American Specialty Toy Retailing Association Announces Its 2018 Best Toys For Kids Awards Winners

CHICAGO - July 18, 2018 - PRLog -- The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) has unveiled its 2018 Best Toys for Kids.  The awards program is the only one of its kind that solicits nominations and votes for the year's best toys from the independent, neighborhood specialty toy retailers that comprise the heart of the toy industry. The awards list includes 17 winning toys in 16 categories.

"ASTRA's Best Toys for Kids award program is different from other top toy lists because it reflects the collective expertise of independent and neighborhood toy retailers," said Kimberly Mosley, president of ASTRA.  "Those most familiar with the market have nominated and voted on high-quality products with great play value that consumers can find this year in local toy stores around the country."

Each year, ASTRA members are invited to nominate specialty toy products for consideration.  The nominees are then reviewed by an internal committee which compiles a list of finalists. Winners are selected by a vote from ASTRA's retailer membership. There is no cost for entry and no fees are paid by the winning products, a feature that sets the ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Awards apart from other industry accolades.

The 2018 ASTRA Best Toys for Kids award winners, per category, are:

Active Play

Stomp Rocket Stunt Planes

D&L Company

Bots

Kids First Coding & Robotics

Thames & Kosmos

Classic Play Under 7

BRIO Railway Starter Set

Ravenburger North America Inc.

Classic Play 7+

Liquid Glass Thinking Putty

Crazy Aaron's

Constructive Play

GraviTrax

Ravensburger North America Inc.

Creative Play Under 7

Create with Clay Dinosaurs

Faber-Castell USA Inc.

Creative Play 7+

Rock and Roll It SpecDrum

MukikiM Toys

Early Play (Infant)

Dimpl

Fat Brain Toy Co.

Early Play (Toddler)

Kullerbu Construction Site Set

HABA

Game Night

ITZI

TENZI

Game Play Under 7

Gnomes at Night

Peaceable Kingdom – A MindWare Brand

Game Strategy

Photosynthesis

Blue Orange Games

Logic

Turing Tumble

Turing Tumble LLC

Pretend Play (Fantasy)

Folkmanis® Mouse in Pumpkin

Folkmanis® Puppets

Pretend Play (Fantasy)

Rose Gold Wings & Tutu Set

Creative Education of Canada

Pretend Play (Role)

Aquarium

PLAYMOBIL

Scientific Play

Snap Circuits BRIC: Structures

ELENCO

Inspired to change the world through the power of play, ASTRA is a community of dedicated professionals committed to providing children with high-quality play materials designed with a focus on what the child can do, rather than what the toy can do. Visit https://www.astratoy.org/shop-local/store-finder/ to shop local and find a neighborhood toy store near you. ASTRA is on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @astratoy.

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About the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA)

Founded in 1992, the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (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/.