TOYS: Which toys will make it into the hallowed halls of the National Toy Hall of Fame this November?
“Will Uno play its cards right? Can the Magic 8 Ball change its fortune? Will the sled slide across the finish line? Can chalk draw up a victory?”
The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, N.Y., has announced the 12 finalists for induction into the hall: 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.
“These 12 toys represent different play styles, from outdoor to imaginative, and different eras, from ancient to more modern,” says Christopher Bensch, vice president for collections. “But they all share an undeniable ability to inspire people of all ages to learn, create, and discover through play.”
The National Toy Hall of Fame receives thousands of nominations annually. For the first time, fans may vote for their favorite finalists from now until Wednesday 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. (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 Nov. 8, at 10:30 a.m. A weekend of public celebration will commence on Nov. 10 and 11.
The Strong’s National Toy Hall of Fame recognizes toys that have engaged and delighted multiple generations. 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); and Innovation (the toy profoundly changed play or toy design).
What’s in the hall of fame already? The 65 toys include alphabet blocks, the baby doll, the ball, bubbles, a rocking horse, paper airplane, jump rope, kite, skateboard and even a stick and a cardboard box.
How fun!
