Why Toys Appeal to Children?

CEBU, Philippines - Toys are really, really a big thing with children. Kids like toys so much that some toys become huge mainstream fads. For example, have been Furby and Hatchimals. And now – the fidget spinners.

But how do toys become larger than life that even grownups grow fond of them?  Some toys are really fun to have. But it’s not only about the toys. Many kids want a toy for the simple reason that the other kids each have one.

Human beings are social creatures and it’s but natural to want to have what the others have. It makes a person feel as being part of a group, whether kid or grownup. With kids especially, doing the same activities and having the same fun as the other kids makes them feel they belong.

Toys have become a multibillion-dollar industry worldwide – proof of their widespread appeal.  Most toys are just fleeting fads; their appeal fades out after a while. This is particularly true with toys that are merchandising items for movies. 

But some toys have a much more lingering appeal. Barbie is one example. It has been around for about half a century now, and little girls continue to cling to it. The original Barbie fans are getting old now, but they still love their Barbies.

In the case of Barbie and the few other toys that have stayed for quite a while already, the reason of wanting to have what the other kids have may not be the most operative factor in its sustained appeal. With most people, the penchant for toys dies out as they grow up.  Some grownups, however, have their ‘inner child’ eternally active.

In this case, some toys have the power to remain big hits among both the children and the childlike for a long time. This status is a combination of marketing and psychology.  The use of models in toys advertising makes people want to have the toys advertised. If the guy in the advertisement looks cool to them, people want to copy them to be cool too.

If the product endorser is a celebrity, it can make one feel closer to that person by having the same toy the guy on TV has. The price is quite a complex factor. If a toy is way too expensive, people won’t buy it, no matter how incredible it is.

The opposite is also true with price. If the toy is too cheap, people would feel like it’s simply that, ‘cheap’ and not worth it. So, among the toy manufacturers, pricing their product is such a tricky matter.

But kids don’t really know or understand prices. That’s actually for the parents, since they are the ones that pay. Kids simply see something everyone else thinks is cool, and want to be in the fad.

But if a toy is actually cool, kids will love it for years and years, just like Barbie, Beanie Babies, Furby and many more. If a toy doesn’t prove to be something, then kids quickly get bored with it and the fad withers away. That’s why some toy fads stay and grow to become big, beloved franchises, while others are like shooting stars; they glow once and then disappear.

With kids, toys reinforce their fantasy world. With grownups, it’s their cherished link to their childhood. Thus, toys appeal to children – of all ages! (FREEMAN)