The Strong named 12 finalists for induction in its National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York. The finalists include American Girl dolls, chalk, Chutes & Ladders, Magic 8 Ball, Fisher-Price Corn Popper, Masters of the Universe, pinball, sled, tic-tac-toe, Tickle Me Elmo, Tudor Electric Football, and Uno.
For the first time, fans may vote for their favorite finalists from September 12 to 19 as part of a “Player’s Choice” ballot at toyhalloffame.org. The three toys that receive the most public votes will be submitted as one of the 23 top-three submission ballots from the National Selection Advisory Committee. The public will collectively act as one member of the 23-member committee. The final 2018 toy inductees, chosen based on the ballots, will be announced at The Strong museum on November 8.
Criteria for induction in the Toy Hall of Fame 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); and innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).
To date, the following 65 toys have been inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame: alphabet blocks, Atari 2600 Game System, baby doll, ball, Barbie, bicycle, Big Wheel, blanket, bubbles, Candy Land, cardboard box, checkers, chess, Clue, Crayola Crayons, dollhouse, dominoes, Duncan Yo-Yo, Dungeons & Dragons, Easy-Bake Oven, Erector Set, Etch A Sketch, Fisher-Price Little People, Frisbee, G.I. Joe, The Game of Life, Hot Wheels, Hula Hoop, jack-in-the-box, jacks, jigsaw puzzle, jump rope, kite, LEGO, Lincoln Logs, Lionel Trains, little green army men, marbles, Monopoly, Mr. Potato Head, Nintendo Game Boy, paper airplane, Play-Doh, playing cards, puppet, Radio Flyer Wagon, Raggedy Ann and Andy, rocking horse, roller skates, rubber duck, Rubik’s Cube, Scrabble, Silly Putty, skateboard, Slinky, Star Wars action figures, stick, Super Soaker, swing, teddy bear, Tinkertoy, Tonka Trucks, Twister, View-Master, and Wiffle Ball.
