Ask any six year old what they’d like to receive for their birthday or Christmas and the most likely answer will be ‘toys’. But when it comes to buying toys for a six year old, where do you begin? Thankfully, I’ve done the hard work for you and tested the best gifts for six year olds to see which captured the attention of my little testers.
Over the course of the summer, we gathered more than 50 toys and a group of eager and excited little friends to test everything from budget buys to go-all-out gifts. From electronics to building blocks, bikes to rollerskates, slime to stickers, my living room floor was strewn with toys of all different shapes, sizes and price points.
Many of the toys were used and tested daily, by a group of different children, and over the six-week summer holidays. We also took these products away with us in the car, on holiday, camping, to the beach and to the park. Some gifts – like the overall best buy – were used as sleep aids, and came in particularly handy on long car journeys.
This final list of the best gifts for six-year-olds comprises toys that all deliver on attention, value for money, and wow factor. Having also extensively tested the best toys for five year olds last year, I knew how important it was to find products that I not only felt confident recommending to others, but would stand the test of time.
Read more: 10 best kids’ headphones, tested
The best gifts for 6-year-olds are:
- Best overall – KidiZoom printcam: £57.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best budget option – Smyths spin n’ stunt remote control car: £10, Smythstoys.com
- Best electronic gift – Yoto Player third generation: £99.99, Amazon.co.uk
- Best outdoor gift – Bestway xtreme air trampoline: £149.99, Amazon.co.uk
Read more: The best gifts for 4-year-olds, tested and approved by kids
Vtech kidizoom printcam
Best: gift for six-year-olds overall
Age range: 5+
Why we love it
- Easy to use controls
- Photos can be printed on the spot
- Flip-up lens for selfies
Take note
- Replacement paper is needed
My mini tester loved using the kidizoom printcam, a fun and easy-to-use camera, to document their summer holidays. It’s clearly been designed with kids in mind, with an ergonomic frame that’s easy to hold and simple controls that he quickly mastered without help. As well as capturing memories in an instant, the printer button means snaps can be easily printed on the spot.
The flip up lens was a hit for taking selfies. For parents, the films and photos are easily transferable via a USB, so you can free up space on the camera if needed. Best of all, the photos are printed onto thermal paper so there’s no need to replace the ink. You will need to replace the printer paper when it runs out, but we managed to print off a lot of photos over the course of a month before replacing the roll.
Buy now £57.99, Amazon.co.uk
Smyths spin n’ stunt remote control car
Best: budget gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 6+
Why we love it
- Flips and spins provide plenty of entertainment
- Good value
Take note
- Works faster indoors
For £10, the Smyths spin n’ stunt remote control car really is a steal, especially if you’re buying for one of the many whole-class school parties that kids are invited to at this age. With a maximum speed of 4.8mp/h it’s by no means the fastest remote control car on the market, but given that it can flip and perform 360 spins, it still provides plenty of entertainment.
The flip element is particularly engaging, with my little tester loving the fact that it can flip over objects. We found it worked better indoors compared with at the park on the grass, but for £10 you really can’t go wrong.
Buy now £10, Smythstoys.com
Yoto Player third generation
Best: gift for six-year-olds to reduce screentime
Age range: 3-12+
Why we love it
- Audio, clock and night light all in one
- Easy for six-year-olds to use
- Wide range of stories, music and educational options
Take note
- Cards and accessories sold separately
- Pricey
While not as compact as the Yoto mini, the original Yoto audio player is still conveniently portable thanks to the handle on top. In fact, the Yoto player and my mini tester have become inseparable, with the audio player accompanying us on many road trips across the holidays and becoming an indispensable part of my six-year-old’s bedtime routine.
The Ultimate Football Heroes cards were my tester’s favourite, but there are a wide range of stories, music and educational options to suit all interests. On top of providing hours of entertainment, the design is aesthetically pleasing and we loved the accompanying jacket and card holder, plus the night light and clock functions.
Read more: How the Yoto player helped us cut down on screen time with (almost) no drama
Buy now £99.99, Amazon.co.uk
Lego Smart Play: training house with Pikachu
Best: lego gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 6+
Why we love it
- Encourages independent play
- Interactive Smart Play technology
- Wireless charger is easy to use
Featuring 400 pieces, the Lego Smart Play training house with Pikachu was one of the largest sets my tester tackled. It took between one to two hours to build, with minimal adult intervention needed to keep him on track. He loved the process of building the house and Pikachu, and was excited to try out the interactive Smart Play technology.
The standout feature was the rechargeable Smart Brick, which brings Pikachu to life with lights, sounds and reactions – my tester loved ‘charging’ Pikachu’s electricity by shaking him, and seeing him sleep. As a parent I appreciated the wireless charger, as you simply place the Smart Brick on it rather than fiddling with cables.
While this set is more expensive than a standard set, the interactive element gives it an edge over Lego builds that are simply displayed once finished. It certainly ignited my little tester’s imagination.
Buy now £55, Amazon.co.uk
Micro Scooter cruiser LED
Best: scooter gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 5-12
Why we love it
- Solid build
- Comfortable wide handlebars
- Stable footplate
- Glides smoothly over cracks and bumps
Take note
- Pricier than some scooters
My six-year-old was immediately taken with this Micro cruiser scooter, not least because its vivid blue frame and motion-powered light-up wheels look impressive. But it’s the reassuringly solid build that really sets it apart. This feels notably less rickety than lighter, smaller scooters: the wide handlebars, low footplate and large 200mm wheels make it stable and comfortable for longer journeys, and we found it glided smoothly over the cracks and bumps that usually slow a school-run scoot down.
The adjustable handlebars mean there’s plenty of growing room, and the one-click folding mechanism is useful for popping it in the car or storing it at home. Although it's designed for children aged five to 12, its 100kg maximum rider weight means it also feels sufficiently robust for a lighter adult to take for a brief spin, if necessary. It’s an investment, but one that feels designed to be used hard, handed down and repaired, rather than quickly outgrown – my tester is a firm fan.
Buy now £154.95, Amazon.co.uk
Miffy kids cabin trolley
Best: holiday gift for six-year-olds
Why we love it
- Smooth spinner wheels
- Compression straps and zipped sections keep things organised
Take note
- Premium gift option
This adorable Miffy suitcase made my six-year-old feel very grown-up when it came to packing for a holiday. The cabin-sized case is large enough to hold a decent amount of clothing while still being manageable for little hands. The four spinner wheels rolled smoothly enough for my tester to wheel it independently through airports and hotels, too.
Inside, compression straps and zipped sections helped keep things organised, while the moulded corners and five-year guarantee gave us more confidence in its durability than cheaper novelty cases. We particularly liked pairing it with the matching packing cubes (£40, Caseluggage.com), which made it easier for my child to find their clothes (and for us to organise the dirty washing!). It is a bigger-budget travel gift, but it promises longevity – and looks the part.
Buy now £125, Caseluggage.com
Top Trumps world football stars
Best: stocking filler gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 6+
Why we love it
- Portable
- Fun for little football fans
- Reasonably priced
Take note
- Cards are easy to lose
For my football crazy mini tester, this Top Trumps world football stars set provided hours of entertainment – and admittedly for us parent testers, too. Small enough to carry in a crossbody bag, I whipped out this nifty game at restaurants, in the car, on train journeys, while waiting in queues and at the beach.
The portability is its biggest strength: unlike larger games, it can come almost anywhere. My tester was first introduced to Top Trumps aged five, but this football version really came into its own now he can independently read the different categories and compare the players. The only downside? If only our little tester had the inclination to pick up and put away the cards…
Buy now £6.21, Amazon.co.uk
Woom go 4
Best: outdoor gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 6-8 (115 - 130 cm height)
Why we love it
- Brakes are easy to use
- Easy to switch between gears
- Lightweight
- Quick release front wheel for fitting in car boot
Take note
- Expensive
My mini tester has only just transitioned to using gears, but he took to the Woom go 4 bike like a duck to water. With 20in wheels the frame is recommended for 6-8 year olds, and we found it fits our tester comfortably with plenty of room to grow into it, thanks to the adjustable saddle.
The bike is ergonomically designed, meaning the brakes are easy to use and the gears can be comfortably twisted through the seven different options. The visual gear indicator also helped my little tester get familiar with what gear they were in.
The bike feels lightweight compared with other brands we’ve tried, which is handy if you have to carry it back from the park. I also appreciated the handy quick-release front wheel when trying to squeeze the bike into my small car boot. We loved the bright and bold colourway, and my kid tester enjoyed the BMX-style bars.
Read more: Best kids’ bikes, reviewed
Buy now £485, Woom.com
Fat Brain Toys air toobz
Best: construction gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 3+
Why we love it
- Innovative
- Connectors are easy to assemble for six-year-olds
- Generous battery life
Take note
- Expansion packs needed to create bigger designs
The Fat Brain Toys air toobz was one of those toys that immediately stopped our child testers in their tracks. Air toobz lets children build their own twisting network using six corner tubes, a T-tube, funnel and 12 connectors, before switching on the rechargeable turbine and watching 20 colourful foam balls shoot, hover and fly through the system.
The connectors were easy enough for my six-year-old to use, while the three-hour battery life is generous considering the speed of air flow. It’s got a premium price tag, but watching the foam balls fly through the tubes (and trying to dodge them) kept us entertained for hours. While there are a number of different configurations you can make, you may want to consider buying some of the additional expansion packs and accessories for more play options.
Buy now £140, Argos.co.uk
Smiggle aspire insulated stainless steel spritz drink bottle 500ml
Best: practical gift for six-year-olds
Why we love it
- The cooling spritz function is a genuine hit
- Keeps water cool
Take note
- Matching accessories are sold separately
Smiggle has a strong foothold in the back-to-school market and, having tested this nifty water bottle, I can see why. Part of the aspire range, this insulated stainless-steel bottle kept water cool during hot summer days, but it was the built-in spritz function that really won over my little tester. A quick spray of cool water became a novelty in itself, making this more exciting than a standard bottle and it encouraged him to stay hydrated.
At £20, it is more expensive than a basic plastic alternative, and the matching products (backpack, pencil case and lunch box) add to the cost if you want the full set. But the combination of practicality, fun and eye-catching design makes it a standout gift or stocking filler for your six-year-old.
Buy now £20, Next.co.uk
Bestway 10 ft xtreme air trampoline
Best: garden gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 6+ (maximum weight capacity 110kg)
Why we love it
- Easy to assemble
- Great for active kids
Take note
- Requires space
- Pricey
If you have the space and the will to put one together, a trampoline makes a great birthday gift for active six-year-olds. I was pleasantly surprised by how straightforward the Bestway xtreme air trampoline was to assemble; with two adults working together, it took us no more than 30 minutes to put up. The spring-pulling tool that comes with the setup kit was particularly useful, making the usually fiddly and tiring job of attaching the springs much quicker, and far less hard on the hands.
The Bestway xtreme air trampoline basketball game (£24.99, Amazon.co.uk) is a worthwhile addition and encourages plenty of competitive games in the garden.
Buy now £179.99, Amazon.co.uk
Mattel KPop Demon Hunters Rumi singing doll
Best: doll gift for six-year-olds
Age range: 4+
Why we love it
- Sings at the touch of a button
- Dressed in a fun outfit
Take note
- Doesn’t come with accessories
Dressed in their Golden performance outfit, this singing Rumi character doll will delight KPop Demon Hunters fans. Singing Golden at the touch of a button, and able to hold five poses, this doll not only kept my testers interested, but inspired them to create a KPop Demon Hunter show with other teddies and dolls.
While this doll doesn’t come with accessories like others, the fact that it plays a rather catchy pop song doesn’t limit its appeal. Mira and Zoey are sold separately, so you may find the gift recipient wanting to buy the other two to complete the set.
Buy now £34.45, Amazon.co.uk
John Adams lockitz luxury studio
Best: craft gift for 6-year-olds
Why we love it
- Engaging for six-year-olds
- Variety of combinations
Take note
- Lots of plastic components
The John Adams lockitz luxury studio set kept my little tester and his friends completely engaged on a hot summer’s day. My ever-restless and active tester even admitted that it kept him “very occupied”, which is no mean feat. The kit lets children make six bag charms and two necklaces by filling and decorating the Lockitz with beads, stickers and other tiny accessories, so there is plenty of scope to personalise each creation.
There are lots of plastic components, which feels like a drawback for a creative set, and younger children may need help with some fiddlier pieces. However, compared with a one-off craft kit, the variety of combinations gave my testers more reasons to keep coming back to it. Plus we loved the little magic zoom beads, which you look into to read motivational messages.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon.co.uk
What is the best gift for six-year-olds?
The KidiZoom printcam came out on top for us as the best gift for six-year-olds. Not only did we use it every day, but we turned the printed photos into a summer holiday memory book keepsake. For a budget gift, you really can’t go wrong with a Spin n’ Stunt remote control car or Top Trumps set.
If you’ve got a bigger budget to play with, the Yoto player, which my mini tester now carries everywhere with him, offers the gift of imagination and thousands of hours of storytelling all in one box, and without the need for a screen. Meanwhile the Fat Brain Toys air toobz combines construction with a serious wow factor.
How we tested gifts for six-year-olds
When choosing the longlist, I considered all types of personalities and interests, ensuring I tested gifts across different categories from garden and outdoors to crafts, building, dressing up and more.
When deciding the shortlist and overall winner, I took a number of factors into consideration, including how much the gift engaged and captured the attention of my child testers – and importantly, whether they kept returning to it. I also considered whether the products had longevity, value for money, and offered something unique. I immediately discounted anything that broke, didn’t live up to its packaging or claims, or that I didn’t feel that justified its price point. The main factors I considered were:
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
As with all IndyBest reviews, no toy or tech can be found in Kayleigh Rattle’s reviews for kids unless it has been approved by her and her young tester. As she did when recommending the best gifts for five-year-olds, Kayleigh uses a hands-on testing approach and has a thorough criteria, plus value for money is never far from her mind.
Want more recommendations? We’ve rounded up the best gifts for babies and newborns
