The last few months have turned the toy industry upside down. With travel restrictions and stay at home orders in place, parents and grandparents have been looking for new ways to keep children busy and entertained.
Here are 5 current trends happening now in the world of playthings:
Educational Toys & Games
With online schooling ending and summer break just beginning, parents have been searching for educational toys and games to keep kids learning. Science kits, bridge workbooks, and board games are just a few categories that have seen their popularity rise. They are a great way for families to find enjoyment with the added benefit of learning something new or freshening up on a subject.
Trending: Butterfly Garden
Puzzles
Demand for puzzles has skyrocketed! People are looking for ways to entertain their families besides technology and a classic staple has made a comeback. Puzzles for both kids and adults are keeping people busy at home. Larger count puzzles and puzzles with hidden images are currently trending.
Trending: 101 Things to Spot Underwater - 101 Piece Puzzle
Building Sets
Similar to the reasons that puzzles have picked up in demand, building sets are also on the rise. Brand such as LEGO, Plus Plus, Marble Genius, and Magna-tiles offer both instructed and open-ended play options. Building sets are great STEM projects that require problem solving and a little creativity. This is a trend we expect to see into the holiday season.
Trending: Plus-Plus Learn to Build Glow in the Dark Building Set
Arts & Crafts
Art class may have been canceled but kids are still finding ways to express their inner artist. Art and craft projects can be as simple as painting rocks to a time-intensive project like weaving. Kits that are less mess and require little cleanup have picked up in popularity.
Trending: Creativity for Kids Big Gem Diamond Painting
Outdoor Activities
Families are getting outside after being stuck indoors as they work from home and complete e-learning. Many have picked up new outdoor activities such as gardening, sports, and exploring the natural world around them. Sporting equipment and outdoor science tools have grown in popularity as the weather got warmer and families started venturing outside.
Trending: Bug Vacuum Set
Conclusion
Over the last few months the toy industry has seen big changes as families look for more and more activity based projects. Parents and grandparents are gravitating towards toys and games that are educational and captivating and leaving behind ones that will quickly end up at the bottom of the toy box.
About Little Lincoln’s Toy Shop
We are a locally-owned, specialty toy store located in Springfield, Illinois, that carries a great selection of educational toys and games. Some of our favorite brands include: Fat Brain Toys, HABA, Melissa & Doug, Douglas Plush, Modarri, Peaceable Kingdom, Thinkfun, BRIO, and Creativity for Kids. If you are searching for unique toys in Jacksonville - Illinois, Taylorville - Illinois, Petersburg - Illinois, Chatham - Illinois, Sherman - Illinois, Rochester - Illinois, New Berlin - Illinois look no further than Little Lincoln’s Toy Shop. With tons of board games, stuffed animals, puzzles, building sets, art & craft kits, and pretend play choices, we have something fun for everyone! Our exciting assortment of gifts for babies and children is always changing. Discover more at Little Lincoln’s Toy Shop!
