Whether it is collaborating with others to complete different challenges or helping choose the features for a brand new toy, the October 2016 kids' trends reveal a major emphasis on ensuring that children pursue more immersive experiences that will provide lasting memories.
When it comes to playtime, parents are increasingly looking for products that will keep kids actively engaged, instead of letting them sit and passively absorb content. One example of this approach is the Hot Lava video game, which requires children to keep moving in order to win different challenges. Another example is Hot Wheels AI, which uses new technology to let kids build and race cars on their own virtual race tracks.
However, it is not just toys that are keeping kids active. As the October 2016 kids' trends reveal, parents are increasingly choosing immersive activities and trips that allow their children to help shape the experience. One such example is Build-A-Bear Workshop's recent promotion, which gave children an opportunity to DIY their own teddy bear.
Top 70 Kids' Ideas in October
From AI-Assisted Racing Toys to Annual Toy-Building Promotions:
Katherine Pendrill — Oct 29, 2016 — Life-Stages
70
Diner-Inspired Playhouses
This Novelty Playhouse is Built to Resemble a Casual Restaurant
69
Toy Canine Carry-On
This Cute Kids' Luggage Serves a Second Function as a Plaything
68
Customizable Connected Night Lights
The 'ZOOCORO' Kids Night Light Comes in a Variety of Styles
67
Urban Kids' Clothing Collections
These Clothes Offer Excellent Back-to-School Looks for Children
66
Interactive AR Projectors
The 'Egger' Media Projector is Designed with Children in Mind
65
Two-in-One Snack Vessels
The 'Chalice' Snack Cup Keeps Drinks and Edibles in One Spot
64
AI-Assisted Racing Toys
'Hot Wheels AI' is a Modernized Version of the Classic Race Car Toys
63
Fantasy Film Drone Toys
Spin Master's Star Wars-Themed Drones Let Kids Shoot Down the Death Star
62
Oversized Toddler Crayons
The Ommo Kids Crayons Feature a Large Size for Little Hands to Grasp
61
Educational Cryptography Games
PocketBlock Teaches Adolescents About the Details of Cryptography
60
Connected Children's Wearables
The Brillar Smart Watch is Great for Both Kids and Parents
59
VR Puzzle Kits
Seedling's DIY Maze Kit Lets Kids Design Their Very Own Puzzle
58
Remote Control Bumper Cars
The 'Galaxy Zega' Toys Pit Miniature Tanks Against One Another
57
Superhero Science Kits
The Spider-Man Web Creator Lab Lets Kids Create Their Own Spider Webs
56
Protein-Rich Milk Products
The New Nesquik Protein Plus Beverages are Enhanced with Protein
55
Mind-Controlled Hologram Toys
The Force Trainer II Lets Kids Re-Enact Famous Jedi Challenges
54
Exotic Interactive Robot Pets
The Zoomer Hedgiez Robotic Pet Performs, Reacts and Plays
53
Celebratory Crayon Bus Tours
Crayola's '100 Years of Colour' Bus Tour Entertained UK Kids
52
Hackable Toy Kits
The Fuze Play 'Zubi Flyer' Lets Kids Build, Hack and Play
51
Crystal Growing Kits
The Lightsaber Crystal Growing Lab Allows Kids to Create Real Crystals
50
Modular Childhood Room Furniture
'Home Back Home' Makes Childhood Rooms Suitable for Adults
49
Educational Menstrual Cycle Games
This Board Game Shifts Tween Perspectives on Periods
48
Hide-and-Seek Stuffed Toys
The Hide-N-Seek Stuffed Panda Gives Clues to its Location
47
Retro Halloween Wall Masks
The 'Vac-tastic Plastic' Masks Reference 60s and 70s Costumes
46
Stylish Toy Rocking Animals
The Enko Creatio 'Enzoo' is Chicly Designed for Modern Homes
45
Commemorative Toy-Building Promotions
This In-Store Promotion Celebrates National Teddy Bear Day
44
Kid's Jack-o'-Lantern Sneakers
Nike Updated Its 'Foamposite' Model with a Playful Halloween Theme
43
Pachydermic Piggy Banks
The 'Elli' Piggy Bank is a Fun Way to Teach Kids to Save Money
42
Modular Refuse Robots
The 'Junkbot' DIY Robot Kit Turns Household Objects into Robotics
41
Robotics-Teaching Toy Cars
The 'Blinkgogo' Robotics Kit Incorporates STEM Education Fundamentals
40
Safe Children's Manicures
The Côte Salon Offers Kid-Friendly SPF Nail Treatments For Youngsters
39
Bubble Experiment Kits
Wonder Forge's Science Kit for Kids is a Finding Dory-Themed STEM Toy
38
Voice-Controlled Video Games
This Innovative Video Game is Controlled By Children's Speech
37
Detangling Kid's Shampoos
The 'Not a Knot' Chemical-Free Children's Beauty Product
36
Portioned Kids' Meals
'Little Dish' Offers Healthy Small Meals for Children
35
Kid-Friendly Drinking Chocolate
Cadbury's Freddo Chocolate is Now Available as a Hot Beverage
34
Interactive Math Apps
The 'Go Math! Go' App Improves Math Learning Through Positive Encouragement
33
Fruity Shaved Ice Drinks
Kona Ice's New FruitFirst Products Serve as a Healthy Drink Alternatives
32
Biology-Inspired Candy Kits
These Treats for Halloween Take Cues from a Petri Dish
31
Smoothie Juice Boxes
Innocent Drinks Packages Kid Veggie Fruit Smoothies in Convenient Cartons
30
Single-Handed Wristwatches
The Minimalist 'Simpl One' Watch has Only One Hand and No Numbers
29
Vehicular Princess Seats
The Disney KidsEmbrace Booster Car Seat Gets Kids Excited About Safety
28
Interactive Reactionary Toy Cats
The FurReal Friends Bootsie Toy Responds to Cuddling and Treats
27
Kid-Friendly Fast Food Breakfasts
McDonald's is Rolling Out a Breakfast Version of Its Happy Meal
26
Inclusive Anti-Bullying Apps
'Sit With Us' Ensures That Kids Never Have to Eat Lunch Alone
25
Artisan Chicken Nuggets
Hip Chick Farms Produces All-Natural Poultry Products for Kids
24
Grilled Cheese-Inspired Snacks
Snikiddy's Baked Grilled Cheese Puffs are a Savory Snack Option
23
Programmable LEGO Drones
The Flybrix Drone is a Kid-Friendly Toy Built Out of Standard LEGO Bricks
22
Miniature Frozen Pancakes
Pillsbury is Making Whole Grain Mini Pancakes in a Small, Frozen Format
21
Bunny-Branded Beverages
This Vegetable Water Packaging Makes a Nutritious Choice Endearing
20
Kid-Friendly Healing Oils
'Ouch Ease' by Edens Garden Introduces Essential Oils for Children
19
Children's Language Tools
This Toy Was Designed to Encourage Children to Read and Write
18
Kid-Friendly Breakfast Combos
Juice It Up! is Pairing Its Healthy Smoothies with Tasty Snacks
17
Parent-Controlled Video Apps
Video Network Neptune is Designed for Kids and Made for Parents
16
Nostalgic Hot Dog Snacks
The New Bagel Bites Mini Bagel Dogs Serve as a Convenient Snack Option
15
Kid-Friendly Spelt Cereals
Rude Health's Cereal for Children is Made with Ancient Grains
14
Squeezable Snack Pouches
Sprout Organic SMASH is a New Line of Kid-Friendly Pureed Snacks
13
Hybrid Aerospace Toys
This Rocket Builder Toy Comes to Life in Mickey's Magical Math World App
12
Kid-Centric Museum Pop-Ups
The Interactive Exhibits at Mr. Men's 'Mini Museum' are "Child-Sized"
11
Aspirational Veterinarian Training Programs
The 'Vet Set Go' Veterinary Program is Tween-Focused
10
Kid-Friendly Diffuser Oils
Saje's 'Aroma Fairy' Diffuser Blend is Designed to Help with Sleep
9
Cafeteria Companionship Apps
The 'Sit With Us' App Helps Kids Avoid Having to Eat Lunch Alone
8
Children's Architecture Programs
The 'Little Architect' Program is Offered at AASA in London
7
Children's Environmentalist Manuals
Home Grown Books' Environmental Pack is an Eco Book Set
6
Complimentary Kids Meals
Chipotle is Now Letting Kids Eat Free Every Sunday
5
In-School Washing Machines
Whirlpool's 'Care Counts' Program Increases School Attendance
4
Lava Floor Video Games
'Hot Lava' Literalizes Children's 'The Floor is Lava' Game
3
Elaborate Video Game Compositions
RYANUKO's 'Please Come To Me' was Made in 'Super Mario Paint'
2
Empowering Tween Activity Groups
'Sole Girls' Brings Young Girls Together to Socialize and Train
1
Allergy-Friendly Seed Bars
Enjoy Life's Bars are an Allergy-Free Alternative to Peanut Butter Cups
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Vertically Folding Chairs
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Modular Customization Bookshelves
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Wheelchair Hoverboard Attachments
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Transportable Side Tables
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Toy Canine Carry-On
This Cute Kids' Luggage Serves a Second Function as a Plaything
Style Icon Clothing Collections
The New Olivia Palermo + Chelsea28 Line Boasts a 1970s Influence
Botanical Beauty Portraits
Katya Warped's Latest Editorial Feature is Eccentrically Styled
Explorative Space Sportswear
UEG x Puma's Gravity Resistance Line Draws Upon Intergalactic Travel
Japanese Open-Air Kindergartens
Fuji Kindergarten Uses Architecture to Combine Learning and Play
Moody Seaside Editorials
The Ones 2 Watch 'On The Rocks' Series Boasts Casual Styles
Simplified Table Concepts
Normann Copenhagen Debuted New Products at the Maison et Objet
Retro Racing Mobile Games
The Super Mario Run Rebrands the Nintendo Universe for Smartphones
Multi-Colored Paper Installations
This Piece of Art Depicts Life in Crowded Cities
Upscale Vintage Apparel
The Ones 2 Watch 'Flicker' Series is a Modern Homage to Retro Glamor
Bonfire-Inspired Sneakers
Nike Updated the 'Air Max 90 Premium' to Encapsulate a Popular Activity
AI-Assisted Racing Toys
'Hot Wheels AI' is a Modernized Version of the Classic Race Car Toys
Fantasy Film Drone Toys
Spin Master's Star Wars-Themed Drones Let Kids Shoot Down the Death Star
Floating Student Housing
Urban Rigger's Affordable Dorms are Afloat in Copenhagen's Harbor
Repurposed LEGO Art
Jaime Sánchez Explores the Possibilities of LEGO Use with Colorful Images
Islamic-Influenced Furniture
This New Furniture Collection is Inspired By Omani Design Traditions
Homely Beauty Boutiques
The Aesop Skincare Counter in São Paulo is Designed Like a House
Heart-Monitoring Smartwatches
This New Alcatel Smartwatch Offers Heart Rate Monitoring On a Budget
Frozen Cereal Sandwiches
MILK Shop Offers Macaron Ice Cream Desserts Dipped in Breakfast Treats
Rotating Spherical Lamps
The 'Nightingale' Light Uses a Ringed Shape to Give Off an Ambient Glow
VR Puzzle Kits
Seedling's DIY Maze Kit Lets Kids Design Their Very Own Puzzle
Remote Control Bumper Cars
The 'Galaxy Zega' Toys Pit Miniature Tanks Against One Another
Dreamy Celebrity Bride Covers
The Wonderland Magazine Cover Shows Kim Kardashian in Wedding Attire
Gruesome Hotel Buffets
The Hilton Tokyo is Serving Scary Food for Halloween
Mind-Controlled Hologram Toys
The Force Trainer II Lets Kids Re-Enact Famous Jedi Challenges
Coffee Shop Brunch Menus
Starbucks Recently Began Testing a Weekend-Only Brunch Menu
Transparent Smoothie Branding
'Innocent' Now Sells Its Smoothies in Clear PET Bottles
Celebratory Crayon Bus Tours
Crayola's '100 Years of Colour' Bus Tour Entertained UK Kids
Armed Robot Drones
The Prodrone PD6B-AW-ARM Features Arms to Grasp and Lift Objects
Linear Makeup Portraits
Anna Kirikova's Latest Beauty Feature Highlights Expressive Cosmetics
Ghoulish Sorceress Cocktails
This Witch's Brew Beverage is a Whimsical Halloween Drink For Adults
Quirky Analog Timepieces
These Watches Were Designed in a Range of Styles with Atypical Materials
Frozen Fruit Smoothie Kits
The 'SER!OUS' Smoothies Packaging is Focused on Convenience
Modular Office Spaces
This Office Can Transform Based on the Functions Needed from It
Reconfigured Military-Inspired Sneakers
Nike Adapted Its LeBron Soldier 10 with a Camouflage Print
Well-Inspired Lighting
This Manually Cranked Lamp Allows the User to Adjust Its Lighting or Color
Hackable Toy Kits
The Fuze Play 'Zubi Flyer' Lets Kids Build, Hack and Play
Crystal Growing Kits
The Lightsaber Crystal Growing Lab Allows Kids to Create Real Crystals
Glowing Beauty Powders
The Moon Juice Beauty Dust Aims to Naturally Maintain Hair and Skin
Smart Drone Development Kits
The Parrot SLAMdunk Lets Developers Turn Any Drone into a Smart Robot
Computer-Building Drone Kits
This Development Kit Can Be Used to Create Drone Devices & Computers
Collectible Character Vases
James Jarvis' Cartoon Was Translated to Become a Limited Edition Vase
Educational Menstrual Cycle Games
This Board Game Shifts Tween Perspectives on Periods
Speedometer-Inspired Timepieces
The SaStek Time Speed Indicator Watch is Cockpit-Inspired
Female-Focused Tech Competitions
The 'Built By Girls' Challenge Helps Teens Explore Their Ideas
Probiotic Breakfast Cereals
This Cereal Breakfast from Ketologie is Branded as 'Noat-Meal'
Hide-and-Seek Stuffed Toys
The Hide-N-Seek Stuffed Panda Gives Clues to its Location
Pizza-Themed Sleepaway Camps
Pizza Camp is an Overnight Camp for Adults Who Love the Cheesy Dish
Wine-Hued Soccer Shoes
The Nike Tiempo Pirlo Celebrates Andrea Pirlo's Obsession With Wine-Making
Cubic Watch Designs
This Watch Was Designed in Different Variations for Both Men and Women
Youthful Juice Packaging
This Juice Branding is Able to Perfectly Cater to Its Target Demographics
Cable-Hiding Side Tables
These Discreet Minimalist Tables Were Designed for Zaozuo
Commemorative Toy-Building Promotions
This In-Store Promotion Celebrates National Teddy Bear Day
Kid's Jack-o'-Lantern Sneakers
Nike Updated Its 'Foamposite' Model with a Playful Halloween Theme
Rustic Lamp Speakers
The 'Balldur' Handmade Wood Lamp is a Multifunctional Unit for the Home
Coded Steampunk USBs
The Cryptex Antique Gold Flash Drives Includes an Exterior Lock System
Vast Architectural Image Galleries
Columbia GSAPP Has Opened Its 20,000 Images to Students
Carousel-Themed Beauty Exhibits
Refinery29's 'Hairousel' is Styled Like a Merry-Go-Round
Robotics-Teaching Toy Cars
The 'Blinkgogo' Robotics Kit Incorporates STEM Education Fundamentals
Nile River-Infused Skincare
LXMI's Pore-Refining Moisture Veil Achieves a Soft Dewy Finish
Prison Photography Books
'Law & Order' Shows 25 Penitentiaries in Four Countries
Bubble Experiment Kits
Wonder Forge's Science Kit for Kids is a Finding Dory-Themed STEM Toy
Flexible Toy Bricks
Flexo Allows for Greater Diversity in the Creations It Can Be Used to Make
Jade Skin Rollers
This Device is Rolled Up and Down the Face and Neck to Increase Blood Flow
3D-Printed Biological Bones
AMBER Researchers Have Developed a New System for Bioengineering Bones
On-Demand Tutor Apps
The GooRoo App Helps Students Access Rapid Academic Mentoring
Detailed Toy Costumes
The Jay Delux Ninjago LEGO Halloween Costume is Realistic
Privacy-Focused Architecture
Satoru Hirota's 'House of Fluctuations' Was Built in a Dense Setting
eSports Restaurant Cafes
'Storia' by Square Enix is a Destination for Viewing Video Game Contests
Playful Cat Lighting
Urban Outfitters' LED Cat Lamp is a Quirky Dorm Room Accent
Interactive Reactionary Toy Cats
The FurReal Friends Bootsie Toy Responds to Cuddling and Treats
Inclusive Anti-Bullying Apps
'Sit With Us' Ensures That Kids Never Have to Eat Lunch Alone
Crossbreed Hygiene Products
This is a Human and Dog Shampoo That Supports Animal Shelters Too
Customizable School Apps
The Ouachita Parish System App Connects Students, Parents and Teachers
Children's Language Tools
This Toy Was Designed to Encourage Children to Read and Write
Breakneck Racing Drones
The xCraft Rogue Drone Can Fly At 100 Miles Per Hour
Parent-Controlled Video Apps
Video Network Neptune is Designed for Kids and Made for Parents
Seasonal Grain-Free Granolas
Ideal's Grain-Free Granola is Made with Nuts, Seeds, Honey and Spices
Highway-Inspired Fall Menus
Bruegger's Bagels' 2016 Fall Menu is Inspired by Route 66
Hybrid Aerospace Toys
This Rocket Builder Toy Comes to Life in Mickey's Magical Math World App
Minimalist Titanium Timepieces
The TiMe22 Robusto Watch Boasts a Design That's Stronger Than Steel
Fortifying Hyaluronic Skincare
MyChelle Naturally Restores Hydration With Bio-Firm Technology
Compact Temperature Sensors
This Multi-Purpose Thermometer Can Keep Tabs of Just About Anything
Sundae-Inspired Breakfast Cups
'Call It Breakfast' is an Ice Cream Treat Topped with Donuts
Portable Breakfast Bowls
The Breakfast Cup from Honey Dew Donuts Makes It Easier to Eat on the Go
Pollution-Combating Facial Mists
This Refreshing Mist is Made from the Flowering Plant Golden Root
Non-Dairy Smoothie Menus
Planet Smoothie Now Offers Vegan Smoothies Made with Almond Milk
Recycled Industrial Furnishings
'Pertitune' Creatively Repurposes Old Industrial Parts
Assistive Airport Robots
Hitachi's 'EMIEW' Robot Helps Travelers at Haneda International Airport
Brunch-Flavored Candies
The Brach's Fall Brunch Favorites Are Sweets With Breakfast Food Tastes
High-End Swimmer Smartwatches
The Apple Watch Series 2 Features Exceptional Tracking in Water
Comprehensive Campus Safety Apps
This App Helps University Students Access Security Services
Commemorative Video Games
This New Duke Nukem Release Celebrates a Classic 1990s Game
Fresh-Cooked Breakfast Burritos
Charleys Philly Steaks is Offering Three New Breakfast Burritos
Tea-Infused Face Masks
This Green Tea Clay Mask Works to Clean and Refresh the Skin
Pregnancy-Predicting Apps
This Family Planning App Helps Users Plan or Prevent Pregnancies
Olympic-Inspired Smoothie Bowls
Robeks' Newest Smoothie Bowls Feature Authentic Brazilian Flavors
Skater-Made Sneaker Campaigns
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Void Vase Decor
These Silhouette Vases Display Everything from Bouquets to Books
Disturbing Online Bullying PSAs
This Video Shows How Manipulative Tactics Can Be Enhanced Online
Empowering Tween Activity Groups
'Sole Girls' Brings Young Girls Together to Socialize and Train
Troll-Filtering App Features
Instagram's 'Hide Inappropriate Comments' Blocks Negative Posts