Hi,
I was wondering if anyone had any idea of a good gift for a boy who's 6 yrs old. I'd love to get him a game or something of that sort that he can play with. I'm not interested in video games, etc, but more of something that will get him to use his brain or creative side. Price range around $50. thanks!!
Legos are a fun and creative way to play. they help teach a child how to follow instructions or use their imagination while playing quietly. they have so many different sets with different price ranges.
Most boys like the building sets like Legos and K'nex. A lot of these are also geared toward certain ages (not as many pieces, not as complicated instructions, etc.). Maybe you can ask the mom if he is into those things, too, because he may already have a lot. Or else how about some sports stuff? Again you may to ask, but if he doesn't have a pair of roller blades or a skateboard, those along with some protective gear would be good. Hope that helps!
A fantastic game for all ages is Blokus and it sells for $29.99. It's a strategy game that is alot of fun that even adults will get totally hooked on. I work in Woodstock at Knuth's School & Office Outfitters and we carry it in the store along with alot of other fun educational toys and games. You can also purchase it on our website at www.shopknuths.com. (click on the Teacher Store link) You can view the game on Educational Insights' website. We also have Brain Quest games which I believe sell for around $12-$13 in our store. My son loved them and we have several different age categories. They can be viewed at the Workman Publishing website. Come in and visit us sometime and see what you can find for your son too! We're located on the Woodstock Square and on Tuesdays & Saturdays there's a fantastic Farmer's Market going on and we offer a 20% off educational supplies coupon on those days. Hope to see you soon!
If he likes to dress up, nothing sparks the imagination like a costume. Our trunk is overflowing with costumes and even my 12 year old will occassionally get into the action. You never know when the kingdom needs protecting or an alien will invade.
Try youngexplorers.com they have a whole catalog full of really cool educational toys for all ages and are clearly marked for which ages they are appropriate.
Cranium has a lot of good games out, that require thinking. My son likes Hullaballoo. It comes with a DVD that directs kids to act like different animals and do dancing and movement, all while jumping, crawling, or stepping to different animal shapes and colors that the kids have to put all over the floor before starting the game. It's cute and keeps kids thinking and busy!
http://www.sciplus.com/index.cfm
Check out American Science and Surplus - all kinds of unexpected and cool, brainy things.
Address: 5316 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Games by thinkfun are great! Check out http://www.thinkfun.com/
My 6 yo son has Rush Hour (HIGHLY recommended), Tipover, River Crossing, Hot Spot, Treasure Quest, and Cover Your Tracks. We have Zingo, too. The first three I listed are our faves. Target has started to carry some of their line of games, and you can find them in some teachers' stores. They run in the $16 - 20 range. Most come with their own little nylon storage bag, so my son will often grab a bag when we're goning to be in the car for a while, or waiting at my daughter's ballet lesson.
Good luck--have fiun!
K.
I think that games are a great idea! I actually sell games that are not in stores. You can check out my website for videos of how to play each game. Some games for a 6 year old would be chess on the loose (great for problem solving and strategy), linkity (great for creativity, vocabulary, and sequencing), Ooga! (great for colors and shaoes, and visual discrimination), quartile (great for math, visual discrimination, and strategy), sneaks (works on numbers, visual discrimination, and strategy), somethin' fishy (great for colors and shapes, counting, numbers, and math, sequencing, visual discrimination, and strategy), walk the dogs (great for counting, numbers, and math, sequencing, visual discrimination, and strategy), zoodoku (great for colors and shapes, counting, numbers, and math, problem solving, and strategy), or the jigsaw or squared up puzzles.
S. Johnson
www.shelleyjohnson.simplyfun.com
Hi,
My son, who is almost 6, loves his set of Frigits. It is basically a set of chutes and drops and spinners that you can configure on the refrigerator door. You can change around the layout and design of chutes, drop your marble (1 or the 10 it comes with) and watch them go. The kids of all ages love it and it is something that he goes back to frequently. It costs around $29.99 and you can buy it online (just type "Frigits" into your web browser) or I know the gift shop at the Dupage Children's museum sells it as well.
K.
This depends on the boy's parents if they'd allow this, but...ant farms, tadpole habitats, butterfly houses, etc. are great gifts especially for boys who love "gross" things! They all come with mail-in coupons for the animals that the child raises and most come with booklets that explain all of the fascinating things that are going on within the habitat. Fun and educational!
A marble run. Hearthsong.com has one that we like.
Good luck!
I love gifts that you don't necessarily find in the toy department- my daughter's favorite birthday present at age six came from her godfather who gave her six different flashlights, one for each year of her life. She adores them and uses them in all sorts of creative play. Or how about a battery operated lantern and a small tent you can set up inside or outside the house- target sells them at great prices-
My favorite gift to give a young boy is called the Airzooka. It is actually really cheap and a simple concept but people love it - kids and adults. The shape is megaphone-like and it has a thin plastic that is pulled back. When it is released it shoots a burst of air across the room. I know you said about $50 but perhaps as a side gift this would be fun. It costs $10 and can be found at Spencers or online (I also saw it in a store in Magic Kingdom in Disney World - so yes, it is a kids toy). If anyone gives this as a gift, I recommend putting it together beforehand because it does not seem as exciting just looking at it. This has been a huge hit at many parties.
Hyperdash is a really fun game and way less expensive than $50! My 6yo son and his buddies love it.
I recently bought my boy the board game, Life, which is great to play with family members. He loves it!
Why not something that will pay off in the future....like purchasing a some stock for him.
A Big Tonka metal dump truck. My son loved his Tonka yellow Dump Truck. In fact at age 17 he still has his first Tonka Dump truck. It is out in our garage, he plans to one day sand it all own and repaint it and give it to his son, when that day come.
He would play with that in the house and out is in the sand box. He would put things like legos or his guys in the back and drive to the other side of the room and dump it.
There is a Plastic version of the dump truck but mys son says there is nothing like the really Metal Yellow Tonka Truck and every boys should have one. This the Tonya website for construction equipment.
http://www.hasbro.com/tonka/default.cfm?page=browse&s...
S.
My son is almost 6 and LOVES his Marble Run. All his friends flock to it whenever they are over. http://www.amazon.com/Quercetti-Super-Marble-Run-Vortex/d...
He is getting this as an add-on for his bday: http://www.amazon.com/Quercetti-Marble-Run-Motorized-Elev...
