Barbie, Fire HD Kids Tablets, and STEM toys

TL;DR: Toys are on sale before Black Friday — save up to 48% on Fire HD Kids Edition Tablets, coding toys, L.O.L. Surprise!, Barbie, and more.

Everyone has seen Jingle All the Way, right? Heartwarming movie about a dad trying to get a sold-out toy?

Occasional corny acting moments aside, shopping for toys on Black Friday itself can actually be like that movie sometimes. Any on-trend toys (this year will likely be Paw Patrol and sparkly, plush toys that involve the element of surprise, plus any and all things Frozen 2) are at high risk of selling out. Waiting too long can also get you hit with that “may not arrive by Christmas” notice because items are so back-ordered.

SEE ALSO: What to buy on Black Friday: Where to find deals on AirPods, Nintendo, Xbox, Instant Pot, and more

Unless you’re shopping for one of those major doorbusters (like that giant Frozen castle) that will only be on sale for one day, taking advantage of toy sales before Black Friday is the way to go. Walmart, Amazon, and Best Buy have already started Black Friday deals, and we’ve found deals on Fire HD Kids Edition Tablets, coding toys, Barbie, and more.

these are deals that we probably don’t think will get any cheaper

For the kids who came out of the womb knowing how to use a tablet, the Fire HD 8 Kids Tablet is a great middle ground that gives them freedom while giving parents control. Each tablet comes with a year of Amazon FreeTime Unlimited, which includes access to over 20,000 apps, games, and educational content from Disney, Nat Geo, and more. They’ll want to take it literally everywhere they go, but you can breathe easy knowing that Amazon’s two-year warranty will replace it if anything breaks.

The Nintendo Switch can only be so entertaining. Kids who live and breathe video games might like taking control of the action with the Sphero Mini Coding Robot. Using the Sphero Play app, they can control the ball with finger modes, use it as a joystick for arcade games, or learn to code their own movements with drag and drop commands. 

What’s better than one surprise exclusive L.O.L. doll? A surprise exclusive L.O.L. doll with a glam camper that has a light-up pool and slide, runway, and DJ booth. The front also detaches and turns into a car with working lights and sounds. It’s basically three toys in one. Amazon’s L.O.L. Surprise! sale also includes the Lils Winter Disco Series, Fluffy Pets Winter Disco Series, Poopsie Rainbow Surprise Dolls, and Poopsie Sparkly Critters, all up to 48% off.

The Barbie Dream stuff ain’t never gonna go out of style. If the kid on your list already has the Barbie DreamHouse, Best Buy has a great price on Barbie’s DreamCamper (a girl needs the great outdoors once in a while!). Pressing the button on the top causes the top and side panels to flip out, complete with a pool and a slide.