# Empowering Play Inspirational toys reflect the need for more meaningful activities. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Mar 3, 2014, updated Mar 24, 2014 | Category: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/life-stages) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/empowering-play ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.7/10 - Evidence articles: 8 ## What is the Empowering Play trend? **Empowering Play:** With children often using their stuffed animals and cartoon shows as references and guides, parents are looking to more educational and empowering toys to add more meaning and value to their children's lives. Idea-inspiring blocks and encouraging dollhouses provide children with more compelling sources of play, combining nostalgic childhood playthings with the need for more purposeful activities. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 8 featured examples - Articles from: Feb 3, 2014 to Feb 2, 2017 - Published: Mar 3, 2014 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Tribalism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/tribalism), [Youthfulness](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/youthfulness), [Authenticity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/authenticity) ## Audience - Gender: 30% men, 70% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Empowering Play trend ### Empowering Toys Toy companies are creating educational and inspiring toys to add more meaning and value to children's lives. ### Social Advocacy Brands and startups are advocating for social change and breaking down gender barriers through their products and advertisements. ### Diversity and Inclusion Brands are focusing on diversity and inclusion in their products to promote equality at a young age. ## What the Empowering Play trend means for industry ### For Toy Industry The toy industry can adopt the trends of empowering toys and diverse dolls to promote meaningful play and inclusive representation. ### For Advertising Industry The advertising industry can adopt the trend of social advocacy to showcase brands' commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusive representation. ### For Entertainment Industry The entertainment industry can adopt the trends of diverse characters and empowering storylines to promote inclusion and representation. ## Trend signals for Empowering Play Trend score 3.7 out of 10, from popularity 53%, activity 51%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 53% - Activity: 51% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Empowering Play trend 8 featured examples from Feb 3, 2014 to Feb 2, 2017. - [Female Empowering Dollhouses](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/female-empowerment1): Roominate is an Unconventional Female Empowerment Tool for Girls (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Opportunity for toy manufacturers to develop and promote empowering and educational toys for young girls. - [Educational Fashion Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/project-mc): This Line of Dolls Titled Project Mc² Seeks to Empower and Educate Girls (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Manufacturers can innovate towards including educational kits with traditional dolls, improving both the educational and entertainment value for children. - [Inspiring Engineer Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/action-figure-doll): The Goldie Action Figure Doll Promotes Innovation and Creativity (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Toy manufacturers can capitalize on creating dolls and action figures that promote creativity, empowerment, and STEM learning for children. - [Empowering Youth Dolls](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/diverse-dolls): These Diverse Dolls Aim to Inspire, Educate and Empower Young Girls (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: The toy manufacturing industry has the opportunity to embrace diversity by creating toys that empower and inspire young girls. - [Video Game Doll Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/video-game-hero): The Barbie Video Game Hero Movie is Accompanied by Accessories (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: The Barbie Video Game Hero movie and doll collection presents opportunities for the toy industry to incorporate digital elements into their products and create more interactive pl… - [Profession-Focused Doll Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/my-life-as-dolls): 'My Life As Dolls' Products Are Focused on Their Careers (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: By exploring more diverse and innovative ways to create dolls, toy companies have an opportunity to engage with a broader audience and increase revenue. - [Empowering Female Toy Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/goldieblox-toy-company): The GoldieBlox Toy Company Creates Toys for Female Innovators (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Toy companies can explore the market potential of creating gender-inclusive toys that empower young girls and promote STEM education. - [Female Action Hero Ads](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/female-action-hero): This Ad Features GoldieBlox Female Dolls as Iconic Male Protagonists (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Opportunity for disruptive innovation in designing and manufacturing action figures that promote gender equality and female empowerment. ## Recent trend clusters - [Calm Monitoring](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/calm-monitoring) (Lifestyle) - [Smile Cosmetics](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/smile-cosmetics) (Fashion) - [Connected Filtration](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/connected-filtration) (Tech) - [Errand Leisure](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/errand-leisure) (Business) ## Trending in Life-Stages - [Mini Clog Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cars-x-crocs-blind-box) - [Thoughtfully Designed Lunchboxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glacier-lunchbox) - [Larger-Format Brainteaser Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kanoodle-party) - [Historical Character Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polly-pocket-x-american-girl) All articles: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages)