Roundup: Black Friday Sales on MPMK Gift Guide Toys!

Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving! Now that we’ve all stuffed ourselves and, hopefully, had a great day with the family – it’s time to get a little Christmas shopping done.

I stayed up extra late last night/this morning to scour Amazon for deals they’re running on any and all of the 400+ Toys featured in our gift guides this year. I really hope this goes a long way to saving you a little time and money today!

Before you get to shopping, don’t forget to Bookmark our new page:

NEW THIS YEAR: Check out our Alerts Page for Sales on All of the Toys from our Famous Gift Guides – Updated Daily!

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SIGN UP HERE FOR DAILY Alerts on Sales on the Gift Guide Toys

*note: The deals below aren’t all specifically labeled as “Black Friday” sales, so I’m not exactly sure when they end, could be today, could be this weekend – consider yourself warned. Also, for more deals,be sure to follow our facebook page – which we are continually updating with the latest sales through December!

NOW THROUGH SUNDAY: Use Code: HOLIDAY30 for 30% off ANY book

A teacher Friend just recommended this one to me for helping kids understand that failure is ok – or check out our list of the best books for whatever stage your child is in.

Find more great kid reads in our list of Top Christmas books and our picks for the perfect book for whatever reading stage your child is in.

Special Note: Learning Resource Toys have just gone on sale, up to 35% off, this is one of our favorite toy companies and their picks are in many of our guides- see here for all toys on sale.

Deal of the Day

Up to 50% Off Select Mattel and Fisher-Price Toys

 

From The Gift Guides

From the The Best Toys for Keeping Kids Active Inside & Out Gift Guide:

PlasmaCar $69.95 $41.99 (3 – 8 years)

Check out the stellar reviews on this one and you’ll be sold.  It’s a cool space-age car that’s powered solely by wiggling the steering wheel.  This multi-award winning toy is one that will be enjoyed by kids of all ages for many years. Enough said

 

From The Best S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Toys Gift Guide

Kindle Fire HD6 Kids Edition Tablet with Kid-Proof Case and 2 Year Worry-Free Guarantee $149.99 $119.99 (This is the one we bought last summer at the best price I’ve seen!)

 

Also worth considering:

• Kindle Fire HD 6 $99.99 $69.99

 

Learning Resources Primary Science Lab Set $29.99 $18.74 (4+ years)

This kit of real science tools is perfectly sized for little hands. It comes with 10 double sided activity cards, beaker, magnifying glass, funnel, eyedropper, flask, tweezers, googles, large 6″ test tube and stand, and 2 small test tubes.  The authenticity of these items will have your little scientists dying to experiment and they’ll serve great double duty for dramatic play too.

From the Best Toys for Building & Constructing Gift Guide

50% Off Select K’NEX and Tinkertoy Collections including:

Tinker Toy Essentials Value Set (100 Pieces) $39.99 $20.00

Tinkertoys are a total classic (my grandparents had a set I used to play with whenever I would visit them as a little girl) and this essential set would be a valuable addition to any toy bin. The company also offers a Tinkertoy Pink Building Set. There has been a lot of debate about whether pink and purple building toys are a good way to entice girls to build or to reinforce gender stereotypes. My stance is that you know your child best and you know what will work for her.  If the color pink is the only thing that will entice her to start constructing, then go for it. If she just wants to build then stick with the standard set!

K’NEX 52 Models Building Set $39.99 $20.00

My son spotted a K’NEX set at a consignment store shortly before his 5th birthday. When I went back to get it for him the very next day, it had already been snatched up – a sure sign of a good toy. K’NEXs have been around for a long time and with good reason. If your child loves LEGO, this is a natural next step for him or her. The pieces offer lots of flexibility and many of the guided builds have dynamic, moving parts. This set includes a variety of builds including a Ferris Wheel, helicopter, train, etc. I also love that they have an entire educational line of sets that teach specific scientific principles such as the Intro. to Simple Machines: Gears and Intro. to Simple Machines: Levers and Pulleys.

Up to 30% Off Select Magformers Building Sets including:

Magformers 30 Piece Set $49.99 $34.99 and

Amazon Exclusive, Magformers Dynamic Wheels Set $189.99 $132.99

A friend from toddler group recommended these to me when I mentioned what a big fan we are of magna-tiles. They work in the same way but they are more affordable and can be used to make 3D geometric shapes. The reviews are also also similarly stellar (as long as you buy sets with enough pieces may say). The cruiser car car sets allow builders to create cars of various design, including classic cars, wacky cars, space cars, underwater cars, dragsters, and hot rods.

Also worth considering:

• The super cool K’NEX Mighty Makers line for girls – think Goldiblox for under $10! $19.99 $9.99 (I showed the underwater set to my 5 year old and she got really excited which she doesn’t always do with building toys so we’ve already ordered it for under the tree this year.)
• The equally cool K’NEX K-Force line– basically K’NEX sets that allows kids to build their own nerf guns and arrows. $24.99 $11.99 and $49.99 $25.00

From the Best Toys for Babies & Young Toddlers Gift Guide

Up to 40% Off Playskool Favorites including:

Playskool Busy Gears $24.99 $18.74 (1 – 3 years) (We have the less expensive Monkey Version $14.68)

At first I was put off by the look of this toy when my son received it for his first birthday- it seemed like a lot of plastic and lights and not a lot to actually do. But it is now one of his favorites, allowing him lots of opportunities to stack, push buttons, learn about cause and effect and even get a very basic introduction to mechanics. (I like that he can play with it with the lights and music on or offtoo). One similarly pleased reviewer wrote, “My son received this toy for his first birthday! I will be purchasing it as gifts for all my friends!! He LOVES pushing the button and listening the the music. I was wondering if he would be able to figure out the gears, but he has caught on very quickly and loves to take the gears off and put them back on. He also enjoys stacking the gears up and watching them go around! I like that it has a handle so he can carry it around with him. It keeps him involved for up to 20 minutes at a time!

Green Toys Recycling Truck $27.99 $20.95 (1 months – 4 years) – Little girls and boys alike are drawn to things that go vroom.  This Green Toy truck is truly green in every sense of the word.  Made in the USA from 100% milk jugs, it is free of BPA, PVC, and phthalates plus it’s a recycling truck instead of the classic garbage truck.  I also love that it has moving parts and is a bigger size – easy for young toddlers to manipulate.

From The Best Toys for Quality Dramatic Play Gift Guide

 

Learning Resources Pretend & Play School Set $36.99 $18.56 (3 – 8  years)

This is such a popular toy and it’s no mystery why. Kids absolutely love playing school, especially when they have awesome props like this, and parents love how it fosters a love of learning. We bought it for my 4 and 6 year olds last Christmas and they play with it ALL THE TIME. From the manufacturer, “Part of the Pretend & Play line that fosters healthy early childhood development by helping kids interpret and imitate the world around them. The 149-piece set includes tri-fold board, grade book, stickers, hall passes, dry erase board, hand pointer, crayons, double-sided calendar, double-sided map, and more.” From a reviewer, “I gave this to my 6 year old last Christmas and it has been one of the most-played-with gifts ever. She is now 7 and she still pulls this out and plays with it all the time. She loves to play school with her younger brother. This set is perfect for 5-8 year olds. Highly recommend!”

Learning Resources Teaching Cash Register $54.99 $35.30 (3 – 9 years)

An obvious extension of the play kitchen and all the play food that comes with it, is playing store.  And the biggest prop needed for some good store play is a cash register – which as an awesome tool for burgeoning math skills. My kids started hoarded the register at a local drop in play center for over an hour at a time a couple year and I knew we had to get one for Christmas. A lot of research pointed to this one as being the best learning register on the market thanks to a working calculator and scale as well as being able to recognize real money and even incorporating math games.  This is a toy that will grow with your kids.

Learning Resources Puppet-on-a-Stick $26.99 $20.24

Playing with puppets is absolutely wonderful for storytelling and for learning about emotions, not to mention serving as a great tool for kids to communicate and learn through role playing. Educational Insight’s award-winning Puppets-on-a-Stick are almost irresistible with their rubberized from and super fun movable mouths. We got the unicorn versions of these as stocking stuffers for the kids this year and they are so impressive (and big!) in real life.

Green Toys Tea Set  $27.99 $24.44 (2 – 6 years)

Whether playing with mommy or a favorite doll, tea time is always a fun way to pass some time.We’ve had this set for over a year and it still looks like new (despite lots of use in the playroom, bathtub, sink and even sand box).  Plus I love that Green Toys are 100% recycled, made from milk jugs, are FDA approved to eat and drink from, and do not contain BPA, phthalates, or lead paint.

Green Toys Tool Set $27.99 $24.98 (2 – 4 years)

A tool set is another “must-have” toy in my book. They’re fantastic for dramatic play (my kids love finding new things to “fix”) all by themselves. Add in some working nuts and bolts and you’ve gotfine motor practice to boot.  We bought a wood tool set for C and have been happy with everything except the durability, so far we’ve had a wrench and pliers snap.  I think this set from green toys would be a lot more durable (there are sets available in blue, yellow, and green or brown, red, and blue as well).

From the Best Toys for Art & Crafts Lovers Gift Guide

Spirograph Deluxe Design Set $24.99 $22.99

I get so excited when the toys I loved as a kid come back into vogue! I remember spending HOURS playing with my spirograph as a kid. The things you can make with this are unlimited but also so impressive looking. This one is a classic for a reason and the 50th anniversary edition has some cool extras including a carrying case with a built-in work surface and putty to keep the spirographs in place (so smart)… I also love, and will be buying for our daughter this year, thisSpirograph and Spirograph Coloring Book Combo Kit that comes with a spirograph set as well as a spirograph coloring book, similar to the mandala style coloring books highlighted in this guide, and colored pencils.

From the Best Kid Games Gift Guide

Up to 35% Off Thinkfun Games (Our FAVORITE GAME COMPANY!) including:

Thinkfun Zingo Game $19.99 $16.49

This is another super popular game with families with young children and it was another of our family’s first games. A lot like BINGO, players get picture cards and try to fill them up.  There is a speed component too that we use about half the time with our 5 year old and skip with our 3 year old. We have both the standard version and the numbers/math version and both are regularly requested by the kids. Side Note: When your pre-readers become emerging readers, Zingo Word Builder, What’s Gnu? and Zingo Sight Words are also excellent!!

 

The Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel Game $21.99 $14.44

Friends of ours have this game and my kids have enjoyed playing with it during play dates. Along with the lovely look of the game, I like that it covers a wide range of skills by teaching matching, sorting, and strategic thinking while developing hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. It gets tons of great reviews on Amazon too.

Buy One Get One 50% Off Blue Orange Games including:

Spot It! $11.50 and Spot It! Jr. Animals $8.83

An award-winning game that centers around visual perception and speed.  The goal is to be the first to identify a match on a pair of cards and to call out out the name of the figure in common.Teachers saw the learning potential in the huge popularity of this game and started to request educational versions. These are the result – I think we’ll be getting the whole Educational Set for the kids this year.

20% Off Select Wonder Forge Games including

 Cat in the Hat, I Can Do That! Game $19.99 $16.70

One of our kids’ first favorite games, this one is great for a mixed age range because it doesn’t require a lot of reading or focus. In fact, the whole point is to get up and move around and be silly– a life-saver on days when you’re stuck inside!

Up to 25% Off Games for Family Game Night Classics 

The Best Toys for Vehicle Lovers Gift Guide

Bruder Crane Truck $63.99 $56.18

Bruder Fire Engine with Ladder Water Pump and Lights/Sounds $75.99 $64.56

 

If you’ve got a true vehicle lover at home then you know they can NEVER get enough construction vehicles to push around the floor (or around the sandbox).  The Bruder versions are each realistic, high quality options that won’t disappoint. Their working parts are incredibly durable and our son absolutely adores his large working crane truck with stabilizer feet, which he uses for all sorts of imaginative play. Last year the only thing he got for Christmas was this flatbed truck and backhoe which is all he wanted, and he was totally thrilled.

Also worth considering:

 

• Hot Wheels Track Builder Volcano Escape Set $44.99 $26.99
• Hot Wheels Track Builder Essential Gravity Pack $10.99 $6.99

Honorable Mentions

These guys didn’t quite make the cut into our gift guides this year but they’re still great toys- especially at these prices!

Buy the ANKI Overdrive Starter Kit ($149.99) and Get a Free Car (Valued at $49.99)

Nerf N-Strike Mega BigShock Blaster $10.99 $6.37 (Would be a great stocking stuffer)

Planes Fire & Rescue Die Cast Collection $56.99 $39.00

Thames & Kosmos Chemistry Set Chem C500 $34.95 $24.86

Crayola Color Wonder Light Up Stamper $24.99 $16.97

Inside Out Large Talking Joy Doll $24.99 $15.93 (and more Inside Out Dolls at 35% off here)

Lalaloopsy Super Silly Large Party Dolls $24.99 $12.64 – $14.85

Duck & Goose Plus Doll Pair $20.00 $13.69 (had to include it as our 1 1/2 year old LOVES the Duck & Goose Books!)

Up to 40% Off Select Maisto Remote Control Vehicles

Gyro RC Quadcopter with Camera $99.99 $47.99 (I know a lot of older kids that would love this)

AquaBead Deluxe Pen Playset $19.99 $15.99

Other Deals Happening Right Now

Check here to see if that game, toy, or character your kid has been begging for is currently on sale:

• Use Code: HOLIDAY30 for 30% off ANY book (A teacher Friend just recommended this one to me for helping kids understand that failure is ok – or check out our list of the best books for whatever stage your child is in – or our list of Top Christmas books).

• Up to40% off Select Transformers Toys
• Up to 40% Off Select Frozen Toys
• Up to 50% Off on My Little Pony Equestria Girls
• Up to 35% off Select Star Wars Toys

• Up to 40% off Crayola Arts & Crafts
• Up to 30% off Select Nerf Toys
• Up to 40% off Playskool Toys
• Up to 25% off Select Hot Wheels

• 40% Off Fisher-Price Music Sets
• Up to 25% off Transformer Rescue Bots
• Up to 40% Select Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Toys
• 20% Off Select Disney The Good Dinosaur Toys

• 40% Off Fisher-Price Bubble Guppies
• Up to 50% off Jake and the Never Land Pirates Toys
• Up to 35% off Select Paw Patrol Toys
• Up to 40% off Select Octonaut Toys

• Up to 55% off Select Bratz Dolls
• Up to 50% off Select Dora The Explorer Toys
• Up to 25% off Minnie Mouse Toys
• Up to 25% off Select Imaginext Toys

P.S. See all 15 of our 2016 Gift Guides here.

Still want more ideas? Here’s all 10 of the MPMK Gift Guides, organized by your child’s interest, including:

• Best Toys for Fostering S.T.E.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) Skills

• Best Toys for Staying Active Inside and for Getting Outdoors

• Best Kid Games for Family Game Night, Playing with Siblings, or Playing Alone

• Best Learning Toys for Quiet Time & Independent Play

• Best Toys for Art & Craft Lovers

• Best Building & Construction Toys (Including Best LEGOs)

• Best Dramatic Play Toys

• Best Toys for Vehicle Lovers

• Best Toys for Princess Lovers

• Best Dolls & Accessories for Girls AND Boys

Plus, our five guides organized by age:

• The Very Best Toys for Babies & Young Toddlers

• 35 Go-To Gifts for Two Year Olds

• Go-To Gifts for Preschoolers

• The Most Exciting Gifts You Can Give a Kindergartner

• Go-To Gifts for Elementary Aged Kids

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