Would prefer it to not be “hair” 'makeup" girlish oriented, but rather something challenging for her mind. I am her Uncle, and would like something maybe aimed at DIY outside of Lego if you know what I mean. Budget is small, maybe 39.99? Can move either way if needed
Advice, much needed as a 36 y/o male with no kids
At about that age, I enjoyed putting together dominos runs and knocking them down. I also liked wooden building blocks. Nowadays they have building made out of dense foam which probably hurt less when your baby brother knocks your tower onto your head.
Get her a rock tumbler.
I was about that age when I was gifted a microscope. No idea if you can still find them that cheap, though
I also got a microscope around this age - now I’m an environmental scientist
Another good one would be an easier STEMmy puzzle. I had one that was a bunch of shapes that had to fit together into its small case. Kinda of Tetris like.
In my area’s thrift stores, $500 microscopes are available for $10, no joke. People buy them for their kids, kids never use them, into the box and off to the donation center!
We gave our 5yo a microscope for his 5th birthday, and he loved it!
Yes, also had a microscope at around that age, even with some sample plates that you could look at, such as a squeezed fly.
Might be able to build one, could be worth looking into, thanks!
There is something super cool: pocket microscopes. You can take them out in nature since they are small, they are in your price range and they are astonishingly good!
Just piling on because I got a pocket microscope as a kid. It definitely led to me thinking about what objects in the world around me are made of. And if course I wondered about the components of those bits and pieces. Fast forward, and I now I have a chemistry degree 🙂
Microscopes are definitely available in OP’s price range.
Sudoku book, maybe? If the likes making things, origami paper and an insteuction book? OH, I remember as a kid this toy that was short plastic sticks with magnets at the end and ball bearings ao you would make structures and stuff with em, fun to play with and suits the vibe you’re looking for I think.
My daughter around this age loves to draw, dance, dress, up in constumes (dinosaurs and what not). She is definitely interested in science and we have little lab kits and what not. I highly recommend Snap Circuits which should be in your budget. As with most things, important to do it with her at least once to help guide her and create that spark.
People underestimate kids. Whenever possible get them the real real of something, even if more limited. For instance my old man got her a real (cheap) cordless drill and a toolbox and she loved it. Kids know fake from real.
At this age interests come and go and it’s more about breadth / exposure / exploration.
6 is a perfect time to introduce them to a musical instrument. Or music genres themselves! Chess with uncle? Use this chance to both bond and expose her to one of your interests, with mentorship.
Get her Minecraft; set up Scratch programming for her.
My 6 year old son absolutely loves the Snap Circuits kits. We’ve also started teaching him collectable card games (Pokémon, Yu Gi Oh , etc) which challenge his reading and strategy skills. Plus great quality time activity. There are tons of Stem kits out there for less than $40.
Sent me back mentioning those snap circuits lol. Have her build the simple AM radio and watch her mind be blown OP, you won’t be disappointed
K’NEX. I used to build all kinds of cool stuff out of those when I was a kid.
My niblings have liked the Kiwico and other sciencey kits I’ve sent them
There have been a lot of great recommendations on here, and I want to add Perplexus balls. My 5yo played a LOT with the blue one and we recently bought him the next one that is more difficult. He loves them.
Board games. Catan junior, Loopin Chewie, Robot turtles, Tsuro, Abracada…What?, camel up.
Regular price
Catan Jr, didn’t know that existed I’ll have to look into what games are around. I know her Dad taught our parents how to play Settlers of Catan a number of years ago before she was born, so that’s something that she may have parents/grandparents to play with. She has a brother that is 2 years younger, so maybe they’ll be able to play that together soon enough.
Ticket to Ride: First Journey and Qwirkle are also good choices for that age range. Qwirkle is great because it’s simple but fun for all ages. My kids loved it when they were young and still play it frequently at 16 and 25.
It’s a bit more than your budget, but Edison robot is a pretty fun way to get into programming. It’s also used by schools in some countries. You may be able to find a v1 or v2 cheaper. I have a v1 and it is pretty cool.
Modeling clay and good quality paints.
Artistic, technical, no real “rules”, and a good amount of skill building.
Get her started on the “exclusive club” membership scam. She makes a “Super Secret Smart Kids Only Club” in the backyard, charges neighborhood kids $5 to join, promises amazing activities and snacks. First meeting is just them sitting in a circle while she explains the “rules” for 10 minutes, hands out one Oreo each, then says they need to pay another $3 for “premium membership” to unlock the good stuff. The good stuff never materializes but somehow kids keep showing up… What? Oh… GIFT, I thought you said… Nevermind.
There are plenty of brain teaser type toys. Maybe something like Rush Hour or Snap Circuits
Books are always good too. When I was her age I was really into the Magic Treehouse series
Both of these are great and another cool one is laser maze!
I hear cheap 3D pens are all the rage now.
