For a 6-year-old boy, play time should provide a safe environment where he can experience failure and frustration, to develop problem-solving strategies that he will come back to throughout his life. Play also lets a child process events and information by re-enacting scenarios that deal with themes relevant to his life.
At the critical juncture between independence and cooperation, a 6-year-old boy's interest can be expected to oscillate between toys that facilitate solitary or parallel play, and those made for cooperative play. Toys such as vehicles and action figures give the child a chance to play independently, while games and puzzles provide the opportunity for cooperation and negotiation of rules.
Some boys can read by age 6, but others cannot. One way to encourage the development of literacy skills is to create a print-rich environment, with shelves and boxes clearly labeled using simple words, and age-appropriate books easily available. Offering to read to a child often provides valuable opportunities to develop pre-literacy and literacy skills.
A 6-year-old boy is beginning to develop the ability to follow basic maps, and may enjoy toys that allow him to experiment with creating and combining geometric figures. The average child this age counts up to 20, so adults selecting an educational toy should choose on that provides the opportunity for him to stretch his abilities.
Simple, unbranded toys, such as blocks, cars or generic action figures, give children the greatest range for imaginative play. Toys that reference a movie or television show often come with complete story lines that a child might feel compelled to follow during play.