I’m the Strategist’s Toy Writer, and These Are the Best Black Friday Toy Deals

Amazon’s Black Friday toy sales are sprawling with discounts on nearly every toy you can imagine. The upside is there are a ton of great options to consider, like over 50 percent off select Melissa & Doug puzzles, stuffed animals, and musical instruments and up to 50 percent off games and accessories for Nintendo Switch. The downside is it’s easy to miss the really good stuff among all the not-worth-your-time deals. Let me be your guide. Below is a grid of very good deals for kids of all ages, organized loosely from babies and toddlers to full-on tweens.

Target’s Black Friday toy aisle is known for being one of the best places to score deals on everything from LEGO sets to L.O.L. Surprise Dolls. This year, Target has been running a full week of Black Friday deals that extends through November 25. You’ll find discounts up to 60 percent off on video games, consoles, and accessories. And there are also “buy one, get one 50 percent off” deals on select toy brands including Fisher-Price, FAO Schwarz, and Marvel.

Like Target, Walmart has a huge toy aisle with tons of LEGOs, action figures, Pokémon cards, and dollhouses. It also has very good Black Friday sales, and this year is no different, featuring more than 50 percent off on certain toys.

Avenlur is your one-stop shop for wooden Montessori play gyms, swings, slides, and toddler towers. It is offering 20 percent off sitewide and 25 percent off purchases over $750.

Though it’s not the first place I think about shopping for toys, Best Buy has some great deals on Legos, video games, and collectible toys like the below set of Disney-themed Hot Wheels cars made to celebrate the company’s 100th anniversary.

For a lot of people (non-tweens mostly), Claire’s flies under the radar. But it stocks a deep inventory of trendy toys like Squishmallows, Pokémon cards, fidgets, and cute key chains. The retailer is offering 50 percent off all plush toys and fidgets as well as 10 percent off all blind box/bag toys.

If you want your playroom to look like it was styled for Instagram, Crate & Kids is one of the best places to shop. This Black Friday, it is slashing prices by up to 50 percent on baby play mats, pretend play toys, and playroom furniture.

Fat Brain Toys, known for their outdoor and educational toys, is offering up to 60 percent off toys, games, and puzzles.

KiwiCo, the STEAM-focused subscription brand for children 0 to 12 years old, is offering new subscriptions starting at just $15.95 a month for 3-, 6-, and 12-month plans. It is also taking 20 percent off all non-subscription purchases with the code GIFT. The same code will get you 25 percent off orders over $100 and 30 percent off orders over $150.

Don’t sleep on Kohl’s. The retailer has a wide selection of toys from Melissa & Doug, Fisher-Price, Hot Wheels, and Sesame Street. You’ll find deals up to 50 percent off with free shipping on purchases over $25.

Strategist staff parents, myself included, and Strategist readers with kids love Lalo’s high chair, play tent, and feeding sets. This fall, the brand launched its own play kits that can be purchased individually or as a monthly subscription. For Black Friday, you can get up to 40 percent off sitewide.

We have heard from dozens of parents about how much they appreciate the convenience and value of Lovevery’s developmental play kits — and I’m a subscriber too. Until November 28, the brand is taking $30 off when you buy any three play kits with the code FUN30.

Looking for whimsical (and nice-looking) pretend play sets, dress-up clothing, or durable outdoor toys? Maisonette has all of that and more — tit is also a great place to shop for dolls and stuffies — and it’s giving customers up to 70 percent off.

Mudpuppy is the brand behind our favorite mini-city puzzles, but it also makes beautifully designed board books, bath toys, arts and crafts, and games. This year it is hosting a weeklong sale with 30 percent off sitewide through Tuesday, November 28.

Artsy parents and actual art teachers love this brand’s markers, crayons, colored pencils, and sticker sets. Today, take 25 percent off everything.

Pottery Barn Kids is taking up to 60 percent off of toys, play furniture, holiday gifts, and more. Since the toys it sells tend to be on the expensive side, now’s a good time to save a big chunk of money on some heirloom-quality ones.

Play silks come up in nearly every conversation I have with toy experts and child-development professionals. And they all say Sarah’s Silks are the best; they last forever and are made with the highest quality materials. But for something you aren’t sure your toddler will like, the prices can be high. This Black Friday, the brand is taking up to 70 percent off, making it easy to buy a few entry-level pieces or stock up on gifts for friends.

Through November 27, Super Smalls — a boutique brand for expensive-looking kiddie jewels — will be offering 20 percent off sitewide, 25 percent off orders of $150 or more, and 30 percent off orders of $250 or more.

Woom bikes are a favorite of Strategist writer, and mom of two, Lauren Ro because of their sturdy frames and easy handling for even the littlest kids. The brand is offering up to 30 percent off bikes and 10 percent off gift cards.

New York writers and editors with kids are big fans of Yoto audio players. So much so that we have written about them almost as much as we have written about Magna-Tiles. The kid- and parent-approved brand will be discounting players, content, and accessories up to 20 percent through November 27.