# Purposeful Construction Tactile toy products evolve to allow children to create with purpose. By [Vasiliki Marapas](https://www.trendhunter.com/Vasiliki.Marapas), Research Advisor & Writer | Published Mar 22, 2016 | Category: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/life-stages) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/infant-designer ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.2/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Purposeful Construction trend? **Purposeful Construction:** The interest in allowing children to express themselves creatively has converged with the interest in teaching them tangible, real-world skills. As a result, design- focused toys that enable children to create with both fun and purpose are emerging on the market. Allowing children to cultivate their own aesthetic sensibility, these toys reveal that personal identity has become a primary focus in modern parenting. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Dec 29, 2015 to Aug 23, 2016 - Published: Mar 22, 2016 - Patterns: [Convergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/convergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Co-creation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/co-creation), [Instant Entrepreneurship](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/instant-entrepreneurship), [Gamification](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/gamification) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Purposeful Construction trend ### Kinetic Learning Design-focused toys are enhancing motor skills and creativity in children by converging education with play. ### Personalized Education Toys are becoming more focused on cultivating aesthetic sensibility and enhancing the personal identity of children. ### STEM Education Educational kits and toys are focused more on STEM education to teach young users robotics, coding, and other essential technical skills. ## What the Purposeful Construction trend means for industry ### For Education There is a growing trend in converging play and education to enhance children's motor skills and creativity. ### For Toy Manufacturing The design industry is becoming more focused on toys that teach real-world skills and are fun to play with. ### For Educational Technology With a growing focus on STEM education, there is a growing sector of educational technology incoporating robotics building blocks as a new form of play that encourages experimentation and learning. ## Workshop question Where does your brand fit into cultivating consumers' personal or public personas? ## Trend signals for Purposeful Construction Trend score 4.2 out of 10, from popularity 56%, activity 62%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 56% - Activity: 62% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Purposeful Construction trend 6 featured examples from Dec 29, 2015 to Aug 23, 2016. - [Artistry Teaching Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/trace-and-learn): The Dora the Explorer Trace and Learn Projector Teaches Art Basics (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: The Dora the Explorer Trace and Learn Projector belongs to the educational toys industry, which has the opportunity to create more products that combine learning and artistic expr… - [Architectural Bathtub Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bathtub-toys): WATERSCAPE Lets Kids Build Floating Cities in the Tub (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: De Intuïtiefabriek's WATERSCAPE collection is disrupting the toy industry with its innovative approach to bath toys that engage children's imagination and are easy to clean. - [Robotic Educational Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/educational-kit): The Sony Global Education 'KOOV' Kit Focuses on Teach Kids STEM (Category: Tech) Implication: The education industry has an opportunity to develop new STEM-focused curriculums and programs that integrate with hands-on educational kits like the Sony Global Education 'KOOV'… - [Connected Building Block Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robot-building-blocks): The 'ROKduino' Robot Building Blocks are an Educational Form of Play (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Developing customizable toy kits that combine play and education, allowing children to learn robotics and coding skills. - [Children's Architecture Building Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/drafting-kit): The Little Architect Set is a Techicolor Toy Drafting Kit (Category: Art & Design) Implication: The toy manufacturing industry can develop and market more miniature toy drafting kits for children, tapping into the growing demand for educational and creative toys. - [Instructional Type Blocks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/wooden-letter): The 'Tykography' Wooden Letter Cubes Teach Children About Typefaces (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Opportunity for toy manufacturers to create innovative educational products that teach children about typography and design. ## Recent trend clusters - [Constructible Franchises](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/constructible-franchises) (Life-Stages) - [Assisted Choices](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/weight-loss-medication-support) (Lifestyle) - [Storyline Sips](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/themed-drink-menus) (Lifestyle) - [Bedtime Cocoon](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/sleep-sensory-blocking) (Lifestyle) ## Trending in Life-Stages - [Retro Graphic Tees](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nostalgic-graphic-tees) - [Screen-Free Kids Phones](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/screen-free-kids-phones) - [Edible Oil-Based Lubes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/coco-lube) - [Women's Health-Focused Probiotic Supplements](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/womens-health-probiotic-capsules) All articles: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages)