May 27, 2015

Finalists announced for ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids awards

Eighty-three specialty toys selected from hundreds of nominations have been named finalists for ASTRA’s 2015 Best Toys for Kids list, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) announced Wednesday, May 27.

From this group of finalists, ASTRA member retailers will view the products at ASTRA upcoming Marketplace & Academy in Charlotte, North Carolina, and will vote to select the winning toys that will become “the year’s top picks from America’s play experts” for the 2015 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,” noted Kathleen McHugh. “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.”

Retailers will have the chance to touch, feel and play with the 2015 Best Toys for Kids finalists at a special display at ASTRA’s Marketplace & Academy in Charlotte June 8-9, 2015.  Voting to select the winning products has begun and will be continued on-site and online at Marketplace & Academy.  Winners will be announced in late June.  In the fall, ASTRA member retailers will receive a free package of resources for using Best Toys for Kids list to increase their holiday sales.

ASTRA’s 2015 finalists for the Best Toys for Kids awards program are:

ACTIVE PLAY

Sky Saucer, b4Adventure – Brand 44

Play Zone Balance Board 2 Mazes, b4Adventure – Brand 44

Slackers Screamin’ 30’ Water Slide, b4Advenuture – Brand 44

HABA Sand Golf Set, HABA USA

Chrono Bomb, Patch Products

The Swurfer, The ROB Company

CHOOSE YOUR OWN CATEGORY

LiteHawk APEX Motorcycle, Borgfeldt (Canada) Limited

Mixed by Me Thinking Putty Kit, Crazy Aaron’s Puttyworld

Do Art Outdoor Chalk Art Set, Faber-Castell

Swingy Thing, Fat Brain Toy Co.

Boogie Board Play n’ Trace, Boogie Board eWriters

Geeker Speaker Lab, Thames & Kosmos 

Light Stax, Light Stax 36 piece Classic Set

CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY

Joinks, Fat Brain Toy Co.

Wedgnetix, ImagAbility Inc.

Kingii Dragon Robot (Frilled Lizard), OWI Inc.

Skyhook, Tegu

Kids First Amusement Park Engineer, Thames & Kosmos

Modarri Surf & Turf Combo, Modarri/Thoughtfull Toys, Inc.

CREATIVE ARTS PLAY

Craft-tastic Yarn Tree Kit, Ann Williams Group

Craft-tastic Paper Bowl Kit, Ann Williams Group

The Extraordinaires Design Studio, The Extraordinaires Design Studio

Do Art Gel Stick & Texture Art, Faber-Castell

Dreamland Fairy, Dreamland Fairy

3D PlushCraft Puppy, The Orb Factory

Needle Felting Angler Fish Kit, Woolbuddy

CLASSIC PLAY, 0-7 YEARS

Gobblet Gobblers, Blue Orange Games

30th Anniversary Rody Horse Red Swirl, Toymarketing Intl, Inc.

Pretend and Play Teaching Cash Register, Learning Resources

Shopping Cart, Melissa & Doug

the SET game, Set Enterprises, Inc.

CLASSIC PLAY, 8-PLUS YEARS

Ticket to Ride, Asmodee Editions

Sleeping Queens, 10th Anniversary, Gamewright, a division of Ceaco

Fashion Plates Deluxe Kit, Kahootz

Window Art

Rubik’s Cube, Winning Moves

Risk 1959, Winning Moves

Mini Ogodisk, OgoSport, LLC

EARLY PLAY

Rolligo, Fat Brain Toy Co.

Emotiblocks, Miniland Educational

Take Along Zoo & Aquarium, PLAYMOBIL

Walk-A-Long Caterpillar, Hape

The Munch Mitt – Baby Teething Mitten, Munch Baby Inc. 

Mirari Flip Flop ABC Blocks, Patch Products

GAME PLAY, 3-5 YEARS

Super Genius – First Words, Blue Orange Games

Mystery Dish Diner, Melissa & Doug

Three Little Piggies , Smart Toys & Games

Eye Found It! Journey Through Time Game, Wonder Forg

GAME PLAY, 6-PLUS YEARS

Outfoxed, Gamewright, a division of Ceaco

Fun Farm, IELLO

Cauldron Quest, Peaceable Kingdom

Bugs in the Kitchen, Ravensburger USA Inc.

Taco Takeover, The Haywire Group

Laser Maze Jr., ThinkFun

GAME PLAY, 8-PLUS YEARS

Sheriff of Nottingham, Arcane Wonders, LLC

Duplik, Asmodee Editions

Dimension, Thames & Kosmos

Rush Hour Shift, ThinkFun

Bellz Magnetic Game, Wiggles 3D

PRETEND — DOLL PLAY

Mon Premier Bebe Calin Ballerina, Corolle Dolls

Royal Princess Playhouse, International Playthings

HABA Doll Rubin with Baby, HABA USA

Babycat Cradle, Janod

Buddy Balls, Maxland Toys

Lottie Muddy Puddles, Schylling

Coleman Camp Stove & Food Set, Sophia’s

PRETEND — ROLE PLAY

Malia’s Beach House, Build & Imagine

Kidoozie Pop-Up Theater Tent, International Playthings

French Cocotte Trolley, Janod

Story Grand Prix Suitcase, Janod

Sunshine Preschool, PLAYMOBIL

Brio Roller Coaster Set, Brio

PRETEND — FANTASY PLAY

Folkmanis Winged Dragon Puppet, Folkmanis, Inc.

HABA Magician Glove Puppet, HABA USA

Princess Palace, Janod

Magician Role Play Set, Melissa & Doug

Royal Lion Knight’s Castle, PLAYMOBIL

Magic Elf Castle with Accessories, Schleich

SCIENTIFIC PLAY

Snap Circuits Arcade, ELENCO

LightUp Tesla Kit, LightUp

Tasty Food Science Bakeology, MindWare/MW Wholesale

Sound Science Kit, Science Wiz

Hydrapult — a fluid powered Catapult, Pathfinders Design