From VR storytelling apps that bring fairy tales to life to creativity-boosting playgrounds that encourage independent play, these modern parenting innovations allow moms and dads to stay on the cutting-edge of cool.
Inside the house, parents are increasingly turning to new technology to interact with their kids in a more meaningful way. For instance, Samsung's Bedtime VR Stories app helps bring the tradition of storytelling to life by giving parents a way to interact with their children in a virtual fantasy world. Similarly, a subscription service called Storied Myth combines digital experiences with tactile objects to help parents interact with the children through different mediums.
Beyond the home, there are a number of creative activities that have been designed for the contemporary family. Many of these modern parenting innovations revolve around millennial values such as creative play and global experiences. Some of these novel family activities include creativity-boosting playgrounds that lack fixed equipment, family cooking programs that promote hands-on learning and kid-friendly yoga classes that encourage an active lifestyle.
34 Modern Parenting Innovations
From VR Storytelling Apps to Creativity-Promoting Playgrounds:
Katherine Pendrill — Jun 2, 2016 — Lifestyle
34
Self-Propelled Strollers
The 'Smartbe' Intelligent Child Stroller Allows for Handsfree Operation
33
Creativity-Promoting Playgrounds
This Adventure Playground in New York Promotes Imaginative Play
32
Kid-Friendly Design Books
This Children's Art Book is Designed to Teach Readers About Color
31
DIY Doll Kits
Seedling's Personalized Doll Toy is Reflective of a Young Maker Culture
30
DIY Archery Kits
Seedling's Adventurous Toy Set Lets Kids Design Their Own Bow and Arrow
29
Gender-Neutral Science Kits
This Educational Toy Introduces Kids to Science at a Young Age
28
Charity-Focused Family Vacations
This Organization Offers Trips for Socially Conscious Families
27
App-Enabled Storybooks
PLAYFUL BOOKS Creates Interactive Story Books for Kids and Parents
26
Art History Activity Cards
The Art in a Box Set is a Great Art History Introduction for Kids
25
Pre-School Game Apps
The EasyPeasy App Sends Skill-Developing Game Ideas to Parents of Little Ones
24
Interactive Game Projectors
The Lumo Interactive Projector Turns Kids' Rooms Into Playgrounds
23
Family-Building Games
'The Family Game' Encourages Low-Tech Bonding and Communication
22
VR Storytelling Apps
Samsung's Bedtime VR Stories Puts a High-Tech Twist on Storytelling
21
Family-Friendly Painting Workshops
This Company Offers Painting Workshops for the Whole Family
20
Kid-Friendly Gardening Kits
Mountain Lily Farm's Garden Seed Kit Encourages Kids to Get Outdoors
19
Family-Friendly Laser Tag Activities
Laser City Specializes in Kid-Friendly Competitive Gaming
18
Interactive Dinner Trays
The Yumit Food Tray Encourages Healthy Eating Habits in Kids
17
Indoor Playground Workshops
Sprouts Kids Hosts Family-Friendly Fitness, Play and Dance Workshops
16
Family-Friendly Yoga Classes
This Yoga Studio Provides a Fun Way for Parents and Children to Bond
15
Family Bike Tours
This Company Offers Exciting Vacation Packages for Active Families
14
Kid-Friendly Festival Events
The UK's Curious Arts Festival Hosts Creative Workshops for All Ages
13
Gamified Homework Apps
Gradestar Lets Children Earn Rewards For Completing Their Homework
12
Tablet-Based Storytelling Platforms
Storied Myth Brings Digital and Tangible Objects Together
11
Toddler-Targeted Circus Classes
This Event Makes the Circus Accessible to Parents and Toddlers
10
Whimsical Literary Museums
The Roald Dahl Museum Features Fun Interactive Exhibits for Kids
9
Affordable Family Tablets
The Durable, User-Friendly Amazon Fire Tablet Costs Just $50
8
Familial Yoga Retreats
World Family Yoga Offers Fun and Kid-Friendly Wellness Programs
7
Family Yoga Retreats
Yogaville's Weekend Retreats Help Parents and Kids Reduce Stress
6
Family-Friendly Museum Tours
The Guggenheim Offers Special Activity Kits for Children
5
Toddler-Friendly Nature Programs
The Sprouts Parent and Tot Play Program Helps Kids Explore Nature
4
Family-Friendly Projectors
This Mini Cinema Projector Allows Parental Control Over Content
3
Children's Cooking Programs
The Chef Upstairs Offers Kid-Friendly Food Workshops for All Ages
2
Family-Friendly Coding Workshops
This Startup Helps Families Learn About New Technology
1
Family-Friendly Dance Classes
The Classes at J'Adore Dance Introduce Kids to Exercise in a Fun Way
Related Ideas
Gamified XR Vacuuming Apps
'Spatial Vacuuming' Makes Home Cleaning Engaging and Rewarding
Ultra-Modern Apartment Designs
No Architects Created a Multi-Functional Modern Apartment
Expressive AR Fashion
Innovation Metaverse Design Story is a Digital Collection from H&M
Child-Focused Mixed Reality Headsets
The Conceptual 'Edi' Mixed Reality Headset is Safety-Focused
Color-In Photo Cameras
The 'Potto' Toy Camera Concept Encourages Kids to Color in Prints
Modern Baby Playpens
Wunderkids' Perfectly Fitting Playpens are Convenient and Minimalist
Interactive Creativity Home Displays
The 'Doodle' Interactive Wall by Hyungwoo Lee is Immersive
Interactive VR Styling Apps
'J.Crew' Launched a Closet Management and Shopping App for Vision Pro
Educational Exploration Binoculars
The Conceptual 'BINO' Mixed Reality Device Works in Many Ways
Creative Play Pop-Ups
The Sharpie Studio Offered Opportunities for Creativity at SXSW
AI-Fuelled Caregiving Apps
Nanni AI is an App that Helps Parents Understand their Babies
Sustainable Sensorial Play Pads
The Stokke PlayPad by Marius Kindler Adapts to Growing Children
Convention-Challenging AC Campaigns
Samsung's WindFree Ad Stars a Savvy Grandma-Fluencer
Mobile VR Pain Management Apps
'Flowly' Enables Pain Relief Through VR-Based Relaxation Training
Interactive Sensory Tables
The Fisher-Price Sensory Bright Light Station Offers Six Play Modes
Kid-Envisioned Urban Environments
The Little Big Playmat Takes a Creative Path to Design Problems
Abstract Fantasy Home Exhibitions
Fort Makers Invite Six Creatives to Design Their Dream Home
Touch-Reactive VR Experiences
Presence In Bed by Annabelle Schneider Blurs Phygital Worlds
Content-Inspired Physical Retail Experience
Netflix House Creates a Space for Fans to Buy Merch
Playful Restaurant Pop-Ups
The Play-Doh Restaurant of Imagination Turns Kids' Creations Edible
Multi-Sensory Education Devices
The Conceptual 'Squashy' VR Education Device Has a Tactile Form
Space-Exploring STEAM Toys
LeapFrog's Magic Adventures™ Line Arrives for Kids Five and Up
Curated Home Decor Platforms
Cribsi Offers Warm and Modern Home Decor
Child-Friendly Camera Concepts
The Camera for Kids Concept Reimagines the Digital Camera
Multipurpose Lifestyle Tablets
The iScream Homelearn Book Works in Many Orientations
Toddler-Targeted Smartwatches
The 'NehNehBaby' Training Watch Teaches Children Healthy Habits
Interactive Mixed-Reality Films
What If...?: An Immersive Story is an Apple Vision Pro Exclusive
Autonomous Vehicle Kits
This Kit Teaches Kids How AI is Changing Transportation Dynamics
Virtual Reality Education Products
Meta is Launching a New Quest Product to Enhance Classrooms
Creativity Time Capsules
Crayola's Campaign for Creativity Reunites Adults with Childhood Art
Transforming Imaginative Furniture Designs
The Kiddie Couch Encourages a Sense of Play
Modern Parenting Solutions
KeaBabies is Sustainable Solutions for Modern Parenting Challenges
Ultra-Modern Baby Gear
Nuna & Liberty London Collaborate to Introduce the Fantasy Land Collection
Customizable Child Smartwatches
The X6Play Smartwatch is a CES 2023 Innovation Award Honoree
Retro Appliance Baby Monitors
The Conceptual SMEG Baby Monitor by Priyanshu Maiti is Cutesy
AI-Powered Storytelling Travel Apps
Journi is an App for Tour Guides to Share Exciting Narratives
Bubble-Shaped Cribs
The Luxurious Bubble Baby Bed Gently Rocks Little Ones to Sleep
AI-Powered Family Story Books
Life Story AI Will Help Users Preserve Their Family's Legacy
VR Physiotherapy Tools
A Team of UniSA Researchers Created Superhero Therapy for Pain Management
Storytelling Projector Toys
Moonlite Projects Stories With Added Music and Sounds
Gamified Home Chore Apps
Developers Showcased a Gamified Home Chore App at Meta's Hackathon 2023
Play-Based Learning Collections
Staples Launches the Curated Kids Learn + Play Collection
Spatial Computing Shopping Apps
'Alo Yoga' Debuted a New App for the Apple Vision Pro
Digital Wellness Inniaitives
Pinterest Focuses on the Digital Well-being of Gen Z
Forest-Inspired Screenless Toys
Boogie Board Launched the Sketch Pals Forest Friends Line
Nature-Inspired Indoor Playgrounds
Sarit Shani Hay Designs a New Playground in Tel Aviv
Buildable Paper Playsets
Playper's Curious Kingdom: Castle Playset Encourages Creativity
Sleep-Supporting Virtual Pets
The National Sleep Foundation Featured Pocket Kado at CES 2024
Kid-Friendly Tech Frames
myFirst Recently Unveiled Two New Digital Frames
Healthy Lifestyle VR Headsets
The Conceptual 'Portalverse' VR Headset Makes Fitness More Fun
Kid-Friendly Telescopes
The LeapFrog Magic Adventures Telescope Shares Images Taken by NASA
Metaverse-Enabled Cruise Ships
Celebrity Cruises Launches the First Digital Cruise Ship Experience
Brand-Led Global Studies
The LEGO Group Conducted a Study That May Inform Market Decisions
Space-Themed Home Decor Collection
IKEA Introduces its new Cosmic AFTONSPARV Collection
Smart 3D Home Maps
SamSung's Map View Creates a Seamless Smart Home Ecosystem
Storybook Recipe Experiences
The Magical Pantry Brings Recipes to Life Through Fables
AI-Powered DIY Home Apps
Praxis Introduces New Features to Its Praxis Plus App
Shoppable Virtual Beach Houses
The J.Crew Virtual Beach House Shares Interactive Content & Games
Employee VR Training Practices
Talespin Works to Incorporate VR into Workplace Training
Kid-Friendly Modular Sofas
The Figgy Play Couch is Launching in Durable, Family-Friendly Materials
Immersive Virtual Television Experiences
Television for Apple Vision Shapes the Future of TV
Immersive EdTech Platforms
Discovery Education's Sandbox AR Platform Surpassed 1 Million Downloads
Remote Caregiver Kits
The Essential Care Kit Assists Caregivers with Next-Gen Technology
Gamified Youth-Focused News Apps
RocaNews Uses Challenges and Quests to Encourage Staying Informed
AI Storytelling Platforms
Story.com Combines AI with Creativity for Limitless Possibilities
GenAI Bedtime Stories
SmartDreams Uses AI to Help Kids Craft Their Own Stories
Mixed-Reality Bedtime Apps
Pillow is a Mixed-Reality App for Quest That Supports Relaxation in Bed
Next-Gen Fuzzy Robot Toys
Hasbro is Introducing a New Furby for a New Generation
Preschool Gaming Subscriptions
The Piknik App Subscription Service Shares Games for Preschoolers
90s Toy Holiday Trees
Furbtrees are Introducing the Next Generation of Furby Across the UK
Cognitive Toy Subscriptions
Lovevery is a Subscription that Delivers Developmental Toys to Kids
Gamified Custom Kidswear
Supermix Studio Empowers Kids to Create Their Own Apparel & Accessories
Kid-Targeted Holiday Bundles
Storypod Boasts Three Holiday Bundles for Kids
VR-Based Pain Solutions
Smileyscope Uses VR to Improve Pediatric Needle Experiences
Comprehensive Math-Learning Experiences
Math Learner Uses Games to Make Math Fun for Young Kids
ASMR-Inspired Soothing Toys
These Sensory Motion Bubblers Visually Create Calm
VR-Powered ADHD Games
This VR Eye-Tracking Game Could Help with ADHD Diagnoses
Children-Empowered Adorable Smartwatches
NehNehBaby Introduces the Training Watch for Toddlers
Inclusive Children's Education Apps
Smart Tales is Certified by IBCCES as an Autism Resource
Gen Alpha-Focused Podcast Apps
Storybutton Launches as a Generation Alpha-Targeted Radio Channel
Family Organizational Apps
FamHive Incentivizes Family Chores and Organization
AI-Powered Parenting Chatbots
ParentGPT Provides Answers to Parenting Questions
Gamified Nighttime Reading
StoryMate Let's Parents Set Reading Goals for Their Children
Private Social Photo Apps
The 'Retro' App Focuses on Mindful Sharing with Select Others
Accessible Interactive Memory Storybooks
Remento's Interactive Storybooks Can Be the Perfect Gift
AR Apartment Platforms
3D Apartment Lets Home Hunters Virtually View Their Furniture in a New Home
Mixed Reality Storytelling
Storytelling XR Redefines Real-Time VFX for Content Creators
Child-Friendly Adaptive Storytelling
Zora Learning Teaches Kids to Read in More Engaging Ways
Virtual Game Tourism Campaigns
Cape Town Launches a Virtual Game for a New Tourism Campaign
Family Organization Apps
Rejoy Merges Calendars, Lists, meal Planners, and More in One Place
Kid-Focused Finance Apps
ABN Amro Launches a Financial Literacy App for Children
Tech-Enhanced Travel Planning
Travvit is a Travel Discovery Platform to Inspire Better Vacations
Video Game-Inspired Outdoor Play
ROXs is Getting Kids Outdoors
Visual Payment Apps
Vizme Turns the Experience of Sending or Spending Money Into Stories
Active Entertainment Systems
Nex Playground Gets People Moving at Home
Millennial Homeowner Hubs
The Home Depot's New Homeowners Hub Equips Millennials with Resources
Experiential Gift Registries
Nabu is a Gift Registry Platform to Give Kids Memorable Experiences
Personalized Bed Time Reading
BlissFable Lets Kids Be the Protagonists of Their Own Stories
Personalized AI Storytelling
MidReal Let's Users Create Interactive Stories with AI
AI-Tailored Bedtime Stories
Slumber Stories AI Tells Stories Based on a Child's Interests
Family Game-Sharing Platforms
Valve is Introducing 'Steam Families' to Replace 'Family Sharing'
Custom Illustrated Storybooks
MyStoryBot Uses AI To Share Powerful personalized Stories
Inclusive Children's Apps
Pok Pok Offers Culturally-Specific Content for Global Audiences
Parental Social App Controls
Meta Debuts a Series of New Features Across its Social Media Apps
Immersive Movie Experiences
Canon Shared a Unique Experience of Knock at the Cabin CES 2023
Personalized Child Education Apps
Sandbox Group Launches the PlayKids+ Application for Ages 2-12
AR Voter Campaigns
Snapchat & the Dutch Ministry Engaged and Inspired Gen Z Voters
Home Decor Mobile Apps
Pottery Barn Officially Launches its Mobile App and New Design
Emotional Awareness Apps
Crown Institute Debuts an Emotional Learning App Inspired by Inside Out
Child-Friendly Good Habit Apps
Little Streaks Builds Healthy Habits in Kids
Parental Social Controls
Snapchat Debuts New Parental Controls for Parents Monitoring Their Kids
Photo-Organizing Apps
Journeys Simplifies the Process of Organizing One's Photos
Child-Friendly AI Doodles
Dodoboo Uses AI to Turn a Child's Doodles into Art
Connected Training Baseballs
The Playfinity Backyard League Smart Gaming Baseball is App-Enabled
Immersive Language Games
Noun Town Puts a Gamified Spin on Learning a New Language
AR-Powered Shopping Apps
Walmart Releases a New Augmented Reality Feature for its iOS Application
AI-Powered Bedtime Storytelling
Augie Storytelling Uses Auto-Generated Video Clips
Special Needs Parenting Platforms
Rare Parenting is Supportive and Educational
Child-Friendly AI Tutors
GPTKids is a Homework Helper That Supports Kids and Their Parents
Home Decor Apps
Pottery Barn Kids and Pottery Barn Teen Launch Mobile Apps for E-Commerce Sales
Keepsake Family Legacy Books
Kindred Tales Turn Family Memories into a Book to Cherish Forever
Motherhood Community Support Apps
The 'Mamahood' App Offers Professional Care and More
Conceptual Gamified Sleep Apps
'Sleep Quest' is an Early-Stage Gamified Sleep App for iOS
Childhood Memory Capturing Apps
Dear Little One Allows Parents to Record Messages for Their Child
Smart Life-Planning Apps
Last Plannr is More Than a Traditional To-Do List
Online Family Sharing Systems
Steam Introduces the Steam Families Feature for More Sharing Options
Gamified Children's Productivity Apps
Kangaroutine Helps Kids Who Struggle with Routines
Virtual STEM Fieldtrips
Panasonic, Katie Ledecky & Discovery Education Spotlight STEM Innovations
Virtual Table Top Games
TinyTable Combines the Joy of Table Top Games with Virtual Video Calls
Mobile Dorm-Designing Features
Pottery Barn Teen Unveils a New Dorm Shop and Expanded Features
Generational-Lasting Dynamic Playgrounds
Mike Hewson Designs a New Public Playground with Boulders
Child Verification Mechanisms
ERSB Debuts a New System for Parental Consent in Video Gaming
AI-Powered Safety Training
UpSkill Teaches Children Safety with Scenario Based Training and AI
Childhood-Inspired Generational Homes
AUN Design Studio Creates the New Reflection House
Kid-Friendly Financial Support Apps
Goaly Offers Financial Lessons for Kids and Their Parents
Avatar-Centric Gaming Activities
Interactive New Meta Quests are Added to the Horizon Worlds
Transformative Bedtime Storytelling
Zuzu Offers Customizable, Screen-Free Bedtime Stories
Community-Oriented Aging Apps
Melissa Gilbert Debuts the Modern Prairie Lifestyle App for Women
Trailblazing Parenthood Podcasts
Milk Drunk: The Podcast by Bobbie Shares Empowering Conversations
Parent-Focused TV Campaigns
NatureFresh's TV Campaign Explores How Active Parenting Benefits Kids