6 - 9 Years

Toys for 6 year old boys and girls have to hold their attention well beyond the first afternoon. This shelf gathers brain teasers, maths materials, music and craft kits for ages 6 to 9, chosen for children who now read, count and want a real challenge.

Toys for 7 year olds who love a challenge

Brain teasers are where many children of this age meet their first real puzzle with no instructions. The T-puzzle and the sphere pyramid look simple until the last piece refuses to fit, the three metal wire puzzles ask for a calm head more than quick fingers, and the snake cube only folds back into shape once the right twists are found. The marble tower logic game and the tangram tin with challenge cards both have levels, so a child can start easy and keep going. Wooden sudoku and shut the box turn ten minutes after school into a numbers game.

Maths materials for school-age children

School maths turns abstract quickly at this age, and Montessori educational toys in wood help keep it concrete. The fractions box shows that two halves fill the same space as four quarters, the times table board lays out multiplication as rows to count, and the number rods and counting tiles box support sums and number bonds. The teaching clock helps with telling the time, while the Roberval balance with weights lets a child compare conkers, pencils and toy cars until the two pans level out.

Gift ideas for six year olds who make, play and explore

Not every child wants a puzzle. Music lovers can start on the wooden recorder or the acoustic children's guitar, and crafty children can try fuse beads now and the peacock embroidery kit from age 8. For outdoor explorers, a pocket compass and a spinning top with launcher suit an afternoon in the park, and the nautical knot tying game will appeal to budding sailors and scouts.

When picking gifts for 6 year olds and older, think about how the child plays alone. A child who enjoys reading instructions will work through challenge cards happily, while one who hates losing is often more relaxed with a solo brain teaser than a game against others.