Our 1st ever Toy Awards and over 70 entries we couldn’t be more proud of these winners. Shop your Christmas shopping with confidence.
Best walker
CocoMelon Ultimate Learning Bus
It features 2 modes of play: Music and Learning. In Music mode, use the buttons, wipers, horn, and door to sing along to Wheels on the Bus. Use the dial on the back to play four nursery rhymes: The Alphabet Song, Bingo, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Best Toy for preschoolers
GOLD
Octonauts Above & Beyond Octopod
Octonauts Above & Beyond Octopod Playset: is the perfect home for your Octocrew, Gups & Terra-Gups. It features a detachable Net Launcher, a Claw that attaches to the Figures to rescue the three creatures included – Vampire Squid, Starfish, Slime Eel – a Spyglass accessory, a slide and an exclusive Captain Barnacles Action Figure. Plus, it comes with a Mission Card so children can create their own adventure – as well as recreating their favourite TV scenes as the Octonauts underwater adventures come to land.
BRONZE
It’s time to go to School with Bluey and her friends. Spend a fun day with Bluey and Chloe at Calypso’s School Playset! This fantastic School Playset opens out to three great play areas. Fold out the walls to find a Classroom, Cozy Cove and Story Stage! There are plenty of accessories as well to create your own School adventures including dress-ups! Calypso’s School Playset also comes with a Sticker Sheet for you to decorate and customize.
Best baby toy (0-6 months)
GOLD
Sophie la girafe Original Teether
Sophie la girafe is flexible and has many parts for your newborn to chew on. She is perfect for soothing sore gums and relieving teething discomfort. She is lightweight and easy for little hands to grip and hold onto.
SILVER Munchkin & Bear
Balls are a #musthave when you have kids! Ones that double as a teether and are soft and squishy enough that they won’t break anything when thrown in the house are even more of a winner in our parenting book. Perfect for all ages and promoting soothing play, sensory play, cognitive play and both gross and fine motor development. Set of three
BRONZE
TENDRESSE VALENTINE MY FIRST DOLL
Explore the classical dancer who is the stuff of little ballet fans’ dreams! Dressed in a powder pink wrap-over top embellished with a golden scarf and an oh-so-soft champagne-coloured star print skirt, Valentine reveals delicate, refined style. Her red hair distinguishes her from other Tendresse dolls.
Reviewer “Beautiful quality, makes the perfect first doll”
Best Bath Toys
GOLD
Toomies Peppa’s House Bath Playset
This clever activity centre fits easily to tiles or the bath thanks to suction pads at the back. The House Bath Playset promotes collaborative role play, refines motor skills and explores cause and effect sequences all while helping little ones gain water confidence.
Reviewer “Was a task to get my little one out the bath, must be good”
SILVER
baebea
Biodegradable bath boats are made from wheat straw; a safe, earth conscious alternative to plastic. The beautifully designed bath boat set contains 6 boats that can be stacked, interlinked, used to scoop water, or simply left to float!
Reviewer “Love a sustainable toy, these are great fun for all, great stocking filler”
BRONZE
Little Brian Bath Paint Sticks
Little Brian Bath Paint Sticks are a brilliant stocking filler and will let kids get creative at bath time.
Reviewer “These make bath time a whole heap of fun”
Best baby toy (6-12 months)
GOLD
With the Penguin Musical Wobbler, children can experience sound and delight in the penguin’s soothing tinkling sounds and funny waddle.
Reviewer said ” Fantastic quality at a low price”
Joint – SILVER
An adorable friend and an instant baby-soother! Little ones can fold the crinkly ears for a game of peek-a-boo and then give it a squeeze to hear it squeak. What’s more, The trunk blows a puff of air for a gentle distraction that quickly turns tears into giggles.
Reviewer said “Toby loved this little elephant, he wouldn’t put it down”
Joint – SILVER
Sensory Sensation boards– Large blue themed board
Multi activity board made for the early years and those with additional needs.
Reviewer said ” Love a busy board I am a previous customer and can confirm that their customer service is as good as their boards”
Best Wooden Toys
GOLD
The Lovevery Block Set offers a groundbreaking and innovative approach to a classic wood toy set. The Block Set includes 70 heirloom-quality pieces in 18 rainbow hues. Made from sustainably harvested wood and nontoxic, water-based finishes.
SILVER
Woodland Friends Play, Build & Stack™ Blocks
10 beautifully carved wooden blocks that make a perfect gift for any nursery space and a true keepsake that will be cherished forever. A real learning toy set – encouraging little one’s first attempt at stacking, counting and spelling.
BRONZE
Reviewer “Already a customer of Sofi Shop These Wicker prams are beautifully made”
Best Board Games for under 5’s
GOLD
A fun family board game with lots of laughs. In this fun colour matching game, there’s a goose on the loose and players must help the farmers round up the escaped geese. Players shout ‘Honk’ when collecting their 3D geese as they make their way around the board, but if they lose a goose they must shout ‘goose on the loose!’.
Reviewer – “Sam loved this game, expect lots of shouting”
SILVER
Multi activity board made for the early years and those with additional needs.
Best Doll
GOLD
Sugar Cane doll measures 18 inches & wears a turtleneck pink jumper with embroidered sugar canes and lilac velveteen bow, a spotty tutu skirt with fluffy lilac trim, pink and white striped knitted knee high socks, suedette boots with lilac fluffy trim and velveteen bows and a matching pink hat.
Reviewer “If you have a little girl this is the doll they will love”
SILVER
Say hello to the BFF dolls! Your favourite characters from Cry Babies Magic Tears are fully-fledged tweens studying at Winged Heart Campus. Dress her up for the day, ready for adventures with her best friends.
BRONZE
Tiny Treasures Polly Doll Bumper Set
Tiny Treasures baby doll has a realistic smell, soft brunette hair, blue eyes that close when lying down & feels just like a new born weighing 2lbs 10oz. Baby Polly comes dressed in a long sleeved pink jersey tee & a pair of grey dungarees with a super cute appliqued penguin.
Reviewer “Beautifully made, my little girl loves to play mummy. This is a beautiful doll”
Best Books/story time
GOLD
Meet the Toniebox – the new audio system for children. Turn it on, pop the Tonie figure on the top and simply let the audio adventure begin. Designed for little listeners ages 3+, it’s the perfect storytime companion for tiny hands and active imaginations.
Reviewer “Not sure who loves the box more me or the children”
SILVER
100% sewn and handmade quiet book-sensory book for toddlers
Reviewer ” Think Busy board in a very handy, stunning book. These not only make a great gift they are beautifully made and my little one loved exploring”
BRONZE
Musical Hop Out Mizzie – Music Box
‘Sing with Mizzie – Nursery Rhymes’ This wonderful and interactive SOUND BOOK was designed especially to awaken and ignite children’s love of singing, listening skills and to encourage the love of reading.
Reviewer “This is such a sweet book including 6 songs, beautifully made”
Best interactive toy
GOLD – Hey Clay – Animal Set
Designed to boost kids’ imagination, this vibrant and soft modeling clay comes with 15 cans for creative play. It works in tandem with the unqiue Hey Clay app that provides step-by-step guides to masterfully mould it, one shape at a time. Sculptors can create a cow, a horse, a pig, a sheep, a rabbit, and a dog with the Animals set.
Reviewer “Think wet weekend, this is the perfect companion. We had great fun testing this”
SILVER
Musical Hop Out Mizzie – Music Box
Musical hop out Mizzie is a classic and fun, developmental toy with so many learning benefits! Also known as a ‘Jack in the box’. Learn to turn the level. Listen to the music and wait.
Reviewer – “Wish I had discovered this sooner my little one loves this”
BRONZE
100% sewn and handmade quiet book (busy book) for children
Reviewer ” Kept my 3 year old busy for a hour, so much to see and do”
Best playset
GOLD
Cry Babies Magic Tears Mega Dreamy House
For the ultimate Cry Babies adventure, drop in to Dreamy’s Mega House – the best place to play and recreate stories with all your favourite Cry Babies Magic Tears characters. The Mega House comes with an exclusive Dreamy doll, and three magic tear activation points to reveal the most magical surprises
Reviewer “Anyone who gets this for Christmas is in for a treat, My little girl screamed with excitement when I asked her to test”.
SILVER
Flower Magic Sindy is the perfect playset for any doll lover who loves nature and the outdoors. She wears a beautiful floral dress with a denim jacket, knotted headband and pair of lilac pumps. She comes with long curly red hair.
Reviewer “Lots of fun to have with Sindy”
BRONZE – Octonauts Above & Beyond Octopod
Octonauts Above & Beyond Octopod Playset: is the perfect home for your Octocrew, Gups & Terra-Gups. It features a detachable Net Launcher, a Claw that attaches to the Figures to rescue the three creatures included – Vampire Squid, Starfish, Slime Eel – a Spyglass accessory, a slide and an exclusive Captain Barnacles Action Figure.
Reviewer “If your little one loves the Octonauts then they will love this play set”
Best Toys for 12Months +
Reviewer Hours of fun, My nearly 1 year old and 4 year old loved this so much. You won’t regret purchasing this, you will just want to buy more.
SILVER DJ Mix and Spin
Hape launches its DJ Mix & Spin Studio, a portable deck with keyboard, scratch-pad and colourful flashing lights. The DJ Mix & Spin Studio lets children discover the fun of music, develop their musical talent and explore rhythm and sound, making it a fun musical learning toy for early childhood.
Reviewer said A toy that is so well built it will last years….
Best Ride On
GOLD
Mini Micro 3in1 LED Deluxe Push Along
Our Mini Micro 3in1 LED Push Along is a scooter with a trio of talents. Ride-on scooter with adjustable seat, removable parent steering handle from 12 months and Light up wheels. Lean-to-steer toddler scooter with ultra-manoeuvrable O-bar from 18 months. Iconic Mini Micro Deluxe with adjustable handlebar and extra grippy footplate from 2 years through to starting school.
SILVER
CocoMelon Ultimate Learning Bus
It features 2 modes of play: Music and Learning. In Music mode, use the buttons, wipers, horn, and door to sing along to Wheels on the Bus. Use the dial on the back to play four nursery rhymes: The Alphabet Song, Bingo, Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes.
Reviewer “Great Toy with multiple functions”
Best First Bike/scooter
GOLD – Mini Micro Deluxe Foldable Scooter
Our multi-tasking Mini marvel is now even more flexible – with a one-click folding system that makes carrying and storing a breeze. With the intuitive lean-to-steer design kids know and love. With the tough anodised stem, extra grippy footplate and adjustable handlebar that have helped millions of pre-schoolers master life on three wheels.
SILVER Globber Scooter
Globber have redesigned their classic 3-wheel scooters to present the Junior Foldable Lights. There is even more functionality and convenience for growing toddlers. Globber Junior Foldable Lights Scooter comes with battery-free LED front lights, which flash in green, red and blue! Thanks to the dynamo lighting, the faster you go, the brighter the LED lights appear.
Best toddler toy (1 to 3 years)
GOLD – The Play Kits
The Play Kits by Lovevery are a subscription, stage-based learning program designed to promote brain development through play during the early years of childhood. They are designed to be exactly what a child is ready to learn at each developmental period and deliver at 2-3 month intervals from ages 0-48 months.
SILVER – Fat Brain InnyBin
An incredibly unique shape-exploration experience! As kids push the shapes through the elastic bands of the cube, curiosity is sparked and young minds can’t help but explore, experiment, and discover.
Reviewer “Sorting, thinking, hand coordination, this is a simple but great toy”
BRONZE John Deere Build a Johnny Tractor
Build-A-Johnny Tractor features two ways to play; free rolling tractor or buildable set. This 16-piece set includes a battery powered drill to take apart and build Johnny Tractor back together again.
Reviewer “My 3 year old loved this, well built and hours of fun putting him back together and then take him apart again”
Best Toy Vehicle
GOLD – Learning Resources® Tony the Peg Stacker Dump Truck™
Meet Tony and his nine colourful stacking barrels. They’re ready for preschool fine motor skills fun. Stack, match, and sort Tony’s barrels, and then dump them out and start again!
Reviewer said “This is perfect for fine motor skills”
SILVER – John Deere Build a Johnny Tractor
Build-A-Johnny Tractor features two ways to play; free rolling tractor or buildable set. This 16-piece set includes a battery powered drill to take apart and build Johnny Tractor back together again.
BRONZE – Hot Wheels Car Plate
Kids plate with built-in track for hot wheels cars
Best Train Set
GOLD – Brio Deluxe train set
This 87-piece 33052 Deluxe Railway Set comes complete with passenger trains, freight trains, harbour and metro scenes, stations, cranes, bridges, road and rail tracks, figures and more. Full of action and adventure, this BRIO World set helps children explore the world around them in a fun and educational way.
SILVER – Hape Railway Bucket Builder Set
Now arriving at Platform Fun: the Railway Bucket Builder Set. This is one train you don’t want to miss. There’s so much to do and see with this detailed 50-piece toy train set. Be a train driver, a rail engineer or operate the crane. It has all the props kids need for stimulating communication and inspiring hours of imaginative role-play. Key feature, the storage box becomes part of the track.
BRONZE – Thomas & Friends 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas Playset
With the Thomas & Friends 2-in-1 Transforming Thomas playset, from Fisher-Price, children can create Sodor adventures at home or on the go! This amazing train set features a large push-along Thomas the Tank Engine which can store diecast train engines inside.
Best science/STEM toy or kit
GOLD – Block a roo
These magnetic foam blocks are truly addictive. Each time they are clicked together building satisfaction is reinforced. Blockaroos’ large size is designed to be easy for young children to play with. The soft material means play is safe, even if the blocks take a tumble. Lightweight construction means parts stay together for imaginative play.
The blocks float! Patented magnet design allows magnets to always attract.
SILVER – Learning Resources® Design & Drill Take Apart T-Rex
Roar into STEM learning with this prehistoric preschool engineering and construction playset dinosaur toy from Learning Resources! Snap four pieces together to assemble your T-Rex dinosaur and use the included screwdriver to add eight decorative bolts.
Best Toys for Girls
GOLD Kindi Kids
Dress Up Magic Jessicake loves to play dress up and has a magical face paint reveal! Jessicake believes in fairies and wants to be one too! She looks so cute in her pretty cupcake fairy Dress and matching cupcake fairy Hair Clip! Her pretty little Shoes complete the look! Jessicake Fairy has something magical to show you
SILVER – Little Live Pets – Bright Light Chameleon: Nova
New from Little Live Pets, Nova the Bright Light Chameleon is a soft and squishy chameleon that lights up with over 30+ sounds and emotions. With so many colorful moods, Nova expresses their current mood through lights and sounds. When Nova is feeling super happy, this vivid lizard will sing and glow with beautiful, rainbow lights. Nurture and play with Nova by patting her head, feeding her and talking to her.
BRONZE – My Very Own Cloud
The magical My Very Own Cloud 3-in-1 Nightlight from Brainstorm Toys makes bedtime a dream – quite literally!
GIFTS for boys
GOLD – Little Brian Paint Sticks Assorted
A fun, clean and very convenient way to paint. Water soluble, child friendly solid paint sticks that twist up and down like a glue stick. Use these super slick paints to glide vivid colours directly onto surfaces like paper, card, canvas and wood. No need for brushes or water – just uncap and paint directly onto your chosen surface – and then easily clean away. Little Brian paint sticks are compact, portable and quick drying, making them ideal for playing outdoors. This pack contains 12 paint sticks in assorted colours.
SILVER Treasure X Dino Gold Pterodactyl Dino Dissection
Children can now take a high-flying adventure with the Treasure X Dino Gold Dissection Pterodactyl! A mega sized Pterodactyl has been captured in a cage but inside this Dino is an Exclusive Treasure Hunter! There are 16 Levels of Adventure as children rescue the Hunter and turn the Pterodactyl into a soaring Dino to take to the skies! There is no room for squeamish children with this new toy! Dino discoverers can remove the Pterodactyl from the cage and spread out its wings. The Pterodactyl can be dissected using the tools provided to remove and open the ‘Gut Bag’ to see what (…or who) the dinosaur has eaten! Assemble the Treasure Hunter, find the 2 keys and open the Treasure Chest to discover hidden Treasure.
Best Playroom TOYS
GOLD
The eco-friendly magnetic modular play space where the only limit is your imagination.
Reviewer says “This is amazing, theres no limits to its play. It can be stored away easily and when it comes out it really is an amazing gift”
Best Subscription Box
GOLD – Best Subscription for 6+
Wizards & Wonders – Twig’s Subscription Box
Wizards and Wonders at Roots of Fantastical Matters is a magically exciting, totally unique, personalised, story-based subscription box service that promotes reading, cross-curricular learning and sustainable creativity. Designed to encourage readers aged 6-12 to explore their imaginations AND the real world. These fantastical chronicles combine extraordinary storytelling with cleverly integrated STREAM-based activities (Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art and Maths) that prompt children to create and experiment with ‘factual matters’ too. dramatic and theatrical.
Reviewer “Just wow, what a way to help keep their imagination alive” “Never too old to believe”
Best Subscription for baby
GOLD – My Sensory Journey Subscription
Quarterly subscription for a baby’s first 12 months. The boxes are delivered every 3 months. They provide sensory toys to stimulate development and encourage bonding between a baby and their family and loved ones. All boxes come with a downloadable sensory play guide, packed with information about early development, how to explore the sensory toys to benefit learning and activity ideas.
Reviewer Said – I love the variety of the toys and if this was given to my little one as a gift I would love it. I would even give up my beauty box and have this instead.
Best Sensory Toys
GOLD – Peekaboo Puppy
100% sewn and handmade quiet book – sensory book for toddlers
Reviewer – So well made, Fred loved this so handy to pop in your bag and take out.
SILVER
My Sensory Journey Subscription
Quarterly subscription for a baby’s first 12 months. The boxes are delivered every 3 months. They provide sensory toys to stimulate development and encourage bonding between a baby and their family and loved ones. All boxes come with a downloadable sensory play guide, packed with information about early development, how to explore the sensory toys to benefit learning and activity ideas.
BRONZE
Soft Clemmy Touch and Play Sensory Ball
Explore different colours and textures! It’s the ideal baby/toddler sensory toy for stimulating sight and touch in small children. Also includes 5 x Soft Clemmy blocks! Perfect for little hands, these baby sensory toys can be popped in and removed from the ball, stacked, or squished!
Best Role Play Toys
Does your little one love keeping up to date with the latest gadgets and gizmos? If so, they’re truly in for a treat with this Dyson Supersonic Styling Set. Designed to look and work just like the real thing, this toy hairdryer (and additional accessories) will make styling hair feel as professional as can be. With combs, brushes and nozzles included in this set, your mini hairdresser will have everything they need to deliver the best blowdrys in town.
SILVER – Joseph Joseph Extend
The Joseph Joseph Extend™️ set goes above and beyond expectations to ensure that there isn’t a grubby plate in sight. Kitchen role-play has never been more fun! Fill up the water bowl and watch the colour changing cutlery and crockery change from colour to white again. Water is then recycled from a hidden reservoir under the bowl, pumping back through the tap for endless play. Includes Cleantech Brush™, Extend Dish Rack, cutlery, plates and bowls.
Tiny Treasures Polly Doll Bumper Set
This beautifully made 44cm Tiny Treasures baby doll has a realistic smell, soft brunette hair, blue eyes that close when lying down & feels just like a new born weighing 2lbs 10oz. Baby Polly comes dressed in a long sleeved pink jersey tee & a pair of grey dungarees with a super cute appliqued penguin. removed.
Best Christmas Gifts
GOLD
This adorable Christmas Teddy is super soft and cuddly. Made from super fluffy fabric the DesignaBear Christmas Teddy is the perfect cuddly companion this Christmas. Christmas Teddy comes wearing festive tartan pyjama bottoms and a super cute reindeer themed pyjama top. DesignaBear Christmas Teddy comes beautifully packaged in a gift box. DesignaBear Christmas Teddy comes with a matching teddy hug card for you to personalise, making him the perfect gift this Christmas.
SILVER PeekaPets
New super-soft, cuddly bunny, that brings the peek-a-boo game to life. Press the PeekaPets’ tummy, and the over-sized floppy ears pop up to reveal the bunny’s face – entertaining little ones with lots of giggles. This sensory toy is a perfect gift for baby’s first Christmas. Comes in white and pink.
Reviewer – “Oh the giggles that come from my 8 month old with this bunny”.
Best Advents
GOLD – Elfie’s Christmas Advent Calendar Letters
Make your family’s Christmas countdown the most exciting EVER with International Elf Service’s Christmas Elf Letter Advent Calendar, full of brilliantly written adventures direct from the North Pole Elves’ Workshop. Explore the wonderful and often mixed-up world of the Christmas Elves and their Emergency Pyjama Meetings in this ORIGINAL Advent Calendar of 26 personalised Christmas Elf Letters. These Christmas Elf letters bring the North Pole to life and together form a fantastically fun Christmas Book full of muddles, inventions and pranks … for children to find mysteriously around their home every day of Advent! Perfect at breakfast time to get them reading aloud or as a spellbinding bedtime story. Written mostly by Elfie – who’s always bursting with Top Secret updates – but also from seven other Elves who are desperate to include their own crazy news! Includes the all-important letter from Father Christmas (or Santa Claus), a Personalised Certificate, Map of the North Pole Village and more! *only one bundle needed per family!
Reviewer – If there was ever a company that was making pure magic it would be this company. Can you imagine your little ones eyes on the lead up to Christmas. Such a beautiful keep sake too.
SILVER Brio Advent
Count down the days before Christmas with the Advent Calendar 2022. Fold down the front of the box to reveal a Christmas scene full of fun. Day by day, each door features a toy that is compatible with the BRIO World railway system.
The calendar features 24 pieces, including tracks, animals, accessories and exclusive seasonal content such as Santa Claus and a unique gingerbread Christmas Train.
Count down to Christmas with Shoot
Join your sporting heroes on the pitch and count down to Christmas with Shoot’s new festive football Advent Calendar! Adults and children alike can kick off each day in December with iconic player profiles, activities, games, and more. The perfect gift for fans of the beautiful game.
BRONZE – Personalised Advent Letters from Elf for Christmas
How amazed will your little ones be when they see their elf pal has written special letters just for them! These personalised elf letters follow the same storylines as our standard 2022 Advent Letters, but with the extra details of your little ones’ names and town and with the option to change your elf pen pal’s name from Pip McJingles to an elf of your choice, plus add a second elf name too. Your elf can even mention Mummy and Daddy, or whoever else your little one lives with! Arriving in 24 individual high-quality Kraft brown envelopes, each dated and personalised with your elf and your child or children’s names, our Personalised Advent Letters are ready to be smuggled among the post, left by the fire, hidden in a toy box, left on a pillow, on a mantel or tucked on top of the cereal box. These enchanting elf notes let your little one in on the secret fun, magic and mayhem that goes on at Santa’s workshop throughout December, as told by their very own North Pole pen pal.
Baby First Christmas Gifts
GOLD – PeekaPet
New super-soft, cuddly bunny, that brings the peek-a-boo game to life. Press the PeekaPets’ tummy, and the over-sized floppy ears pop up to reveal the bunny’s face – entertaining little ones with lots of giggles. This sensory toy is a perfect gift for baby’s first Christmas. Comes in white and pink.
SILVER Penguin Wobbler
With the Penguin Musical Wobbler, children can experience sound and delight in the penguin’s soothing tinkling sounds and funny waddle.
BRONZE
Disney Classic Baby’s First Year – A Loving Keepsake Calendar
Each page has a space for a photo and there is space to add specific month names and dates.
Congratulations to everyone!
Woohoo! We won SILVER for Best Wooden Toy! Thank you so much
Absolutely delighted to have won a Silver Award for our brand new silicone ball set! 🙂 Off to celebrate! team Munchkin & Bear
Thank you so much for the bronze award for my Sofishop!! I’m over the Moon and so grateful!
Thank you thank you thank you ❤️