June 15, 2026 | Toy industry leaders gathered in Washington, D.C. last week for The Toy Association’s Annual DC Fly-In and Day of Play on Capitol Hill, combining advocacy and celebration to spotlight the industry’s economic impact and the essential role of play in childhood development.

During the Fly-In on June 10th, nearly 30 toy industry representatives met with members of Congress, senators, leadership offices, key committee staff and administration officials, during more than 40 bipartisan and bicameral meetings. Participants were divided into regional groups, with each group meeting with offices from both the House and Senate to discuss issues impacting their businesses and the industry overall. Throughout the week, Toy Association staff also engaged directly with administration officials, including Sam Mulopulos, chief of staff for the U.S. Trade Representative, helping to further elevate the industry's priorities and concerns.

On June 11th, The Toy Association hosted its Annual Day of Play on Capitol Hill in honor of the United Nations’ International Day of Play. The event welcomed more than 300 congressional staff, policymakers, toy industry leaders, and guests for an afternoon of playful camaraderie, light bites, and interactive experiences designed to showcase the developmental and social benefits of play.

During the event, Toy Association President & CEO Greg Ahearn spoke on the importance of play and its lifelong benefits, reinforcing the mission of the Association’s Genius of Play™ initiative. Congressional Toy Caucus co-chairs, U.S. Representatives Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA), also addressed the crowd, recognizing the toy industry's contributions to American families and the U.S. economy. Representative Wittman noted that play is a critical ingredient in fostering creativity and imagination among children, while Representative Lieu recognized Southern California's growing Toy District in El Segundo and thanked companies driving innovation and play from the region.

Also throughout the afternoon, attendees enjoyed hands-on play opportunities and giveaways from several Toy Association members, including LEGO, Mattel, Ferrero, Epoch Everlasting Play, Basic Fun!, Goliath, Crazy Aaron’s, and PlayMonster. The activations offered lawmakers and congressional staff an opportunity to experience the fun and benefits of play firsthand and take a reminder of its importance back to their offices.

For more information on The Toy Association’s advocacy efforts, members may reach out to Kathrin Belliveau, chief policy officer at The Toy Association.