Gift ideas for kids age 6-8

In early elementary school, children are learning to read independently, developing fine motor skills, and starting organized activities. This age group is perfect for gifts that help them develop independence while still enjoying imaginative play. They’re old enough to follow more complex instructions but young enough to still love “playing pretend.”

Here are some gift ideas for kiddos ranging from 6-8 years old.

Creative and art supplies

• Watercolor paint sets with brushes and watercolor paper. Look for sets with mixing palettes. Also consider an easel to make your favorite grade-schooler feel like a real artist!
• Table-top easels that can hold paper or small canvases, perfect for bedroom or playroom art sessions.
• Air-dry modeling clay in multiple colors, plus clay tools and molds.
• Beginner cross-stitch or embroidery kits with prepunched patterns and child-safe needles.
• Scratch art books, where they use a stylus to reveal colorful pictures underneath.
• Finger paint sets (yes, they still love getting messy at this age!).
• Sticker books and sticker collections – especially themed ones (animals, princesses, superheroes).

STEM and educational toys

• Science experiment kits. Educational STEM toys, dinosaur dissection kits (volcano kits, simple chemistry).
• Microscopes designed for kids with prepared slides.
• Building sets such as LEGO Classic sets, magnetic building tiles, or K’NEX.
• Robot building kits with simple programing (age-appropriate coding toys).
• Geography puzzles and world map games.
• Math games that make learning fun (addition/subtraction board games).
• Beginner coding board games that teach programing concepts without screens. Great options include Robot Turtles (uses directional cards to “program” a turtle), Code & Go Robot Mouse (to build mazes and sequence moves), and Coding Charades (players “code” teammates through physical challenges).

Active play and sports

• Bicycles. First bike without training wheels or upgrade from a smaller bike.
• Scooters. Two-wheel scooters for this age group.
• Jump ropes with fun handles or light-up features.
• Hula hoop. The concept has been around for millennia, but the modern toy became popular in the late 1950s. Children of all ages still love them.
• Sports equipment: child-size basketballs, soccer balls, baseball gloves.
• Outdoor exploration kits with magnifying glasses, binoculars, collection containers.
• Sidewalk chalk in fun shapes or colors.
• Frisbees and flying discs.
• Badminton or tennis sets sized for kids.

Books and reading

• Early chapter book series or picture books for developing readers.
• Graphic novels for beginning readers.
• Interactive books with activities, mazes, or puzzles built in.
• Poetry books for kids (Shel Silverstein classics).
• Nonfiction books about their interests (dinosaurs, space, animals).
• Book and audio CD sets to help with reading fluency.
• Personalized books where the child is the main character.

Games and puzzles

• Craft and DIY projects.
• Cool collectibles.
• Board games such as Ticket to Ride First Journey, Sequence for Kids, or Exploding Kittens Party Pack.
• Jigsaw puzzles with 100-300 pieces featuring their favorite characters or interests.
• Card games such as UNO, Go Fish, or Skip-Bo Junior.
• Memory games and matching games with increased difficulty.
• Strategy games that are age appropriate, such as Checkers or Connect 4.
• Puzzle games such as Tangrams or pattern blocks.

Technology and electronics

• Kid-friendly cameras that are durable and easy to use.
• Beginner tablets with educational games and parental controls.
• Kid-safe headphones for listening to audiobooks or educational content.
• Simple electronic learning toys such as spelling or math games.

Dress-up and imaginative play

• Costume sets for favorite characters, occupations, or fantasy themes.
• Dollhouses or action figure playsets.
• Play kitchen accessories and pretend food sets.
• Doctor/veterinarian kits with realistic tools (but safe for kids).
• Tool sets for pretend building and fixing.
• Magic sets with age-appropriate tricks they can actually perform.