Buying great gifts for 10 year old boys takes a bit more thought than buying presents for younger boys . As the mother of three boys, now adults, and one 10 year old grandson, I have witnessed a lot of male activity in my home and how boys interact with toys at different age levels.
Kids' obsession with "unboxing" and collecting toys, a revival of nostalgic brands, and toys that teach children to be better global citizens are a few of 2018's biggest toy trends announced by The Toy Association at its 115th North American International Toy Fair.
The most popular academic toys among children and parents appear to be math and science kits, which are introduced in early head start programs, preschools and kindergartens, the research firm said.
The Technavio report says parents are buying more STEM toys for their kids to experiment with and get hands-on learning experiences from, allowing them to play with microscopes and learn about DNA, energy, motion, crystals, earth science, circuits, conductors, interactive pets, robotics and other complex topics.
“With rapidly increasing opportunities in the technology and IT sector, parents encourage their children to learn via engineering and coding toys,” said Jhansi Mary, a lead analyst at Technavio for school and college essentials research, in a statement. “There has also been a rapid rise in demand for language learning toys, particularly foreign language learning toys. Manufacturers are witnessing a gradual shift in consumer preferences from conventional toys, such as action figures and dolls, to toy robots, drones and circuits such as LEGO Mindstorms EV3 and Wonder Workshop Dash Robot.”
Cognitive thinking toys include puzzles, activity sets and construction sets that can aid in the development of skills such as logical reasoning, critical thinking and problem solving. These toys can also help improve creative skills for young toddlers and preschoolers, Technavio said in its release.
Examples of cognitive thinking educational toys geared toward middle school kids and adults include Rubik’s cube, for memory strengthening and association, and construction sets from LEGO that can introduce concepts of engineering and geometry to kids.
According to Technavio, “the motor skills educational toys market is expected to witness the fastest growth during the forecast period.” These toys “allow physical development and strengthening of muscles in infants, toddlers and preschoolers,” the firm said in its release.
Motor skills educational toys can include workbench playsets, shape stackers, bead mazes, building blocks and electronic sound toys.
The Technavio report highlights the following vendors as the top achievers in the educational toys market:
LEGO
Mattel
Learning Resources
Toys ‘R’ Us
Engino
The global educational toys market is anticipated to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of close to 10 percent from the present to 2021, according to a recent report by market research firm Technavio.
The report, titled “Global Educational Toys Market 2017-2021,” breaks down the toys market into three major categories: academic, cognitive thinking and motor skills.
According to a Technavio news release, the academic educational toys market was “the largest product segment of [the] educational toys market in 2016.” Academic toys include “math and science kits, language learning toys and other toys,” providing basic and advanced knowledge for children in three age groups: 0-4 years, 4-8 years and above 8 years.
Lego learning Lego education hands on learning.
o, how can parents -- and educators -- determine which of the new crop of STEM toys are actually beneficial and which are just getting in on the trend of STEM? Tech firm Technavio, which released a report forecasting the growth predicted in the STEM toy industry, breaks down educational toys into three categories: academic, cognitive thinking and motor skills.
Solid academic toys include math and science kits, as well as language learning toys, and these toys should actively engage children in skill acquisition or application. In other words, children should not be passive observers -- a good academic toy should require them to think, interact with and/or manipulate concepts and ideas.
Cognitive thinking toys for younger children can include puzzles and construction sets that require children to think logically and apply reason. Cognitive skill-building toys for older students include classics like the Rubik’s Cube, as well as more advanced construction sets from companies like LEGO, which require older students to apply concepts of both geometry and engineering.
What To Look For When Making A Selection
So, how can parents -- and educators -- determine which of the new crop of STEM toys are actually beneficial and which are just getting in on the trend of STEM? Tech firm Technavio, which released a report forecasting the growth predicted in the STEM toy industry, breaks down educational toys into three categories: academic, cognitive thinking and motor skills.
Solid academic toys include math and science kits, as well as language learning toys, and these toys should actively engage children in skill acquisition or application. In other words, children should not be passive observers -- a good academic toy should require them to think, interact with and/or manipulate concepts and ideas.
Cognitive thinking toys for younger children can include puzzles and construction sets that require children to think logically and apply reason. Cognitive skill-building toys for older students include classics like the Rubik’s Cube, as well as more advanced construction sets from companies like LEGO, which require older students to apply concepts of both geometry and engineering.
Motor skill-building toys are a growing subset of STEM toys and primarily apply to the youngest of learners. Toddlers and preschoolers can benefit from workbench sets or even simple, well-designed building blocks, which allow young learners to develop the physical skills they need to move and manipulate objects.
For parents who want to give their children additional opportunities to learn and practice STEM skills, quality STEM toys can be a great option. A growing market means that retailers are looking to capitalize on the opportunity, so it's important to do your research and look for toys that offer dynamic, hands-on learning as opposed to just encouraging students to pretend to "do science." While imagining a world in which they can grow up to be an engineer or a web designer is valuable, it's most important that children actually get real-world experience by engaging in problem-solving as opposed to playing with something fun that just makes them look the part. After all, hard work can definitely feel like play, especially in the STEM fields, so look for toys that offer that sweet spot of rigor and joy, and watch your child's interest in STEM take flight.
If retailers could gaze into a crystal ball to see which toys would become the next fidget spinner or hatching pet, they’d be able to make smart choices and bank on a pro table year. Rather than speculate on what playtime craze will be sweeping the nation’s toy stores, we decided to ask the experts themselves.
The annual New York Toy Fair offers a preview of the hottest trends in the toy industry, featuring big names like Hasbro, Mattel, Lego and Crayola, and revealing up-and-coming toymakers. The toy industry grew 1 percent to $20.7 billion in 2017, according to the NPD Group.
ZippyPaws All pets need toys to keep them active and stimulated, and more consumers are turning to interactive toys as well as chew-worthy plush and squeaker toys for both cats and dogs. "Interactive toys for cats allow them to use their instincts, such as hunting," said Andrea Margelis, owner of Pets Naturally in Traverse City, Mich.
Summer is just around the corner, which means Mastermind Toys is out with its list of hot items for the upcoming season. Spokesperson Katrina Fyfle said water toys are always a great choice for a hot day. "These little creature squirters are good for little kids," she said.