ASTRA announces this years Play Award winners

At the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association's (ASTRA) annual Marketplace & Academy event, the 14 winners of this year's ASTRA Play Awards were announced. 

Each year, toys and toy retailers that enable and promote happy and healthy play in childhood and beyond are honored from a variety of categories.

In the process, ASTRA members nominate various toys, which are then chosen by an internal committee of retail members for final selection.

Independent and neighborhood toy retailers ultimately vote on their favorites.

This year's criteria for winners included uniqueness, availability, significance and novelty.

This is an overview of the winners in the different categories:

Active Play: Anywhere Sports – Trampoline Pong, Thin Air Brands

Arts & Crafts: Inspirational Nature Plant Press, DJECO

Baby/Toddler: Spill Again, Fat Brain Toy Co

Brainteasers: Safari Park Jr., Smart Toys and Games, Inc.

Building: Dino World XL, Magna-Tiles®

Eco: Cheese and Charcuterie Board, PlanToys

Educational: 100 Pics, Countries, Asmodee

Family Games: Sleeping Queens 2 – The Rescue!, Gamewright

Games for Tweens+: Big Potato – Herd Mentality, Gamewright/Big Potato

Plush: Vinnie Banana Slug Macaroon, DOUGLAS CO., INC.

Preschool Games: Indoor Scavenger Hunt, eeBoo

Pretend Play: SmartMax – My First Pirates, Smart Toys and Games, Inc.

Role Play: Great Pretenders – Green Dragon Set, Creative Education of Canada

Science/STEM: Hydraulic Boxing Bots, Thames & Kosmos

Source: www.anbmedia.com