Which toys will join the ranks of Mr. Potato Head, Barbie dolls, and Etch-A-Sketch as some of the most memorable toys of all time?
The Strong today revealed the 12 finalists for induction into its National Toy Hall of Fame in November, including Baby Nancy, bingo, Breyer Horses, Jenga, Lite-Brite, Masters of the Universe, My Little Pony, Risk, sidewalk chalk, Sorry!, Tamagotchi, and Yahtzee.
“These 12 toys represent the wide scope of playthings — from simple sidewalk chalk that has its roots in ancient times, to Baby Nancy, which proved a turning point in the representation of race in dolls, to the more recent, highly innovative Tamagotchi,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections at The Strong. “Whether old or new, or simple of high-tech, all 12 of these toy finalists greatly influenced the world of play.”
From Sept. 9 to 16, fans can also vote for their favorite finalists as part of a Player’s Choice ballot at toyhalloffame.org. The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted and will join the other top-three submissions by members of the National Selection Advisory Committee.
CRITERIA FOR INDUCTION INCLUDE:
- Icon-status: the toy is widely recognized, respected, and remembered;
- Longevity: the toy is more than a passing fad and has enjoyed popularity over multiple generations;
- Discovery: the toy fosters learning, creativity, or discovery through play;
- Innovation: the toy profoundly changed play or toy design.
The final 2020 toy inductees, chosen based on the ballots, will be announced at The Strong museum on Thursday, Nov. 5, at 10:30 a.m.
To date, 71 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame.
