Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
EQ
Play
Tech-driven toys designed to boost emotional intelligence destigmatize devices.
5.2
Trend score
Trend
What is the EQ Play trend?
EQ Play: As discussions around the impact AI will have on young people increase, those in the toy space are finding ways to use this and other technologies in more positive ways. Allowing kids to use technology comes with a certain stigma. Undoing this negative perception is about integrating emotional development into play, enabled by tech.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the EQ Play trend
After seeing the negative impacts technology had on the Millennial and older Gen Z generations, fears around how younger members of the latter will develop with AI are on the rise. This is exacerbated by the fact that many parents of young Gen Z are Millennials themselves. To this generation of parents, emotional intelligence and a sense of holistic wellness is as important as a child's ambitions or academic performance. EQ-focused tech toys are a compromise, simultaneously exposing children to new technologies while also assisting in overall development.
Trend themes
Themes within the EQ Play trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Tech-driven Toys
Integrating emotional development into play through technology destigmatizes devices and enhances overall child development.
02
Screen-Free Mindfulness
Creating safe and screen-free toys that teach mindfulness and breathwork promotes relaxation, emotional regulation, and resilience in children.
03
Conversational AI Companions
Combining plush toy robots with personalized AI and speech recognition enables children to improve conversational skills, language development, and cognitive abilities.
Industry implications
What the EQ Play trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toy Industry
The toy industry can embrace tech-driven toys that focus on emotional development, screen-free mindfulness toys, and conversational AI companions to cater to the evolving needs of children and parents.
For
Education Industry
Incorporating technology into educational tools such as AI-based reading coaches can transform learning experiences and help children overcome reading challenges.
For
Health and Wellness Industry
The health and wellness industry can tap into the growing demand for mindfulness and emotional well-being by incorporating technology-enabled toys and tools that promote relaxation and resilience in children.
Workshop question
What role do your products or services play in their end users' development?
Trend signals
Trend signals for EQ Play
Trend score 5.2 out of 10, from popularity 77%, activity 61%, freshness 18%.
Popularity77%
Activity61%
Freshness18%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial (not a primary audience)
- Gen X (not a primary audience)
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
South America
Africa
Evidence
Examples of the EQ Play trend
5 featured examples from May 14, 2020 to Sep 8, 2023CategoryLife-Stages
Meditative Screen-Free Toys
Calm Tonie Shares Mindfulness Activities & Breathwork for Kids
Companies in the toy industry can collaborate with meditation apps to promote mindfulness and relaxation as part of children’s playtime.
CategoryTech
Conversational AI Companions
CATI is a Soft Plush Toy Robot Debuting at CES 2023
The development of AI companions presents a strong opportunity for toy manufacturers to integrate technology with traditional toys for children, improving their educational and en…
CategoryTech
AI-Based Reading Tools
Ello Aims to Eradicate Illiteracy with AI-Powered 1:1 Reading Coach
In the education technology industry, AI-powered reading coaches like Ello have the potential to revolutionize literacy education by providing personalized support and fostering m…
CategoryLife-Stages
Poem-Sharing Plush Toys
Mood Bears Recite Poems to Express Different Emotions
The toy industry has an opportunity to integrate technology and emotional intelligence into their products to enhance the interactive experience for consumers.
CategoryLife-Stages
Cognitive Learning Robots
Moxie Uses Machine Learning to Perceive and Interact with Kids
Educational institutes can adopt interactive technology that introduces machine learning algorithms to enhance cognitive learning experiences of children with disabilities or spec…
