste of money, pointless experiments that are so underwhelming.” – Reviewer on Amazon

KiwiCo Paleontologist Starter Kit (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Hands-on science kit for digging miniature dinosaur “fossils” with tools

Product Safety: Non-toxic, child-safe materials

Materials: Modeling clay, plaster of Paris, paper, sticks, and paint

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, concentration, fine motor skills, and cognitive learning

Extra Features: Includes paleontologist information folder and an excavation block with “dinosaur bones”

Certification: Passed independent, third-party product safety tests

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can contain choking risks to smaller/younger children

Customer Reviews:

“My kids loved this set. They had fun working together to find the bones.” – Reviewer on KiwiCo

“The rubber dinosaur parts don’t stay together especially the feet but otherwise really cute.” – Reviewer on KiwiCo

MindWare 12 Days of Science (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Hands-on science kit with 12 different, self-contained experiments

Product Safety: Contains different chemicals; follow safety instructions

Materials: Plastic test tubes and chemicals

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive skills

Extra Features: One experiment per test tube

Certification: CPSIA (Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act), CPSC (U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission), and ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials)

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some experiments require certain things (e.g., sugar) that aren’t included in the kit

Customer Reviews:

“My son loves this gift, gets him interested in science/reading.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“I deducted a star because there is no explanation of the actual science taking place.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Fat Brain Toys Disgusting Science Kit (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Hands-on science kit with “gross” theme

Product Safety: Passes toy safety standards but contains chemicals; follow safety instructions (WARNING: Use with adult supervision!)

Materials: Cornstarch, soap base, psyllium husk, yeast, and plastic

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, concentration, and cognitive learning

Extra Features: Includes experiments with smelly gasses and burping slime

Certification: ASTM and ICTI (International Council of Toy Industries)

Made In: Taiwan

Product Recall: None

Cons: The product contains chemicals that can be harmful when mishandled – only use with adult supervision

Customer Reviews:

“My 6 year old girl was excited about the “disgusting” factor.” – Reviewer on Fat Brain Toys

“…Once completed was not intrigued enough to pursue again.” – Reviewer on Target

Little Passports World Edition – Subscription Box (6-10 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Subscription box of different travel-themed activities

Product Safety: Designed by professional educators; no sharp parts

Materials: Cardboard and paper

Age Range: 6-10 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, creativity, fine motor skills, and cognitive development

Extra Features: Includes travel pack, activity booklet, and collectible souvenirs

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some kits can contain small parts that can be choking hazards to smaller/younger children

Customer Reviews:

“My granddaughter was thrilled to receive the world addition. She loved her passport and the animals of the world.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“It’s WAY over priced.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Words, ABCs, Numbers, & Colors

Melissa & Doug Flip-to-Win Hangman Travel Game (6-8 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Wooden and portable hangman game board

Product Safety: Free from lead (a heavy metal) and other toxic materials

Materials: Whiteboard with wooden frame, plastic tiles, and marker

Age Range: 6-8 years old

Educational Value: ABC recognition and spelling practice

Extra Features: Includes 37 plastic tiles for flipping, self-storing dry-erase marker, and erasable whiteboard

Certification: CPSIA; meets US, EU, and other safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the marker and whiteboard don’t work as intended

Customer Reviews:

“Children and parents enjoyed it. And the pieces don’t get lost!” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The ‘white board’ part didn’t wipe clean. After just one use it was stained dark and cloudy.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Learning Resources Skill Builders! First Grade Reading Activity Set (6-10 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Informative learning set for reading

Product Safety: No sharp parts

Materials: Laminated paper and plastic

Age Range: 6-10 years old

Educational Value: Critical thinking, spelling, and reading

Extra Features: Includes a guide, word sorter, and carrying case

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains small parts (with potential choking risks to younger children)

Customer Reviews: None yet

Educational Games & Smart Toys

Skillmatics Rapid Rumble Board Game (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: STEM-themed card card

Product Safety: Safety tested and certified for ages 18 months+

Materials: Card stock (thicker than paper but thinner than cardboard)

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Social and communication, problem-solving, decision-making, and creative thinking skills

Extra Features: Includes a wooden die and sand timer

Certification: ASTM and CPSIA

Made In: India (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the game is too difficult to play

Customer Reviews:

“This was a fun, fast paced “thinking” game that can be played by those 6 yrs & up.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The categories are very hard…” – Reviewer on Amazon

Osmo Genius Kit + Family Game Night – For iPad Or Amazon Fire Tablets (6-10 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Smart toy with pieces for hands-on STEM learning

Product Safety: BPA-free (bisphenol-A, a toxic chemical in plastic manufacturing)

Materials: Cardboard and plastic

Age Range: 6-10 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, spatial and visual problem-solving skills, pattern recognition, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes stackable storage box

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey and requires a smart device (either Amazon Fire or iPad); some complaints about design flaws

Customer Reviews:

“Kids love it! Helps build math and language skills.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Many of the exercises complete successfully while my child is still working on them and they’re actually incomplete.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Educational Building Sets & Puzzles

Melissa & Doug World Map Floor Puzzle – 33 Piece Set (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Educational puzzle

Product Safety: No sharp edges, and free from lead or other toxic materials

Materials: Extra-thick cardboard

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Shape recognition, problem-solving skills, and hand-eye coordination

Extra Features: Has wipe-clean surfaces

Certification: CPSIA and other US or EU safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the puzzle pieces don’t fit together

Customer Reviews:

“This is a fantastic puzzle! Loved the non traditional puzzle piece shapes.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“The puzzle pieces, other than some of the edges, are not cut like a traditional puzzle so they do not “lock” together.” – Reviewer on Amazon

LEGO Wild Animal Rescue Missions (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: 246-piece set of LEGO toys

Product Safety: Child-safe materials that exceed toy safety standards; free from toxic chemicals

Materials: Plastic

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Fine motor skills, early engineering, planning, hand-eye coordination, and social skills

Extra Features: Includes different parts for creating custom rescue and mission vehicles

Certification: US, European, and global toy safety standards

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains many small parts that can be choking risks to younger kids; doesn’t come with a printed instruction manual

Customer Reviews:

“The missions are very fun and then you can keep using the pieces afterwards to continue the adventures!” – Reviewer on LEGO

“I had to use my phone to let my son build it.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Learning Resources Dive into Shapes! Geometry Building Set (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: 3D geometric shape building set

Product Safety: Child-friendly materials; no sharp parts

Materials: Plastic and paper

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, planning, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes 15 double-sided cards

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the sticks break easily

Customer Reviews:

“Great kit my 5yr old love it. Many things to make or create yourself.” – Reviewer on Learning Resources

“8 pieces broke during the first play!” – Reviewer on Walmart

Mindware Mystery Mosaics – Color By Number (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Coloring activity book with coordinating numbers

Product Safety: Meets toy quality and safety standards

Materials: Paper

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Visual perception skills, creativity, and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes fold-out double spreads

Certification: CPSIA, ASTM, and CPSC

Made In: USA

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that the paper isn’t high-quality; number-matched colored pencils are sold separately

Customer Reviews:

“These mosaics kept my kids busy for hours!” – Reviewer on Amazon

“They have a colour legend but if you don’t by their colour pencils you are left trying to match what you have to their legend which can be difficult.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Musical Toys

Loog Pro Acoustic Kids Guitar (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Authentic, child-sized 3-string acoustic guitar

Product Safety: Made of natural wood

Materials: Wood body and standard steel strings

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, music skills, cognitive development, and hand-eye coordination

Extra Features: Includes free video lessons, chord flashcards, and access to the Loog Guitar app

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Can be pricey for a toy; some complaints about quality (e.g., broken strings or body)

Customer Reviews:

“The construction is of very high quality, as is the finish.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“We’ve only had the loog guitar for a couple of months and it already broke!” – Reviewer on Amazon

Little Passports Samurai Drum – Craft Around The World (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Crafting kit for a playable musical instrument

Product Safety: Designed by professional educators; no sharp parts

Materials: Cardboard, yarn, paper, and sticks

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, music skills, hand-eye coordination, planning, and early engineering skills

Extra Features: Introduces the Japanese culture and music; includes a sticker sheet and a penpal letter from Japan

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: USA

Product Recall: None

Cons: No reviews yet to compare other customers’ experiences

Customer Reviews: None

Creative & Artsy Toys For 6-Year-Olds

Melissa & Doug Created by Me! Flower Fleece Quilt (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: No-sew crafting kit for making a customizable quilt

Product Safety: Free from heavy metals (i.e., lead) and other toxic chemicals

Materials: Soft and thick fleece cloth pieces

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity

Extra Features: Includes pre-cut square cloth pieces with fringes for tying into knots to connect (your child can choose any pattern they want)

Certification: CPSIA (US), EU, and other toy safety standards

Made In: China (according to Amazon)

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints about missing colors or cloth pieces

Customer Reviews:

“Love the colors and easy to make for my 6 year old grandaughter!” – Reviewer on Melissa & Doug

“We are missing a dark pink square!!!!” – Reviewer on Amazon

Kid Made Modern Enchanting Craft Kit (6+ years old)

Pros & Best Features: Colorful crafting kit for making 250+ designs

Product Safety: Meets safety and quality standards; products are designed and evaluated for potential design risks and hazards

Materials: Cloth, felt, paper, glitter, and plastic

Age Range: 6+ years old

Educational Value: Creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, planning, hand-eye coordination, and problem-solving skills

Extra Features: Includes rhinestones and googly eyes

Certification: Certified independent third-party laboratories

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Contains many small parts that can be choking hazards to younger/smaller children; some complaints about the lack of crafting guides or instructions included in the box

Customer Reviews:

“I think this is a really cute set for creative girls.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“No instructions to create the adorable creatures shown on the outside of the box!” – Reviewer on Amazon

Toys For Learning Life Skills

Toy Pal 7-in-1 Engineering Building Set (6-12 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Engineering-themed building set

Product Safety: Tested 100% safe from harmful chemicals; free from phthalate, heavy metals lead and cadmium, and BPA

Materials: Plastic

Age Range: 6-12 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, early engineering and mechanics, creativity, imagination, hand-eye coordination, practical life skills (using appropriate tools), and fine motor skills

Extra Features: Includes box, realistic tools (wrench and screwdriver), and a step-by-step guide for building seven models

Certification: Third-party certification with rigorous lab tests

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some complaints that projects are too complicated for kids to build; small parts (choking risks)

Customer Reviews:

“It was durable & comes with appropriate tools to assemble!” – Reviewer on Amazon

“A little too advanced for 7 year olds. My grandson quickly grew frustrated.” – Reviewer on Toy Pal

KiwiCo Yummy Crate – Subscription Kit (6-14 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Food-themed subscription box with a specialty tool for a provided recipe

Product Safety: Rigorous tests to ensure all toy safety standards are met

Materials: Paper

Age Range: 6-14 years old

Educational Value: STEAM learning, practical life skills (food preparation and cooking), planning, creativity, and coordination

Extra Features: Includes kid-friendly recipes, easy-to-use shopping list, and other food-related activities

Certification: Certified by independent, third-party product safety testing labs

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Doesn’t include ingredients; can be pricey

Customer Reviews: None yet

Educational Books & Learning Materials For 6-Year-Olds

Energy: Physical Science for Kids (5-8 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Science-themed picture book for kids

Product Safety: Not indicated

Materials: Paper

Age Range: 5-8-year-olds

Educational Value: STEM learning, vocabulary, and reading skills

Extra Features: Includes a glossary of scientific terms and easy science experiments

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Some customers wanted more details in the book

Customer Reviews:

“Great learning book. Simplifies learning for my son.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“Wish it had a little more detail. 6.5year old wanted more depth.” – Reviewer on Amazon

Crazy Choices for 6-Year-Olds by Mat Waugh (6 years old)

Pros & Best Features: Fun-filled trivia and activity book for kids

Product Safety: Not indicated

Materials: Paper

Age Range: 6 years old

Educational Value: STEM learning, vocabulary, and reading skills

Extra Features: Includes a trivia game

Certification: Not indicated

Made In: Not indicated

Product Recall: None

Cons: Only a few reviews from customers

Customer Reviews:

“This book didn’t disappoint 🙂 It is age appropriate my son can read it himself easily.” – Reviewer on Amazon

“My 6 and 7 year old boys were hooked and can’t wait for a sequel.” – Reviewer on Mat Waugh’s website (author)

FAQs

What Age Are Educational Toys For?

Learning toys are for everyone, young and old alike.

There are plenty of Montessori baby toys or toddler toys for you to consider. For example, the “simple” shape attached to a rattle or play gym can already stimulate cognitive learning.

For 6-year-olds, fidget toys and stickers can be as important as the hands-on science kits or the more advanced smart toys with LED lights. They might be “simpler,” but they’re also essential in developing other areas of learning, such as fine motor skills and creativity.

Older kids also get to learn various skills using toys that are appropriate for their age.

How Many Toys Should My 6-Year-Old Have?

There isn’t a fixed number of toys that children need to or “should” have, but remember that quality is better than quantity.

Consider toys that can be used for different purposes, such as crafting toys that turn into musical instruments or pretend toys to enhance their imagination.

Also, follow your children’s cues (e.g., keep toys they’re least interested in).

How Are Learning Toys For 6-Year-Olds Different From Those For 5-Year-Olds?

Toys for 6-year-olds are usually more complicated and can teach more skills than toys for 5-year-olds (or younger).

When choosing age recommendations, developers and manufacturers often consider children’s interests and skills.

Where Can I Buy Learning Toys For My 6-Year-Old?

Other Gift Ideas & Learning Toys For Different Age Groups

Toy Recalls To Monitor

Rollerblade USA Inline Skates Recall (2023)
Calico Critters recall (2023)
Kids Preferred recall (2023)
Target Toy recall (2022)
Haba recall (2022)
Kidoozie Play Tent recall (2022)
Monti Kids recall (2022)

References

(1) https://www.choc.org/primary-care/ages-stages/6-to-12-years/

(2) https://www.mayoclinichealthsystem.org/hometown-health/speaking-of-health/children-and-screen-time