2020 TOTY Awards

They’re often considered to be the “Oscars” of the toy industry, and on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020, the next Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards will be distributed at the Ziegfeld Ballroom in New York City as Toy Fair New York gets underway. After carefully examining hundreds of nominees, a panel of industry experts determined this year’s finalists in 16 categories. One winner in each category, along with the consumer-chosen People’s Choice award and the overall Toy of the Year Award will be presented in February. Now it’s your chance to vote for your favorites.

– Here are the nominees for Creative Toy of the Year! –

Honoring toys that allow kids to build and/or make items that are unique to them.

blinger

Toy Insider 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Hot 20blinger (Wicked Cool Toys)

Blinger is a safe and easy-to-use styling tool that quickly adds a bit of bling to your hair, fashions, and accessories. Following the simple and clear instruction booklet that’s included, kids can load the Blinger with the gems of their choice and get ready to get glam.
Ages: 6+, $19.99
Buy now on Amazon | Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide Winner


Cool Maker

Toy Insider 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Top Holiday ToysCool Maker GO GLAM Nail Stamper (Spin Master)

The Go Glam Nail Stamper comes with everything kids need to make salon-quality nails with super cute designs, and considering that they’re getting a full manicure, it’s really easy to use.
Ages: 8+, $24.99
Buy now on AmazonToy Insider Holiday Gift Guide Winner


Glitter Dots

Toy Insider 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Top Holiday Toys

Crayola Glitter Dots (Crayola)

Crayola’s Glitter Dots are glitter-infused dots that stick to a variety of surfaces so you can make sparkly designs without the mess. The Glitter Dots Sparkle Station allows kids to roll out Glitter Dots into different shapes and sizes, and use them to decorate their masterpieces  — tons of fun, zero hassle.
Ages: 5+, $19.99
Buy now on Amazon | Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide Winner


littleBits

littleBits Electronic Music Inventor Kit (Sphero)

Creative kids build and customize a rockin’ synth guitar using littleBits electronic building blocks, then transform it into new electronic instruments of their own. Over 12 activities in the free inventor app guide kids through building musical inventions, like an electric keytar or air drums, learning steam (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) skills, and drawing inspiration from real-world musical inventors.
Ages: 8+, $99.99
Buy now on Amazon


smART Pixelator

Toy Insider 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Top Holiday Toys

smART Pixelator (Flycatcher)

Kids can create pixelated, beaded masterpieces out of any photo they have on a smart device with the smART Pixelator. smART Pixelator creations are made out of those iron-together beads you may remember from any summer camp that existed in the late ‘90s/early aughts.
Ages: 7+, $59.99
Buy now on Amazon | Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide Winner


Droid Builder

Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge Droid Depot Custom Astromech Units (Disney Parks)

Guests to Black Spire Outpost’s industrial depot at Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge can build a Custom Astromech Unit — a remote control, interactive Droid that’s built and customized at the Droid Depot. The builder selects from a variety of R-Series or BB-Series components (450 BB-Series and 278,528 R-Series possible combinations) to create their Droid! Each includes authentic lights, sounds, and integrated BLE technology to interact with the environment.
Ages: 3+, $99.99
Available only at Disney Parks


Y'Art

Toy Insider 2019 Holiday Gift Guide Top Holiday Toys

Y’Art Craft Kit (Kahootz)

The Y’Art Craft Kit offers kids a whole new way to create textile art by coloring with yarn. A signature Grip-N-Stick Y’Artboard holds the yarn in place as kids fill in numbered areas with colored yarn to create fun, textured masterpieces.
Ages: 8+, $14.99
Buy now on Amazon | Toy Insider Holiday Gift Guide Winner


– VOTE NOW! –

TOTY-2020-VOTE

Public voting for the 2020 TOTY Awards is open to consumers, retailers, media, and members of The Toy Association through Jan. 5. For full details, rules, and additional information, please visit toyawards.org. Proceeds from the annual event benefit The Toy Foundation in its efforts to bring joy and comfort to children in need through the experience of toys and play.

About the author

James Zahn

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.

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