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Rally Takes the Train is our own picture book, so it sits at the top of every list. Some links to other gifts are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Prices are approximate and change often, so check the current price before you buy.
#1 pick · Our own book
Rally Takes the Train
Amazon lists Rally Takes the Train for babies through age five, so we will be honest: at six it is a short book, not a challenge. That is exactly why it works for a new reader. The rhymes are predictable enough for a first grader to read pages aloud with some help, and Rally's scary moment in the dark tunnel, before he finds the light, is a gentle story about being brave.
Let your six year old be the reader: they can read it to a younger sibling or to a grandparent over a video call. It also makes a cozy five-minute bedtime book on Christmas night.
Quick picks
Six is the first-grade year, and it shows in how kids play. A six year old can follow three steps in a row, stick with a project for fifteen minutes or more, and finish something on their own, then carry it across the room to show you. Friends matter more than they did a year ago, so the gifts that land now are ones they can make, trade, win or share: a charm bracelet for a best friend, a candy lab, a dice game they beat you at.
Our list draws on the Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Awards, Amazon's 2026 Toys We Love list, Target's Top 50 and current six year old gift lists from child development experts, filtered for what first graders can really do. There are six gifts under $25, a battery-powered train set for the tree, and a 6+ LEGO build for the big moment. Prices are approximate and change often.
What 6 year olds love right now
Six year olds are heading into middle childhood. The CDC says children six to eight show more independence, pay more attention to friendships and teamwork, and want to be liked and accepted by friends. Medical references add that a six year old can focus on a task for at least fifteen minutes and follow a series of three commands in a row.
That means kits with real steps, crafts they can wear or give away, and games with a winner all hit the mark. The CDC also recommends an hour or more of physical activity a day at this age and no more than an hour of quality screen time, so a couple of active or hands-on gifts help balance the season.
- Following the instructions and finishing a build on their own
- Making things to wear, trade or give to a friend
- Fast games where they can beat a grown-up fairly
- Science they can see, and eat, at the end
- Long focus projects like a color-by-number mosaic
- Setting up and running their own train around the tree
Development notes based on 89 sources below.
The 13 best Christmas gifts for 6 year olds
Rally Takes the Train is number one on our list (above). Here are the other twelve, chosen for this age from current gift lists and reviews.
Lionel The Polar Express Battery Powered Ready-to-Play Train Set
Lionel · Train toy
A six year old can snap the track together, set the train on the rails and run it with the remote all by themselves, which is the whole thrill at this age. It has movie sounds and a working headlight, and it doubles as the train that circles the tree every December.6
Good to know: It needs 3 AAA batteries, not included, and the full layout is about 50 by 73 inches, so measure the space under your tree. Rated 4 and up, with 37 pieces including track.
LEGO Pokémon SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu 72164
LEGO · Building
At about 400 pieces and rated 6 and up, this is a build a first grader can follow page by page and actually finish, with a little help at the tricky spots. Then it turns into a play set with interactive SMART Play features and the most popular character in the room. It is on Amazon's 2026 Toys We Love list.27
Good to know: Plan a clear table and a tray for pieces, and keep the small bricks away from toddlers. Expect it to take more than one sitting at six.
Crayola Story Creator Kids Tablet
Crayola · Art
Six year olds draw, color and record their own stories on it, which fits the age when the CDC says kids are learning better ways to describe what happened to them. A child who cannot write a whole story yet can still tell one, start to finish. It is on Amazon's 2026 Toys We Love list.28
Good to know: We could not confirm the age rating, so check the box. It is an electronic toy, so count it toward screen and device time.
Cool Maker Charm'd Accessory Studio
Spin Master · Art
Six year olds make charms, then wear them, trade them or hand them to a friend at school, and at an age when friendships suddenly matter, that is a big deal. It is a fine-motor craft with a finished product, and a Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award winner in the 5 to 8 group.48
Good to know: The Amazon title says ages 6 and up. The charms are small, so set up the crafting away from younger siblings.
Thames & Kosmos Tasty Labs: Groovy Glowing Candy Lab
Thames & Kosmos · STEM
A six year old follows the steps in order and ends up with candy that glows, which is real kitchen science and a reward they can eat. It is a perfect match for the three-step instructions first graders can now handle, and it is on TODAY's 2026 list for six year olds.59
Good to know: This one needs an adult nearby the whole time, so plan it for a slow afternoon over winter break.
Smartivity DIY Rocket Launcher STEM Kit
Smartivity · STEM
Six year olds build the cardboard and wood launcher themselves, then get to play with it, so the payoff for finishing is an active game rather than a shelf model. It is on TODAY's 2026 list for six year olds.5
Good to know: The Amazon title gives ages 6 to 12, so six is the start of the range; expect to help with the trickier steps.
Fat Brain Toys Magshuto Stunt Park
Fat Brain Toys · STEM
Kids launch magnetic discs through ramps and rings, and the 15 included challenges give a six year old something to beat, then set up again for a friend. It was a 2026 Toy of the Year Specialty Toy finalist.11012
Good to know: A retailer listing describes it for ages 6 and up. Name-brand toys like this are not the unbranded magnet sets the CPSC warned about in 2026, but keep any magnetic pieces away from toddlers.
Tenzi Dice Party Game
Tenzi · Games
Everyone rolls at once until all their dice match, so a six year old can genuinely win against a grown-up, and rounds take about a minute. It quietly practices number matching and works for game night with cousins of every age. It is on TODAY's 2026 list for six year olds.5
Good to know: It can get loud, with lots of dice rolling at the same time. A tray or a box lid keeps the dice from flying off the table.
Crayola Ultimate Light Board
Crayola · Art
Six year olds trace over the lit-up images and suddenly they can draw the thing they wanted to, which builds confidence and the pencil control they need for handwriting in first grade. It is a perennial bestseller and on TODAY's 2026 list for six year olds.5
Good to know: Check the box for the power it needs before wrapping, and add a fresh pack of paper.
Plus-Plus Puzzle By Number (500 Pieces)
Plus-Plus · Puzzles
A six year old follows the color key and clicks the pieces into a mosaic picture, a long focus project that stretches the fifteen minutes or more they can now concentrate. It is a quiet, screen-free activity for the slow days after Christmas, and it is on TODAY's 2026 list for six year olds.59
Good to know: This link is the Kitten design; a Puppy (B0CRC61LMQ) and a Rocket (B0BS1V8Y5Z) are also available. The pieces are small, so keep them away from toddlers.
GUI GUI Mega Slime Haul
Moose Toys · Art
This is the sensory toy of the season, showing up on Amazon's 2026 Toys We Love list, Target's 2026 Top 50 and GMA's trending toys, and six year olds love having the toy their friends are talking about. They squish, pull and mix it for ages.2311
Good to know: Check the age on the box, and supervise slime play if younger siblings are around. Play at the table, not on the couch or carpet.
Hape Wooden Domino Ball Set
Hape · STEM
Six year olds design a chain reaction of wooden dominoes and ball runs, knock it down, then try to make it longer, which is cause-and-effect thinking with a satisfying crash. Siblings can build it together, and it is on TODAY's 2026 list for six year olds.5
Good to know: The Amazon listing appears as Hape's Dynamo Wooden Domino Set at the same price, so confirm it is the domino and ball set before you buy.
Rally gifts to wrap with the book
Pair the book with something from the Rally shop for a gift that feels finished: hand-painted watercolor art from the same pages.
Christmas gifts for 6 year olds by price
| Budget | Gifts | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25 | Cool Maker Charm'd Accessory Studio, Thames & Kosmos Tasty Labs: Groovy Glowing Candy Lab, Smartivity DIY Rocket Launcher STEM Kit, Fat Brain Toys Magshuto Stunt Park, Tenzi Dice Party Game, Crayola Ultimate Light Board | Art, Games, STEM |
| $25 to $50 | Crayola Story Creator Kids Tablet, Plus-Plus Puzzle By Number (500 Pieces), GUI GUI Mega Slime Haul, Hape Wooden Domino Ball Set | Art, Puzzles, STEM |
| $50 to $100 | LEGO Pokémon SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu 72164 | Building |
| $100 and up | Lionel The Polar Express Battery Powered Ready-to-Play Train Set | Train toy |
Gift tips for 6 year olds
Pick gifts they can finish alone
Six year olds can follow three steps in a row and focus for fifteen minutes or more, so they love kits they can complete with little help. Choose builds rated 6 and up rather than 7 or 8 and up, and save the bigger LEGO and science sets for next year so the first try ends in pride, not frustration.
Buy one gift for sharing with friends
Friendships move to the center at six, according to the CDC. A charm kit with extras to give away, a fast dice game for playdates or a trick-shot challenge to pass around lets a first grader bring friends into the fun, which often matters more to them than the toy itself.
Balance screens with hands-on play
The CDC suggests no more than an hour a day of quality screen time for kids this age and at least an hour of physical activity. If an electronic toy or tablet is on the list, pair it with something active or crafty so Christmas break is not spent in front of a screen.
Plan the train setup ahead
A battery-powered train set takes more floor space than you expect, and the Lionel layout runs about 50 by 73 inches. Measure under the tree, buy the AAA batteries ahead of time, and if you want to wrap it, let your six year old do the track setup on Christmas morning as part of the fun.
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Chicago? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Questions parents ask
What should I get a 6 year old for Christmas?
Get something a first grader can finish and show off. A 6+ LEGO set, a craft kit that makes something wearable, a science kit with clear steps or a fast family game all fit. Six year olds care about friends now, so gifts they can share or trade, like charms, go a long way. A battery train set is a great pick for train fans.
What do 6 year olds like to play with?
Six year olds like building sets they can follow on their own, crafts that end in something to keep or give, games with a clear winner and hands-on science. They can focus for fifteen minutes or more and follow three-step directions, so kits with real instructions now work, and they increasingly want to play with friends rather than alone.
What do 6 year olds want for Christmas this year?
The toys showing up on the big 2026 lists for this age include the LEGO Pokémon Training House with Pikachu, the GUI GUI Mega Slime Haul and the Crayola Story Creator tablet, all on Amazon's Toys We Love list. Charm-making kits and trendy slime are what first graders talk about with friends, so ask what their classmates are into.
How much should you spend on a 6 year old for Christmas?
Spend what fits your family, because a six year old notices the fun, not the price. Six of the twelve gifts on this list cost about $25 or less, including Tenzi, the candy lab and the rocket launcher. If you want one bigger gift, the LEGO Pikachu set or Lionel train set sit around $70 to $100.
Is a 6 year old considered a toddler or a big kid?
A six year old is a school-age kid, not a toddler. Toddler usually means ages one to three, and the CDC places six at the start of middle childhood, ages six to eight. Six year olds want more independence and care about friends, so baby-ish toys can disappoint. Look for gifts labeled 5 and up or 6 and up.
What gifts help a 6 year old with first grade?
Gifts that practice school skills without feeling like homework help most. A light-up tracing board builds the pencil control kids need for handwriting, a dice game practices number matching, and a story-making tablet or a picture book they can read aloud builds early reading. Kits with step-by-step instructions practice following directions, a big first-grade skill.
What is the best train set for a 6 year old?
A battery-powered, ready-to-play set is the best fit for most six year olds, because they can set it up and run it without help. The Lionel Polar Express Ready-to-Play set is rated 4 and up, comes with 37 pieces including track, and has a remote, movie sounds and a working headlight. It also runs around the Christmas tree.
Is a wooden or electric train set better for a 6 year old?
At six, many kids are ready to move from wooden track to a battery-powered train they control with a remote. Wooden sets are still great for building layouts and imaginative play, especially if you own a lot of track. A battery set adds sound, light and speed, and avoids the transformer and wall power of a traditional electric train.
What are good gifts for a 6 year old girl who loves crafts?
Look for crafts that end in something she can wear, show or give away, because friends matter so much at six. The Cool Maker Charm'd Accessory Studio, a Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award winner, makes charms to trade. A Crayola Ultimate Light Board or a Plus-Plus Puzzle By Number are great for a quieter, focused crafter. These work just as well for boys.
What toys are good for a 6 year old with autism?
The best toy follows the child's own interests, so start there. Many children enjoy predictable, hands-on toys like a domino chain reaction set, a color-by-number mosaic or a tracing light board, and some love sensory play like slime. Check for loud sounds or flashing lights if those are hard, and ask a parent what already works.
Can a 6 year old build LEGO sets by themselves?
Many can, if the set is rated 6 and up. The LEGO Pokémon Training House with Pikachu has about 400 pieces and a 6+ rating, which is a good first solo build, though expect a few calls for help and more than one sitting. Sets rated 7 and up, like the LEGO City trains, are usually better saved for next year.
Can a 6 year old set up a train set alone?
Yes, a battery-powered ready-to-play set is simple enough for most 6 year olds to snap together and run with a remote. Help with the first layout, show them how to change batteries, and let them run it after that. Wooden track also works well at this age if they already own some, and it is a good base to keep adding to.
What can I put in a 6 year old's stocking?
Small games and kits under $25 make great stocking stuffers at six. Tenzi dice, the Thames & Kosmos glowing candy lab, the Smartivity rocket launcher and the Cool Maker charm kit all fit. Add a book they can read on their own or aloud, plus pencils or markers for the light board, and skip anything with loose button batteries.
How many gifts should a 6 year old get from Santa?
Many families keep Santa to one or two gifts and let the rest come from family, which keeps things fair between friends whose families spend differently. Six year olds compare notes at school, so a single special Santa gift, like a train set or LEGO build, plus a stocking, is plenty. The rest is up to your family's traditions.
Is slime OK for a 6 year old?
Store-bought slime from a known brand is fine for most six year olds with supervision. Check the age on the box, play at a table with a mat, and wash hands afterward. Keep it away from toddlers and babies, who may put it in their mouths, and skip unbranded squishy toys, since several water bead toys were recalled in 2026.
Is a kids tablet a good Christmas gift for a 6 year old?
It can be, if it is mostly for making things. A creative device like the Crayola Story Creator, where kids draw and record stories, is different from a tablet for watching videos. The CDC suggests keeping screen time to about an hour a day of quality programming for this age, so set limits from day one.
What games can a 6 year old play with the whole family?
Six year olds can handle quick games with simple rules, and they love a fair chance at winning. Tenzi is a fast dice race where a child can beat an adult, and a domino chain reaction is something cousins of every age can build together. Keep rounds short, and pick games where reading is not required.
What should grandparents get a 6 year old for Christmas?
A gift they can do together is the sweetest choice. Grandparents can bring a science kit to make side by side, a train set to build on Christmas afternoon, or a picture book the six year old can read aloud to them. Ask parents first about size and noise, especially for bigger toys like train sets and slime.
What are good non-toy gifts for a 6 year old?
Experiences work beautifully at six, because kids remember them and talk about them with friends. Think tickets to a holiday train ride, a museum or science center visit, or a special outing with one parent. Books they can read with you and art supplies also count, and they help balance a pile of toys.
How long can a 6 year old focus on a kit or puzzle?
A six year old should be able to focus on a task for at least fifteen minutes, according to the medical encyclopedia used by MedlinePlus. That makes longer projects like a 500-piece Plus-Plus mosaic or a LEGO build realistic, as long as you let them work in a few sessions. Sit nearby for the first one to help them get started.
Gift guides for every age
- The full 2026 Christmas gift guide for kids
- Christmas train rides by state
- Christmas events for kids near you
- Free Rally coloring pages
- Train trips with kids
- Train museums to visit this winter
- The story behind Rally Takes the Train
Sources
Picks and age notes were checked against the sources below.
- See who made the cut as 100 finalists revealed for 2026 Toy of the Year, Gifts & Decorative Accessories
- Best gifts for kids: Amazon Toys We Love list 2026, About Amazon
- Top 50 must-have toys for 2026 holiday season, AZ Big Media
- Shop picks from Good Housekeeping's 2026 Toy Awards, Good Morning America
- Best gifts and toys for 6 year olds, according to development experts, TODAY
- Lionel The Polar Express Ready-to-Play Train Set, Navy Exchange
- LEGO Pokémon SMART Play: Training House with Pikachu 72164, Best Buy
- Positive parenting tips: middle childhood (6 to 8 years), CDC
- School-age children development, UF Health (A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia)
- Magshuto Stunt Park, Pufferbellies Toys
- Top trending toys of 2026, Good Morning America
- CPSC warns consumers to immediately stop using magnetic building ball and stick sets, US Consumer Product Safety Commission
