Winner:JOINT GOLD - Best Creative Play
Who:Stapelstein
What:Originals Rainbow Set
Why:
Bringing colour, movement and imagination into everyday play – our judges loved these versatile stepping stones. Encouraging children to balance, climb, jump and stack — all while adding colour and texture to your playroom. Perfect for independent play, each piece is lightweight yet incredibly robust, waterproof, easy to clean and sustainably made. Designed with durability and safety at its core, the panel felt that this set of rainbow stacking discs would grow with children, offering years of active fun that evolves with their imagination.
The absolute best. We have the original set and I can't believe how many ways my three children (aged 4, 9 and 10) find to use and play with them. They also look great in a playroom.
A colourful engaging set with lots of possibilities.
Once you have these colourful jumbo buttons in your play space, you’ll wonder how you got along without them! Endless fun.
Winner:JOINT GOLD - Best Creative Play
Who:Bygge
What:Multifunctional Building Blocks
Why:
These modular, lightweight blocks invite children to imagine, build and explore — all without instructions or limits. From balancing courses to castles, every creation supports motor skills, problem-solving and confidence, while sparking endless storytelling along the way. Our judges were intrigued by these super tactile and visually exciting blocks that are made from 100% recyclable, non-toxic EPP making them both sustainable and durable. Everyone agreed that this modular toy would be the perfect addition to any play space and felt that they would nurture creative independence while enhancing fine motor skills.
I've seen these blocks a few times recently and forgot to make a note of the brand. I'm delighted I now know they're Bygge!
Such an engaging and creative toy.
These blocks are so joyful! Love the colour and the jumbo scale that kids will love assembling and climbing.
Winner:JOINT SILVER - Best Creative Play
Who:AVDAR
What:Multi-floor Block Set
Why:
These beautifully crafted blocks caused a huge stir at the Junior Design Awards. Colourful tactile and perfect for little hands, the JDA panel felt this set packed full of colourful and exciting shapes would really resonate with young children and parents. Made from premium linden wood with a soft, velvety texture for easy stacking, each piece is coated with non-toxic, water-based paint for safe, sustainable play. The judges loved both the creative and aesthetic appeal of these blocks, which look great individually but make a huge impact when they’re stored in their unique transparent cube, making them perfect for play and display.
The perfect set for encouraging spatial awareness, creativity and problem-solving!
Beautifully crafted and so gorgeous to look at through their futuristic storage cube! Love!
Oh I love these. My children do not need any more toys but I really want them to have some of these…
A really versatile creative block set. The possibilities are endless!
Winner:JOINT SILVER - Best Creative Play
Who:Tutti Bambini
What:Playrama Montessori Kids Play Sofa
Why:
This is more than furniture – it’s a launchpad for imagination! Its modular cushions can be stacked, flipped and folded into multiple forms: from cosy reading nooks and obstacle courses to forts, sleepover beds and movie-night lounges. Our judges loved the soft jumbo cord outer and firm foam core, which makes this sofa feel robust, comfortable and more than equipped for the rough and tumble of family life. Neutral tones and a thoughtful design ensure it blends into any home, while removable, washable covers make life easier for parents. Brilliant!
This stylish couch would look good anywhere in the house. So comfortable and endlessly versatile.
The coolest product. So much fun! And again, looks great in the playroom.
I’ll be fighting over this one with my kids. A must have!
Winner:BRONZE - Best Creative Play
Who:Waytoplay Toys
What:Arches by Waytoplay - an open-ended construction toy that blends engineering with creativity and imagination.
Why:
The JDA panel loved these simple click-to-connect stackable arches that allow kids to intuitively build towers, tunnels, creatures, games and mind boggling structures. Durable, sustainable and brilliantly simple, Arches evolves with children as their skills and ideas grow, supporting motor skills, problem-solving and storytelling along the way. Our judges were super impressed and felt this was a wonderful screen-free, endlessly re-playable design that offers a whole new way to approach construction play.
An inspiring toy that will last. So simple and so versatile. This set could even be used to make practical objects for your child’s room when they’re older!
Another brilliant, creative brand.
An interesting and engaging play toy.
Winner:EDITOR'S CHOICE - Best Creative Play
Who:Flippi
What:Flippi Tents
Why:
There’s nothing like a play tent to inspire hours of creative play and our judges loved the originality of this beautifully designed, highly versatile version of the playroom classic. The clever Flippi Frame transforms into four shapes — tent, tall tent, cube, or teepee and interchangeable, artist-designed covers bring themes like Pizza Restaurant, Surf Shack, and Hospital to life, giving kids endless ways to reinvent their play space. Our Editor singled this entry out as one of her key picks, and was completely smitten with the illustrative aesthetic, the sustainable and machine-washable materials and endless options for reimagining and updating the simple easy-to-assemble base frame.
I fell in love with these tents the moment I saw them. Beautifully designed and so appealing to kids. The collector in me wants to create a whole village!
A fun idea for easy, effortless den building and sparking imagination.
Love the style and design. Fun and playful.
