Toys and kids' gift deals this week: slot cars, strategy games and learning kits

Seven weeks out from Christmas, kids' gift lists are starting to land. A few shops on our list have sales and offers this week that suit them, from slot cars at Tower Hobbies to strategy games at Renegade Game Studios, plus gifts that teach from CodaKid and History Unboxed. We checked everything on the shops' own sites on November 1, 2026.

At a glance

• Tower Hobbies: AFX slot car sale, ending November 6. Every $100 you spend earns $20 in Tower Cash through November 12.
• Renegade Game Studios: Heroscape Day Sale, with Heroscape sets 20% off. No end date shown.
• CodaKid: online coding courses for ages 6 to 18, with the first 14 days of self-paced learning free for new students.
• History Unboxed: hands-on history subscription boxes from $55.95, with free shipping on curriculum bundles.
• Miles Kimball: a personalized letter from Santa with an ornament for $7.99 (was $8.99).

Tower Hobbies: slot cars and Tower Cash

Tower Hobbies' AFX sale runs until November 6, and each listing says when it ends. These were the prices:

• AFX 1967 Ford GT40 Mk.IV Mega G+ slot car: $20.95 (was $42.99)
• AFX 2023 Alfa Romeo C43 Mega G+ slot car: $21.95 (was $44.99)
• AFX Slot Car Track Pack: $80.95 (was $94.99)
• AFX Goliath Raceway: $233.95 (was $274.99)
• AFX Super International Slot Car Set: $279.95 (was $329.99), out of stock when we checked

Separately, Tower Cash gives you $20 in rewards for every $100 you spend through November 12, which you can use on a future order. Tower Hobbies also offers 10% off your next order when you sign up for its emails or texts. It's a first-time subscriber offer, and the code is emailed to you.

Renegade Game Studios: Heroscape

Renegade's Heroscape Day Sale has its Heroscape range at 20% off:

• Heroscape: Age of Annihilation Master Set: $100 (was $125)
• Heroscape: Battle for the Wellspring Battle Box: $36 (was $45)
• Heroscape: Age of Annihilation Paint Set: $72 (was $90)
• Heroscape army expansions: from $24 (were from $30)
• Heroscape: Glyph Pack: $24 (was $30)

Heroscape is a miniatures strategy game, so it suits older kids and teens. Check the age rating on each listing.

Gifts that teach

CodaKid teaches coding online to ages 6 to 18, with courses in Scratch, Python, Minecraft, Roblox and more. Self-paced courses start at $29 a month, and new students get the first 14 days free. Private one-to-one lessons start at $249 a month, and the first session is free. CodaKid says monthly plans have no long-term commitment.

History Unboxed sends hands-on boxes with stories, crafts and activities on American, ancient, medieval and modern history. Subscriptions start from $55.95.

A worked example

Say you buy the AFX Goliath Raceway at $233.95 before November 6. That's $41.04 less than the regular $274.99. Because it's over $200, it should also earn $40 in Tower Cash, if Tower credits $20 for each full $100. That's our reading of the offer, so check the terms at checkout. Add two GT40 cars at $20.95 each and the order is $275.85, which is still under $300, so the Tower Cash stays at $40.

What to do now

1. Buy slot cars by November 6 if you want the AFX sale prices.
2. Plan a single Tower Hobbies order to reach the next $100 for Tower Cash, but only with things you'd buy anyway.
3. Start free trials close to the day. A 14-day trial started now will end before Christmas, so set a reminder to cancel or start it later.
4. Check ages and safety labels. Small parts can be a choking hazard for children under 3.
5. Hide the boxes. Order early, and keep receipts for returns.

Questions

When can I use Tower Cash?

Tower Hobbies says it's redeemable on a future order. Check the date it becomes usable in your account.

Do the CodaKid trials renew automatically?

Check the terms when you sign up. Under federal law, sellers must clearly disclose automatic renewal terms and give you a simple way to cancel.

Is the Heroscape sale on all Renegade games?

No. When we checked, the sale page listed Heroscape products.

Ways to save

See our pages for Tower Hobbies, Renegade Game Studios, CodaKid, History Unboxed and Miles Kimball for all current offers.

Sources: towerhobbies.com AFX sale and Tower Cash offer, renegadegamestudios.com sale, codakid.com, historyunboxed.com, mileskimball.com (all checked November 1, 2026), FTC: Restore Online Shoppers' Confidence Act (ROSCA) recap, 16 CFR Part 1501: small parts rule for children under 3

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