Category
Tech
Automated Upkeep
Trend cluster
Category
Protective
Play
Seeking to instill a sense of comfort, parents turn to encapsulating toys.
2.6
Trend score
Trend
What is the Protective Play trend?
Protective Play: While offering comfort and security for children is often a top priority, constantly watching over infants day and night can be tricky for working parents. Seeking to provide a convenient sense of protection, parents are turning to encapsulating plush toys that are made to envelop a child, mocking the feeling of the womb. These soothing sources of play reflect a similarity to the womb that shows a more slow approach to transitioning a baby from infancy beyond.
Trend themes
Themes within the Protective Play trend
Three behaviours holding the trend together01
Womb-Replicating Plush Toys
Parents are turning to encapsulating plush toys that are made to envelop a child, mocking the feeling of the womb.
02
Animal-Based Knapsacks
Hug Me Backpacks pay tribute to fun and entertaining characters from My Little Pony.
03
Upcycling of Clothing into Plush Toys
The Giant Cthulhu Plush is an example of awesome upcycling as it is made out of old clothes.
Industry implications
What the Protective Play trend means for industry
Where the trend changes the playbookFor
Baby and Childcare Industry
Opportunity to develop products that comfort and protect young children.
For
Toy Industry
Innovating the traditional toy industry, such as making animals into backpacks instead of traditional backpack shapes.
For
Sustainability Industry
Opportunity to develop products that help reduce textile waste, such as upcycling old clothes into plush toys.
Trend signals
Trend signals for Protective Play
Trend score 2.6 out of 10, from popularity 31%, activity 38%, freshness 8%.
Popularity31%
Activity38%
Freshness8%
Audience
50%Men
50%Women
- Gen Alpha
- Gen Z
- Millennial
- Gen X
- Boomer (not a primary audience)
Market
North America
Europe
Asia-Pacific
Evidence
Examples of the Protective Play trend
5 featured examples from Dec 18, 2012 to Mar 21, 2014CategoryLife-Stages
Quirky Multiple Apendage Plushies
This Tentacle Cat Plushie Gives Great Hugs
Toy manufacturers can capitalize on the rise of gender-neutral toys and create unique, functional plushies to appeal to a wider audience.
CategoryLife-Stages
Tentacled Super Heroes
These Aquatic Avengers Toys Spray Ink to Save the Day
Disruptive innovation opportunity to produce creative, sea creature-inspired superhero toys for children and collectors.
CategoryLife-Stages
Crooning Cuddly Creature Toys
The Mini Talking Chewie is a Fun-Sized Version of Chewbacca
The toy manufacturing industry can capitalize on the demand for mini talking toys, creating innovative and collectible miniature versions of beloved characters.
CategoryLife-Stages
Cuddly Sci-Fi Creatures
The Giant Cthulhu Plush is a Cuddlier Version of the Famous Monster
The toys and games industry can capitalize on the demand for large, unique and eco-friendly plush toys.
CategoryLife-Stages
Huggable Pony Knapsacks
The 'My Little Pony Hug Me Backpacks' are Adorable Plush Toys
Manufacturers can incorporate plush and huggable designs into a wider range of functional products for everyday use.
