Blogs

  If there’s one truth in entertainment, it’s that music connects us. The right song can instantly transport you to a high school dance, the front seat of your first car, even just...

  Mary Couzin - People of Play (POP): Rachele, congratulations on your promotion to Chief Product Officer at CrunchLabs! What does this new role mean to you?   Rachele Harmuth (RH): Tha...

Name: Julie McNamara, Teacher  Location: Palos East Elementary School I teach a gifted and talented pull-out program for students in grades 1–5 at Palos East Elementary in Palos Heights...

Ark Nova: A Global Phenomenon in Modern Board Gaming   In the world of modern board gaming, very few titles have managed to make the kind of impact that Ark Nova has achieved in such a short ti...

FOR IMMEADIATE RELEASE   SKY CASTLE ANNOUNCES LANDMARK PARTNERSHIPS WITH JAZWARES AND TOKIDOKI TO EXPAND STICKI ROLLS BRAND ACROSS PLAY & FASHION   Squishmallows & tokidoki Join ...

  Name: Analise Potsander Location: Goshen, IN YIC: 2018 Junior Most Creative Concept, 2019 Participant, 2020 Junior Winner, 2021 Most Sustainable Toy or Game, 2022 Participant, 2023 Senior ...

On August 22, 2025, the world lost a true original. Richard Weintraub—known to many simply as Richie—passed away at the age of 77, leaving behind a legacy as colorful, inventive, and unfor...

As previously shared in an email update to the full Toy Association membership, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has affirmed a lower court ruling (the May 28, 2025 U.S...

Why Custom Puzzles Are More Popular Than Ever In the modern market, where experiences are sometimes even more important than products, custom puzzles and personalized puzzles are gaining more and mor...

Chronology: The Game of All Time   Gameplay Chronology: The Game of All Time is a simple yet engaging game that takes you on a trip throughout time. Consisting of a deck of cards with a histor...

Humble Beginnings   Many great companies start small — Apple and Hewlett-Packard in garages, mine on a back porch — and sometimes, in the trunk of a car.   Decades ago, befor...

This year, the Young Inventor Challenge® (YIC) proudly celebrates its 20th anniversary! Since its founding, the YIC has empowered thousands of kids ages 6-18 to dream big, think creatively, and ...

Tee up with industry friends for an evening of friendly competition, casual networking, and giving back at The Toy Foundation’s Golf & Give FUNdraiser, taking place Tuesday, September 9...

Hitster: Guilty Pleasures   Gameplay I am so happy to introduce to you my new favorite party game! Hitster is a combination of a classic guess-that-song game and the history buff game Chronolo...

SLIME ATTACK – Cra-Z-Slimy Brand – Ultimate Slimy Cereal -4 Pack   Every year there’s a new type of toy that takes over. This year, I truly believe that “SLIME” ...

  Name: Leonard Brahin Location: Chicago, IL  YIC: 2007 Winner Invention(s): Superhero Board Game   Where is your invention now?   Safely preserved in my childhood home!&n...

The board game industry has experienced a fireworks-like expansion during the past few years, in which thousands of new board games are issued each year. Regardless of whether you are a big publisher ...

Hi Cassidy! Great to catch up and love to share your latest news with our readers! How long were you at Hape Toys, and what is your favorite memory from your time there?   This year would have ...

The Toy Association™ is inviting all toy industry professionals to attend the official Grand Opening and Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony of The Toy Building, taking place at 5 p.m. on Monday, September ...

  Vango is riding the wave of the continued success of The #UpsideDownChallenge Game, a party game that asks players to complete simple tasks while their vision is flipped upside down!  ...

When it comes to tabletop gaming, dice are more than just tools for generating random numbers they are the heartbeat of the game. Each die roll generates tension, thrill, and suspense and determines t...

  Name: Nick Metzler Location: New York City, NY YIC: 2010 Senior Category Winner & 2011 Senior Category Winner Invention(s): That’s Cheating (2010) & Squashed (2011)   ...

Eastar is a leading manufacturer of board game board material, durable board game components and stunningly designed custom board game pieces to publishers, designers and brands around the globe with ...

  Hi Maura, thank you for answering a few questions for us today. The last time I saw you was at Spielwarenmesse\'s Nuremberg Toy Fair Toy Night and you were soaked to the bone. We won\'t go int...

New data from economic research firm John Dunham & Associates reveals an accelerating decline in U.S. toy imports since April 2025, driven by the impact of tariffs on the industry’s supply c...

  What Today’s Toy Brands Must Do to Stay Credible and Connected   Author: Bill Southard, Founder and CEO Southard Communications, Chair of Marketing Committee for Public Relation...

  Exciting news collectors! The hobbyDB Local Directory has officially passed a major milestone: more than 1,000 active listings of collectible stores, events, museums, and more. And we’...

Insect Lore Butterfly Garden   If you loved science as a child, you’re likely familiar with the Insect Lore Butterfly Garden, a kit that lets you raise real caterpillars through their ent...

  What do you do in our industry?   I am co-founder and CEO of Lovevery, an early childhood development company focused on healthy brain development for ages 0-5.     &n...

(pictured: Allan Robert Miller, Allan Raymond Miller, Jay Horowitz, Cecelia Gritz.  The Millers are the founders of the museum and Cecelia is one of the museum\'s employees     Fift...