The Best Cyber Monday Deals on STEM Toys for Kids
These games and services can help your little ones explore science, technology, engineering, math, or the arts. They won’t even know…
This game is $3 cheaper than it was when we first saw it go on sale. Pandemic came out in 2017, and despite it being a bit on-the-nose these days, it’s still one of the Best Board Games for Families. Up to four players will have to work together to strategize and save the world from a deadly disease. (Did we mention it’s a little on-the-nose?)
One of our favorite family board games, Ticket to Ride challenges you to plot rail routes across North America. It’s recommended for kids aged 8 years and up, as there’s a lot of strategy involved and some math, but it doesn’t take too long to play and is a lot of fun. Ticket to Ride Europe is also on sale for $18.
Creating matching groups of tiles to get the maximum possible score from your game board sounds simple, but Azul has enough strategic depth to challenge your kids’ math, planning, and puzzle-solving skills. This is another one of our picks for the best family board games.
Tablet and Kindle Deals
For reading, devouring educational apps, playing games, or watching documentaries, a tablet can be an excellent buy for kids. While you can read on tablets, e-readers are more comfortable for the eyes and allow parents to ensure their kids are reading rather than gaming. Check out our guide to the Best Kids Tablets for more options.
A portable tablet with a protective bumper, a year of Amazon Kids+ subscription, and a two-year worry-free replacement guarantee adds up to a great deal for families with young kids (8/10, WIRED Recommends). There are lots of educational apps and games, videos and books, and solid parental controls.
Amazon, Best Buy, Target (Sold Out)
If your kids are getting a little old for the “baby tablet” with the rubber bumper, this is an upgrade they won’t mind being seen holding. It offers all the same benefits as the smaller HD 8, including educational content from the likes of National Geographic, Rabbids Coding, and LEGO. And there’s still a protective case, though it’s a bit sleeker and has a handy kickstand.
This small, lightweight ebook reader (7/10, WIRED Recommends) is the perfect size for kids and comes with a folding cover, a year of Amazon Kids+, and a promise that Amazon will replace it if it breaks within two years. It’s easy to load up ebooks, or just check them out from the local library.
An upgrade on the basic Kids Kindle above, the Paperwhite boasts all the same benefits but also has a backlit screen for reading in low light or at night and the ability to withstand a short dunk in water.
Subscription Deals
Looking for more discounts on subscription services? We’ve rounded more up here.
Learning to play an instrument is a worthwhile pursuit for any child, and this clever app uses the built-in microphone on a smartphone, tablet, or laptop to provide feedback as they play. Check out our guide to the Best Sites and Apps to Learn Music for more information.
(Enter MERRY at Checkout)
These themed boxes stagger a wide array of topics covering everything from music to robots and carefully tailored to different age ranges. Each box contains plenty of activities, which is why this is our top pick in subscription boxes for kids.
(Enter Code CYBER30 at Checkout)
With a range of themed packages for different age groups, these play-based science and geography kits are packed with toys and activities that are delivered monthly. Each contains art and science activities to get stuck into, from deep sea and dinosaurs for wee ones to a road trip around the USA for older kids.
(SAGOBF2021 at Checkout)
Our favorite subscription box for younger kids, from ages to 2 to 5, the Sago Mini subscription boxes offer a different theme each month. The Sago Mini apps feature characters your child can guide in open-world exploration, like piloting a tugboat around the ocean.
(HOLLY40 at Checkout)
For kids who love to craft this subscription provides themed monthly boxes with lots of variety to keep them busily engaged and creative. Sadly, you will still have to clean up the mess they leave behind.
Speaker Deals
The Kids version of the Amazon Echo Dot gets a cute animal makeover as a tiger or panda. It’s a full-fledged smart speaker that enables children to ask Alexa questions, play music, listen to audiobooks, and even try educational skills. Like the rest of Amazon’s Kids range, it comes with a year of Amazon Kids+ subscription ($3 per month after), solid parental controls, and a two-year worry-free guarantee.
The price on this dropped all the way to $65, and unfortunately has gone back up to $100. With songs and stories featuring some of your kids’ favorite Disney and Pixar characters, this durable kid-friendly speaker is a great alternative to screens. Children place a plastic figurine, like Woody from Toy Story, on top of the speaker to trigger related content. Additional packs with other character tie-ins are available for everything from Disney princesses to Sesame Street characters. You can also record your own stories and songs or have grandparents record so they can read to your little ones from afar. The basic Toniebox Starter Set is also on offer for $70 ($30 off) at Amazon.
Other Deals
Got a Yoto Player (7/10, WIRED Recommends)? It’s a cute-looking speaker that kids can insert cards into to play stories and podcasts. The speaker itself isn’t on sale, but Yoto is offering 10 percent off cards and accessories, which can be handy if your kid needs a batch of new content.
What kid doesn’t love bouncing on a trampoline? It’s a good way to get energy out and take a break from all their screens. This is a pretty nice price deal on one too, and the cheapest we’ve tracked for it in the last few months.