Toy & Hobby Deals

Keeps kids occupied on car rides or flights without a bunch of loose pieces to lose, since it's a scaled-down travel version of standard magnetic tile sets. Amazon has it for $17, which is $3 off the $20 list price. Buy Now at Amazon

Kids who like customizing their own toys will get the most out of this one, since it comes with an air brush tool for designing fabric patterns directly on the doll's outfit; it's currently $9.73 off the list price at Amazon. Buy Now at Amazon

Toddlers who need something to fidget with will get a lot of mileage out of this board, since it packs latches, buttons, and zippers into one bear-shaped panel that keeps small hands occupied. It also doubles as a nice option for building fine motor skills without resorting to a screen. Buy Now at Home Depot

Dart Zone's Max Outlaw Pro suits kids or dart-blaster hobbyists who want a higher-capacity option without stepping up to the pricier motorized models, and Walmart has it marked down $11.25 from the $31.23 list price. Buy Now at Walmart

Update: The price has changed to $34.97 since this was originally published.

Handwriting practice with Disney Princess characters tends to hold a preschooler's attention longer than generic workbooks, making this a solid pick for parents working on letter formation before kindergarten, and it's $3 off the list price right now. Buy Now at Amazon

Update: The price has changed to $24.99 since this was originally published.

Flips itself over and drives on either side, which makes it a solid pick for kids who like watching a toy recover from crashes instead of getting stuck. It's currently $2 off the list price at $22.89. Buy Now at Amazon

Update: The price has changed to $24.99 since this was originally published.

Kids who like flips and tricks over straight-line racing will get the most out of this one, since it's built for stunts rather than speed, and right now it's $2 off the list price. Buy Now at Amazon

Update: The price has dropped to $15.64 since this was originally published.

Fans of collectible car-culture figurines will get a kick out of this one for a display shelf or as a small gift, and it's currently $1.33 off the $17 list price at Amazon. Buy Now at Amazon

Kids who can't get enough of the show will get a kick out of the light-up, sound-reactive ears that respond to the character's cat-themed antics, and at $12, that's $8 off the $20 list price. Buy Now at Amazon

Update: The price has dropped to $22.92 since this was originally published.

Stitch collectors and Disney figurine fans will appreciate the faceted, prism-like design that sets this apart from standard resin figures, and right now it's about $1 off the usual $24.50 price. Buy Now at Amazon

Fans of the original Evangelion series who collect statues will appreciate the anniversary detailing on this Test Type-01 figure, making it a solid pick for a display shelf centerpiece rather than casual desk decor. Buy Now at Amazon

Toddlers who like repeat-after-me antics will get a kick out of this cactus mimicking their voice and dancing along to music, and it's currently $8 off the $27 list price at Amazon. Buy Now at Amazon

Small clip-on plush ducks like these are handy for decorating backpacks, strollers, or bag charms, and they work well as an easy grab-bag gift for kids who collect keychain-style toys. Buy Now at Amazon

Update: The price has changed to $25.99 since this was originally published.

Good pick for households with kids or anyone wary of actual steel-tip darts flying around the living room, and it comes with 12 darts so multiple players can join without waiting on refills. At $24.68, that's about $2 off the $26.99 list price. Buy Now at Amazon

These pack well for classroom valentines, party favors, or stuffing small gift bags where you need a bunch of little plush pieces at once, and at $5.96 for 10, that's about $0.60 each versus $8.43 for the full set. Buy Now at Walmart

Kids curious about biology or hatching their own tiny sea creatures will get a kick out of watching these aquatic crustaceans grow from eggs, making it a low-cost hands-on science project for the classroom or kitchen counter. Buy Now at Amazon

Backyard cookouts and family game nights are where this one earns its keep, with four paddles and six balls covering more players than the typical two-paddle set. It's $2 off the list price at Walmart, bringing it to $13. Buy Now at Walmart

Kids who've outgrown a basic push scooter but aren't ready for a bike will get the most use out of this, since it folds down for easy storage or trips in the car. Buy Now at Home Depot

Collectors and Tron fans looking to round out a shelf display will get this Ares figure for $5.62, which is $9.37 (about 62%) off the $14.99 list price. Buy Now at Amazon