My tom boy 6 year old and birthday gift

[laila2]

My dd likes boy things. She is good at mechanics; putting things together, building with blocks, and figuring out how something should go back together if it is brocken or fallen apart.

I was thinking of getting her interested in car design starting with models. Does anyone know of age appropriate things for a 6 year old. She has also said she wants a rocket.

She also has a huge interest in dogs because her friends have dogs as pets. Any way of fulfilling that need without a real dog? The other day she saw a barbie with a dog in the store and all of a sudden she wants a barbie. I have a feeling the doll will not get played with.

[LynnS6]

Does she have legos? They sound like a perfect toy for her. They make a line of rockets and spaceships, I'm pretty sure.

Stomp Rockets are great for this age.

What about a small vet kit? That gets the dog, without the doll she probably won't play with.

Does she have a marble run? Or a gears set?

[nathansmum]

Another 2nd for the Lego! My ds gets a new lego kit every birthday and Christmas and loves them. Mechano is another that may appeal?

Does she have things like decent ropes, hook/pulley thing and perhaps a knot book? Both my kids use these heaps outside and inside for rigging up all sorts of contraptions and really open imaginative play comes out of it. Pocket knife?

Brain box - electronic click together pieces to create different circuits using light bulbs, noise makers, rotors etc.

[SuzyLee]

My neighbor boy, age 6, has a little toy dog kennel that he carries around with a dog inside. The dog is one of those kinds that sort of looks like it "breathes"- its side rises and lowers and it looks like a live sleeping dog. I think they sell them at Hallmark type gift stores.

Model car and rocket type sets come in different skill levels, from ones that snap together easily, to ones that you glue. They will probably have age ranges on the box, so go to a Hobby stoer and check it out.

I got my 5 year old neice a Chemistry set last Xmas. She needs parental help of course, but she has enjoyed doing the experiments. It was a set aimed at 5-8 year olds I think.