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What are the ways to get free toys?
Each route gives a different kind of toy. Store events give a small build your child makes on the spot, testing programs send a new boxed toy, and libraries and neighbors lend or hand down toys that have been played with before. Holiday programs are the only ones that ask about your income.
| Way to get it | What you get | Cost | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEGO store mini builds | A small LEGO model your child builds in the store and keeps | Free | LEGO stores run a monthly mini build for kids. Register ahead through the LEGO site or app; spots go fast. |
| Home Depot kids workshops | A wooden project kit (birdhouse, toolbox, truck), an apron and a pin | Free | First Saturday of the month at most stores. Register online. The kit is a small wood project, not a store toy. |
| Lowe's kids workshops | A wooden build kit to assemble and take home | Free, when running | Offered on select dates; register on the Lowe's site while a session is open |
| Michaels kids classes | A craft your child makes and keeps | Usually a small fee; some events are free | Check the store's events page. Free make-and-take events show up around holidays. |
| Bookstore and toy store events | Storytime, play sessions and demos; sometimes a small giveaway | Free | Barnes & Noble, Target and Toys R Us at Macy's post events on their store pages. Kids rarely take a toy home unless it is a giveaway event. |
| Toy testing programs | A new toy to try at home, usually yours to keep | Free, but you write a review | Apply to a brand panel, then wait to be picked. Amazon Vine is invite only. |
| Library toy lending | Puzzles, board games, building sets and baby toys on loan | Free with a library card | Ask about a toy library or "Library of Things". You return the toy after the loan, like a book. |
| Buy Nothing and Freecycle groups | Used toys from neighbors | Free; you pick up | Join your local group, ask for what you need or watch for posts |
| Holiday toy programs | New toys for the holidays | Free, for families in need | Toys for Tots, Salvation Army Angel Tree and local drives take sign-ups in the fall, with ID and proof of need |
| Kids birthday clubs | A free kids meal, treat or small gift near the birthday | Free to join; some need an adult purchase | Sign up with the restaurant or store a few weeks before the birthday |
| Free kids magazines and activity kits | A kids magazine in the mail, or a take-home craft kit | Free | Some toy brands mail a free kids magazine. Libraries hand out activity kits, and Imagination Library mails a free book a month to kids under five where it runs. |
Live free toy offers on TrySpree
The newest toy and kids offers on TrySpree that are still open. The cost column comes from each listing, and "check the terms" means a purchase or fee has not been ruled out yet. The full lists are in free toys and free stuff for kids.
Store build events: what to expect
- LEGO mini builds.Once a month, LEGO stores host a free build for kids, roughly ages 6 to 14. Each child builds a small model and takes it home. Registration opens ahead of time through LEGO's site or app and often fills the same day, so check early in the month.
- Home Depot kids workshops.On the first Saturday of the month, kids build a wooden kit with a grown-up, usually a birdhouse, a truck or a seasonal project. They keep the kit, an orange apron and a pin. It is a woodworking project, not a store-bought toy, and most kids like it more for that reason. Register on the store's site.
- Lowe's kids workshops.Lowe's runs similar build sessions on select dates rather than every month. When one is open, registration is on the Lowe's site and kits are free.
- Michaels, Barnes & Noble, Target and Toys R Us at Macy's. These stores post kids events on their store pages. Michaels classes usually charge a small supply fee, with free sessions around holidays. Bookstore storytimes and toy demos are free, but the toy usually stays in the store.
Free toys for families who need help
Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army Angel Tree and local toy drives give new toys to children in families that cannot afford holiday gifts. Sign-ups open in the fall and close before December in most areas, and you will need ID for yourself and your kids. Our free Christmas gifts guide has the sign-up windows and what to bring. Outside the holidays, dial 211 or visit 211.org to find family programs near you.
Free toys without leaving the house
- Toy testing programs. Apply, wait to be picked, then review the toy. Our list of product testing programs notes which ones send toys.
- Brand giveaways. Toy brands open sample forms and giveaways for new lines, often with a shipping fee or a one-per-household limit. TrySpree lists them as they open; turn on alerts for the toys category so you see them the same day.
- Kids birthday clubs. Many family restaurants give a free kids meal or treat during the birthday month, and some toy stores send a small gift or coupon. Join a few weeks ahead. See birthday freebies for the programs and their rules.
- Free kids magazines and books.Some toy brands mail a free kids magazine with comics and building ideas, and Dolly Parton's Imagination Library mails a free book every month to children under five in areas where it runs. Both are free to sign up for.
How to spot a fake free toy offer
A real toy giveaway asks for your name, address and maybe your child's age. It does not ask for a credit card, make you finish a chain of surveys, or promise a game console or a giant toy haul to everyone who signs up. Those pages collect your details to sell. TrySpree checks each toy offer before it is listed; see how offers are checked.
Related guides
How can I get free toys for my kids?
The easiest free toys come from stores: LEGO's monthly mini build, Home Depot's kids workshop and the free play events at bookstores and toy stores. Add toy testing programs if you don't mind writing a review, your library's toy collection if it has one, and your local Buy Nothing group for used toys. Brand giveaways and promo toys are listed on TrySpree as they open.
Are the free toy offers on TrySpree really free?
Most are. Brand giveaways and store events cost nothing, testing programs want a review, and a few offers want a purchase or a shipping fee. Of the 12 live toy and kids offers above, 12 are marked free with no purchase, 0 need a purchase, cash back or fee, and 0 have terms you should check.
Where can I get free toys near me?
Start with your public library (toy lending, activity kits and reading prizes), then your neighborhood Buy Nothing or Freecycle group. Check the events pages of nearby LEGO, Home Depot, Lowe's and bookstore locations for build days and storytimes. If money is tight, dial 211 to find local toy drives and family programs.
Do stores give away free toys?
Some do, in a specific way. LEGO stores give kids a small model to build and keep each month. Home improvement stores give a free wooden kit, which is a project your child builds rather than a toy off the shelf. Most other store events are free play or demos, and your child goes home with a craft or nothing at all. Real toy giveaways happen now and then, usually around the holidays.
How do toy testing programs work?
You sign up with a toy brand or a testing panel, describe your kids' ages and interests, and wait. When a test matches your family, the company ships the toy, your child plays with it, and you answer a survey or post a short review. You usually keep the toy. Not everyone is picked, so join more than one program.
Who qualifies for Toys for Tots?
Families who need help buying holiday gifts for children, usually up to age 12 or so, depending on the local campaign. You apply through your area's coordinator or a partner agency, most often in October and November, and bring ID for yourself and your children plus proof of address or need. Angel Tree and local drives work the same way, so apply to one and keep the dates.
About TrySpree
TrySpree is a free sample site, running since 2013, that lists free sample offers from real brands and checks the links; it's free to use and supported by ads. See how offers are checked, or skip the survey sites with free samples without surveys.
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