Surprise the six-year-old in your life with these creative, educational and fun gifts

Sign up to our free weekly newsletter for insider tips and product reviews from our shopping expertsSign up for our free IndyBest emailSix-year-olds stand at the gateway to mid-childhood, with deepening friendships, increased literacy and, of course, a need to demonstrate (at least at surface level) independence – all meaning parents and carers of children this age have a lot on their hands. The good news is six-year-olds are a dream to buy for when it comes to presents. There’s just so much choice, whether your little recipient is into nature, craft, sport or imaginary play. Concentration is better developed by the age of six, so children can focus on books, games and crafting for longer than two minutes, finding themselves thoroughly engrossed as a result. Their increased need and ability to think for themselves means games and creativity are finally a two-way street – they can operate on their own or with much less input from adults.In terms of clothing, by age six, children tend to know their own mind and start to develop their own taste. This can be irritating for parents who want to curate a specific look for their children’s wardrobes but, in our experience, you can’t go wrong with pieces that showcase bright colours, plenty of texture and, you’ve guessed it, sparkle. We’ve included a couple of show-stopping items that make ideal gifts.In a world increasingly geared towards online and digital living, it can feel really important that, as parents, carers or relatives of youngsters, we afford them time away from screens and devices. This is why we’ve only included a couple of gifts that fall within the tech category and both have really important benefits that make their place in this round-up valid.How we testedWe had two six-year-old testers dip into a variety of gifts over a month-long period. We wanted to see which things they gravitated towards, which products kept their attention for long periods of time or helped them learn without them even knowing it.It was important that each gift was durable – no ‘one-hit wonders’ here – but also that they could withstand the wear and tear that being in the possession of a six-year-old inevitably brings. We also made sure we were catering to a range of budgets – there are plenty of affordable gifts that don’t compromise on quality.The best gifts for six-year-olds for 2022 are: Best overall gift for six-year-olds – Katamino classic game: £33.48, Amazon.co.ukBest gift for little trendsetters – Little Hot Dog Watson Arctic cub hat: £30, Littlehotdogwatson.comBest tech toy gift – MyFirst camera insta wi: £129, Myfirst.techBest gift for creativity – Pom Stitch Tassel bug friends craft kit: £20, Pomstitchtassel.comBest gift for a bit of sparkle – Joules harbour luxe long-sleeve T-shirt: £18.95, Joules.comBest educational toy gift – Janod bodymagnet: £25.90, Hallobabydirect.comBest energy-burning gift – Waboba moonshine ball: £8.99 Amazon.co.uk Best active game gift – Exploding Kittens Happy Salmon: £12.99, Explodingkittens.comBest gift for nature-lovers – National Trust Birds of a feather by Lauren Fairgrieve and Kate Read, published by Nosy Crow: £12.99, Nosycrow.comBest personalised gift – Emma Bridgewater personalised mug: From £17, Emmabridgewater.co.ukBest gift for fun learning – Math Whiz maths challenge: £32, Learningresources.co.ukWant to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.Already subscribed? Log inIt is no exaggeration to say both our testers (and their parents) are absolutely obsessed with this award-winning game.The premise is simple: slot specific shapes perfectly into an allotted space in a bespoke wooden tray, which is divided up using a slider. There are more than 500 challenges, known as slams, to attempt – found in the accompanying book – from fairly simple three-piece puzzles to fitting all 12 into place. If this sounds complex, we can assure you it’s not. It’s so easy to grasp and instantly satisfying – much like a jigsaw puzzle – when pieces start to slot into place.It’s engaging to the point of being completely addictive, all the while giving any brain a proper workout. It’s especially good for six-year-olds, as it hones spatial awareness and basic geometry skills. The brightly coloured pieces are really appealing and tactile. What we loved about this and what made it the best overall game is that six-year-olds will never outgrow it – only grow into it as they mature. The brilliant bonus is that parents won’t be bored playing it, either. In fact, we’d wager it’s played even after children are in bed.Continue reading…£33.48 Amazon.co.ukBuy nowCosy, cute and cool, these trapper hats, complete with little ears, are just the ticket for any kid with a sense of fun. Six-year-olds, who are all about exploring their individuality, will be tickled pink by any of these hats (there are a host of colourways and patterns), which will absolutely attract at least one ‘where did you get that?’ per outing.But they are more than just stylish – these hats ensure warmth, thanks to being lined with Thinsulate fabric, jersey and faux fur. They are also waterproof. We recommend the six to eight-year-old size option but smaller six-year-olds might find it a little roomy.These are so cool, parents will want them too – the good news is, they also come in adult sizes.Continue reading…£30 Littlehotdogwatson.comBuy nowA lightweight (232g), duel-lens digital camera that prints inkless labels in 10 seconds, designed especially for children – this is a completely brilliant gift idea for six-year-olds. Not least because it will hopefully put a stop to the collections of 300 selfies that they like to take on parents’ phones.The camera can transfer photos wirelessly and has its own mobile app for label creation.It’s easy to hold, with smooth round corners, a little stand and a strap for being out and about. On the camera itself, there is a selfie mode and plenty of frames and filters and this, needless to say, kept our tester amused for hours.The camera itself only prints in black and white – for colour photographs, images should be transferred to a printer, laptop or PC.We appreciate this is not the most budget-friendly gift – it’s definitely main-present territory – but it’s an investment, in that it’s built to last and will be of interest to its recipient all the way up to adulthood.Continue reading…This kit, designed by a craft expert in Devon, includes materials to create a cute bug-themed project: a medium pom-pom maker, balls of coloured wool, pipe cleaners, craft pom poms, cream felt, googly eyes, templates and easy-to-follow instructions.Ideal for children aged six (and older), although the kit is UKCA-marked for safety, parents will need to be on hand for some of the fiddly bits and general support.We found it easy to set about creating a bee, ladybird, snail and caterpillar. The instructions really are very simple, even for complete pom-pom novices. Our tester was genuinely curious about the process – they were gratifyingly wide-eyed at the moment the pom-pom ‘pops’, as we call it (not the technical term) – and it was lovely to see all the bugs together when complete. A lovely, traditional gift that will likely be the start of a lifelong hobby.Continue reading…£20 Pomstitchtassel.comBuy nowWhat we liked about this was that it gives a bit of sparkle, rather than a bombardment. It’s festive but won’t look odd if worn in spring. It’s also a piece that can be dressed up for parties or worn as an everyday staple. Our tester fell in love with it on sight and it’s barely been off her since.The fabric is the softest jersey cotton, the embroidery neat and tight and the sequins are reversible, which is a fun touch. We found the fit to be true to size – one of our testers is exactly six and a half and average in height and build, so the perfect template, really – the T-shirt was roomy without being baggy.It washes well – embroidery and sequins both unscathed by the washing machine (just make sure you avoid the tumble drier).Continue reading…The human body is literally laid bare and ready for dissection in what is essentially a wooden puzzle. However, it includes some 76 magnets to assemble the different parts of a magnetic ‘map’ board, which details the body at different ‘levels’ – skeleton, organs, muscles and skin. Meanwhile there are information cards in no fewer than 12 different languages, including French, Russian, Japanese and Dutch).Our tester approached this puzzle with gusto – and needed to be reminded this was likely a marathon, not a sprint. There is plenty of scope for talking about different parts of the anatomy and our tester was really proud to be able to relay some of what she knew already and apply it to the boards but also to learn more about how a human body is constructed and works. Needless to say, the wooden pointer stick was possibly the biggest hit of all!Continue reading…£25.90 Hellobabydirect.comBuy nowLike holding the moon in your hand, this small but mighty ball glows in the dark, thanks to an integrated light.Made from ‘zero gravity’ foam, this ball is lightweight and designed to be as bouncy and fast as possible. It’s almost comically quick.Our testers both love the pop sound effect when the ball hits a hard surface – this contact is what activates the light – and ran themselves ragged trying to keep up with it. What’s really cool about this is that where most outdoor games must stop when darkness falls, the moonshine ball will carry on lighting up. Continue reading…£8.99 Amazon.co.ukBuy nowAnother brilliant and rather off-the-wall game from the makers of Exploding Kittens, Happy Salmon involves cards, instructions and actions. Each player (there can be up to four) has a pile of cards. On each card is an instruction – ‘fist bump’ or ‘high five’, for example – and the player must find someone else to perform the action with. When an action is complete, those cards are discarded. The winner is the first player to have no cards left.This is a really high-energy game – expect lots of shouting and a general sense of chaos. Our tester got competitive really quickly and was furious when she couldn’t find a partner but this didn’t stop her wanting to play again… and again… and again. Always a good sign.Continue reading…£12.99 Explodingkittens.comBuy nowBoth book and craft, this is a no-brainer for budding bird watchers. This gorgeously illustrated hardback contains pieces for 10 ‘press out’ European birds, from blue tit to barn owl. The pieces are slotted together, to form model birds, which can be used as decorations – our tester is mid-way through making a bird-themed garland. The pieces can also be pressed back into the pages of the book, to be used again. This aspect felt really important to us – affording the recipient repeated enjoyment is crucial for a gift to be truly cherished.As well as the pop-out part of the volume, this is also a reference book. Insightful but easy to access information – from what food the birds eat to how they feature in myth and legend – features on the colourful spreads.Continue reading…£12.99 Nosycrow.comBuy nowBy six years old, most children don’t necessarily need unbreakable tableware, which is why buying them their very own pottery mug is a fairly inspired, special gift that won’t break the bank.This one by Emma Bridgewater is diminutive but definitely not toy sized, it’s festive but other colourways and themes are available and can be personalised. Each mug is handmade – so there’s a truly individual feel about them. Be aware that personalisation can take time, so don’t expect to be able to snap one up as a last-minute gift.Our tester’s eyes lit up as she opened this and said: ‘Is it time for hot chocolate?’ A really sweet option that will make little ones feel like grown-ups. Have the marshmallows on standby.Continue reading…£17 Emmabridgewater.co.ukBuy nowIt looks like a calculator – it’s handheld and has a ‘numbers only’ interface and window – and it is, in part, but Math Whiz is so much more.It’s essentially an electronic flash card generator, offering a variety of quizzes across addition, subtraction, multiplication and division in eight skill levels, so progress and challenge are both guaranteed. There are lots of encouraging motifs, such as smiley faces, to maintain morale and motivation too.Obviously, this will be a hit for children who love numbers, but what we thought was genius was, thanks to it posing as a game with lights and sounds (mute is possible, don’t worry), it feels fun and not like learning at all. A six-year-old choosing to brush up their numeracy skills? Watch it happen. If both of our testers are anything to go by, they’ll be on it for hours at a time.Continue reading…£32 Learningresources.co.ukBuy now