With so many choices online, shopping for the just the right toy for your little ones can be a daunting and expensive task. Even if there are age range guidelines, it is not always that clear which toy will best suit your kids needs and your budget as well. There are toys that may be recommended for ages 2 and up or a toy especially designed for a 3 year old that may not quite be as engaging to the particular age group those toys are designed for. Plus there are several factors you need to take into consideration like safety and most importantly what you’re willing to shell out. But fear not, as this little guide of ours will help you find age and budget-appropriate toys that will bring joy to your kids.

Cheap toys UK

Toys R Us UK clearance sale

If you’re on a shoestring budget but still want to give joy to your children and on the market for quality cheap toys, you’ve come to the right place. Here at Latest Deals, you’ll find toy sale and toy clearance that will provide you with massive discounts. You’ll also find money saving offers, deals, promo codes and voucher codes from reputable UK toy shops like Toys R US, Smyths Toys, Very, John Lewis, Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Early Learning Centre, Mothercare and Argos. Our community of bargain hunters are always on the lookout for the best bargains and daily deals to post and share from toy shops in the UK. Every day we give you money saving tips on toys, so that you can get more for less. Whether its toys for babies, toddlers, tweens or teens we have them all.

Tesco toys on sale

Second Hand Toys on Ebay

One of the best ways to save money on toy deals is to find them second hand on eBay. The auction place has thousands of toy deals every day, and you can normally pick up half price LEGO and Playmobil. Many brands such as Argos also have ebay outlet stores. These hose reduced-to-clear toys including Nerf Guns, board games and video games.

Remember that when you buy second hand toys they may be damaged and / or soiled. So use anti-bacterial wipes to clean thoroughly before giving to your child to play with.

Hamleys

Hamleys is historically known as the UK's biggest toy store. That title isn't quite true anymore, but it's still probably one of the best known. First opened on Regent Street, London it's now in more locations such as Birmingham and inside London Heathrow airport. Online you can find many toy deals, and it often has toy sales too.

Things to consider when buying toys

Toys are considered to be childhood treasures, but you need to be careful when choosing them. You may want to keep the following in mind in order to keep your kids safe while playing with their toys.

• Supervision. Make sure to check the instructions and warnings provided on each toy if you need to watch over your kids while they play with the toy and also make sure to follow them.
• Age suitability. Ensure that the toy you will purchase is suited to your kid’s maturity and physical ability. Do not be tempted to buy a bicycle that’s a size bigger just to save money of buying a new one the following year to avoid any accidents since your kid may not have the skills yet to control a bigger bike.
• Toy size. When buying your young child toys, think big. Be very careful with toys especially for children under the age of three. The law permits toys to have small parts just as long as they come with a warning of not being suitable for children below 36 months.
• Toy weight. If you think a toy is too heavy and it could potentially hurt or harm your baby, do not buy it.
• Toy quality. Always look for well-made toys. Check to see if there are any loose hair, small parts, sharp points and edges. Buy toys only from trusted companies and retailers. The Royal Society for the Preventions of Accidents or RosPA recommends for parents to look for the official European Community symbol on every toy. This means that the toy meets the EC Toy Safety Directive requirements. Another thing you need to lookout for is the British Toy Manufacturers Association Lion mark. This association requires its members’ toy to meet all the safety requirements.

Second-hand toys

When you buy second-hand toys, it is important to examine these used toys for any batteries, buttons, beads, plastic bits and other parts that your child can easily chew or snap off. Also check the toys you have for wear and tear and throw away those that are damaged.

Be cautious when buying second-hand older toys. For example, an old model of a highly popular kitchen playset has a phone attached to it with a potentially deadly cord, while its latest mode has the latest and safer cordless phone. Also when buying online through a third-party reseller, make sure to ask for the real photos of the toys you are eyeing to ensure that you’re getting the real deal. If possible, ask for a few seconds of video showcasing the toy in every angle.

Baby toys for 0-6 months

From an early age your baby will be following moving objects using their eyes and ears; at two months, your baby will start to grab stuff and at three months he will start to enjoy tummy time – pushing up on strengthening his little arms. At four months your baby’s hand-eye coordination will really start to improve as they want to touch, hold and shake everything around them. It is important to reward every effort with a beaming smile and encouraging words of praise. The best toys to give them at this age are the following:

• Musical toys
• Contrast toys
• Playgyms and play mats
• Rattles
• Cot mobiles

Baby toys 6-12 months

Your baby’s little hands are getting more dexterous, his little legs more mobile and his little mind more inquisitive. He will start to choose his favourite toys to play with and will love to play hide and seek with mum. Around this time, he will start posting and passing objects, which is the early development fo taking turns. With the beginning of teething you will also notice that everything and anything seems to find its way into your baby's mouth to munch on. Here are the toys ideal for this age group:

Shape sorters and stacking rings or beakers

• Building blocks
• Highchair toys
• Pull along activity toys
• Books
• Dolls and teddies
• Bathtime toys

Toddler toys 12-24 months

Your toddler will always be on the go at this stage, always energetic and curious and enjoying his newfound freedom. He will begin talking and expressing himself, as well as becoming much more active, as he learns to climb, run and jump. His curiosity knows no boundaries, so choose toys that can extend his physical abilities and also feed his imagination such as the following:

• Balls
• Activity toys
• Construction toys
• Walkers and push along toys
• Ride-on toys
• Role play toys

Pre-school toys 2-4 years old

During this age, teaching and learning go together. Introduce your child to fun educational games with letters and numbers to pave way for the transition to big school. Do not forget to play creatively as well, let your kid enjoy getting down and dirty with modeling clay and paints! Here are some toys ideal for him:

• Outdoor toys
• Games and puzzles
• Role play toys
• Tech toys