Choosing the right games for your 6-year-old can feel overwhelming with so many options available. At this age, kids are developing critical thinking skills, social abilities, and creativity. The best games not only entertain but also help them grow in these areas.
Contents
- 1. Board Games Enhance Cognitive Skills
- 2. Building Games Foster Creativity
- 3. Puzzles Develop Problem-Solving Abilities
- 4. Outdoor Games Promote Physical Activity
- 5. Educational Video Games for Interactive Learning
- 6. Card Games for Easy Fun and Communication
- 7. Role-Playing Games Boost Imagination
- 8. Music and Rhythm Games for Artistic Expression
- 9. Science Games for Inquiry-Based Learning
- 10. Apps and Digital Games for Individual Challenge
- Conclusion: Choosing the Best Games for 6 Year Olds
1. Board Games Enhance Cognitive Skills
Board games are fantastic tools for enhancing cognitive skills in 6-year-olds. They help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving abilities, and social interaction.
Snakes and Ladders: Learning Basics of Numbers
Snakes and Ladders is a classic game that introduces kids to numbers and counting. It teaches them to recognize numbers on dice, count spaces accurately, and understand basic addition. Playing this game also helps improve their patience as they wait for their turn.
- GREAT CLASSIC GAME FOR PRESCHOOLERS: Classic Chutes and Ladders is an adorable indoor game for children that has been a cherished family right of passage for decades!
- NO READING REQUIRED: This is a great game for children who haven't learned how to read yet. The numbers on the gameboard give preschoolers all they need to know!
- SKILLS: Children will learn how to count or improve upon the counting skills they already possess. As well, game play encourages basic addition.
- LEARNING GOOD DEEDS: When players land on good deeds, they can climb ladders and advance toward the winning spot. If they land on bad deeds, they will lose their place and ride the chutes back down.
- FOND MEMORIES: This classic edition features the charming graphics from the 1970's that many of us remember well!
Candy Land: Recognizing Colors and Simple Strategy
Candy Land is perfect for teaching color recognition and simple strategic thinking. Kids move their pieces based on the colors drawn from a deck of cards, helping them identify different colors quickly. The game’s straightforward rules make it easy for young children to grasp while still providing an element of strategy as they navigate through the candy-themed board.
2. Building Games Foster Creativity
Building games are fantastic for sparking creativity in young minds. They encourage imaginative play and help develop fine motor skills.
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box: Constructing with Imagination
LEGO sets have always been a favorite among kids, and the LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box is no exception. This set includes over 480 pieces in various colors and shapes, allowing your child to build anything they can imagine. The open-ended design promotes creativity, problem-solving, and spatial awareness.
- Fun and Engaging - Kids will spend hours engaging in pretend play with this medium-sized building kit. Create toy trains or tiger figurines with this classic collection of LEGO bricks in 35 different colors
- Endless Builds - This creative toy for boys and girls includes windows, toy eyes, 18 tires and toy wheel rims that can be placed on a green baseplate for kids to role-play; plus the container can be used as toy storage
- Imaginative Play - Kids can use their imagination, picking an assortment of bricks to bring to life any building toy they want with these colorful toys, fostering kids' playtime and building creativity throughout the process
- Cross Compatible - Kids won't have to stop the role play with just the LEGO Creative Brick playset as these building toys are compatible with all LEGO construction sets.
- Fun for Everyone - In this 484-piece kit, the green baseplate measures over 3 inches long and 6 inches wide; for boys and girls between the ages of 4 and 99 years old
Mega Bloks: First Builders for Early Development
Mega Bloks cater specifically to younger children with their larger, easier-to-handle blocks. The First Builders set is perfect for 6-year-olds just starting their building journey. It includes bright-colored blocks that snap together effortlessly, helping improve hand-eye coordination and basic engineering concepts.
- The #1 Junior Construction Toy in the U.S.A. Features 80 blocks in 10 shapes and 9 vibrant colors
- Build Them Up Big Building Bag is designed for little hands and growing minds
- Creative Learning Play Toddlers can build anything they imagine and learn colors
- Compatible with Other Name Brands Combine stacking toys for endless big building fun
- For Preschoolers Ages 1+ - Big blocks help to develop creativity, imagination, and fine motor skills
K’NEX Imagine Click & Construct Value Building Set: Engineering Fun
K’NEX offers another excellent option with the Imagine Click & Construct Value Building Set. With over 350 pieces, this set allows your child to create various models from cars to animals. It’s designed to enhance STEM learning by introducing basic engineering principles through fun construction play.
3. Puzzles Develop Problem-Solving Abilities
Puzzles are fantastic tools for developing problem-solving skills in 6-year-olds. They challenge young minds, enhance cognitive abilities, and provide hours of engaging fun.
Ravensburger: Fun Themes and Age-Appropriate Challenges
Ravensburger puzzles offer a variety of themes that captivate children’s interests. With age-appropriate challenges, these puzzles help improve concentration and patience. The high-quality pieces ensure durability, making them perfect for repeated use.
- LARGE FORMAT PUZZLE: The Ravensburger Cozy Boho Studio Puzzle consists of 500 larger-than-standard pieces, making it perfect for both adults and kids to handle and assemble
- VIBRANT IMAGERY: Designed by professional artist Olga, the puzzle features an eclectic and vibrant bohemian artist retreat, bringing a sense of free-spirited creativity to your puzzle-solving experience
- PERFECT INTERLOCKING FIT: Crafted with Ravensburger’s perfect interlocking fit, each piece seamlessly comes together to create a stunning picture
- GLARE-FREE QUALITY: The puzzle is made from quality materials with a matte finish, ensuring the image is vibrant, crisp, and free from glare
- FUN AND EDUCATIONAL: Not only a great source of entertainment, this puzzle also helps enhance brain function, making it a great educational tool for both kids and adults
Melissa & Doug Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles: Hands-On Learning
Melissa & Doug wooden jigsaw puzzles provide hands-on learning experiences. These sturdy wooden pieces are easy for little hands to grasp and fit together, promoting fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. The vibrant images keep kids engaged while they learn essential problem-solving techniques.
4. Outdoor Games Promote Physical Activity
Outdoor games are essential for 6-year-olds as they encourage physical activity, improve motor skills, and provide a fun way to engage with peers.
Ring Toss: Motor Skills and Healthy Competition
Ring toss games help develop your child’s hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. The Elite Sportz Ring Toss Game is an excellent choice available on Amazon. It includes durable wooden pegs and rings that are easy for kids to handle. This game promotes healthy competition, teaching children about winning gracefully and handling losses.
- Introducing the Elite Sportz Ring Toss - the perfect outdoor game for kids! This classic game is great for family fun, birthday parties, and backyard barbecues. It's a simple and fun way to keep kids entertained and active outdoors.
- The Elite Sportz Ring Toss comes with 5 durable rope rings and a sturdy wooden base with score markings. The rings are easy to throw and the base is designed to withstand the elements, so you can play this game again and again.
- This fun-filled game is perfect for developing hand-eye coordination, motor skills, and social skills. Kids will love competing with each other and trying to beat their own scores. Plus, it's a great way to get them outside and away from screens.
- The Elite Sportz Ring Toss is easy to set up and can be played almost anywhere. It's perfect for backyard fun, but it's also portable, so you can take it with you to the beach, park, or camping trip.
Bubble Making: Fun with Movement and Coordination
Bubble making is another fantastic outdoor activity that combines fun with movement. The Gazillion Bubbles Hurricane Machine offers endless bubble-making excitement for your child. It’s easy to use—just fill it with the solution, turn it on, and watch as thousands of bubbles fill the air. This game encourages running, jumping, and chasing bubbles, enhancing your child’s coordination and gross motor skills.
5. Educational Video Games for Interactive Learning
Interactive learning games can make education fun and engaging for 6-year-olds. These games combine entertainment with educational content to help kids learn while they play.
ABCmouse.com: Gamified Early Learning
ABCmouse.com offers a comprehensive early learning curriculum through gamified activities. It covers subjects like reading, math, science, and art. Kids earn tickets as rewards for completing lessons, which they can use to buy virtual items. This reward system keeps them motivated and engaged in their learning journey.
- Full standards-based curriculum for kids ages 2 to 8, for learning on any device
- Covers math, reading, science, social studies, art, music, and more, for toddlers, preschool, kindergarten, 1st grade, and 2nd grade
- Award-winning program with 10,000+ individual Learning Activities, books, videos, puzzles, printable activities, songs, games, and animations, across all school subjects
- 10 levels and over 850 lessons, plus 900+ books and activities in Spanish
- 100% safe and kid-friendly environment
Osmo – Little Genius Starter Kit: Blending Physical Pieces with Digital Play
Osmo’s Little Genius Starter Kit combines physical pieces with digital gameplay to create an interactive learning experience. The kit includes various games that teach letters, numbers, shapes, and problem-solving skills. By using tangible pieces that interact with the screen, children develop fine motor skills along with cognitive abilities.
- Actual product packaging may vary from the image displayed. Components within the box remain the same. OSMO IS MAGIC: Fun-filled & award winning learning games. Children interact with actual hand held pieces & an iPad, bringing a child's game pieces & actions to life (No WiFi necessary for game play). An Osmo Base is included, an iPad is not included, both are required for game play.
- TEACHING: Little Genius Starter Kit includes fun preschool learning toys that will transform how your child learns. The 4 educational games in the kit will help your child recognize letters and learn phonics (ABCs), develop pre-drawing skills (Squiggle Magic), identify social-emotional cues, and experiment with clothes and colors (Costume Party), and develop problem-solving skills (Stories).
- SKILLS LEARNED: 4 educational games - your child will develop creativity, imagination, fine motor skills, verbal proficiency, empathy, and spatial reasoning. These interactive learning games teach core subjects in the most innovative way possible.
- AGE & CAPABILITY: Designed for ages 3-5. Educational games engage preschoolers in core subjects by merging tactile exploration with innovative technology. Beyond fostering creativity and cognitive skills, these educational toys help your child learn in a stress-free environment with instant feedback and encouragement.
- WHAT'S IN THE BOX: Osmo Base & Reflector for iPad, 19 cardboard pretend play costume pieces, 38 silicone sticks/rings (BPA Free and Dishwasher Safe) to practice letter forming, silicone game play mat, stackable storage for game pieces & 4 Game Apps: ABCs, Costume Party, Stories, and Squiggle Magic.
LeapFrog Academy: Interactive Learning Adventures
LeapFrog Academy provides a subscription-based service offering hundreds of interactive lessons across multiple subjects such as math, reading, and science. Each lesson is designed as an adventure where kids solve problems to progress through different levels. This platform adapts to your child’s pace ensuring personalized learning experiences.
6. Card Games for Easy Fun and Communication
Card games are perfect for 6-year-olds to enjoy easy fun while enhancing communication skills. They offer a blend of entertainment and learning, making them ideal for young children.
Uno: Mastering Colors and Numbers
Uno is a classic card game that helps kids master colors and numbers. It’s simple yet engaging, requiring players to match cards by color or number until someone runs out of cards. This game promotes quick thinking and strategic planning.
Product Review:
The Mattel Uno Card Game is highly rated on Amazon with over 100,000 reviews averaging 4.8 stars. Parents love how it keeps their children entertained while teaching them essential skills like color recognition and counting.
- UNO is the classic family card game that's easy to learn and so much fun to play!
- In a race to deplete your hand, match one of your cards with the current card shown on top of the deck by either color or number.
- Strategize to defeat your competition with special action cards like Skips, Reverses, Draw Twos and color-changing Wild cards.
- When you're down to one card, don't forget to shout 'UNO!'
- This fun family card game is perfect for adults, teens and kids 7 years old and up.
Go Fish: Learning Strategy and Memory Recall
Go Fish is another fantastic card game that aids in developing strategy and memory recall. Players ask each other for specific cards to form pairs, improving their ability to remember which player has which cards.
Product Review:
The Regal Games Original Go Fish Card Game Set includes vibrant illustrations that captivate children’s attention. With an average rating of 4.7 stars from thousands of reviews, parents appreciate its educational value combined with fun gameplay.
7. Role-Playing Games Boost Imagination
Role-playing games are fantastic for sparking creativity in 6-year-olds. They allow children to step into different characters and scenarios, enhancing their storytelling skills and social interactions.
Costume Dress-Up Play: Encouraging Storytelling
Costume dress-up play is a great way to encourage your child’s imagination. Products like the Melissa & Doug Fire Chief Role Play Costume Set let kids transform into their favorite characters, creating endless stories and adventures. This set includes a jacket, helmet, badge, fire extinguisher, bullhorn with sound effects, and a name tag for personalization.
Parents love how this costume ignites creativity while teaching responsibility and bravery. The high-quality materials ensure durability for countless hours of play.
- Dress-up-and-play set with everything a child needs to look the part, plus exciting accessories to spur imaginative play
- Includes jacket, helmet, badge, fire extinguisher, bullhorn, and reusable name tag
- Bullhorn makes sound effects
- High-quality materials ensure durability and safety; machine washable jacket; accessories wipe clean
- Sized to fit ages 3 to 5; great gift for hands-on, screen-free play; this product ships in its own special e-commerce packaging intended to be easier to open and reduce waste (curbside recyclable)
Play Kitchen Sets: Imaginative and Social Play
Play kitchen sets are another excellent choice for imaginative play. The KidKraft Ultimate Corner Play Kitchen with Lights & Sounds offers an immersive experience where kids can pretend to cook meals just like adults. It features realistic lights and sounds, interactive knobs on the oven and sink, a refrigerator with ice maker that dispenses plastic ice cubes, and ample storage space.
Reviewers praise this kitchen set for its sturdy construction and detailed design that keeps children engaged in role-playing activities. It’s perfect for developing social skills as kids often invite friends or siblings to join in their culinary adventures.
8. Music and Rhythm Games for Artistic Expression
Music and rhythm games are fantastic for encouraging artistic expression in 6-year-olds. These games help children explore sounds, develop a sense of rhythm, and enhance their creativity.
B. Toys – Parum Pum Pum Drum Set: Exploring Sounds and Rhythms
The B. Toys Parum Pum Pum Drum Set is perfect for young musicians. This colorful set includes a drum, drumsticks, tambourine, maracas, clacker, and shaker eggs. Each instrument offers a unique sound that helps kids explore different rhythms and beats.
Parents love the durability of this set and its ability to keep children engaged for hours. The variety of instruments allows kids to experiment with creating their own music while developing fine motor skills.
- Fun Drumming: The B. Parum Pum Pum Drum Set Provides Lots Of Opportunities For Experimenting With Music And Sounds.
- Teaches Rhythm: It'S A Fun And Educational Toy, Perfect For Teaching Young Children Rhythm And Musical Patterns.
- Get Creative: With All The Items, Sounds, And Room For New Ideas, Your Little One Will Be A Musical Prodigy In No Time!
- Storage: The Drum Can Hold All Of The Instruments, And Has A Soft Strap To Make It Easy For Your Child To Carry.
- Includes: 1 Drum W/ Lid, 1 Set Of Centipede Drumsticks, 1 Jingle Bell Ant, 1 Bee Maraca, 1 Tambourine And 1 Egg Shaker.
Piano Keyboard Play Mat: Interactive Musical Learning
The Piano Keyboard Play Mat provides an interactive way for kids to learn music. This large mat features piano keys that produce musical notes when stepped on or pressed with hands.
Children can play simple tunes or create their own compositions by stepping on the keys in different sequences. The mat also includes pre-recorded songs that kids can follow along with to improve their musical abilities.
Parents appreciate how this toy combines physical activity with musical learning, making it both fun and educational.
- Newborn baby gym with 4 ways to play as baby grows, plus music, lights & learning fun
- Smart Stages learning levels with 85+ songs, sounds and phrases that help teach animals, colors, numbers and shapes
- Removeable piano has 5 multi-colored light-up keys, 4 musical settings with freestyle piano play & the popular purple monkey “Maybe” song
- High contrast arch with 10 repositionable linkable toys: 1 jingle ball, 1 butterfly teether, 1 crinkle toy, 1 self-discovery mirror and 6 colorful shape links
- Soft, machine-washable playmat features loops to attach toys
VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set: Engaging Musical Fun
The VTech KidiBeats Kids Drum Set is another excellent choice for budding musicians. This electronic drum set comes with three drum pads and a cymbal, each producing unique sounds when hit.
It features multiple modes including free play, letters mode, numbers mode, and follow-along mode where kids can mimic patterns shown by the lights on the drums. Parents praise its educational value as it teaches basic counting while keeping children entertained.
9. Science Games for Inquiry-Based Learning
Science games can spark curiosity and foster a love for learning in young minds. Here are some top picks available on Amazon that provide engaging, inquiry-based experiences.
Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Activity Set: Introduction to Science Concepts
This set is perfect for introducing basic science concepts to your child. It includes real lab tools designed for little hands, such as test tubes, magnifying glasses, and measuring spoons. The activity cards guide you through simple experiments like mixing colors or observing objects under magnification.
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The Magic School Bus – Chemistry Lab: Hands-On Experiments
Inspired by the beloved TV show, this chemistry lab kit offers hands-on experiments that make learning fun and interactive. Your child can explore chemical reactions, create slime, and even grow crystals. Each experiment comes with easy-to-follow instructions that encourage scientific thinking and problem-solving skills.
- Great hands on learning and educational science STEM kit for boys and girls which encourages STEM learning for ages 5+
- Ms. Frizzle from The Magic School Bus makes science an exhilarating experience and kids can follow along with The Magic School Bus books from Scholastic and NETFLIX series
- Young Scientists learn about acids and bases, volcanoes, slime, surface tension, bubbles, and more in this educational STEM kit
- All our mind blowing science kits are developed by a team of Harvard graduates, scientists, and educators and are put on the market after it has passed the ultimate test-approval by multiple teams of Young Scientists at our annual camps
- Kit comes with all supplies needed (except for common household items) and detailed experiment cards with guidance to make this educational Chemistry themed science STEM kit for kids a great learning toy
National Geographic Kids Microscope Kit: Exploring the Microscopic World
This microscope kit from National Geographic is an excellent way to introduce your child to the microscopic world. It includes high-quality glass optics and over 50 accessories like prepared slides and a petri dish for growing specimens. The detailed instruction booklet helps guide your child’s exploration of tiny wonders.
10. Apps and Digital Games for Individual Challenge
Digital games can be a great way to engage your 6-year-old in educational activities while providing individual challenges. Here are some top-rated Amazon products that offer both fun and learning.
Khan Academy Kids: Free Educational App with Progress Tracking
Khan Academy Kids is a free app designed to make learning enjoyable for young children. It offers interactive lessons in math, reading, writing, and social-emotional development. The app tracks your child’s progress, helping you understand their strengths and areas needing improvement.
- PERSONALIZED LEARNING EXPERIENCE: Adaptive learning path allows each child to learn at their own pace.
- ROBUST CURRICULUM: Reading & literacy, language, math, executive function, and logic
- JOYFUL LEARNING: Five whimsical characters encourage children to think and learn through highly interactive games and activities
- EMOTIONAL AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT: Social-emotional, motor & physical development, and creative expression
- AWARD-WINNING CONTENT: 5 stars from Common Sense Media for Educational Value and Ease of Play
Endless Alphabet: Learning Letters and Vocabulary
Endless Alphabet is an engaging app that helps kids learn letters and build vocabulary through fun puzzles and animations. Each word features an interactive puzzle with talking letters and a short animation illustrating the definition of the word.
- Delightful animations teach children the definitions of the words in a fun and engaging way.
- Word game teaches children letters.
- 100 words to explore and learn.
- English (Publication Language)
Osmo – Genius Starter Kit for iPad: Hands-On Learning Games
The Osmo Genius Starter Kit combines physical play with digital interaction to create a unique learning experience. It includes five hands-on games that cover various subjects like math, spelling, problem-solving, and creativity. The kit’s interactive nature keeps kids engaged while they learn essential skills.
Conclusion: Choosing the Best Games for 6 Year Olds
Selecting the right games for your 6-year-old can significantly impact their development and learning. Whether you opt for hands-on science kits or engaging digital apps, each game offers unique benefits that cater to different aspects of growth.
Remember to consider your child’s interests and developmental needs when choosing a game. The right mix of educational content and fun will keep them engaged while fostering essential skills. With so many excellent options available, you’re sure to find games that both entertain and educate your young learner.
Happy gaming!
Last update on 2024-09-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API | votechriscarrillo.com is a participant in the Amazon Associate program and will earn from qualifying purchases.