By Lou Carlozo, dealnews contributor The Yuletide season has come and gone, and more power to your kiddos if they're still getting ample use out of those holiday toys. Still, who can stop the march of time, and with it the inevitable birthday parties, Valentine's Day celebrations, and well-timed rewards for stellar report cards? In that spirit, dealnews presents five bargains that tap some of the most-loved kids' brands, from LEGO to Disney, and retailers such as Toys "R" Us and the Discovery Store. If you need an excuse to celebrate, February has plenty of 'em: yes, there's Valentine's Day, Presidents' Day, and even that odd little Leap Year Day, February 29, which only pops up every four years. LEGO Sale Vendor: LEGO Shop at Home Discount: Up to 77% off Shipping: From $4.95 s&h Is It Worth It?: Even when not on sale, LEGO endures as one of those fabulous toys that bridges generations and inspires young minds with the promise of imaginative adventures and figuring out how things work. With this current sale, you'll get up to 77% off select items in the LEGO sale section, with prices starting at $2.98. A best bet is the LEGO Meteor Strike Game, regularly $19.99 but selling for $9.98, a price low by $2. In this fast-paced two-player game, you launch satellites deep into space to seize valuable cosmic rocks and sabotage your opponent's lunar mission with laser blasts. A caution to parents: Do not expect to win against your 10-year-old. Interactive Toy Concepts Skeet Shooter Vendor: Sharp Gear via Amazon Price: $30.99 with free shipping Lowest By: $31 Is It Worth It?: Pow! Zoom! Blast! You might fight with your youngster over who gets to use this toy, which features three reusable skeets, infrared blaster, sound effects, timed launch, and more. The Interactive Toy Concepts Skeet Shooter is not recommended for the younger kids, and, according to user reviews, it might require some finessing to get it to work just right, such as making sure your skeets are lined up properly when loaded. GameStop Coupons Discount: 16% off used games via coupon code "CAG16", more Shipping: $2.99 s&h Is It Worth It?: Aside from the 16% off discount on used games, GameStop offers several other promotions via some valuable coupon codes: $10 off all games and accessories of $74.99 or more via code "QUATO", and $5 off all games and accessories priced at $59.99 or more via code "BAYSIDE." Check out the used game selection here, and keep in mind that games make for ideal Valentine's Gifts for guys who aren't that big on the mushy stuff. Think of it as poetic justice: While he shoots down aliens and crime lords, you shoot an arrow through his heart. Disney Princess Scrapbook Set Vendor: Toys "R" Us Price: $4.98 with free in-store pickup Lowest By: $10 Is It Worth It?: Kids love scrapbook sets, and this is one sure to please the girls. It includes a journal, mini journal, pencil case, Disney Princess poster, sticker sheet, sticky notepad, Marabou pen, six markers, two erasers, five note cards, and five envelopes. Make sure when ordering to opt for the in-store pickup, as shipping runs $5.75 (though orders over $75 qualify for free shipping). Discovery Store Best of 2011 Sale Discount: 10% to 80% off Shipping: From $2.95 s&h Is It Worth It?: While you may not normally find "yowza!" in the official description of a kid-oriented sale, the exclamation fits here. You can browse the entire list of sale items here. Great deals include the Discovery 3D Star Theater, now $27.99, a toy that allows your child to transform his or her room into a planetarium, projecting stars, planets, and constellations onto the walls viewable via the included 3D glasses. Click here for more toy suggestions. Front page photo credit: 123RF Lou Carlozo is a dealnews contributing writer. He covers personal finance for Reuters Wealth, and was most recently the managing editor of WalletPop.com, and before that a veteran columnist at the Chicago Tribune. Follow him on Twitterâ @LouCarlozo63. You can also sign up for an email alert for all dealnews features.
