Category
Life-Stages
Constructible Franchises
Trend cluster
Category
Pandemic
Toy
Toy brands release products that help normalize the ongoing pandemic for children.
4.6
Trend score
Trend
What is the Pandemic Toy trend?
Pandemic Toy: Brands that create children's toys are developing products that are inspired by the ongoing pandemic. These items aim to normalize the current way of life for children, whether that's by celebrating essential workers or imitating life working from home.
Insight
The consumer insight behind the Pandemic Toy trend
For parents who are working from home with young children, or children who are in virtual school, keeping a "normal" routine within the home, and maintaining mental health among children can be a struggle. Between the stress of new responsibilities and the uncertainty around when they'll end, parents seek out ways to keep their children occupied while framing the current climate with a sense of normalcy.
Trend themes
Themes within the Pandemic Toy trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Pandemic-inspired toys
Brands are developing toys inspired by the ongoing pandemic to help normalize the current way of life for children.
02
Virtual/remote play experiences
Companies are curating virtual or remote play experiences for kids to keep them entertained while at home due to COVID-19.
03
Thanking essential workers
Brands are releasing products that pay homage to first responders and essential workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Industry implications
What the Pandemic Toy trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Toy Industry
The toy industry is adapting to the current pandemic landscape by creating toys that help normalize current events, bring joy, and keep kids entertained.
For
Education Industry
The education industry is shifting focus towards virtual or remote learning experiences to keep children engaged while learning from home.
For
Healthcare Industry
The healthcare industry has seen an increase in support from various brands that have created products to honor and thank essential workers.
Workshop question
How could your brand prioritize pandemic education or establishing a sense of normalcy for children?
Trend signals
Trend signals for Pandemic Toy
Trend score 4.6 out of 10, from popularity 66%, activity 62%, freshness 9%.
Popularity66%
Activity62%
Freshness9%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z (not a primary audience)
- 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 Pandemic Toy trend
4 featured examples from Mar 25 to Aug 19, 2020CategoryLife-Stages
At-Home Play Packs
Toyr"R"Us Canada Created Entertaining 'R' Stay-at-Home Play Packs
Disruptive innovation opportunity: Incorporating curated play packs as a new offering in the toy retail industry to cater to the needs of families staying at home.
CategoryLife-Stages
Pen Pal Campaigns
L.O.L. Surprise! is Helping Kids Connect While Social Distancing
Toy companies can disrupt the traditional play experience by combining physical and digital elements to create innovative and interactive products that appeal to modern kids and p…
CategoryLife-Stages
First Responder Action Figures
Mattel Releases Special Edition Action Figures—#ThankYouHeroes
Toy manufacturers can create special edition action figures that honor and support first responders and essential workers.
CategoryLife-Stages
Work-from-Home Playsets
Fisher-Price's My Home Office Toy Set is a Pandemic-Inspired Toy
Toy companies have an opportunity to create innovative and engaging toys that reflect current societal shifts, like Fisher-Price did with the My Home Office playset.
