2020 ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award Winners Revealed

Source: ASTRA/The Toy Book

Two months after revealing the full list of nominees, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) pulled back the curtain on the 2020 Best Toys for Kids Award winners.

“ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids award program is different from other top toy lists because it reflects the collective expertise of hundreds of toy retailers who know toys inside out,” says ASTRA President Kimberly Mosley. “The list of winners is a well-balanced representation of the fun, top-quality, high play value products consumers can find in locally-owned neighborhood toy stores around the country.”

The 2020 Best Toys for Kids Award Winners:

ARTS & CRAFTS

Spirograph Scratch and Shimmer Set | PlayMonster

CLASSIC PLAY

Labyrinth | Ravensburger North America, Inc.

CONSTRUCTION

Plus-Plus GO! | Plus-Plus

EARLY PLAY

Shape Factory | Fat Brain Toy Co.

GAMES: 7 AND UNDER

SmartGames Froggit | Smart Toys and Games

GAMES: 8 AND UP

BUILDZI | Carma Games

GAMES: TEENS & ADULTS

Telestrations: Upside Drawn | The Op (USAopoly)

OUTDOOR & ACTIVE PLAY

AirFort | XM Works Inc.

PRETEND PLAY

Fun Fan Fryer | Hape International Inc.

PRETEND PLAY: DOLLS & FIGURINES

Mermaid Cove with Illuminated Dome | Playmobil

PRETEND PLAY: VEHICLES

Railway Bucket Builder Set | Hape International Inc.

PUZZLES: EDUCATIONAL & MANIPULATIVE PLAY

Monster Math Scale | Hape International Inc.

PUZZLES: JIGSAWS & BRAINTEASERS

Genius Star | Mukikim

SCIENCE & DISCOVERY

Mega Cyborg Hand | Thames & Kosmos

ASTRA created the Best Toys for Kids program to assist its member stores in selling toys and educating customers during the fourth quarter.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.