Children aged 6 to 8 can follow instructions, read a little on their own and play games with rules. The gifts that last are the ones that grow with them: a set they can rebuild, a series they can keep reading, a game the whole family plays.
Start from how they play
Most children this age lean toward one or two kinds of play. Watching an ordinary afternoon tells you which:
- Builders take things apart and put them back together. Look at sets, marble runs and models.
- Makers want to create something to keep. Look at craft kits and art supplies.
- Movers can’t sit still. Look at outdoor toys and active games.
- Readers and collectors love facts and series. Look at books and card games.
Choosing by type matters more than choosing the newest toy.
Building
- Building bricks sets. Choose a set with instructions for more than one model.
- Magnetic building tiles. Choose large tiles with the magnets sealed inside, check the age label, and throw away any tile that cracks. Swallowed magnets can pull together inside the gut and cause serious injury. If you think a child has swallowed one, get medical help right away.
- Marble runs. Marbles are a choking hazard, so keep them away from younger siblings under three.
Making things
- Craft kits for bracelets, weaving or sewing
- A big box of art supplies: markers, colored pencils, a sketchbook and glue
- Air-dry clay
- Beginner science kits. Follow the age range on the box, and plan to do the experiments together
Reading
- The first books of a chapter book series
- A joke book or a book of riddles
- An illustrated nonfiction book about something they love, such as animals, space or how things work
Outdoors
- A kite, flown in an open space away from power lines
- A jump rope or a set of sidewalk chalk
- A scooter or a bike, with a helmet that fits snugly and carries a CPSC certification sticker. Give a helmet with any new bike, scooter or skates
Games for the family
- A card game with simple rules
- A cooperative board game, where everyone plays together against the game
- A jigsaw puzzle of 100 to 300 pieces
Games are a gift for the whole household. Plan to play the first round on the day you give it.
Screens and batteries
Many toys for this age now come with an app or need batteries. If the parents limit screen time, choose toys that work on their own. If a toy needs batteries, include them, and check that the battery cover closes with a screw, since button batteries are dangerous if swallowed. Keep spare button batteries out of reach, and if one may have been swallowed, go to the emergency room immediately.
Small parts and siblings
Most gifts for this age contain small pieces. If there are children under three in the house, store sets with small parts out of their reach and play with them at the table.
Fewer, bigger gifts
At this age, one bigger gift and a book often get more use than several smaller toys. Ask the parents what is already on the list, so you don’t give the same set as a grandparent.
