From transgender dolls to kitchen chemistry sets, the March 2017 youth trends reveal that playtime is constantly evolving. Not only are today's toys more diverse, but they also encourage kids to build meaningful skills that will help them as they grow.
One of the biggest innovations in the world of toys is the rise of non-traditional characters. Instead of choosing between Barbie and G.I. Joe, kids can now choose from a wide variety of characters that reflect the vast diversity among children. Some examples of these toys include the first-ever boy doll from American Girl and the first doll based on a transgender teen.
Beyond an emphasis on diversity, the March 2017 youth trends also reveal an emphasis on educational play. This includes everything from simple crafts such as Crayola's DIY Silly Scents Marker Maker to more high-tech toys such as WowWee's COJI robot.
Top 45 Youth Ideas in March
45
Spherical Doll Sets
'L.O.L. Surprise' Collectibles Play Off of the Unboxing Phenomenon
44
Unicycle Child Bikes
The Mountain Buggy 'Unirider' Child's Bike Increases Overall Balance
43
Underwater Exploration Toys
The GeoSafari Jr. Subscope Lets Kids Uncover Underwater Worlds
42
Three-Wheeled Go-Kart Toys
The Morgan EV3 Junior is a Child-Sized Version of the EV3
41
No-Tech Coding Toys
The 'Let's Go Code! Activity Set' for Kids Teaches Programming Without Tech
40
Augmented Reality Gym Classes
The SAGA Interactive Gym is Being Used in Quebec Schools
39
Location-Tracking Child Wearables
The 'Jiobit' Bluetooth GPS Tracker Keeps an Eye on Location
38
STEM Playground Toys
Learning Resources' Building Playset Focuses on Engineering and Design
37
Carnival Chance Games
'Pie Face Sky High' is a New Standing Version of Hasbro's Pie Face Game
36
AR Aquarium Toys
Pai Technology's 'Ocean Pets' is a Unique Virtual Aquarium for Kids
35
Kid-Friendly Gym Toys
Jakks Pacific's 'Little Mighty Gym' Works in Tandem with a Tablet Screen
34
Musical Flying Disks
The Disc Jock-e is an Outdoor Toy That Boasts Bluetooth Connectivity
33
Desk-Embedded Bed Furniture
This Small Bedroom Furniture Piece Combines Necessary Items
32
Cartoon Friendship Toys
TOMY's Molang Toys Teach Respect, Happiness and Solidarity
31
Transgender Doll Toys
The Tonner Doll Company's 'Jazz' Doll is Based Off of Jazz Jennings
30
Princess Toy Subscriptions
PleyBox's Subscription Service for Kids Has Official Disney Items
29
Drummer Boy Dolls
The Newest American Girl Doll is Logan Everett, the Brand's First-Ever Boy
28
AR Coding Robots
Pai Technology's 'PaiGO' is a Bot That Teaches Programming for Children
27
Finger-Sized Monkey Toys
Fingerlings Baby Monkeys Know When They are Being Touched or Talked To
26
Stylish Disney Character Dolls
Tokyo Disney's New Fashion Dolls are Inspired by Beloved Characters
25
Indoor Gymnastic Play Sets
The 'PEGAS' Children's Indoor Gym Encourages Continuous Exercise
24
Kid-Friendly Therapy Robots
'Darwin' Provides Robot Therapy to Children with Cerebral Palsy
23
Amateur Animation Toys
The Stickbot Zanimation Studio Includes a Green Screen for Movie-Making
22
Chewy Teddy Bear Cookies
The New Teddy Soft Bakes Snacks are a Chewy Alternative to Teddy Grahams
21
Dessert-Inspired Decorating Toys
'Sweetlings' Inspires Kids to Make Imaginative Whipped Clay Toys
20
Musical Light-Up Dolls
This New Rapunzel Doll is Being Introduced Alongside Tangled: The Series
19
Self-Launching Kites
These Kite Toys Make It Easier to Send a Kite Flying into the Sky
18
Precision Blaster Toys
Buzz Bee Toys' Air Warriors Blizzard Sends Darts Flying Up to 100 Feet
17
Gen Z Meditation Programs
Lori Digou-Westbury Offers Meditation Classes for Younger Participants
16
Kid-Friendly Pop-Up Spas
The My Little Pony Spa in NYC Offers Makeup, Hair and Manicure Packages
15
Responsive Holographic Dolls
'Hello Barbie Hologram' Gives Kids a New Way to Interact with Barbie
14
Cereal-Inspired Sneakers
The Nike Little Posite Pro 'Fruity Pebbles' Sneakers are Colorful
13
Child-Minding Robots
The 5elements Robot Nanny Can Watch Your Children and Follow Them Around
12
Sensory Activation Playsets
This Educational Toy Set Teaches Science Through the Five Senses
11
Gesture-Based Card Games
'Happy Salmon' is a Quirky, Fast-Paced Game of Fist Bumps and High-Fives
10
Emotive Coding Robots
WowWee's 'COJI' Teaches Kids Basic Programming with Emojis
9
Personalized Building Block Kits
This LEGO Store Produces Custom Lego Kits in a Child's Likeness
8
Familial Payment Services
Virtual Piggy is Launching a Family-Focused Mobile Banking Solution
7
Gooey Pool Powders
Gelli Baff's Pool Toy Turns Water into a Thick, Colored Goo
6
Odoriferous Marker-Making Kits
Crayola's Silly Scents Marker Maker Helps Kids Craft Custom Smells
5
Rain Boot-Clad Dolls
American Girl's New 'WellieWishers' Dolls are Designed for Younger Kids
4
Crowdfunded Money-Saving Apps
The 'Kidfund' App Enables Money Savings for Young Ones Early on
3
Beard-Growing Games
'Big Beard Battle' is an Action-Packed Family Game Around Facial Hair
2
Kitchen Chemistry Sets
This Kitchen Toy Playset from John Adams Encourages Safe Discoveries
1
Transformative Phone Toys
These Nostalgic Phone-Shaped Toys Change into Transformer Characters
Related Ideas
Meal-Accompanied Adorable Toys
McDonald's Japan Unveils New Functional Sanrio Happy Meal Toys
Multi-Generational Anime Plushes
The Newest Build-A-Bear Sanrio Characters Captivate All Ages
AI-Powered Toy Attachments
The App-Paired ToyPal One Brings Soft Toys to Life for Screen-Free Fun
Nostalgic Cartoon-Inspired Beauty Products
Lush Debuts the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Collection
Anniversary-Celebrating Toy Collections
The LEGO® Group & Hasbro Unveil LEGO DUPLO® PEPPA PIG Sets
Doll-Themed Fashion Collections
Bloomingdale’s Celebrates the Barbie Movie with New Capsule
Doll-Themed Movie Fashion
The Zara x Barbie Collection Features Iconic Styles
Miniaturized Doll Collections
The Mini BarbieLand Collection Makes Playing Portable
Emotive Youth Skincare
The Bubble Skincare x Disney Collab Integrates Inside Out 2 Characters
Vibrant Doll-Inspired Athletic Collections
The New YITTY Collection is Colorful and Playful
Kid-Powered Imagination Campaigns
Lunchables' A.I. vs K.I. Proves Kids' Limitless Creativity
Doll-Inspired Movie Launches
Mattel Plans to Release More Movies Following 'Barbie's' Success
Neurodiverse Inclusion Initiatives
LEGO® Group is Championing Inclusivity With 3 New Initiatives
Inclusion-Focused Doll Collections
Barbie's New Doll and Capsule Celebrates the Visually Impaired
Doll-Inspired Personal Care Collections
Barbie™ x Lush Cosmetics Launches on August 9th
Doll-Inspired Wedding Collections
Mattel and Azazie Team Up to Debut a New Pink Wedding Collection
Educational Climate Change Toys
The 'Habitat' Educational Toy Brick Sets Come in Two Options
Minimalist Play Furniture
Blueberry and Third Specializes in Slick and Stylish Toys
Gen Alpha Barbie Launches
Barbie Announces New Doll Lineup Targeted Towards Older Fans
Eco-Friendly Racing Toys
VTech's Turbo Edge Riders Inspires Racing and Recycling
Cookie-Inspired Cosmetics
Hard Candy x Girl Scouts is a Limited-Time Treat for Beauty Lovers
Youth Beauty Boutiques
Hamleys Boutique: Be You is an Inspiring Space for Kids Ages Four to 14
Eco-Friendly Bath Essentials
Bebo Seeks to Reimagine the Packaging of Kid's Bath Products
Age-Appropriate Skincare Campaigns
Dove's #TheFaceof10 Addresses Unsafe Gen Alpha Skincare
Inspiring Role Model Dolls
Barbie Role Models Celebrate Women from Around the World
Doll-Inspired Beach Bottles
PATH Unveils its Barbie-Themed Bottle to Celebrate Female Empowerment
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
Candy-Scented Squish Toys
These New Squishi Products Were Created with Mondelēz International
Electronic Plush Toys
The Furblet Mini Toys Have Over 45 Fun Tunes, Sounds, and Furbish Phrases
Destigmatizing Period Comical Kits
ModiBodi and Justyna Green Relaunch the First Period Kit
Introductory STEM Toy Sets
The Zig & Go from Djeco Combines Music and Forces in an Educational Toy
Next-Gen Hatching Toys
Spin Master is Reinventing Hatchimals with a Reimagined Egg
Nostalgic Toy-Inspired Fashion Collections
rue21 is Collaborating with Barbie® and Hot Wheels®
Pinkish Toy-Inspired Tech Products
The Caviar #Barbiecore Collection is Opulently Pink
Kids' Interactive Sensory Toys
Storypods Debuts Interactive and Multisensory Toys
2-in-1 Fashion Dolls
L.O.L Surprise! Tweens Surprise Swap Introduces One Doll with Two Looks
Kid-Safe Makeup Kits
Jovy Makes EWG VERIFIED Makeup with Plant-Based Ingredients for Play
Viral Video Content Toys
Bonkers Toys Received Licensing for 'Skibidi Toilet' Toy Lineup
Virtual Pet Gaming Devices
Tamagotchi Unveils Three New Devices with Unique Finishes
Collectible Coloring Dolls
L.O.L Surprise! Loves Crayola Celebrates Creativity and Expression
Gen Z Crafting Events
Red Heart Hosted an Exclusive "Crafternoon" in NYC
AI-Powered Plushies
Curio and Grimes are Collaborating on Artificial Intelligence Toys
Mutating YouTuber Toys
Moose Toys Collaborated with MrBeast on MrBeast Lab Figures
Crowdfunded Circular Childrens Toys
Tiny Earth Toys is Launching a Kickstarter for 'Tiny Spaces'
Nostalgic LEGO Roller Skates
The LEGO® Creator 3-in-1 Girls Retro Roller Skate is Playful
Early Development Toys
Spin Master Collaborated on the Educational Ms. Rachel Collection
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Runway-Inspired Fashion Dolls
New York Fashion Week Designs Inspire the L.U.V. Fashion Doll Styles
Doll-Inspired Coffee Table Books
Assouline Creates the New Barbie Coffee Table Book
Toy-Themed Jelly Beans
Jelly Belly and Mattel Partnered on Two Toy-Inspired Products
Kid-Friendly Beauty Events
Beauty Explorer Day Sparks Kids' Interest in the Beauty Industry
Sensory Surprise Dolls
Barbie Pop Reveal Shares Scented Dolls and Squishy Friends
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Multisensory Toy Boxes
The Janod Boxes Stimulate Sight, Touch, Hearing and More
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Faux Christmas Candle Kits
LEGO Unveils its Festive Christmas Table Decoration Set
Social Media-Free Flip Phones
The HMD Barbie Phone Fuses Nostalgic Style with Digital Wellness
Playful AI Tools
Morrama Releases Concept Collection of AI Tools for Children's Mental Health
Cookies-Inspired Personal Care Lines
Native Unveils a Girl Scouts of the USA Personal Care Line
Non-Toxic Kid-Friendly Make-Up Kits
Klee Naturals' Kids' Makeup Kit Boasts Natural Ingredients
Sustainability-Oriented Kids Toys
Learning Resources Unveils a New Sustainable Toy Capsule
Pop Art Legend-Honoring Dolls
Mattel Creations Celebrates Keiichi Tanaami with Whimsical Designs
Educational Plush Toys
Slumberkins' 'Dragon Egg Hatchlings' Toys Inspire Emotional Development
Tween Beauty Sticks
Talomi's Plant-Based Multi-Sticks Add Color to Eyes, Lips & Cheeks
DIY Candy Jewelry Kits
Cricket's Candy Creations Boasts the Candy Jewelry Craft Kit
Experiment-Based Playsets
Moose Toys' Beast Lab Reinvigorates Action Figure Category
Phygital Fairy Toys
The HOLOBRITE Pixie Lantern Mixes Physical and Digital Play
Toy-Themed Ice Creams
These Two New Turkey Hill Ice Creams Come in Two Flavors
Glamorous Collector Dolls
Barbie by American Girl Pays Homage to the Original Barbie
Gen Alpha Creativity Workshops
The LEGO Group Launched Free Creativity Workshops for Ages 6-12
Food-Based Toy Block Alternatives
LEGO Replaces its Plastic Bricks with a Eco-Friendly Options
Pink-Hued Furniture Collaborations
The Barbie x Kartell Chairs Mark the Toy's 65th Anniversary
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Squishing Jellybean-Scented Toys
Jelly Belly Squishi Toys Come in 12 Different Scents
Book-Themed Collectibles
Booksy's Tiny Books & Figures Inspire a Love of Reading in Kids
Doll-Themed Secondhand Shops
ThredUp's Barbiecore Dream Shop Shares a Selection of Thrifted Goods
Brand-Led Global Studies
The LEGO Group Conducted a Study That May Inform Market Decisions
Fashionable Zombie Dolls
Zombaes Critter Chaos Dolls Have Spooky Mix-and-Match Features
Historical Doll-Themed Wardrobes
Consumers Can Rent Barbie's Dream Wardrobe Through Selfridges
Socialite-Inspired Toy Dolls
Bratz Adds New Red Carpet Styles to its Kylie Jenner Collection
Summer-Ready Toy-Branded Clothing
The Mattel Barbie Film Merch Collection is Expansive
Gen Z-Focused Board Games
Mattel Launches Scrabble Together for Non-Competitive Gen Z Consumers
Dream-Centric Toy Guides
The LEGO Group Calls Attention to Its Dream Crafting Concept
Colorful Doll-Topped Cakes
SusieCakes is Serving Up New Barbie Cakes This Summer
Colorful Kid's Toy Lines
Battat and Walmart Introduce a Line of Preschool and Pretend Play Toys
Multifunctional Game Sets
The 'LEGO' Group is Merging Physical and Digital Play
Exclusive Toy-Inspired Candy Bars
The IT'SUGAR Barbie Chocolate Bars Were Created with Mattel
Gamified Children's Care Products
DEEEZ Developed Interactive Games for the BabyFirst Brand
Fashion Dolls-Inspired Cosmetics
ColourPop and Bratz Introduce the Girls Nite Out Collection
Gen Z-Focused Menstrual Care
15-Year-Old Zoe Leffler Debuts a Menstrual Wellness Brand Called Cycl
Glamorized Drinkware Collections
The Barbie x Stanley Collaboration Features Eight Unique Tumblers
Emotional Well-Being Dolls
Kid Kreations' Heartfuls Support Self-Belief and Resilience in Children
90s Toy Holiday Trees
Furbtrees are Introducing the Next Generation of Furby Across the UK
Toy-Specific Storage Systems
Step2 Debuts a Toy Storage Box for Developing Organizational Skills
Cognitive Toy Subscriptions
Lovevery is a Subscription that Delivers Developmental Toys to Kids
Life-Size In-Store Countdowns
Toys R Us Asia and Craig & Karl Created an Advent Calendar for All
Doll-Inspired Kids Collections
The PatPat x Barbie Collection Features About 60 Unique Styles
Living Condition Awareness Dollhouses
IKEA's UNWELCOME HOME Doll House Brings Awareness
Insect Habitat Toys
Smart Lab Toys' Insect Inspector Lab Bug Playground Encourages STEM Learning
ASMR-Inspired Soothing Toys
These Sensory Motion Bubblers Visually Create Calm
Youth-Focused Architectural Toys
The Freckled Frog's 'Happy Architect' Toy is for Curious Youth
Play-Inspiring Workshops
LEGO is Sharing a Free Workshop Series Featuring Renowned Creatives
Bilingual Baby Toys
Bebé Fuerte Explores Movement as Play
Community-Made Skincare Products
Consumers Can Help Make Kiki World's Skin Development Kit
Anti-Bullying Toy Store Campaigns
Toys “R” Us Joins WITS Programs Foundation for Pink Shirt Day
Peel-and-Stick Fashion Dolls
Style Bae Dolls Have 2D Bodies and 3D Heads
Mess-Free Eco Craft Kits
Brainstorm's Create N Colour Let Kids Magically Paint with Water
Doll-Themed Bag Series
State Bags and American Girl Have Teamed Up for an Exciting Collaboration
Career Aspiration Doll Collections
Barbie introduces the New Dream Besties Lineup
Reality-Bending Car Ads
CarGurus Ad Features Melting Lego and Gourmet Chef Toddlers
Empowering Movie Industry Dolls
Mattel's 2024 Career of the Year Barbies Celebrate Women in Film
Playtime-Encouraging Toy Capsules
Oreo Unveils the Art of Play Toys in Black and White
Customer-Crafted Beauty Products
KIKI World Presents a New Product Made by Consumers
Mess-Free Sticker Stampers
Sticker WOW! Reimagines Play with Collectible, Refillable Stampers
Makeup-Focused Toy Dolls
MGA Entertainment Introduces the DIY-Informed Yummiland Doll Collection
Sticker Fashion Dolls
Decora Girlz Merge Creative Style Expression and Sticker Play
Teen-Focused Makeup Lines
Af94's Teen-Centric Makeup Line Features Products Under $10
Custom-Made Role Model Dolls
Mattel Canada's Barbie Honors Nine Influential Female Athletes
YouTuber-Inspired Developmental Toys
Spin Master Unveils a New Ms. Rachel Toy Collection
Space-Inspired Toy Collections
Stomp Rocket® Debuts the Space Collection at Target & Toy Retailers
Indian Heritage-Inspired Dolls
Barbie and Anita Dongre Team Up to Create a Doll for Diwali
Gender-Neutral Stroller Toys
Hart & Hero's Herotron Challenges the Gender Play Gap
Modern Baby Apparel Lines
Gerber Childrenswear Launches Modern Moments™ by Gerber® Lifestyle Brand
Family-Friendly Survival Games
Lego Debuts a New Fortnite Survival Crafting Game
Youth-Safe Skincare Trios
Girlyish Skincare Shares a Simple, Safe Three-Step Routine for All Ages
Interactive AR Galleries
Chips Ahoy's Happy By Design Campaign Spotlights Multicultural Artists
Jelly Bean-Inspired Toy Collections
These Jelly Belly Toys Were Created with the Incredible Group
Authentic Asian-American Dolls
The Jilly Doll Celebrates Heritage & Builds Confidence Through Play
Celebratory Monochromatic Dolls
The 65th Anniversary Barbie Signature Doll Collection is Elegant
Life-Sized Toy Construction Sets
The Funphix' 'Standard' is an Educational Outdoor Playset
DIY Nail Art Printers
Preemadonna's DIY Nailbot Kit Gets Girls Interested in STEM
Enchanting Kid's Beauty Boxes
Dans Un Jardin Launches the Princesse Jujube Collection
Learning-Focused Robotics Toys
The Robots In Motion Building Set Ignites STEM Interest in Youth
Transformative Floral Puzzle Characters
LEGO Korea Unveils the Floral Fighter Figures
Festive Día de Muertos-Dolls
Mattel Creations Transforms Barbie and Ken into Festive Designs
Digital Community-Branded Product Lines
The Girl Math Gang Debuts New Product Offerings
Iconic Pink Doll Trucks
Barbie's Dreamhouse Living Tour Will Make Stops in Florida
Colorblind-Accessible Games
Mattel Commits to Creating Inclusive Play and Game Options
Imaginative Pared-Back Art Supplies
Woset Designs a Range of Stationary and Furniture for Kids
Superhero-Themed Retail Toys
McFarlane Toys Launches Three New Target Exclusive Figures