Gifts for a 6 Year Old Girl: Ideas by Interest and Budget

Good gifts for a 6 year old girl mix imagination with a little bit of independence. Six is when kids start wanting to do things "all by myself," so the best picks are toys she can set up, run and finish on her own: a camera that prints her photos, a building set she can make into anything, a pretend play kit for her own stories, or a soft friend to sleep with. Below, the ideas are split into a main gift and smaller add-ons, so you can match them to your budget.

What a 6 Year Old Girl Is Into

Every kid is different, and plenty of 6 year old girls would rather have an RC excavator than a teddy bear. Instead of guessing from the toy aisle, think about how she spends a free afternoon. Does she draw, build, act out stories, or run around outside? Most kids this age fall into one or two of those groups, and the right gift leans into them.

A few things are true for most six year olds. They can follow simple instructions, they love showing grown-ups what they made, and their attention span is longer than it was at four. They also still have small hands and limited patience for anything with dozens of tiny steps.

The Main Gift: Bigger Picks

For the storyteller: a kids instant print camera

A camera that prints photos on the spot feels like real grown-up gear to a six year old. Ours has a dual-camera design, a built-in rechargeable battery and prints on thermal paper, so there is no ink to buy. It comes with 3 rolls of print paper and a lanyard, and there is an option with a 32GB memory card. Expect her to turn the prints into a scrapbook, a wall collage or a "newspaper" about the family cat. It is recommended for ages 6 and up.

For the builder: a magnetic building set

Magnetic building blocks snap together without frustration, which matters at this age. She can build flat shapes, then houses, then towers taller than she is. Our sets come in sizes from 60 to 184 pieces, so you can start small or go big for a holiday. For younger builders or siblings, magnetic stick sets with 360° rotating magnets are another option. Keep loose magnets away from any child under 3 in the house.

For the pretend player: a doctor kit or play food truck

Pretend play is still going strong at six. A doctor kit in an ambulance carry case comes with a toy stethoscope, toy syringe and oxygen bottle, and the bigger sets add a doll, a hat or a blood pressure cuff. A play food truck in ice cream or BBQ style stands about 15.4 in (39 cm) tall and has a sliding storage trolley, which makes it a good pick for playing with siblings or friends. Browse more in our pretend play toys and plush.

For the cuddler: a big plush friend

Some kids want a stuffed animal at every age, and six is no exception. A long ear bunny is 23.6 in (60 cm) long including the ears, with a sleepy face that suits bedtime. A light up teddy bear glows in more than 7 changing colors with a tap, so it doubles as a gentle night light. It runs on 3 AA batteries, which are not included. For a showstopper, a giant teddy bear comes in 39 inch and 47 inch sizes.

Smaller Gifts and Add-Ons

These are good for party favors, stocking stuffers or a second gift from a sibling.

• Capybara plush: a 6.7 inch soft capybara that fits in a backpack.
• Slow rising squishy cube: a quiet, pocket-size squeeze toy, recommended for ages 6 and up.
• Gem dig kit: she chips real gems out of a dig brick with a small tool set, and the deluxe kit adds goggles and a magnifying glass.
• Toy ukulele: a 15 inch retro mini guitar for music time and pretend concerts.
• Sticky ball dart board: soft balls stick to a plush target, with designs like rainbow flower, space and fruits.

Gifts for Creative Kids

If she draws on everything, give her better places to do it. A double-sided magnetic animal puzzle board has a drawing board on one side and a chalkboard on the other, plus magnetic puzzle pieces and a storage box. For quiet time in the car or at a restaurant, a felt busy book that folds up for travel keeps hands busy without screens. When she is a little older, our 120-color dual-tip marker set and 3D pen, both recommended for ages 8 and up, make a great next step. See all of our craft kits for kids.

Gifts That Get Her Moving

Six year olds have a lot of energy, and an active toy gives it somewhere to go. A rocket bubble gun with 69 holes makes huge streams of bubbles and lights up for evening play. A water rocket sprinkler hooks up to a garden hose and launches about 5 to 6 ft into the air. A 13 ft soft octopus kite has no rods to break, which makes it a forgiving first kite. For indoors, a mini basketball hoop with a scoreboard turns a bedroom door into a game. Find more ideas in our outdoor toys for kids.

How to Choose a Gift She Will Love

Follow her current obsession

If she is into dinosaurs this month, a dinosaur race track will beat a "better" toy she has no interest in. Ask her parents what she has been talking about lately.

Pick toys she can run herself

A gift that needs an adult every time it comes out tends to get used less. Simple setup, simple controls and a clear result are the goal at six.

Check the age label

Toys labeled 3+ and 6+ fit a six year old well. Toys labeled 8+ often have hot parts, lithium batteries or tiny pieces, so save them for later or plan to play together.

Plan for delivery time

Orders arrive in 10 to 15 business days with free shipping on every US order, so order about three weeks before the party.

Quick Picks by Personality

• Little photographer: kids instant print camera.
• Builder: magnetic building blocks, dinosaur race track.
• Storyteller: doctor kit, play food truck, toy ukulele.
• Cuddler: long ear bunny, light up teddy bear.
• Always outside: bubble gun, water rocket sprinkler, octopus kite.

For more options picked for this age, browse our toys for 6 to 8 year olds.