How the Fisher-Price Play Lab turns child’s play into engaging, educational toys


More than 137,000 kids have helped the company test and fine-tune toys through play

TP x Fisher Price feature newsletter

Created for “Fisher-Price”

When you think of a toy manufacturer, what comes to mind? People in board rooms? Factories and conveyor belts? Perhaps designers working feverishly to come up with the next big toy sensation? At the Fisher-Price Play Lab in East Aurora, New York, things are a little different. 

Picture instead a bright and cheerful playroom, with an almost-real indoor treehouse, a huge red twirly slide, and children’s artwork on the walls. Toys aren’t simply created and shipped out to market at Fisher-Price; instead, they are conceptualized, tested and re-tested in the Fisher-Price Play Lab—a 60-years-young facility (the first of its kind) where children and their parents come to play, while experts watch, evaluate and develop new, engaging toys.

“Children learn best through hands-on experience,” says Dr. Deborah Weber, Senior Director, Early Childhood Development Research at Fisher-Price. “Our designers watch and learn from how they play. It really helps us make better toys.”

TP x Fisher Price inline

Research shows that both free and guided play helps children learn by guiding them to explore their emotions and encouraging self-expression. By creating an environment where kids can play freely with toy prototypes, researchers gain valuable feedback about what children do and don’t like or respond to. Does the toy capture and hold their attention? Are the noises too quiet? Too loud? Are the lights overwhelming? Do certain toys and learning concepts work better together? 

A team of Early Childhood Development experts work with designers, engineers and musicians to evaluate every detail of every toy. Together, they use the latest tools and software, including eye-tracking technology to see through the eyes of the youngest toy testers, who can’t yet verbalize their feedback and an emotional analysis tool that measures facial expressions in infants to determine their emotions.

TP x Fisher Price inline3

The new Linkimals toys, for example, were created to cater to the busy way babies play. Each Linkimals toy links with other Linkimals characters to count, light up and sing with each other, creating an immersive, interactive play and learning experience. In creating the new Meditation Mouse, which incorporates simple mindfulness practices into childrens’ lives, Play Lab researchers observed children’s ability to follow exercises and prompts and experimented with the pace and length of the narrated exercises.

From concept, through prototype, fine-tuning and testing, what seems like a fantastic idea can change dramatically once a child gets their hands on it. More than 450 toys are tested each year, with 2,500 children and 1,850 parents taking part on-site and in-home. “We really sweat the details to come up with the best toy for the richest play-based experience for the children,” says Weber. “Play Lab is the heart of Fisher-Price because it’s where the magic starts.”

Stay in touch

Subscribe to Today’s Parent’s daily newsletter for our best parenting news, tips, essays and recipes.





Source link

toysforgirls

Toys for Girls

toysforboys

Toys for Boys

craftsupplies

Craft Supplies

babywalker

Baby Walkers

best toothpaste tablets
Best Toothpaste Tablets 2024 – Today’s Parent
tick spray
Best Kid-Safe Spray for Ticks
GettyImages 1191574624
Can You Overfeed a Breastfed Baby?
og image default
7 Books About Kindness for Kids
TP x Belize 1
5 Reasons Why Belize Should Be Your Next Family Vacation Destination
14 Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids
Easter Basket Stuffers for Kids
1 4
14 Kid-Friendly Easter Recipes Ideas to Try
clek foonf
Best Toddler Car Seat 2024
Georgian surnames
90+ Common Georgian Surnames Or Last Names, With Meanings
Nicknames For Max 1
250+ Unusual Short Names Or Nicknames For Max
Vampire last names
200+ Famous Vampire Last Names And Meanings
Belgian surnames
150+ Common Belgian Last Names Or Surnames, With Meanings
Summer Fun Takes Flight with Viviana Malls Science Fiesta
Summer Fun Takes Flight with Viviana Mall’s Science Fiesta
15 Rebus Puzzles For Kids With Answers And Tips To Solve 2
15 Rebus Puzzles For Kids, With Answers And Tips To Solve
Child temperament is unique for each child
Traits, Types, And Tips To Manage
Sharks are the top predators in the ocean
50 Fun And Interesting Shark Facts For Kids To Know
TP x Tena
I peed my pants at the trampoline park
canadian parents drink less alcohol
Canadian parents are being told they drink way too much and REALLY?!
marie curie science roundup 750x422
Can role playing encourage girls in STEM?
best new period products feature
12 cool and sustainable period products to help manage your flow
maxresdefault
Expresso Show LIVE | Parenting Advice | 9 June 2021 | FULL SHOW
maxresdefault
Daily English Conversation in Parent Teacher Meeting.
maxresdefault
SMART PARENTING HACKS AND CRAFTS #shorts
maxresdefault
Parenting styles Psych 2015