ASTRA’s 2019 Best Toys for Kids Award finalists were narrowed down from hundreds of nominations to 92 specialty toys in 17 categories.
From this group of finalists, ASTRA member retailers will vote online to select the winning toys that will become “the year’s top picks from America’s play experts” for the 2019 holiday season.
“Best Toys for Kids is the only annual toy list that is compiled by a national network of grassroots play experts who know specialty toys inside out,” notes Kimberly Mosley, President of ASTRA. “Those experts are ASTRA member retailers, and the list represents their collective experience in watching children play with products in their stores, combined with feedback they hear from parents and their own expertise about toys and child development.”
Voting is now open. The deadline for ASTRA member retailers to vote is May 8.
Winners will be announced at the opening of ASTRA Marketplace on Monday June 10 at ASTRA’s upcoming Marketplace & Academy, which will be held June 9-12, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Penn. Professionally designed four-color flyers featuring the winning products will be available for ASTRA retailers to order for use in their holiday marketing efforts.
More information on the Best Toys for Kids award program and on winning products is available at.
ASTRA’s 2019 finalists for the Best Toys for Kids awards program are:
ARTS & CRAFTS: Under Age 7
- Crayon Clay, The Pencil Grip
- Make Your Own Fuzzimals | Klutz
- Klutz Jr. My Dino Finger Puppets | Klutz
- SloFlo Motion Magic | Play Visions
ARTS & CRAFTS: Ages 7+
- Craft Crush Design Your Own Flower Art | Ann Williams
- Craft-tastic Design Your Own Animal Necklaces | Ann Williams
- Crystalize It! Ultimate Crystal Painting Set | Fashion Angels
- Hey Clay | Fat Brain Toy Co
- Klutz Maker Lab Radio Boombox | Klutz
- Y’Art Craft Kit – Puppy | Kahootz Toys
CLASSIC TOYS
- Beka Ultimate Easel | Beka Toys
- Lite Brite | Schylling Inc
- Loopdedoo Spinning Loom Kit | Ann Williams
- SET Card Game | Set Enterprises, Inc
- Stratego Original | PlayMonster
- Sunshine Symphony | Small World Toys
- The Original Waterfuls | Kahootz Toys
CONSTRUCTION TOYS
- Architectural Engineering | Thames & Kosmos
- Hubelino Basic Building Box | HABA USA
- HAPE Junior Inventor Discovery Scientific Workbench | Hape International Inc
- Magna-Tiles House 28-Piece Set | Valtech
- Sidewinder Looping Coaster | CDX Blocks
GAMES: UNDER 7
- Butts Up | PlayMonster
- Chasing Fireflies| Toysmith
- Fruit Punch | AMIGO Games
- Pass the Pup | PlayMonster
- Yeti or Not!| Fat Brain Toy Co
GAMES: 7+
- Genius Square Game | MukikiM
- Heist | Megableu USA
- Just One | Repos Production
- Planet | Blue Orange Games
- The Mind | ACD Distribution/ Pandasaurus Games
- Whozit | Gamewright, A Division of Ceaco
GAMES: FAMILY
- Code Stack Game| AMIGO Games
- Dirty Pig | North Star Games
- JABUKA | Jubuka Games Inc
- Kozo | Winning Moves
- MORPHY | Fat Brain Toy Co
INFANT & TODDLER
- Baby Bird Pull Along | Hape International Inc
- Kid O Origami Color-Changing Boats | PlayMonster
- Manhattan Ball | Manhattan Toy Company
- Match the Baby Puzzles | Banana Panda
- RollAgain Sorter | Fat Brain Toy Co
- Sleepy Seas Sound & Lights Whale | GUND, a Division of Spin Master
OUTDOOR & ACTIVE PLAY TOYS
- Animal High Rise | HABA USA
- HAPE Sunny Valley Adventure Dome | Hape International Inc
- Hedgehog Rally by Janod | Juratoys US
- Mirari myStorymaker | PlayMonster
- Monster Lock Box | Tender Leaf Toys
- Wee Baby Stella Yoga Set | Manhattan Toy Company
OUTDOOR & ACTIVE PLAY: RIDE-ON
- PRIMO | Ambosstoys LLC
- Hippopotomas Ride-On by Janod | Juratoys US
- Scoot and Ride Highwaykick 1 | Scoot & Ride US
PRESCHOOL TOYS
- Animal High Rise | HABA USA
- HAPE Sunny Valley Adventure Dome | Hape International Inc
- Hedgehog Rally by Janod | Juratoys US
- Mirari myStorymaker | PlayMonster
- Monster Lock Box | Tender Leaf Toys
- Wee Baby Stella Yoga Set | Manhattan Toy Company
PRETEND PLAY: IMAGINARY
- Aqua-mals | Zorbitz, Inc
- Crystal Palace | PLAYMOBIL
- Kash, The Sasquatch | Douglas Toy Company, Inc
- TimberToys Tree House | Fat Brain Toy Co
- Mission Rocket w/Launch Site | PLAYMOBIL
PRETEND PLAY: ROLE PLAY
- Animal Care Activity Center | Melissa & Doug
- Dentist Set | Plan Toys, Inc
- Doll Bike Seat – Flower Meadow | HABA USA
- My Style Big Cooker by Janod | Juratoys US
- Pillowie | Ready Set & Co LLC
- Reversible Rainbow Cape | Creative Education of Canada, Inc
PRETEND PLAY: VEHICLES
- INSANE Stunt Car | California Creations
- HyperRunner Stunt | MukikiM Toys
- Playviator | Fat Brain Toy Co
- RoboDragon | Jupiter Creations
- Spirit Sidecar Philip by Janod | Juratoys US
PUZZLES
- Domino Maze | ThinkFun, Inc.
- Shashibo – The Shap Shifting Box | Fun in Motion Toys
- SmartGames Brain Train | Smart Toys and Games
- SmartGames Smart Farmer | Smart Toys and Games
- Thinking Putty Puzzle – the Mind Stretching Game | ThinkFun, Inc
PUZZLES: JIGSAW
- Crazy Puzzle Aqua’zules | DJECO
- Crocodile Alphabet Puzzle | Orange Tree Toys
- Escape Puzzle – Space Observatory | Ravensburger
- Follow and Spot Puzzle | Petit Collage
- Goddesses & Warriors 500 Piece Puzzle | eeBoo
- HAPE Solar System Puzzle | Hape International Inc
SCIENCE & DISCOVERY
- 100 om 1 STEM Lab| OWI INC
- DoodleMatic | Tink Digital LLC
- Gumball Machine Maker | Thames & Kosmos
- My Robotic Pet – Tumbling Hedgehog | Thames & Kosmos
- Foldscope Deluxe Individual Kit | FOLDSCOPE INTRUMENTS, INC
- SmartCore 6 | OWI INC