Shop Local: Support Neighborhood Toy Stores

Posted by Debbie on Nov 24, 2009 | 59 Comments

ASTRAGoing to the toy store is a magical experience and a real treat for kids. Local toy stores often have impressive displays of stuffed animals, dolls and trains. My son’s favorite spot is the train table at our local store.

While he plays happily with Thomas the Tank Engine and friends, I have the opportunity to discover some high-quality toys unavailable at the big box stores. And I can count on the friendly store owner to provide expert advice on the best gifts for the kids on my holiday list (and free gift wrapping on my purchases).

Another helpful source of shopping advice is the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA) 2009 Best Toys for Kids Award Winners. Over 500 of America’s top independent and neighborhood toy retailers selected the Best Toys for Kids based on their experience and understanding of what kids like. The winners are:

  • Infant Play (0 – 12 months):  Sophie Giraffe by Calisson Inc and Natural Skwish by Manhattan
  • Toddler Play (1 – 3 years):  Twilight Ladybug by Cloud B and Wee Wedgits by ImagAbility
  • Pretend Play – Role Play: Tea Set from Recycled Milk jugs by Green Toys and Shopping Cart by Melissa & Doug
  • Pretend Play – Fantasy Play: Reversible Knight/Dragon Cape and Reversible Knight/Dragon Hood by Creative Education of Canada and  Egyptian Pyramid by Playmobil
  • Constructive Play: Automoblox Vehicles by Manhattan Toy and Magformers Multicolored 30pc Magnetic Building Set
  • Creative Arts Play:  Create Your Own Pop-up Books by Creativity for Kids and Sticky Mosaic Twinkle Tiaras by The Orb Factory
  • Scientific Play: Snap Circuits Green by Elenco and Power House Green by Thames & Kosmos
  • Active Play: Ezy Roller by Ezy Roller and Original Djubi by PAV/Moonracer
  • Game Play (3 – 7 years): Chickyboom by Blue Orange
  • Game Play (8+ years): Bananagrams by Bananagrams
  • Just For Fun: Mini collectable Eraser by BC Office
  • Classic Play (Older): Doinkit Darts by Marky Sparky
  • Classic Play (Younger): Magnatiles by Valtech

Many of my favorite toys are on this list. As an infant, my son loved his Skwish and Sophie the Giraffe teether, and he falls asleep nightly to the soft glow of his Twilight Turtle. And Bananagrams is my favorite travel game.  Since the ASTRA picks seemed so high quality, I was inspired to try the Wee Wedgits by ImagAbility.

wedgits

My toddler has spent hours playing with these soft blocks. He can stack them, chew on them, play with them in the bath, throw them and even wear them as bracelets. Wee Wedgits have smooth, rounded edges and are made from non-toxic, phthalate free poly-vinyl material. Children (and even adults) will enjoy building amazing geometric designs as well as simple stacking pyramids.

Thanks to ASTRA and the folks at ImagAbility, we have a set of Wee Wedgits available to giveaway on Mamanista.

WANT IT:  Buy Wee Wedgits at your local ASTRA store. Click here to find a store near you.

WIN IT: ImagAbility is giving away one Wee Wedgits (30 piece set) to a  Mamanista reader to spread the word about the ASTRA Best Toys for Kids List.

  • Required Entry: Please visit ASTRA’s Best Toys for Kids page and leave us a comment on this post telling us the name of your local ASTRA toy store. (There’s a store finder map on the page.)
  • Additional Entries (up to three): You can receive up to three additional entries by linking to and/or sharing our Hottest Holiday Toys Guide (see rules at the bottom of the guide) and leaving separate comments on this post for each mode of entry.

Contest on Mamanista.com ends December 3, 11:59 PM EST. Open to U.S. Shipping Only.

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  • susan said:

    Our local store is Thinker Toys.

    #1 Nov 25, 2009 at 1:05 am
  • susan said:

    Tweeted ~ http://twitter.com/susanlanai/status/6039720424

    #2 Nov 25, 2009 at 1:06 am
  • Stephanie V. said:

    Brain Builders — great store!!
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

    #3 Nov 25, 2009 at 3:28 pm
  • Lana said:

    Hobbytown in Lincoln, NE

    #4 Nov 25, 2009 at 4:10 pm
  • Naomi said:

    Those are the coolest! Our local retailer is Imagine That Toys.

    #5 Nov 26, 2009 at 12:02 am
  • judy brittle said:

    The Doll Hospital and Toy Soldier Shop in Berkley,Mi. Which is only 3 blocks from my home. Thank you!

    #6 Nov 26, 2009 at 2:56 pm
  • judy brittle said:

    I shared your Hottest Holiday Toys Guide on Twitter
    http://twitter.com/kewpiedoll04/status/6088605275

    #7 Nov 26, 2009 at 2:57 pm
  • Vicki wurgler said:

    the closest is Creative Kidstuff, Maple Grove, Mn

    #8 Nov 26, 2009 at 6:31 pm
  • Noreen said:

    Not super close anymore, it was near our old house and great toy store: Wind up Here

    #9 Nov 29, 2009 at 2:15 am
  • Jaime P said:

    the nearest, which is about a 3 hr drive, is
    Kaleidoscope Toys
    116 F St
    Salida, 81201, CO

    #10 Nov 30, 2009 at 5:36 pm
  • Jennifer Tilson said:

    My closest local store is Main Street Toy Company in Franklin, TN.

    #11 Dec 1, 2009 at 12:57 am
  • Lori Z. said:

    Toys that Teach in Roseville, CA is supposed to be our local one, but they closed up shop in March of this year, instead the one in Rancho Cordova is our local one.

    #12 Dec 1, 2009 at 2:52 am
  • Amanda said:

    Brainstorm Etc is my local store. :)

    #13 Dec 1, 2009 at 6:12 pm
  • Julie said:

    My closest and only location that sells the Wee Wedgits is The Toy Zone. It is a great local store that carries toys you can’t find at the big box stores. Great service too.

    #14 Dec 2, 2009 at 12:14 am
  • DEBIJOT said:

    Black Forest Books & Toys is the closest.

    #15 Dec 2, 2009 at 9:19 am
  • Melissa said:

    I actually seen theses at a gift store in Independence, Iowa! We almost bought them! I wish I would have! would be awesome to win!

    #16 Dec 2, 2009 at 11:11 am
  • Christina said:

    Closest store for me is Playmatters in Shaker Square or Pepper Pike.

    #17 Dec 2, 2009 at 2:27 pm
  • Monique Rizzo said:

    The closest one to me is:
    Megan’s Toybox
    PO Box 52725
    Bellevue, 98015, WA

    Thanks so much for the chance.
    mogrill@comcast.net

    #18 Dec 2, 2009 at 2:53 pm
  • Shimona said:

    Animations, LTD in Teaneck, NJ

    #19 Dec 2, 2009 at 3:21 pm
  • abby said:

    I’m happy to see our favorite local store made the list, Lagoona Magoo Toys!

    #20 Dec 2, 2009 at 5:40 pm
  • Jennifer M said:

    West Side Kids on Amsterdam in Manhattan.

    #21 Dec 2, 2009 at 7:44 pm
  • Rebecca L said:

    My local store is The Toy Store.

    #22 Dec 2, 2009 at 9:03 pm
  • Rebecca L said:

    tweeted: http://twitter.com/beckysweeps13/status/6287821632

    #23 Dec 2, 2009 at 9:05 pm
  • Rebecca L said:

    Stumbled: http://www.stumbleupon.com/stumbler/crazedreamer/

    #24 Dec 2, 2009 at 9:09 pm
  • Kimberly L said:

    The Gifted Child in Lenox,MA is the closest one

    #25 Dec 2, 2009 at 9:13 pm
  • Paula Michele said:

    School Crossing, Inc. It’s actually 35 minutes away but that seems to be the closest.

    #26 Dec 2, 2009 at 9:20 pm
  • tracy heyer said:

    Head Over Heels

    #27 Dec 2, 2009 at 10:06 pm
  • tracy heyer said:

    email subscriber

    #28 Dec 2, 2009 at 10:09 pm
  • taylor said:

    SW Randall Toys & Gifts
    630 Smithfield St
    Pittsburgh, 15222, PA

    #29 Dec 2, 2009 at 10:54 pm
  • Molly K said:

    Creative Kidstuff in Maple Grove, MN

    #30 Dec 2, 2009 at 11:25 pm
  • Rosey said:

    The Brain Station in Ann Arbor is closest to me.

    #31 Dec 2, 2009 at 11:38 pm
  • Sheila Hickmon said:

    The one closest to me is called Isles of Smiles and it’s in Liberty, MO.
    Thanks for the chance!

    #32 Dec 3, 2009 at 9:16 am
  • Kelly Ann T. said:

    The nearest store is
    Toy Tyme Inc
    17245 Chesterfield Airport Rd
    Chesterfield,MO63005
    US

    #33 Dec 3, 2009 at 1:31 pm
  • STEVEN WALDO said:

    THE THREE BEARS. 2600 Sudderth Dr, Ruidoso, NM,
    Wow i am surprised there is not one in my home town.
    oldmanoldlady(AT)hotmail.com

    #34 Dec 3, 2009 at 1:39 pm
  • Aniela said:

    Doodlehopper 4 Kids is my local store.

    #35 Dec 3, 2009 at 2:03 pm
  • Tarah said:

    Our “closet” one is 200 miles away at Brain Station in Ann Arbor, MI

    #36 Dec 3, 2009 at 2:05 pm
  • Krista Mack said:

    Our local store is Shenanigans Toys Inc. in Peachtree City, GA.

    #37 Dec 3, 2009 at 2:34 pm
  • Terri Dell said:

    Education Station
    1209 Route 17K
    Montgomery, 12549, NY

    #38 Dec 3, 2009 at 2:45 pm
  • Sue said:

    Mumbles and Squeaks is my closest store. Thanks for the giveaway!

    #39 Dec 3, 2009 at 4:15 pm
  • Shannon F. said:

    Toyland
    3022 Crocuse Ln
    Baldwinsville, 13027, NY is my local store!

    #40 Dec 3, 2009 at 5:07 pm
  • Lori Taube said:

    Clothes Pony / Dendelion Toys is my closest store!

    #41 Dec 3, 2009 at 5:21 pm
  • susan varney said:

    The Painted Horse
    35 Cedar St
    Augusta, 04330, ME
    mverno@roadrunner.com

    #42 Dec 3, 2009 at 5:25 pm
  • Lisa said:

    My local ASTRA toy store is:
    Barstons Child’s Play
    1661 Rockville Pike
    Rockville, 20852, MD

    #43 Dec 3, 2009 at 6:06 pm
  • Marcia said:

    Pocket Full of Therapy in Marlboro NJ is the closest to me but it looks like I can order online from UnbeatableSales.com

    #44 Dec 3, 2009 at 6:35 pm
  • kathy pease said:

    Full-screen
    VTC, Inc
    306 Depot Street
    Manchester Ctr, 5255, VT

    #45 Dec 3, 2009 at 7:27 pm
  • Annette E said:

    My closest store is Kidstop Toy & Book Store in Scottsdale, AZ.

    #46 Dec 3, 2009 at 9:56 pm
  • Sherri B. said:

    Kitty Hawk Kites in Nags Head, NC is the closest store to me! Thanks for the chance!

    sherri419 at gmail dot com

    #47 Dec 3, 2009 at 10:26 pm
  • DanV said:

    My local store is Brain Zoom LLC

    #48 Dec 3, 2009 at 10:36 pm
  • Dawn R said:

    Closest store to me is Cheeky Monkey Toys in Menlo Park, CA.

    #49 Dec 3, 2009 at 11:18 pm
  • Melissa said:

    The nearest location to me is “Kid O Distribution” in NYC

    #50 Dec 3, 2009 at 11:26 pm
  • trixx said:

    My local store is Carol School Supply Co Inc 179 28 Union Turnpike, Flushing, NY 11366

    #51 Dec 3, 2009 at 11:57 pm
  • Gianna said:

    Creative Kidstuff in maple grove, MN :)

    #52 Dec 4, 2009 at 12:51 am
  • Chrysa said:

    Creative Kidstuff, Maple Grove, MN is closest.

    #53 Dec 4, 2009 at 12:59 am
  • rajee said:

    Our local store is Thinker Toys.

    #54 Dec 4, 2009 at 1:13 am
  • Angela G said:

    The closest store to me is Tomboy Games and Stores in Lakewood, WA.

    #55 Dec 4, 2009 at 4:13 am
  • Angela G said:

    I tweeted the toy guide: http://twitter.com/ag1414/status/6331384545

    #56 Dec 4, 2009 at 4:15 am
  • Angela G said:

    I stumbled the Toy Guide ag1414

    #57 Dec 4, 2009 at 4:16 am
  • Angela G said:

    I dugg the Toy Guide ag1414

    #58 Dec 4, 2009 at 4:17 am
  • Jessica said:

    My closest store is creative kids stuff

    #59 Dec 20, 2009 at 3:35 am