The Toy Association™ Awards Steven Aarons of Child’s Play with 2024 Chairperson’s Award

March 11, 2024 | Steven Aarons, founder of Child’s Play Toys & Books in Washington, D.C., was presented with The Toy Association™'s 2024 Chairperson's Award during the Association’s Annual General Meeting on March 7 for his lifetime of commitment and achievement in the toy industry. The award was given by Aaron Muderick, founder & executive chair of Crazy Aaron’s and chairperson emeritus of The Toy Association.

“Child's Play hasn't just been a store,” Muderick said during the award presentation. “It's been a treasure trove of wonder and discovery, a place where the moment you step in you're hit with that undeniable magic. And that magic, it was Steven’s vision come to life. Child's Play has been a cornerstone in a Washington, D.C. childhood supporting not just kids’ imaginations, but also local schools and nonprofits that make our world a better place. Steven has an incredible knack for seeing the diamond in the rough, a toy or a game's potential, and then, with his trademark, thoughtful feedback, helping it to shine. He's been a mentor, a confidant, and a friend to manufacturers, always pushing for excellence.”

Mr. Aarons started his career in the industry at age 24 when he left his job at an art gallery and opened a 180-square-foot store that only sold up wind-up toys. “It was pure joy, and I was hooked,” he said. “I really liked the thought that kids are a blank canvas, and the toys you give them to develop really play a part in who they could become. As much as I believed that then, I believe it even more so now.”

Three years later, in 1986, the first Child’s Play opened its doors, from which Mr. Aarons and his team built one of the highest volume specialty toy chains in the U.S. His strong relationships with manufacturers not only nurtured his understanding of varied perspectives within the industry, but it also helped him to learn everything there is to know about each product he was placing in his store. Mr. Aarons was also one of the first specialty toy retailers to not only champion toys and games from specialty manufacturers, but to also offer a merchandising mix that included products from larger companies like LEGO and Hasbro.

Throughout his career, Mr. Aarons opened two more Child’s Play Toys & Books stores in Arlington and McLean in Virginia. He served on the American Specialty Toy Retailing Association’s (Astra) Board of Directors from 2008 to 2013 and became its president in 2010. During his tenure, he helped grow the Astra Marketplace & Academy event and created the inaugural National Neighborhood Toy Store Day. In 2016, he was awarded with Astra’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr. Aarons later served on The Good Toy Group’s Board of Directors from 2013 to 2019, while volunteering on Astra’s Best Toys for Kids (now Play Awards) selection panel. And despite the toy industry landscaping evolving over the past few decades, one thing remained the same: his commitment to providing kids with the best possible toys.

“I hope all of us can take a moment each day to appreciate that we get the privilege of working in an industry whose primary purpose is to help young minds expand and bring joy to so many,” Mr. Aarons said. “I feel so fortunate to have had a tiny role in nurturing these products.”

Mr. Aarons retired from Child’s Play last year, but remains engaged within the toy community to help manufacturers and small retailers grow. His profound impact on his community and the greater toy industry is a legacy that extends far beyond the walls of his toy store.

“One of the recurring joys to my career has been having a front-row seat to the happiness the parents experience when their children make a new developmental leap,” Mr. Aarons said. “Let us all remember to spark creativity, trigger wonder, and invite exploration. It's our collective superpower.”