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
Vertical Bike Storage Lifts
The 'PARKIS' Bike Lift Shifts a Bicycle into a Compact Parked Position
Alcohol-Accompanying Board Games
The Brand 'Stranger & Stranger' Has Released a Board Game
Chromatic Domino Adaptations
'The Grid Game' is a Colorful Reimagining of Classic Dominoes
Colorful Air-Cushioned Sneakers
The New Nike Air VaporMax Sneakers Have a Lightweight Bubble Sole
Flatpack Travel Bags
The 'FLATPAC' Adaptable Carrying Bag Offers 16-Liters of Storage
Lightweight Workout Gyms
The OYO Fitness 'DoubleFlex Black' Portable Gym is Compact
No-Tech Coding Toys
The 'Let's Go Code! Activity Set' for Kids Teaches Programming Without Tech
Augmented Reality Gym Classes
The SAGA Interactive Gym is Being Used in Quebec Schools
Electromagnetic Wave-Blocking Beds
The OTQ 'Bisu' Cork Bed Blocks Out Radio Waves for Better Sleep
Multi-Terrain Drone Toys
The Rover Land and Sea Amphibious RC Car is Ruggedly Designed
Detailed LEGO Race Cars
LEGO Added to Its 'Speed Champions' Collection with These New Kits
STEM Playground Toys
Learning Resources' Building Playset Focuses on Engineering and Design
Video Game-Inspired Kitchen Tools
The Ravanello Turns Radishes into Mario Mushrooms
Millennial Model Barbies
The Newest Supermodel Barbie from Mattel is Styled After Gigi Hadid
Track-Retrofitting Cycling Solutions
SafeRails Makes City Cycling Safer By Preventing Accidents
AR Aquarium Toys
Pai Technology's 'Ocean Pets' is a Unique Virtual Aquarium for Kids
Kid-Friendly Gym Toys
Jakks Pacific's 'Little Mighty Gym' Works in Tandem with a Tablet Screen
Flexible Intimacy Toys
The 'Crescendo' Smart Vibrator Conforms to Different Shapes
Environment-Reacting VR Headsets
The 'VAR' Glasses Headset Merges VR and AR Technologies
Confessional Card Games
This Group Card Game from 'The School of Life' Encourages Honesty
Musical Flying Disks
The Disc Jock-e is an Outdoor Toy That Boasts Bluetooth Connectivity
Toy Brick Burgers
The Brick Burger Restaurant Has Created LEGO-Themed Burgers
Bridal Gown Dolls
The Oscar de la Renta Bridal Barbie Wears a Designer Wedding Dress
AR Experience-Creating Apps
The Metaverse App Allows Anyone to Create Their Own AR Content
Streamlined Crimson Sneakers
The New Air Max Zero PRMs Have a Fitted Build and Subtly Retro Look
Cartoon Friendship Toys
TOMY's Molang Toys Teach Respect, Happiness and Solidarity
Body-Positive Doll Collections
The New Barbie Fashionistas Collection Features Diverse Body Types
Family-Focused Climbing Gyms
'Clip n' Climb' Offers Mentally and Physically Stimulating Obstacles
Pirate Lifestyle Games
The Tortuga 1667 Pirate Game of Mutiny, Plunder & Deceit is Adventurous
Transgender Doll Toys
The Tonner Doll Company's 'Jazz' Doll is Based Off of Jazz Jennings
Social Building Toy Apps
The LEGO Life App Offers Projects, Customization and More
STEM Toy Subscriptions
The Amazon STEM Club Sends Kids Educational Toys Every Month
Playful Educational Robots
The 'KUBO' Education Robot Teaches a Number of Different Skills
Programmable Dancing Dolls
The Hasbro Dance Code Belle Character Toy Teaches Rudimentary Code
Charitable Workshop Offices
The Non-Profit WiNGS' Office Has a "Space Within a Space" Design
Sensory Development Robots
Infantino's Sensory Toy Features Different Textures, Sounds and Colors
Automatic Foam Ammo Artillery
The Nerf Rival Nemesis MXVII-10K Ball Gun Packs 100 Rounds
Drummer Boy Dolls
The Newest American Girl Doll is Logan Everett, the Brand's First-Ever Boy
AR Coding Robots
Pai Technology's 'PaiGO' is a Bot That Teaches Programming for Children
Board Game Token Votes
The Vote Monopoly Site Lets Fans Vote on the Next Generation of Tokens
Sleek Lime Green Sneakers
The New Nike Air Max Plus Model Has a Vivid Green and Coral Colorway
Stylish Disney Character Dolls
Tokyo Disney's New Fashion Dolls are Inspired by Beloved Characters
Chutney-Colored Sneakers
The New Air Jordan 13s from Nike are a Rework of a Popular 1998 Design
Automatic VR Trackers
The HTC Vive Tracker Turns Everyday Objects into VR Peripherals at CES 2017
Mobile Meditation Buses
Lululemon is Inspiring Calm in the City with 'Meditation Om The Move'
AR Rainforest Exhibitions
The ArtScience Museum's 'Into the Wild' Features Tech from Google
Amateur Animation Toys
The Stickbot Zanimation Studio Includes a Green Screen for Movie-Making
Child-Matching Dolls
Dollie & Me Offers Large Dolls With a Variety of Clothing Options
Pirate Treasure Hunt Games
The 'Jackal Archipelago' Strategic Board Game is Quick to Learn
DIY Building Block Drones
The Kitables DIY Mini LEGO Drone Kit Comes with All Necessary Components
Multifunctional Maker Blocks
The 'Plezmo' Build Blocks Teach Coding and Enable Creativity
Heatable Plush Toys
The Microwaveable Heat Therapy Stuffed Animals Offer Soothing Warmth
Personal Pollution Trackers
The Plume Labs 'Flow' Air Quality Tracker Launched at CES 2017
Hunter Arcade Games
The Sure Shot HD at CES 2017 Turns Any TV into a Shooting Gallery
Cycling Data Bike Attachments
The Wahoo RPM Cycling Speed Sensor Captures Data While Riding
Fairy Fashion Dolls
The Newest World of Winx Dolls Have Holographic Wings and Dresses
Fashion Designer-Inspired Dolls
This Limited-Edition Doll Was Created by Designer Isaac Mizrahi
Feminine Sneaker Reworks
Nike's New Air Max Zeros Feature Light Salmon Accents on the Uppers
Religion and Transgender Rights
Mark Wingfield Explains His Views in His Talk on Gender Identity
Push Pop Lipsticks
Sephora's 'Sweet Balm' Collection Comes in Playful Packaging
Dessert-Inspired Decorating Toys
'Sweetlings' Inspires Kids to Make Imaginative Whipped Clay Toys
Personalized Coaching Apps
Coach.me Helps Users Form and Track Healthy Habits
Stress-Relieving Coloring Campaigns
The Art with Edge Campaign Helped Students Relieve Exam Stress
Musical Light-Up Dolls
This New Rapunzel Doll is Being Introduced Alongside Tangled: The Series
Educational Electronic Block Toys
The 'HoneyComb' Electronic Toy Blocks are Simple to Use
Talking Jamaican Dolls
Toya is a Zuree Doll That Speaks in Jamaican Patois
Self-Launching Kites
These Kite Toys Make It Easier to Send a Kite Flying into the Sky
LEGO Meal Recreations
Michael Kulesza Transformed Popular Food into Toy Block Representations
Vehicular Dart Blasters
The Nerf Nitro Shoots Toy Cars Rather than Foam Bullets
Precision Blaster Toys
Buzz Bee Toys' Air Warriors Blizzard Sends Darts Flying Up to 100 Feet
Video Game Doll Collections
The Barbie Video Game Hero Movie is Accompanied by Accessories
AR Love Messages
The 'Free the Love' App Shares Augmented Reality Balloon Letter Messages
Traveling Doll Brands
Journey Girls' Dolls are Marketed as "Best Friends" Who Travel Together
Specialized Meditation Apps
'Smiling Mind' Provides Short Guided Meditation Sessions
Anime Strategy Apps
'Pokemon Duel' is a Strategy Board Game Played on Users' Smartphones
Canine Bus Tours
Pet Insurance Provider 'More Than' Created the 'K9' City Tour Bus for Dogs
Challenging LGBTQ Misconceptions
Tiq and Kim Katrin Milan's Talk on Queer Identity Targets Labels
Vulgar Meditation Apps
'H*nest Meditation' Provides Meditation for Everyone with "Salty Language"
Teaching Technolgy Through Play
Bathany Koby's Talk on Programming Explores the Value of Coding
Profession-Focused Doll Collections
'My Life As Dolls' Products Are Focused on Their Careers
African Fashion Dolls
Momppy Mpoppy Dolls Give Young Girls a Fabulous Black Doll
Animated Storytelling Courses
'Pixar In A Box' is a Storytelling Course Available on Khan Academy
Banking Tech Startups
Chime Offers Mobile-First Bank Accounts That Help You Save Automatically
Branded Outdoor Cinemas
Vaillant's Outdoor Cinema Experience Features Heated Bean Bag Chairs
Relaxing Puzzle Apps
'Breath of Light' is a Meditative Gaming Experience with Hypnotic Sounds
Gesture-Based Card Games
'Happy Salmon' is a Quirky, Fast-Paced Game of Fist Bumps and High-Fives
Emotive Coding Robots
WowWee's 'COJI' Teaches Kids Basic Programming with Emojis
Japanese Fashion Dolls
The Shibajuku Girls Dolls are Inspired by Japanese Street Fashion
Smart Fashion Dolls
Danny Choo's 'Smart Doll' Introduces Tech to the Classic Fashion Doll
Family-Focused Movie Theater Animations
'A Balloon For Ben' Inspires Moviegoers to Cherish Family
Cognitive Toy Kits
bots_alive Turns Remote-Controlled Toys into AI Robot Creatures
Modular Multi-Use Trackers
The 'Pod 3' GPS Tracker Works for Pets, Valuables and More
Gooey Pool Powders
Gelli Baff's Pool Toy Turns Water into a Thick, Colored Goo
Guided Meditation Podcasts
The Tara Brach Podcasts Include Meditation Sessions & Mental Exercises
Canadian Company-Honoring Dolls
The Hudson's Bay Company Barbie Celebrates the Iconic Company
Diverse Foundation Campaigns
This L'Oreal True Match Commercial Celebrates Different Skin Shades
Doll-Sized Shoe Collections
The Charlotte Olympia Barbie Comes with Designer Footwear
Rain Boot-Clad Dolls
American Girl's New 'WellieWishers' Dolls are Designed for Younger Kids
Powdered Pigment Lipsticks
CLE Cosmetics' Powder Lipstick Melts When Pressed Into the Skin
Online Self-Help Courses
Universal Class Offers a Variety of Educational Courses Online
Crayon-Inspired Chocolate Bars
Dylan's Candy Bar Released a Fun Chocolate Bar Set with Crayola
Charitable School Buildings
This School in Lesotho Was a Gift from China to the Country