Apr 20, 2020

ASTRA selects Best Toys for Kids finalists

Eighty-five specialty toys in fourteen categories selected from hundreds of nominations have been named finalists for ASTRA’s 2020 Best Toys for Kids list, according to the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA). 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 2020 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 to select the winning products has begun. The deadline for ASTRA member retailers to vote is May 10, 2020. Winners will be announced in early July 2020.

ASTRA’s 2020 finalists for the Best Toys for Kids

ARTS & CRAFTS

• Creatto Light-Up Crafting Kits | Thames & Kosmos
• Happy Monsters | DJECO
• Make Your Own Tiny Camper | Klutz
• Sketch Pals | Boogie Board
• Spirograph Scratch and Shimmer Set | PlayMonster
• World Colors How to Draw Faces | Faber-Castell USA Premium Children’s Art Products

CLASSIC PLAY

• Classic Paddy Teddy Bear | Steiff North America
• Kwik Stix | The Pencil Grip, Inc.
• Labyrinth | Ravensburger North America, Inc.
• My First Train Set | PLAYMOBIL
• Palace House | Le Toy Van
• Sprite Deluxe | Micro Kickboard
• The Cool Tool PLAYmake | The Cool Tool

CONSTRUCTION

• Clipstix | Popular Playthings
• Mechanics Challenge Strike | Geomagworld
• Plus-Plus GO! | Plus-Plus
• Terra Kids Cork Boat | HABA USA

EARLY PLAY

• Blockaroo | Blue Marble
• Mirari SkillDillies | PlayMonster
• Petilou Sensory Shapes | Le Toy Van
• Shape Factory | Fat Brain Toy Co.
• Toniebox | Tonies
• ZIPPEE Activity Toy | Möbi

GAMES: 7 AND UNDER

• Bear Down! Game | AMIGO Games
• Bull’s Eye | Roo Games
• Catch of the Day | Epoch Everlasting Play
• Drone Home | PlayMonster
• Hand Me a Candy Game | eeBoo
• SmartGames Froggit | Smart Toys and Games
• Tac Tac Jack | FoxMind Games
• Throw Throw Burrito | Exploding Kittens/ACD Distribution

GAMES: 8+

• BUILDZI | Carma Games
• Cover Your Kingdom | Grandpa Beck’s Games
• Cupcake Academy | Blue Orange Games
• Hues and Cues | Usaopoly | The Op
• Letter Jam | Czech Games Edition
• Pana Po’o | OUTSET MEDIA CORPORATION
• Shipshape | Calliope Games
• SmartGames Cube Duel | Smart Toys and Games
• The #UpsideDownChallenge Game | Vango Toys

GAMES: TEENS & ADULTS

• Mystery House | Asmodee North America
• PANDO | Roots Family History
• TAG | PlayMonster
• Telestrations: Upside Drawn | Usaopoly | The Op

OUTDOOR & ACTIVE PLAY

• 4Fun ChangeUp | b4adventure
• Air Square | MukikiM
• AirFort | XM Works Inc.
• Birdie Golf | Hog Wild
• Capture the Flag REDUX | Starlux Games, LLC
• Plum BOWL Freebound Trampoline | b4Adventure
• Slackers Adventure Treehouse | b4Adventure
• Swingin’ Shoes | Fat Brain Toy Co.
• Whippet | Diggin Active, Inc.

PRETEND PLAY

• Bird’s Nest Cafe | Tender Leaf Toys
• Doctor’s Bag | Le Toy Van
• Face Paintoos | PlayMonster
• Fun Fan Fryer | Hape International Inc.
• Janod Shaving Set | Juratoys US

PRETEND PLAY: DOLLS & FIGURINES

• Adventure Tree House | Schleich USA Inc
• Fire Eagle | Schleich USA inc
• LARGE HORSE STABLE WITH HOUSE AND STABLE | Schleich USA Inc
• Little Friends Camper | HABA USA
• Mermaid Cove with Illuminated Dome | PLAYMOBIL
• SCOOBY-DOO! Mystery Machine | PLAYMOBIL

PRETEND PLAY: VEHICLES

• Drive & Blast | Odyssey Toys
• Railway Bucket Builder Set | Hape International Inc.
• Snap Ships | PlayMonster

PUZZLES: EDUCATIONAL & MANIPULATIVE PLAY

• KARMAGAMI (calming sensory toy) | Fun In Motion Toys
• Monster Math Scale | Hape International Inc.
• STEM Blocks – K25 Super Mega Awesome! Kit | Kontu, Inc.
• SumBlox | SumBlox

PUZZLES: JIGSAWS & BRAINTEASERS

• Carnovsky Ocean Jigsaw Puzzle | Ginger Fox
• Genius Star | MukikiM
• My First Rush Hour | ThinkFun
• Scratch Off Puzzles | 4D Cityscape Inc.
• SmartGames Jack & the Beanstalk Deluxe | Smart Toys and Games
• Votes for Women 100 Piece Puzzle | eeBoo

SCIENCE & DISCOVERY

• Fuel ‘N Duel Rocket Racers | Be Amazing! Toys
• InterActive Human Body | Be Amazing! Toys
• KC3: Keypad Coding Robot | Elenco Electronics, Inc.
• Mega Cyborg Hand | Thames & Kosmos
• Robotics: Smart Machines – HoverBots with BalanceTech | Thames & Kosmos
• Smartivity Retroscope | Smartivity
• Snap Circuits: MyHome | Elenco Electronics, Inc.
• The Amazing Tightrope-Walking Gyrobot | Thames & Kosmos