Shop local on Neighborhood Toy Store Day

 We received toys and compensation for this post however all experiences and opinions expressed in this post are my own.

Shop local on Neighborhood Toy Store Day 11.11.17 #NTSD17 #NeighborhoodToyStoreDay

Save the date to join your neighborhood toy store as they celebrate during Neighborhood Toy Store Day TOMORROW!

We are avid shoppers in this family. In fact,  most of this blog is about all of the shopping that we do. We love to shop together and we love to shop locally. This Saturday, something very exciting is going on and it is called Neighborhood Toy Store Day. The annual Neighborhood Toy Store Day will be held on Saturday, November 11, 2017 as the start of the holiday shopping season. This is your chance to really get out and support your local community by shopping at neighborhood toy stores.

What Neighborhood Toy Store Day  does is that it introduces families to the fun of shopping locally and celebrates each toy store’s commitment to the community. We shop locally for toys at Beanhead Toys and have been going there for years. This is our go-to spot for all of our toy needs. I am excited to see that participating stores will host local in-store events for families such as face painting, craft projects, live performances and special discounts. We have several birthday parties coming up and are planning to do some shopping for the holiday season.

The November 11 Neighborhood Toy Store Day will feature special events to introduce consumers to the benefits of shopping local. The events include child-friendly activities such as face painting, craft projects, live performances and, in many toy stores, a charitable component to give back to their local communities.

Many of the store owners celebrating Neighborhood Toy Store Day have earned the ASTRA Certified Play Expert (CPE) designation after completing hours of research-based instruction and exams on the science behind the power of play, child development stages and learning styles, and using toys as tools to enrich children’s lives. ASTRA (American Specialty Toy Retailing Association) is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting local toy shopping and creative, open-ended playtime for children.

“Neighborhood specialty toy store owners are the real experts when it comes to choosing toys for kids,” said Kimberly Mosley, ASTRA president. “Because they spend time with kids on a daily basis in their stores and participate in certification classes to learn more about childhood development, they understand the value of play and what types of toys encourage playtime.”

2017 ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Award Winners

The American Specialty Toy Retailing Association (ASTRA), recognized nationwide for its prestigious annual awards program, has announced its 2017 Best Toys for Kids Awards. 18 winners in 17 distinct categories are chosen by specialty store retailers – hundreds of men and women who understand the value of play and, day in and day out, have hands-on experience with how kids play. As a result, the annual Best Toys for Kids Award makes it easier for moms, dads and other gift-givers to make smart buying decisions for their kids. The Best Toys for Kids Award honors the new and improved toys that promote open-ended or creative play, incorporate innovative design features and maintain exceptional safety standards.

The winners of the 2017 ASTRA Best Toys for Kids Awards are:

ACTIVE PLAY
Laser X 2-Pack
NSI
BOTS
Playvision
Smart Bot Robot
CHOOSE YOUR OWN CATEGORY
Zipes Speed Pipes Performance Pack
Neat-Oh! International
CLASSIC 0-7 YEARS
Topanifarm
Djeco
CLASSIC PLAY 8+ YEARS
Doink it Darts
Marky Sparky
CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY
Geomatrix
California Creations
Remote-Control Machines: Construction Vehicles
Thames & Kosmos
CREATIVE ARTS PLAY 7+ YEARS
Linkt Crafts Kits Bubble Loops
Neat-Oh! International
CREATIVE PLAY UNDER 7 YEARS
The Ultimate Brick Maker
Relevant Play
DOLL PLAY
Rahel from Ethiopia
Hearts for Hearts Girls
EARLY PLAY
SmartMax My First Safari Animals
Smart Toys and Games, Inc.
FAMILY GAME NIGHT
SLAPZI: Carma Games
GAME PLAY 2-5 YEARS
Cha-Cha Chihuahua
Gamewright
GAME PLAY 5-8 YEARS
Go Go Gelato!
Blue Orange Games
GAME PLAY 8+ YEARS
Kingdomino
Blue Orange Games
LOGIC SKILLS: Roller Coaster Challenge from ThinkFun
PRETEND – ROLE/FANTASY PLAY: My Magical Sound & Lights Unicorn from Gund
SCIENTIFIC PLAY: Snap Circuits STEM from Elenco

See the list of this year’s winners and past winners at http://besttoys.astratoy.org.

Why shop locally?

Shopping locally fosters a sense of community and provides the following benefits:

• Economic stability
• Community development
• Reduced environmental impact
• Diverse product selection
• Better customer service

Find a neighborhood toy store near you!

Want to shop locally as well? Click here to find a local toy store near you.

Get social with ASTRA

Check out the Best Toys for Kids

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