ROCHESTER (N.Y.) — The National Toy Hall of Fame inducted Thursday American Girl dolls as well as the strategy board game Risk into its ranks in recognition of their impact on the toy industry. Sand, which was described by the group as perhaps the oldest and most universal toy in the entire world, was also inducted.
After being selected by a panel made up of 12 finalists, they were awarded the honors at the hall.
This year, there were also four other competitive games in the running: Battleship and The Settlers of Catan.
Anybody can nominate toys, but they must be able to withstand memory and time tests, change play or toy design, and foster learning, creativity, or discovery.
Pleasant Rowland created the American Girl dolls in 1986. They were praised for exploring the country’s cultural and social history. Each doll is 18 inches tall and the accompanying book provides insight into a particular era. Molly McIntire, for example, is still waiting for her father’s return from World War II.
In 1995, Truly Me, the contemporary doll line featuring a variety of skin tones and hair, was launched. This allowed children to choose a doll that is exactly like them.
Rowland, aged 80, described the inclusion of American Girl dolls as “an amazing honor.”
In an email statement, she stated that “I’m so proud to the American Girl family–past as well as present–who have been faithful Stewards of this brand over more than 30 years, helping to capture hearts of an entire generation of young girls.”
Michelle Parnett-Dwyer, curator, stated that Rowland’s method of combining doll play and history lessons was like a ‘chocolate cake with vitamin’. This toy might have been a good choice in an era where some education experts said that school curriculums didn’t pay enough attention to history.
Risk is based on the French game Le Conquete du Monde and was published in the United States for the first time in 1959. Hall officials stated that it continues to influence other board games. The game board is a map of the continents and challenges players to manage armies and conquer the globe.
Nicolas Ricketts, curator, said that Risk became one of the most beloved board games of all times, inspiring a new corp of passionate gamers and influencing other games that started the wargaming hobby, and later the Euro-games such as The Settlers of Catan, many still enjoy.
According to The Strong Museum of Play, Rochester, New York, Sand was honored because of its “opportunities of tactical, physical cooperative, creative, independent, and free play.”
It stated that children recognize sand to be a creative material, suitable for pouring and scooping, sieving. Raking, measuring, and so on. Wet sand is even better and ready for children to shape, build, and sculpt.
Chief curator Chirstopher Benjamin said that although some toys can only be found online, others are available in select stores. However, sand has a global reach most toy makers would envy. It’s been a plaything since prehistory and anyone who has ever spent a day on the beach will understand its appeal.
The 2021 class joins 74 other honorees.