Bingo, Care Bears and the Playground Slide Join National Toy Hall of Fame

Four items, including the board game bingo and the classic playground slide, were inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame on Thursday. The new members join a roster of 90 existing items housed at The Strong National Museum of Play in New York. The museum announced the winners, which also include Care Bears and the Pokémon Trading Card Game, from a group of 12 finalists.

The selection process favors items that are considered icons or have engaged multiple generations. Mirek Stolee, a curator at The Strong, noted that bingo descends from an Italian lottery played around 1530. He observed that while the game is often associated with older audiences, it has become increasingly popular with young adults. Stolee stated that public bingo games have moved beyond fundraising into bars and nightclubs.

The Care Bears earned their place through a social media campaign that garnered nearly 1 million followers. Meanwhile, the Pokémon Trading Card Game received support from anime enthusiasts and manga readers. Jeremy Saucier, vice president for collections, highlighted the playground slide for its role in helping children develop motor skills. He described the experience of racing down a slide as simple, satisfying, and energizing for people of all ages.

The other eight finalists included Bop It!, mahjong, Monster High dolls, Polly Pocket, Tickle Me Elmo, Yahtzee, and the board games Sorry! and Mouse Trap. Any individual can nominate a toy for consideration, but inductees must have profoundly changed play or toy design. The new inductees stand alongside established classics such as Mr. Potato Head, G.I. Joe, Cabbage Patch Kids, Dungeons & Dragons, Hot Wheels, and Frisbee.