Parents agree play is a form of self-care for kids

Half of parents believe that toys are some of the best teachers their kids will have (52%), according to new research.

A survey looked at how 2,000 parents value their child’s toys’ ability to educate them and found that on average, people think that it’s important to start educating kids about issues in the world at seven years old.

Even in the age of tech, the average child has 26 toys and more than a third of parents said their child continues to ask for new ones at least once a week (36%).

Many parents may not mind, though, since 79% agree that play is a form of self-care for kids, and another 65% said toys these days actually help teach kids about the world.

Three in four parents of kids 14 and under used toys during the pandemic to help their child with social-emotional learning (77%), and most of these parents are still doing so (92%).

Parents said their kids learned about being active (61%), social (58%) and responsible (47%) from their favorite toys.

Conducted by OnePoll for The Toy Association, the survey found that parents are ready for kids’ toys to educate them on even more serious world issues, such as bullying (63%), cultural representation (48%) and racial injustice (44%).

This may be especially true for the two-thirds of parents who believe toys play a significant role in the development of kids’ beliefs and values (67%).

Most agree that the values of the toy industry have changed now from when they were children (84%), and 88% said toys are different today than when they were children.

“Toy companies are leading the way in providing children with access to tools that tackle critical social issues and create a more inclusive world,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “Now when you enter the toy aisle, you’ll be met with the most diverse assortment of dolls ever, as well as toys and games that help kids manage their emotions, promote kindness and acceptance, and celebrate different cultures.”

Nearly three-quarters of parents agree that toys these days are more progressive/diverse than they were when they were kids (73%) and the same percentage of those respondents appreciate the efforts made to be more representative.

Half of parents shared that they wish that they had a toy that felt closer to who they were as kids (52%), which may be why 58% opt to look for toys that best suit their kids now.

One in six parents rated inclusivity/representation in their own toys as “poor” or “fair,” compared to 55% of parents who would say the opposite of their kid’s toys – especially parents of kids 14 and under (72%).

Those parents also expressed interest in purchasing toys that expose their child to diversity and teach inclusion (68%).

Similarly, 38% of grandparents surveyed said when shopping for their grandchild, they look out for toys that represent diverse backgrounds, cultures or lifestyles, and more than a quarter also look for toys that teach kids about environmental issues (28%).

“For generations, toys have taught children about the world around them, and today’s toys are more well-rounded and educational,” added Appell. “With so many toys and games on the market that raise awareness about social issues and other causes, like environmentalism, there are countless opportunities to start a dialogue with kids on how to create a more caring and inclusive world.

As an added bonus, many of these toys are fun for adults too, making it easy for kids and parents to play, learn, and build memories together – in fact, when purchasing toys, most parents consider options they’ll enjoy playing with their child (78%).”