PreschoolNews.net speaks to some of the finalists in this year’s Best Toy Range shortlist to find out what the awards mean to them and what their plans are for the big night.
As the countdown continues to Thursday evening’s virtual extravaganza, a number of finalists for Best Toy Range at this year’s Progressive Preschool Awards have shared their excitement with PreschoolNews.net.
“We’re so pleased to have been nominated for the Progressive Preschool Awards,” enthused Le Toy Van’s Alice King. “This year we have all missed live entertainment, and now children can enjoy the theatre experience right in their homes with the ‘Show Time Experience’ range.
“With more time spent at home we believe it’s so important that children are having access to recourses that engage, educate and bring enjoyment, and this collection is designed with many features of discovery to do exactly that. We will miss the usual grand affair of the awards ceremony – but we will enjoy watching remotely in the comfort of our PJs!”
Nikki Garner, marketing director at Inside Out Toys, commented: “We are so proud of the brands we distribute in the UK as we feel they perfectly represent our company values and share our focus on sustainable toys along with the importance of being an ethically responsible employer.
“Our partners at Tikiri in Sri Lanka and Viking Toys in Sweden are equally as excited to see their brands in the line-up of finalists this year! We are all looking forward to the awards in November, albeit slightly saddened that we cannot enjoy the party in person. 2020 certainly has been a challenging year!”
Playmobil’s marketing communications manager, Adam Moore, said that the company was “happy and proud” to be included in the finalists this year. “With all the challenges that 2020 has had, toys and play have become a more important necessity for children to be able to escape into a world of imagination, but also understand whats going on around them,” he said. “We always usually look forward to meeting industry friends at the awards ceremony, this year will of course be very different but it will not stop us attending with a digital presence.”
Meanwhile, Simba Smoby’s Martin Whitaker, commented: “We are delighted to be recognised within the this year’s Progressive Preschool Awards. Imaginative preschool play is what Smoby has been all about since is conception in 1978 and this year more than ever before imaginative toys and natural role-play has become increasingly important in the home. Our Chef Corner Restaurant is the perfect example of how kids learn and develop whilst also having fun and playing at being grown-ups.
“As the awards night unfolds we will be watching in anticipation and wish the organisers every success with the virtual event. We would also like to thank them for making this year’s awards ceremony a possibility despite the current conditions.”
This year’s event is completely free to attend and will be taking place as a virtual ceremony on Thursday 12 November, from 6:15pm. It is already shaping up to be the most fun you’ve had from the comfort of your own home this year.
The full list of finalists for Best Toy Range is:
Classic World Wooden Rocket Ship from Hippychick
Family Fun Camping Range from Playmobil
Mag-Play range from Bigjigs Toys
PlanToys Detective Set from Little Concepts
See-Saw Counter from James Galt
Smoby Chef Corner Restaurant from Simba Smoby Toys UK
The Show Time Experience range from Le Toy Van
Viking Toys Eco-Line Range from Inside Out Toys
Sponsors of the PPS Awards 2020 include: Amscan, Aykroyd & Sons, Azaria PR, BBC Studios, British Toy & Hobby Association (BTHA), CentumBooks, Fundamentally Children and The Good Toy Guide, Harrogate International Nursery Fair, Hippychick, LicensingSource.net, Misirli, Poetic Brands, Rainbow Designs, Redan Publishing, RH Smith & Sons (Smiffys), Toymaster, ViacomCBS, Vista PR, Walker Books.
Click here for more information on the awards and how you can sign up to join in with Thursday’s fun. It takes just a few seconds and we’ll even send you a reminder on the day.
