MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best classic toys

The toys that impressed our testers the most were crowned our 2024 award winners – and here are the results.

Best classic toys at a glance:

• Best classic bike: Bobbin Bikes Gingersnap 16, £179
• Best classic interactive toy: Furby Galaxy Interactive Toy, £54.99
• Best classic arts/crafts toy: Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset, £11
• Best classic ride-on: Mini Micro Light Up & Glow Scooter, £74.99
• Best classic book: Little Miss Surprise, £4.99
• Best classic video game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons, £36.99
• Best classic gaming console: Nintendo Switch Lite, £199
• Best classic multi-player game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, £37.99
• Best classic learning game: Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails Game, £6.95
• Best classic baby toy: Sophie la girafe Original Teether, £14.95
• Best sustainable classic toy: Spirograph Eco Design Set, £11.99
• Best classic play set: EPOCH Sylvanian Families Secret Forest Falls, £49.99
• Best classic tech toy: Tamagotchi Original (Tama Garden), £20
• Best classic doll: BABY born Emma 43cm doll, £44.99

Best classic toys

Best classic bike: Bobbin Bikes Gingersnap 16" Wheel pedal bike

Wow, its my own pedal bike! I’ve always wanted one of those. My favourite thing is the loud bell and I love the basket, so I can bring my friends toys on bike rides to the park. I want to ride my bike everyday and go on bike rides with daddy. Can I ride my bike to school?

Best classic interactive toy: Furby Galaxy Interactive Toy

My daughter lives this toy and was was excited from the moment she saw the toy in the box. She plays with the toy on a a daily basis and it has become one of her comfort toys that she takes to bed and on car journeys. She has told all her friends about her Furby at school and she is excited to take the toy on play dates with her friends.

Best classic arts/crafts toy: Play-Doh Rainbow Swirl Ice Cream Playset

My 3-year-old daughter loves that this toy has so many different colours of Play-Doh. She gets really excited when the ice cream comes out out of the nozzle, she absolutely loves the sprinkle feature, and decorating the little Play-Doh ice creams. She and she loves that there’s lots of different pots to be able to put the ice cream into like a real ice cream parlour.

Best classic ride-on: Mini Micro Light Up & Glow Scooter

My son Cian absolutely loves his scooter. Although Cian is non-verbal in words due to his autism, the fact he grabs the scooter every time we walk out the door so it isn’t left behind shows us exactly how much he loves it. It has been incredible to increase his independence with the scooter and watch him master a new skill as well as just watching him be so happy each time he’s been on it.

Best classic book: Little Miss Surprise

Our 2-year-old daughter enjoys being read to and loves the pictures in this book. Our 7-year-old son also really enjoyed the book. We already have the full set of both Mr Men and Little Miss books so this is a great addition. The pictures are bright and colourful, which really engaged our 2 year old, however due to the words, this is best read by an adult or older child. We have been reading this daily along with other books at bedtime and will continue to in the future.

Best classic video game: Animal Crossing: New Horizons

My 12-year-old daughter said this game was her favourite. She loved that it was non-competitive and instead focused on personalising the world you wanted to play in. She said this game was much more relaxing and calming than the other games she’d played. She loved that there were no limits to what you can create - you can really use your imagination to be as creative as you like when building your own world.

Best classic gaming console: Nintendo Switch Lite

My kids have loved testing this device and games! It’s super portable, easy to hold and navigate, and enables access to a vast bank of additional games. It’s so easy to switch things up and change games when one becomes boring. And some of the games they’ve been able to play online with their friends. This device is so perfect for longer journeys (hello car/plane entertainment!), or for simply lounging on the sofa at home. As a parent, I also liked that you can set parental controls to limit screen time.

Best classic multi-player game: Mario Kart 8 Deluxe

Carter (as well as his two younger brothers) absolutely love playing Mario Kart. As huge fans of Mario they were delighted to see all the characters and the different courses and modes available to play. They found it fast paced and action packed, exactly what Carter looks for in a game. He would play it all day if I allowed him as he is desperate to hit number one racer for all courses.

Best classic learning game: Orchard Toys Farmyard Heads and Tails Game

My 2-year-old son really enjoyed playing with this toy. The bright colours of the cards appealed to him and he enjoyed matching the images and naming the animals and associated sounds they make. He also enjoyed counting the cards. He said the toy was nice and he has come back to play with this toy independently every day since.

Best classic baby toy: Sophie la girafe Original Teether

Sophie la Girafe is exquisitely made – the finish is really great for a teether. She squeaks and is extremely tactile – my baby loves to chew and squeeze Sophie for hours. She’s a firm favourite!

Best sustainable classic toy: Spirograph Eco Design Set

My daughter Sophia, 8, has really enjoyed playing with this Spirograph set. She had loved exploring the different shapes and patterns each disc produces, and has made some lovely pictures that she has stuck on her bedroom wall! The product states that it is made from 100% recycled materials, which is fantastic for a product like this.

Available from Play Monster (£11.99)

Best classic play set: EPOCH Sylvanian Families Secret Forest Falls

I really like it because it’s fun and I can use it to play with other figures too. My favourite bit is the waterfall being a slide, but the castle is really cute too. I think the husky’s clothes and things he can wear are cute and I like that he can peep through different holes.

Best classic tech toy: Tamagotchi Original (Tama Garden)

My daughter has enjoyed playing with this toy, she has been asking for a Tamagotchi for a while, but this is the first one she has owned. She enjoyed caring for her pet and she particularly liked the ’clear up poo’ function.

Best classic doll: BABY born Emma 43cm doll

Nora, my 4 year old daughter, tells me ’she loves baby Emma’ and that she is her ’favourite baby’. She tells me her favourite things about her are changing her nappy and being able to take her to the bath, and since arriving she's taken her to bed each night to sleep beside her.

Read more:

• • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024: Winners announced
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best arts and crafts toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best ride-ons, bikes and scooters
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best tech and travel toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best family and action games
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best building and vehicle toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best learning, logic and STEM toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best dolls, pets and soft toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best baby, toddler and preschool toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best books, gifts and collectables
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best playsets, role play and character toys
  • MadeForMums Toy Awards 2024 Winners: Best sustainable, sensory and wooden toys