This Under-$50 Pen Lets Kids Experiment With 3D Printing at Home

At age 6, boys are fully into elementary school — they've hit the big time. They have a better grasp of their strength, balance, coordination and fine motor skills. They're also intellectually ready for more complex games and challenges, since they can understand more sophisticated rule sets. They also enjoy playing both with family and peers. So for this age group, the best gifts are "toys that promote physical activity, attention and cognitive development," says Magdalena Oledzka, P.T., Ph.D. "Social interactions are best for this age group."

Six-year-olds also have better communication skills and love engaging in pretend play, says Gayle Kligman, M.Ed, the executive chairman of Family of Kidz. So it's great to look for toys that allow boys to continue to build on the skills they've learned at school while adding in elements of imaginative play.

But no toy can benefit a 6-year-old if they don't actually want to play with it. That's where the Good Housekeeping Institute comes in. Our product testing experts evaluate toys year round, staying on top of new toy trends, testing toys for safety and, most importantly, getting toys in to the hands of actual kids, who can give their own feedback. (The best of the best go on to win Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards.) With all that in mind, we've put together this list of the best toys and gifts for 6-year-old boys in 2022.

What has tested well with this picky crowd? STEM toys, board games and trendy items like fidget toys are at the top of the list, along with DIY kits that let them see and do art in new ways.