INDUSTRY FORUM TOY ASSOCIATION
Toy Association to Announce 2024 Toy & Play Trends By Kristin Morency Goldman On February 8, The Toy Association’s trends team will unveil the hottest toy trends of 2024 in its annual Toy Trends Briefing, offering media, buyers, and other play professionals an inside look at the products and play patterns that will be driving consumer purchases for toys through to the holiday season. The trends team previewed hundreds of products from companies of all types and sizes before determining which toys kids will be clamoring for this year. The team also tracked what has been happening in parallel industries – from tech and fashion to social media and sports – to come up with the top themes to watch in the toy aisle in 2024. Here’s a sneak peek at what will be trending: · Innovative toys that tap into eerie and mystical themes and incorporate mysterious, hidden, magical, and/or secret features that draw children into play and mirror what’s trending across entertainment (movies, TV, podcasts, gaming, etc.) · Holistic toys that stimulate both brain and body are on the rise, meeting the growing demands of parents and educators to enrich children’s learning through play and promote healthy physical development.
screen entertainment, including an exciting lineup of new preschool entertainment rolling out that will inspire new toys for that demographic. Licenses based on social media, streaming content, and gaming will also continue to carve out a bigger piece of the pie. “A flood of innovative, creative, and trending toys will be hitting store shelves in the coming months and are expected to top kids’ birthday and holiday wish lists throughout the year,” said Adrienne Appell, executive vice president of marketing communications at The Toy Association. “Toy companies are continuing to tap into new markets, engage with new audiences (from teens to older adults) and leverage trends across social media and digital entertainment to create products that will truly excite and engage kids today.” The Toy Trends Briefing is annually presented by The Toy Association in Q1 to offer media a sneak peek at what’s hot as they plan their toy coverage for the year; it’s also wellattended by industry professionals and buyers looking to see how their product offerings align with what’s trending. The presentation is a unique opportunity for toy companies to have their products promoted as examples of the hottest toy trends of the year. The Toy Association follows up on the trends with a Q4 update, featuring the hottest toys of the holiday season.
The Toy Trends Briefing will take place virtually on Thursday, February 8 at 2 p.m. (Eastern). Participants will have the opportunity to participate in a Q&A following the presentation. Registration for the event will remain open at ToyAssociation. · With anime moving from niche to mainstream, expect to org/trends until February 8; for those who cannot attend live, see an array of toy company partnerships and products tied to a recording will be available on The Toy Association’s YouTube top anime properties. channel in the days following the presentation. · Durable, high-quality, and heirloom style toys that can be passed down will appeal to families who are sustainablyminded and value-conscious.
· While 2024 will be a quieter year on the big screen, we’ll see more toys inspired by evergreen characters and small 18 tfe February 2024