# Mundane Play Children imitate the everyday tasks of adulthood during playtime. By [Armida Ascano](https://www.trendhunter.com/Armida), Chief Insights Officer | Published Jul 18, 2013 | Category: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/life-stages) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/mundane-play ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.0/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Mundane Play trend? **Mundane Play:** The independence that comes with growing up is appealing for obvious reasons; however, the responsibility that accompanies this independence is often pushed to the background. In an attempt to give children full understanding of what it means to be an adult, toys are now reflecting more realistic aspects of being a grown-up. This increases a child's chance of being a well-informed, critical-thinking adult in the future. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Dec 3, 2012 to Jul 15, 2013 - Published: Jul 18, 2013 - Patterns: [Cyclicality](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/cyclicality) - Megatrends: [Youthfulness](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/youthfulness), [Authenticity](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/authenticity) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha - Top markets: North America ## Themes within the Mundane Play trend ### Realistic Toy Sets Toys are reflecting more realistic aspects of being a grown-up, cultivating independent and critical thinking qualities in children. ### Interactive Chore Toys Interactive toys designed for child chores, such as musical lawn mowers, make it easier to teach the importance of helping out around the house. ### Training Technology Toys Toys like iWoody by DONKEY CREATIV LAB teaching children how to recognize and interact with mobile technology is becoming more commonplace. ## What the Mundane Play trend means for industry ### For Toy Industry The toy industry is continually innovating to create realistic, imaginative and interactive toy experiences for children. ### For Consumer Electronics Industry The consumer electronics industry has an opportunity to create more training technology toys to develop the technology skills of children. ### For Household Cleaning Industry The household cleaning industry has an opportunity to team up with toy manufacturers to create fun and interactive chore toys to engage children with household chores. ## Trend signals for Mundane Play Trend score 3.0 out of 10, from popularity 39%, activity 43%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 39% - Activity: 43% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Mundane Play trend 4 featured examples from Dec 3, 2012 to Jul 15, 2013. - [Smartphone Training Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/iwoody-by-donkey-creativ-lab): The iWoody by DONKEY CREATIV LAB is a Child's First Smartphone (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Introduce tech-infused toys that cater to children's interest in smartphones and offer educational benefits. - [Mini Kid-Friendly Sports Cars](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/mini-corvette-stingray): This Mini Corvette Stingray Adds Some Luxury to Playtime (Category: Autos) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Partner with automobile companies to design and produce miniaturized versions of luxury sports cars for the toy market. - [Chore-Encouraging Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/musical-lawn-mower): Cynthia Poon's Musical Lawn Mower Helps Kids Compose Yard Work Symphonies (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Toy companies could explore creating toys that encourage children to learn and complete chores in a fun and interactive way. - [Fake Fruit-Cutting Kits](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kid-o-cutting-fruit): The Kid O Cutting Fruit Set Lets Little Ones Prepare Faux Snacks (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Toy manufacturers can capitalize on the trend of magnetic fruit-cutting toys by creating innovative and safe products that offer engaging play experiences for young children. ## Recent trend clusters - [Automated Upkeep](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/automated-upkeep) (Tech) - [Serial Snacking](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/serial-snacking) (Lifestyle) - [Autumn Teasers](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autumn-teasers) (Business) - [Ambient Assistance](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ambient-assistance) (Tech) ## 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)