Kids grow at a seemingly exponential rate, which means that they grow out of old habits, toys and clothing far quicker than we’d like. Hot Wheels? That’s so Year 2, mum. Everyone’s collecting Match Attax now!
Keeping up with the kids is an expensive task, to say the least. Before they hit those all-important teenage years, they tend to struggle to understand the concept of money – or a lack of it. It makes finding exclusive bargains in the run-up to the festive period all the more important, so we can treat our little monsters to something special for Christmas (even though Santa gets all the credit).
There are, however, perennially popular items which are always a crowd-pleaser come Christmas morning. Extra-large Lego sets like the Millennium Falcon are a joy for kids and adults alike, while classic tech items like tablets and e-readers will have tweens in a good mood for the entire festive season. You needn’t spend an arm and a leg either, for Black Friday is right around the corner.
Why you can trust ES Best’s Black Friday coverage
Amassing over a decade of shopping experience between us as a team, there’s no one better equipped to scour the web for the best possible Black Friday deals than us here at ES Best. We’ve been shouting about the annual sales extravaganza for years now, allowing our dedicated readers to get ahead of the festive shopping season while bagging brilliant bargains.
We’re selective in our offering, which means we’ll only alert you to the best possible deals on truly coveted items. From our individual deal round-ups to the Live Blog that we run all weekend long, you won’t miss a beat.
Expect brilliant bargains on everything from Barbie Dreamhouses to puzzles, board games, cuddly toys and more. We’ve curated a selection of the best toy deals below.
Top deals on toys
Tonies
This brilliant and durable speaker system gives your kids complete control on what they want to listen to, and helps make bedtime so much easier. There is an extensive list of over 60 mini figurines ranging from The Snowman and the Gruffalo, to Beethoven and The age of Dinosuars. It also durable with a soft and bouncy construction, and has superb battery life even when not connected to the docking station which makes it brilliantly portable. A great intro into music technology. Age 3+
Buy now £79.95, Amazon
Yoto Mini + Starter Pack for Little Kids
A child’s obsession with a song is not to be underestimated and we don’t blame you if you’re about to explode after the same Frozen song has played for the sixth time on what was meant to be a relaxing car journey.
The Yoto Mini is a portable audio player designed for children allowing them to listen to their favourite songs or audiobooks, all whilst giving parents a much needed break.
The child-friendly device is controlled with physical cards which can be purchased separately and there are over 400 titles to choose from that includes the Marvel audio books, Enid Blyton classics and Ladybird Lullabies for bedtime.
There is up to 20 hours of play per charge, a USB-C fast charge cable and it’s small enough to fit into the palm of a child’s hand.
You can grab the same bundle deal with a Starter Pack for Big Kids, too. Should you want to snag a pair of headphones too, we recommend going for the Yoto Mini Adventurer Bundle.
Was: £79.98
Buy now £69.99, Yoto
Yoto Player + Harry Potter Books 1 - 3 Bundle
Suitable for littlun’s aged seven and up, introduce them to the magical world of Harry Potter with the help of Yoto and the brilliant audiobooks narrated by Stephen Fry this festive season.
Buy now, Yoto
Furby Purple Interactive Toy
Hey, Furby! A timeless classic that’s always a hit with the little tykes, save big on a little Furby this Black Friday.
Was: £74.99
Buy now £54.99, Very
Barbie DreamHouse Doll Playset, Slide and Accessories
Make your little one’s dreams come true this festive season, quite literally, with the 360 Barbie DreamHouse doll playset - featuring a marvellous three-story spiral slide and over 75 storytelling pieces.
Was £349.99
Buy now £149.99, Amazon
Lego Friends Mia's Wildlife Rescue Playset 41717
Explore wonderful imaginative play with the help of the Lego Friends Mia’s Wildlife Rescue Playset, through which little builders can imagine rescuing and caring for injured animals by jumping in the ATV and racing the creatures back to the medical centre.
Was: £44.99
Buy now £35.99, The Entertainer
The World of Peter Rabbit - The Complete Collection of Original Tales 1-23
Bedtimes will never be boring again with the help of this brilliant set of 23 Peter Rabbit tales.
Was: £140
Buy now £37.90, Amazon
SULIFEEL Rainbow Unicorn Adjustable Roller Skates for Kids with Light up Wheels
Complete with Velcro straps, nylon shoelaces, a safe-lock and fantastic light-up wheels, these adjustable roller skates deliver a smooth, comfortable and colourful ride.
Was: £69.99
Buy now £43.99, Amazon
Madd Gear Pro Series Complete Skateboard
This eight-inch maple deck features groovy graphics and quality components, making it perfect for beginners and intermediates alike.
Was: £27.95
Buy now £14.95, Decathlon
Zuru Snackles’s Series 2
These adorable, 12.7cm high collectable plush animals known as Snackles come with their favourite licensed snack, ranging from Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Hershey’s bars to Pringles and Bubble Tea. Delight your little one with these adorable creatures and collect them all to create your very own Snackle family. They’re also available in small, medium and large sizes – with the 12.7cm option being the mini.
Was: £9.99
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Blue Orange Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza card game
High-octane yet wonderfully simple to grasp, this speedy, family-friendly card game has been described as Slap Jack’s ‘rowdy cousin’. Suitable for two to eight players aged eight and up, each round offers a maximum of 10 minutes of play. Simply say one of the five words in the game’s title (taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza) as you flip your card over, and slap the pile with your hand when the word matches the card. If you're the last to slap the pile, or make a mistake, all the cards played are yours to take.
Was: £11.99
Buy now £10.00, Amazon
Simba SCREAMERZ
Available as an adorable money, bear or rabbit, these silly little plush toys feature a hilarious surprise. Simply squeeze the centre of their fuzzy belly and they’ll let out a scream which varies in power depending on how hard you push.
Buy now £14.99, Amazon
MGA Rainbow High Watercolour
Uber customisable, this Rainbow High watercolour doll comes with six colourful powders which turn into watercolours. The technicolour selection can then be used to customise your doll’s hair and clothes to create an array of fabulous designs. Fear not, for you can simply rinse and repeat the all-white outfit to create an experimental ensemble all over again.
Was: £33.99
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
Play-Doh Pizza Delivery Scooter Playset
Until now, we didn’t know such life-sized Play-Doh accessories existed. This brilliant set lets kids imagine they own and run their very own mobile pizza delivery service. Children can craft Play-Doh pizzas, then load them into miniature boxes and pop them in the under-seat scooter storage before riding around and delivering the freshly baked pies.
Was: £83.99
Buy now £49.99, Amazon
Hatchimals Mystery Hatch Pufficorn
There’s something about mystery collectables that is wonderfully exciting for the little ones. This Hatchimals Alive Mystery Hatch egg features a magical hatching experience which prompts little ones to cuddle, tap, lift and rock the egg before mist builds and the egg begins to glow in rainbow colours. Before long, you’ll have hatched a brand new Pufficorn in one of two unique colours to enjoy.
Was: £64.99
Buy now £32.49, Amazon
When is Black Friday 2024?
Black Friday is the Friday following Thanksgiving in the US. This year, Thanksgiving falls on Thursday, November 28, which means Black Friday is set to be on November 29. Hurrah!
When does Black Friday end?
Though it’s technically supposed to span a 24-hour period, Black Friday tends to extend over the entire holiday weekend right up until Cyber Monday on December 2 during which bargain-hunters can expect even more eye-watering deals.
Why is it called Black Friday?
There are many theories as to why Black Friday is called as such. One includes this fun tidbit: historically, financial ledgers were written in red and black ink. The former signified losses, while the latter represented that a company was profitable. Though modern sensibilities dictate that we should refer to profitability as being ‘in the green’ – old school trumps contemporary in this instance. Thus, Black Friday, a period in which companies can reap immense financial compensation, is named as such.
