# Therapeutic Play Toys target children's anxieties with helpful stress relief features. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Jun 30, 2015 | Category: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/life-stages) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/therapeutic-play ## Key Figures - Trend score: 4.5/10 - Evidence articles: 4 ## What is the Therapeutic Play trend? **Therapeutic Play:** As stress and anxieties continue to grow among younger generations, toys brands are adopting a more health-conscious approach to entertainment. Offering interactive, multisensory features to help alleviate stress, these products speak to a growing desire for methods of health and wellness that are less abrasive and more integrated, particularly among youth. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 4 featured examples - Articles from: Apr 25, 2015 to May 14, 2016 - Published: Jun 30, 2015 - Patterns: [Convergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/convergence), [Acceleration](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/acceleration) - Megatrends: [Multisensation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/multisensation), [Hybridization](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/hybridization), [Catalyzation](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/catalyzation) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Alpha, Gen Z - Top markets: North America, Europe ## Themes within the Therapeutic Play trend ### Health-Conscious Toys As stress levels continue to rise among younger generations, toy brands are adopting a more health-conscious approach to entertainment, offering interactive and multisensory features to help alleviate stress. ### Therapeutic Technology From anxiety-alleviating robots to plush wellness toys and light therapy toy lamps, a growing trend in therapeutic technology is emerging, offering a new form of health and wellness that is less abrasive and more integrated for youth. ### Mindfulness-Inspired Toys With an aim to promote health and mindfulness, toys such as the Meddy Teddy have been created for children to instill the importance of yoga and meditation practices, teaching kids the value of flexibility, muscle development and a positive body image. ## What the Therapeutic Play trend means for industry ### For Toy Industry Toy manufacturers are embracing new opportunities to produce health-conscious and therapeutic play products that offer interactive experiences for children. ### For Healthcare Industry With the emergence of therapeutic toys, hospitals and medical professionals can adopt these products as new means of addressing issues of anxiety, pain, and isolation faced by many young patients. ### For Home Decor Industry The Elenker Bedroom Night Light is part of the growing trend in home decor that offers interactive and modular designs, combining elements of technology and wellness for children's rooms. ## Workshop question What challenges does the next generation of your consumers face and how are you supporting them? ## Trend signals for Therapeutic Play Trend score 4.5 out of 10, from popularity 67%, activity 61%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 67% - Activity: 61% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Therapeutic Play trend 4 featured examples from Apr 25, 2015 to May 14, 2016. - [Light Therapy Toy Lamps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/bedroom-night-light): The Elenker Bedroom Night Light is Part Lamp, Part Interactive Toy (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Incorporating therapeutic features in toys to promote better physical, mental and emotional health among children. - [Yoga-Posing Plushies](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/meddy-teddy): The Meddy Teddy Encourages Children to be Healthier and More Mindful (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Opportunity for toy manufacturers to create yoga-inspired toys for children. - [Plush Wellness Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/doodle-toy): The Doodle Toy Monitor's a Child's Health and Wellness Through Play (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Toy companies can leverage the growing demand for interactive and connected toys that promote children's well-being and assist parents in monitoring their health. - [Anxiety-Alleviating Robots](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/robot-teddy): 'Huggable' is a Robot Teddy That Helps Comfort Hospitalized Children (Category: Tech) Implication: With the potential to revolutionize patient care and treatment, therapeutic robots offer a disruptive innovation opportunity for the healthcare industry to improve outcomes and in… ## Recent trend clusters - [Protein Personalization](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/protein-personalization) (Lifestyle) - [Autonomous Merchandising](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autonomous-merchandising) (Business) - [Countertop Craft](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/countertop-craft) (Lifestyle) - [Inclusive Formulas](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/inclusive-formulas) (Fashion) ## 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) - [Historical Character Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polly-pocket-x-american-girl) - [Larger-Format Brainteaser Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kanoodle-party) All articles: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages)