This Cool Pen Lets Kids Experiment With 3D Printing at Home

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By the time kids are 6, they're starting to know what topics interest them most. And there's no better way to nurture their interest than through play. If they love science, there's plenty of STEM sets that let them do experiments or solve problems at home. If they love art, there are DIY crafts and kits that'll let them make the most of their creativity. And if they just love to play, there are board games that'll hone their critical thinking and play sets that'll get their imaginations all fired up.

So, when it comes time to get gifts for kids of this age, the hardest part is knowing which ones to choose. The Good Housekeeping Institute takes the subject of play very seriously, testing toys with the same rigorous process it uses for home appliances or beauty items. First, experts call in their favorites and test them in the labs for safety and durability. Then, they send the toys into homes where actual 6-year-olds can weigh in on if they're fun to use or not. (And, fine, parents get to give feedback, too, but they're not as important as the kids.) The best of the best go on to win Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards. This year, these rose to the top as the best toys and gifts for 6-year-olds in 2023, including some new and old Toy Award winners.

• The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination Picture Book, $14 on amazon.com
  

• Crayola Light-Up Tracing Pad, $18 on amazon.com

• Lite-Brite Touch, $30 on amazon.com

• 3Doodler Start+ Essentials 3D Pen, $40 on amazon.com

• Crazy Forts, $47 on amazon.com

Lots of their favorites really took the idea of STEAM to heart, incorporating both creative and scientific elements. And others were just plain fun. But whatever they're into, you're bound to find a gift here for any 6-year-old on your list.

Looking for more great gifts? Check out these Good Housekeeping guides:

Best Gifts for 6-Year-Old Boys | Best Gifts for 6-Year-Old Girls

100 Years of Disney Animation Icons

Disney fans and LEGO collectors will both thrill to this Seal-holding set, which lets them make Disney-inspired LEGO art that they can hang on their walls. Builders can actually make 72 different characters from the included pieces, and they can make a nine-face collage for the wall and three individual plates for others. Then, they can swap out and re-build whenever they like! Ages 6+

Lite-Brite Touch

While the old-school Lite-Brite, with the colored pegs, will always have a place in our hearts, we must admit that this one, which changes colors with a tap of a finger, is a lot easier. Good Housekeeping Institute kid testers would not stop playing with tthese — one parent said they had to run out and buy a second, because everyone wanted the one they had all the time. In addition to making pictures at a touch, it also has an animation function and a few games. Ages 6+

RELATED: The Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards

Light-Up Tracing Pad

They'll be making all-new masterpieces with this art set, which gives them a little help in the drawing department. It comes with various pictures that they can trace, but the real fun is when they start combining them and layering them on top of each other — adding accessories to a character, for example, or using shapes like stars to give the whole thing more pizzazz. It even lights up, which helps them see the lines to trace. Ages 6+

Mobile Game Maker

Kids step into the role of video game designer with a set that melds the real and virtual worlds together. First, kids draw out their levels — including characters, obstacles, hazards, goals and movable objects — on paper with markers. Then they can scan their drawing into an app that'll turn it into a playable level, which they can then tweak and add power-ups. Good Housekeeping Institute testers were amazed to see their creations come to life! It's for ages 6+, but kids younger than 10 probably need adult help. Ages 6+

Holiday Fingerlings

Fingerlings re-launched this year to great fanfare, and there are four regular baby monkeys to collect, each with slightly different personalities. But if you're looking for something for the stocking or under the tree, now there are new Fingerlings that come in festive holiday garb. (This one is Snowbelle, but there's also Holly and Jolly.) And, like the regular Fingerlings, they're interactive, respond to touch and and have more than 70 different reactions. Ages 5+

The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination

With this picture book, kids are deputized to be come special agents of imagination, sharing their creativity and stories with the rest of the world. The Good Housekeeping Institute testers were won over by the incredibly detailed illustrations. "My kids especially loved the labeled map of the imagination office,” one parent reviewer said. Ages 4 – 8

RELATED: The ;Good Housekeeping Best Kids' Book Awards

Start+ Essentials 3D Pen Set

Introduce them to the world of 3D printing with this pen set. It creates plastic that hardens immediately but is not hot to touch! Kid testers really liked it, and even their parents noticed how much time they spent engaging with it. One note: Keep the end of the stylus clean, so it won't jam up. Ages 6+

Squishmallows

Any time is a good time to add to a kid's Squishmallows collection — they just can't get enough! And with options like this rainbow fox, who can blame them? Ages 3+

Squishmallows Plush Mystery Box

Add five, five-inch Squishmallows to their collection in one fell swoop! The exciting part? No one knows which ones are in the box until it's opened. This is great for anyone who loves the surprise, blind-bag experience. Ages 3+

Crazy Forts

Let them build something they can actually crawl inside with this fort-building set. It comes with rods and connectors, plus plans to help them make structures like an igloo or a rocket ship if they don't want to come up with their own designs. You do have to provide the sheets to drape over them. Ages 5+

Spooner Board Pro

When they stand on this curved board, they'll be working on their balance and coordination. Eventually they can learn twists, spins, flips and other tricks. Spooner Boards come in different colors, and there's also a smaller size — the Freestyle — for kids under 4' tall. Ages 3+

Paint by Sticker Kids: Zoo Animals

When they're sitting at a restaurant, waiting for an appointment to start or just need a bit of quiet solo time, this is the perfect activity. They'll get to make 10 intricate pictures of different animals by placing stickers into the right spaces. If they like it, there are books with other themes, like pets or undersea life. Ages 5+

Zero Gravity Sprint RC Car

This car may be small, but kids will be wowed when it drives up the wall and even onto the ceiling! And yet, it won't damage the paint on the walls. Ages 4+

Hocus Pocus Magic Show Kit

There area a lot of different skills that go into pulling off a magic trick in front of an audience. Magicians need hand-eye coordination, confidence in public speaking and creative storytelling and the ability to remember sequences of steps. They can work on all these attributes and more with this kit, which gives them enough materials and instructions to pull off 20 different magic tricks. They'll be able to access instructional videos online that'll walk them through all the steps. Ages 6+

Mini Brands Disney 100 Platinum Capsule by ZURU Limited Edition with Platinum Minis, Celebrate Disney 100

Animal Thief Money Bank

Uh-oh, there's a cat burglar on the loose! If kids put money on top of this innocent-looking box, a furry thief will poke its head out, pause for a second and then snatch the money away. Users say it has a lot of personality for a bank, and it just might encourage kids to save up their coins. Ages 3+

Schylling Nee Doh Funky Pup...Groovy Glob! Squishy, Squeezy, Stretchy Stress Fidget Balls Gift Set Party Bundle - 3 Pack (Assorted)

Original Stomp Racers

This pair of race cars is totally kid-powered — they stomp on the launchers and watch the vehicles go! Players can set up a traditional race and see which car goes farther, or they can use the included ramp and see which car will fly off it first. Ages 5+

Taco vs Burrito Family Board Games for Kids 6-8, 8-12 & Up - Fun Card Games for Kids and Families, Kids Family Game Night

Magic Mixies Magic Genie Lamp

If kids follow the magical steps correctly, they'll be given a ring that lets them summon a wish-granting genie character from the lamp. Good Housekeeping Institute testers say their kid were really involved with the summoning process and wowed by the results. After the big reveal, kids can use their ring to interact with their genie character. Ages 5+

Christmas Mystery Bean Bags

Fans of Cats vs. Pickles or Kittens vs. Gherkins will appreciate the holiday twist on the mystery, blind-bag experience. When they open it, kids will find hand-sized, bean-filled plush. But will it be an adorable cat, or a dreaded pickle? Either way, with these Christams-themed bags, the design will be festive. This set comes with two mystery packs to open. Ages 4+

Diplodocus 3-D Puzzle

The T. rex may take up most of the spotlight, but the diplodocus just looks cooler, in our opinion. This puzzle challenges kids to make a 3-D diplodocus that'll stand up on its own. Ages 4+

Creatto

The pieces of this DIY set are actually plastic tiles that interlock, kind of like a 3D puzzles, and building them can help improve fine motor skills as well as hand-eye coordination. The kit also includes LED string lights to make each creation glow in the dark. Each kit (sold separately) can make three different projects, and when they're done, they'll love displaying it in their room. Ages 6+

Good Housekeeping Kids Cook!

The experts from the Good Housekeeping Institute test kitchens have developed more than 100 simple recipes that kids can try at home. They'll be whipping up everything from smoothies to lasagna based on the easy-to-follow instructions. Ages 6+

OuiSi Original

OuiSi (pronounced "we see," as in the French and Spanish words for "yes") comes with 210 cards featuring lush, detailed photos — and how kids play with them is up to them. While they can use the cards in any open-ended way, the set does come with instructions for 12 different activities. Some challenge kids to make connections based on patterns and shapes, some are creative story-starters and there are even instructions for mindfulness activities. Ages 4+

Dash Coding Robot

Using one of five free apps, kids can code Dash to hurl LEGO bricks like a catapult, get it to act like an animal or drive like a delivery truck. As kids grow and really get into coding, they can do more advanced things using coding concepts like loops, events, conditions and sequences. Ages 5+

Plant and Grow Woodland Forest

Mushrooms are having a moment, and if kids want to get in on the trend, they can use this toadstool as both a science activity and a room decoration. It's an actual terrarium that lets them grow live plants — fast-sprouting chia seeds to be exact — but it also comes with stickers, accessories and even a gnome that'll let them decorate it to look like an enchanted woodland object. Ages 6+

Iggy Peck's Big Project Book for Amazing Architects

For kids who like art and engineering, this is an activity book with a city-planning twist. Modeled after the character in Iggy Peck, Architect, the activities encourage kids to think big (imagine a new cityscape, or what dwellings would look like on Mars) and small (design building details, like a gargoyle). Ages 4+

Roller Coaster Challenge

This game comes with cards that challenge kids to use different pieces to try and construct successful roller coaster rides. And when they want a break from the cards, they can design their own roller coaster track while building creative play skills. The set includes a game board, 39 tracks, 36 posts, one roller coaster car to test all the tracks and 40 challenge cards. Ages 6+

The Activ Flyer

Kids have an easier time throwing and catching these flying discs. The cutout center makes them easy to grasp, and they're soft so they don't hurt fingers or knuckles when they're caught. This has given them a huge following, earning nearly 15,000 five-star reviews on Amazon. Ages 3+

Battle Academy

If you have a Pokémon fan at home, you can get them off their screens and sharpening their strategy skills with this game, which walks them through how to play the Pokémon trading card game. Even those who have never played it before can pick up the up-to-date rules, and it comes with three ready-to-use decks (Pikachu, Eevee and Cinderace). Ages 6+

RELATED: The Best Pokémon Gifts for Fans of All Ages

Worlds Smallest Games

Kids love miniature versions of pretty much everything — and board games are no exception. World's Smallest has come up with playable, tiny versions of classic games, and Good Housekeeping testers loved marveling over all the little details. In addition to Battleship, you can find favorites like Battleship, Sorry, Operation, Mouse Trap and Monopoly. Ages 6+

Gnomes at Night

Made for two to four players, Gnomes at Night makes for an excellent family game night. The object of the game is to retrieve all 12 stolen treasures a thief stole from the queen and return them to her by morning. Players work with a partner to successfully navigate the gnomes through the maze without hitting any walls all before the timer ends. The stand-up maze comes with four vertical mazes, so each session will be challenging and fun. Ages 6+

Genius Starter Kit for iPad

Pair this genius starter kit with a tablet to bring game pieces and play to life. No Wi-Fi is necessary to start playing the included games, you just need the parent app and a child who's ready to learn. They can play five gaming apps and improve their skills in numbers, Tangram puzzles and words at their own pace, since the games are designed with beginner and expert levels in mind. This kit is for the iPad, but Osmo also makes kits compatible with Fire tablets. Ages 6+

Aaron Wheelz Remote-Control Wheelie Chair

Kids can control their own mini version of Aaron "Wheelz" Fotheringham, the legendary Wheelchair Motocross World Champion who is known for doing stunts in his wheelchair. Good Housekeeping Institute Experts were impressed with the speed with which it can do its spins and jumps and, if it falls over, it can right itself with the push of a button. Ages 6+

RELATED: The Best Remote-Controlled Cars for Kids

'Super Mario Bros. Wonder' Nintendo Switch Game

Mario fans old and new will find Super Mario Bros. Wonder super fun to play. It has the same side-scrolling game play the 8-bit fans remember, but new power-ups and flowers that make unexpected things happen keep the game fresh. It's a great one to gather around and play as a family. (If the cartridge won't arrive in time, there's always the digital download code.) Rated E

Marching Band Two-Sided Puzzle

You get two puzzles in one with this jigsaw set: One side features an illustration of a marching band, while the other is a grid of the instruments used in that band, so they can show off their musical knowledge. It comes with 100 pieces, which makes it a good challenge for 6-year-olds. Ages 6+

City Arctic Explorer Truck and Mobile Lab

Their imagination will be sparked with this Seal-holding LEGO building set, which comes with enough pieces to make an arctic truck and a mobile lab. The truck has a working crane and tracks that make it good for the pretend arctic terrain, and it also comes with three polar bear figures. Ages 6+

How we choose the best toys

Before including our favorite picks in an article, the Good Housekeeping Institute does rigorous toy testing to ensure we're recommending only the best. Many of our choices come from our yearly Toy Awards, where we test each item based on the following criteria:

✔️ Safety: Our engineers and analysts make sure that each toy reaches all safety standards. They also assess things like pinch points and make sure toys won’t shatter into small pieces to pose a potential choking hazard.

✔️ Ease of Use: We look at each toy to evaluate how simple it is to assemble, how well it’s constructed and how durable it is during play.

✔️ Kid Approval: Aside from testing each toy for skill-building attributes, like how well it develops social-emotional skills, all our final decisions come from more than 100 children, ages 1 to 15, who assess the fun factor!

Why trust Good Housekeeping?

For decades, the Good Housekeeping Institute has provided expert reviews and advice on everything parents and children love, including STEM toys, educational toys, sensory toys and more.

Much of the toy testing for this article was overseen by Rachel Rothman, the Good Housekeeping Institute's chief technologist and director of engineering, with the help of Marisa LaScala, Good Housekeeping's senior parenting and relationships editor. For more than 15 years, Rachel has put her training in mechanical engineering and applied mathematics to work by researching, testing and writing about parenting products. Plus, as a mom to three kids under 5, she has plenty of first-hand experience.

Marisa has covered all aspects of the world of parenting, from the postpartum years through the empty nests, since 2015, and she's pitched in with Good Housekeeping's toy coverage since 2018. She lives in New York City with her husband and daughter, who are both avid toy collectors. Marisa's family has only gotten one pickle in their Cats vs. Pickles pulls.

Shop more toys and gifts for kids

Looking for more great gifts for kids? Let the experts do all the hard work for you!

• Top-tested items: See what toys, gifts and books ranked the very highest in our Lab tests with our Good Housekeeping Best Toy Awards, our Good Housekeeping Best Kids’ Book Awards and our Good Housekeeping Parenting Awards.

• Tech for kids: Our lab experts are often asked for recommendations for digital devices for kids, and we've tested kids' phones, kids' smartwatches, kids' tablets and game consoles and to see which ones held up the best for families.

• Great learning toys: While all toys can be helpful vehicles for supporting developmental growth, we love to spotlight notably exceptional educational Toys and STEM toys as well as ones that can support social-emotional growth, like those included in our lists of the best sensory toys, pop fidget toys, Montessori toys and autism toys.

• Gifts for babies: Please the newest members on your gift list (and their parents) with these useful baby registry items, as well as gifts for babies, gifts for baby girls and gifts for baby boys. Of course, you might want to get something for new parents to help them through the hectic newborn stage.

• Gifts for toddlers: The coolest new toys in this space pull double-duty, whether it's social-emotional learning combined with motor skills, or creative play combined with language, as you can see in our gift guides for gifts for 1-year-olds, gifts for 18-month-olds, gifts for 2-year-olds and gifts for all toddlers, as well as our stocking stuffers for toddlers.

• Gifts for preschoolers: As they begin to explore the world around them on a deeper level, help them explore with STEM sets, art kits, creative toys and toys that inspire their imaginations. Find our favorites in our gifts for 3-year-olds (including gifts for 3-year-old boys and gifts for 3-year-old girls), gifts for 4-year-olds (including gifts for 4-year-old boys and gifts for 4-year-old girls) and gifts for 5-year-olds (including gifts for 5-year-old boys and gifts for 5-year-old girls).

• Gifts for big kids: By these ages, they've developed their own interests. Help them dive deeper into the subjects that most interest them, from coding to art to cartooning to history and geography, with these gifts for 6-year-olds (including gifts for 6-year-old boys and gifts for 6-year-old girls), gifts for 7-year-olds (including gifts for 7-year-old boys and gifts for 7-year-old girls), gifts for 8-year-olds (including gifts for 8-year-old boys and gifts for 8-year-old girls), and gifts for 9-year-olds (including gifts for 9-year-old boys and gifts for 9-year-old girls). It's also fun to shop for some of our best-reviewed and top-selling stocking stuffers for kids.

• Gifts for tweens: Sure, once they get old enough for an iPad or gaming console you might be at a loss of what to get them. We have you covered with engaging picks for gifts for 10-year-olds (including gifts for 10-year-old boys and gifts for 10-year-old girls), gifts for 11-year-olds (including gifts for 11-year-old boys and gifts for 11-year-old girls), and gifts for 12-year-olds (including gifts for 12-year-old boys and gifts for 12-year-old girls), or see what's trending with boys or tween girls as a whole.

• Gifts for teens: We decode what's on the lists for this picky age group, from the hottest accessories to the most-wanted tech gifts, with gifts for 13-year-old boys, gifts for 13-year-old girls, gifts for 14-year-olds, gifts for 15-year-old boys, gifts for 15-year-old girls, gifts for 16-year-olds, gifts for teen girls, gifts for teen boys and even fun stocking stuffers for teens.

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