From App-Oriented STEM Kits to Diversely Shaped Dolls
Katherine Pendrill — March 19, 2016 — Life-Stages
The March 2016 youth trends reveal that companies are taking note of the changing values of millennial parents. Not only are today's toys more rooted in education, but there is also a new focus on diversity and inclusivity.
While educational toys are nothing new, the March 2016 youth trends reveal that companies are moving beyond teaching basic concepts to fostering more specialized skills. Indeed, today's toys go beyond reading, writing and counting to focus on skills such as coding and entrepreneurship. Some examples of modern education-oriented toys include app-oriented STEM kits, code-teaching toy robots and empowering entrepreneurial toys.
In addition to education, millennial parents also place significant value on inclusivity. Brands such as LEGO have embraced this message by introducing wheelchair-using characters that children with disabilities can relate to. Doll companies such as Barbie and American Girl have also made an effort to highlight diversity by producing characters of different shapes, sizes and ethnicities.
While educational toys are nothing new, the March 2016 youth trends reveal that companies are moving beyond teaching basic concepts to fostering more specialized skills. Indeed, today's toys go beyond reading, writing and counting to focus on skills such as coding and entrepreneurship. Some examples of modern education-oriented toys include app-oriented STEM kits, code-teaching toy robots and empowering entrepreneurial toys.
In addition to education, millennial parents also place significant value on inclusivity. Brands such as LEGO have embraced this message by introducing wheelchair-using characters that children with disabilities can relate to. Doll companies such as Barbie and American Girl have also made an effort to highlight diversity by producing characters of different shapes, sizes and ethnicities.
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