ASTRA unveiled its 2022 Best Toys for Kids award winners. The list includes twelve winning toys in twelve categories.
“ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids award program reflects the collective expertise of hundreds of toy retailers who know toys inside out,” said Sue Warfield, president of ASTRA. “The list of winners represents the best of the fun, top-quality, high play value products consumers can find in locally-owned neighborhood toy stores around the country.”
Preschool Games – Pancake Monster, Blue Orange Games, Booth 820
Games 5-7 – Cowpie Catapults, The Good Game Co., Booth 1613
Games 8-10 – Forklift Frenzy, Fat Brain Toy Co., Booth 620
Active Play – Dueling Stomp Rockets, Stomp Rocket, Booth 1301
Arts & Crafts – Build & Grow Tree House, Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids, Booth 1101
Building – Builder Set, Magna-Tiles, Booth 522
Educational – Dig it Up! Glow in the Dark Dinosaur Eggs, MW Wholesale, Booth 1038
Preschool – Roboflex, Smart Toys & Games, Booth 1112
Pretend Play – Super Cityscape Transport Bucket Set, Hape, Booth 1345
Puzzles – 800 pc Earth Puzzle by Number Plus-Plus, Booth 645
Science – Ultra Bionic Blaster, Thames and Kosmos, Booth 913
Sensory – Mermaid Lagoon, Faber-Castell/Creativity for Kids,Booth 1101
At its annual trade show Marketplace & Academy being held this year in Long Beach, CA, the association also congratulated its 2022 Excellence Award Winners for their accomplishments in 2021:
ASTRA Young Professional Rising Star for Excellence: Rudy Valenta
Plan Toys ASTRA Sales Representative Award for Excellence: Ash Goto-Webb
Sugar B ASTRA Retailer Award for Excellence: kiddywampus
ASTRA Manufacturer Award for Excellence: Djeco
And last but not least, the Lifetime Achievement Award was won by Lea Culliton of HABA USA.
ASTRA congratulates all of the winners and the finalists.
Founded in 1992, the ASTRA is an international not-for-profit trade organization that develops and supports a membership of independent retailers, manufacturers, and sales representatives in the toy industry. Inspired to change the world through the power of play, ASTRA is a community of dedicated professionals committed to providing children with healthy, quality play materials that have a high play value and are designed with a focus on what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do. Through certification programs, educational resources and networking opportunities, ASTRA equips and empowers members to make a positive impact on the economy and culture of the communities they serve. For more information, visit www.astratoy.org/
