The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) unveiled the finalists for its 2020 Best Toys for Kids list.
A total of 85 specialty toys across 14 categories have been chosen as finalists that will be voted upon by independent specialty toy retailers. According to ASTRA President Kimberly Moseley, the annual list represents the collective experience of the ASTRA membership in watching kids play in their stores combined with parental feedback and individual expertise in toys and child development.
The 2020 ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Finalists are:
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 AND UP
- BUILDZI | Carma Games
- Cover Your Kingdom | Grandpa Beck’s Games
- Cupcake Academy | Blue Orange Games
- Hues and Cues | The Op (USAopoly)
- Letter Jam | Czech Games Edition
- Pana Po’o | Outset Media Corp.
- 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 | The Op (USAopoly)
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 U.S.
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 | 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
ASTRA members may vote for their favorites through May 10. The 2020 Best Toys for Kids list will be revealed in July.
