From big name brands and evergreen toy categories to products designed for children with special educational needs, this year’s awards celebrate the best in creative play.
Creative Steps magazine has announced that the results of the prestigious 2023 Creative Play Awards have now been collated. The Winners and Highly Commended entries have been published within the Winter issue of Creative Steps magazine, as well as on www.creativesteps.co.uk and across all its social media platforms.
Sponsored and organised by Creative Steps magazine, the Creative Play Awards promote creative play as a vital aspect of a child’s development. The results of these awards recognise the best products available for enhancing creative development in young children and those that are beneficial to the consumer when making purchasing decisions.
John Hopley, editor of Creative Steps, commented: “With more products than ever entered in this, the 16th year, the 2023 Creative Play Awards were more competitive than ever, so the Winners and Highly Commended entries should be very proud. These awards help recognise some of the best creative play toys, games, books and resources available in the UK. We continue to have the products assessed by independent testers in homes, schools, early years and childcare settings around the country, emphasising the importance of learning through creative play for children – and these awards help parents, teachers and carers find the latest quality products that allow them to do so.”
The 2023 Winners and Highly Commended entries are as follows:
Toys and Games – Indoor (0-3 years)
• Winner – Polydron: Translucent KinderMag
• Highly Commended – Plus-Plus: Plus-Plus BIG Bunny 15pc Tubes
Toys and Games – Indoor (4-7 years)
• Winner – Plus-Plus: Plus-Plus 100pc Basic Tube
• Highly Commended – Plus-Plus: Plus-Plus Puzzle by Number Rocket
Toys and Games – Indoor (8-11 years)
• Winner – Bandai: Shashibo
• Highly Commended – Asmodee: Dobble Connect
Toys and Games – Outdoor (0-3 years)
• Winner – Frog Bikes: Tadpole Plus Balance Bike
Toys and Games – Outdoor (4-7 years)
• Winner – Frog Bikes: Frog 44
• Highly Commended – Wilton Bradley: Xootz Quad Led Skates
Toys and Games – Outdoor (8-11 years)
• Winner – Ministry of Colour: Colour Powders
Painting/Colouring/Modelling Materials (4-7 years)
• Winner – Trends UK: Paint Pop Paint Sticks Bundle
• Highly Commended – Addo Play: Barbie Bobble It – Decorate Your Own Room Light
• Highly Commended – Playmonster UK: Spirograph Doodle Pad
Painting/Colouring/Modelling Materials (8-11 years)
• Winner – Playmonster: FabLab Soapy Sculpts
Boys Craft Kits (4-7 years)
• Winner – Epoch Making Toys: Aquabeads Deluxe Craft Backpack
• Highly Commended – Epoch Making Toys: Aquabeads Dinosaur World
Girls Craft Kits (4-7 years)
• Winner – Pat Avenue: Hama 10,000 Beads Bucket with 5 Pegboards
• Highly Commended – Pat Avenue: Hama Beads Pony Play
Girls Craft Kits (8-11 years)
• Winner – Bandai: Rainbow Loom Loomi-Pals Combo
• Highly Commended – Curious Universe: Crystalverse Deluxe Range
Imaginative Role Play (0-3 years)
• Winner – LittleMagicTrain: Dinosaurs on the Loose!
• Highly Commended – Playmonster UK: Playskool Glo Friends Wigglebug Wiggle, Hop, Stop!
Imaginative Role Play (4-7 years)
• Winner – Addo Play: Early Learning Centre Wooden Pancake Playset
• Highly Commended – Epoch Making Toys: Sylvanian Families Baby Mermaid Castle
Electronic and Multimedia (4-7 years)
• Winner – Trends UK: Shop With Peppa
Electronic and Multimedia (8-11 years)
• Winner – HUE: Animation Studio
• Highly Commended – Bandai: Tamagotchi Uni
Teaching Resources (0-3 years)
• Winner – Bloomsbury: My First Five Years Baby
• Highly Commended – Bloomsbury: 50 Fantastic Ideas for Supporting Neurodiversity
Teaching Resources (4-7 years)
• Winner – Addo Play: Early Learning Centre Create a Story! Game
• Highly Commended – Trends UK: Science Mad Early Skills Science Lab
Teaching Resources (8-11 years)
• Winner – Connetix: Connetix 212 Piece Rainbow Mega
• Highly Commended – HUE: Animation Studio
Special Educational Needs Toys/Resources (0-3 years)
• Winner – Inspire My Play: PlayTray with removable compartments
Special Educational Needs Toys/Resources (4-7 years)
• Winner – Connetix: Connetix 50 Piece Rainbow Transport Pack
• Highly Commended – Halilit: Calm Down Bottle (Unicorn)
Books (Children 0-5 years)
• Winner – Nosy Crow: My Big Playbook
• Highly Commended – Nosy Crow: Make Tracks – Emergency
Books (Children 6+ years)
• Winner – Harper Collins: A Year of Nature Walks and Games
Books (Adult)
• Winner – More to… : More To Mealtimes
