Mary Manz Simon's Blog, page 52
February 14, 2016
Scents and sniffs
Did your house smell loverly for Valentine’s Day? Adding fragrances to children’s products is still trending.
A recent addition: Build-A-Bear Workshop has introduced cuddly friends with candy-scented fur. Use a little imagination and you can sniff the bonus: the more a child hugs their bears, the sweeter they smell.
February 12, 2016
Gender neutral
Tomorrow morning, I head to NYC for the annual International Toy Fair.
Among other “things to note,” I’ll be looking to see how far the gender neutral pendulum has moved.
During the holidays, the Moschino Barbie ad was notable for including a boy playing with the doll…but I wonder how many little guys have shifted back to trucks and Legos, nearly two months after Christmas.
February 10, 2016
Digital cleanse
Unplugging is making waves this winter.
Screen addiction – especially to cell phones – has become so widespread among teens, that high schools have identified digital cleanse days.
In some schools, teams or clubs have organized unplug challenges. Ceremonies and rituals are developing around the “turn off” times or “lock down”, as teens prepare to live without screens for 24 hour periods.
But will that brief pause prevent attachment from becoming addiction? It’s worth a try.
February 8, 2016
Beyond trend spotting
Regular readers of this blog are sometimes surprised that I identify trends before they hit mainstream culture. I’ve been asked repeatedly, “How do you do that?”
There are many trend spotters looking around, but I always go deep. Even when “mentally cruising” news reports and press releases, or even in New York City at Toy Fair later this week, I target products or ideas that have implications or applications for children, parents or the family. That means I don’t chase rabbit tails: look under the surface for what matters to you.
I continually survey what’s happening on the front lines of the family. I read voraciously. I observe interactions. I study findings by professionals, family and education activists, publishers and children’s product companies.
I continually ask, “Is there an implication or application here for a child, educator, parent or family?”
When the answer is, “Yes,” you’ll read it here.
February 5, 2016
Ludwig anyone?
The choice of baby names always reflects the times, so it’s no wonder we see the impact of Instagram filters in hospital nurseries.
As an author, I expect to sign books for many children named Lux, Ludwig and Amaro in coming months.
February 3, 2016
Social support or social pressure?
Too many Facebook friends can increase pressure on teens.
That was a summary statement pulled from recent research out of Canada. Although the sample size was small, the effects of online pressure is certain to be studied again, across a broader population and for longer periods of time.
It’s easy to understand how having 300 or more Facebook friends could trigger a swing from a teen celebrating online popularity to feeling online pressure. Just think how kids feel who have 1,000+ friends!
February 1, 2016
Super screen
Giant screen TV ads are running nonstop in the build up to Super Sunday.
Even though the appropriateness for children watching Super Bowl halftime shows and ads varies each year, gathering around the big screen is still viewed as “together time” for families.
Research shows that as more Millennials become parents, subscription video on demand is increasing…and all that programming is watched on big screens.
January 29, 2016
Beyond millennials
Millennials are so yesterday.
After all, marketers are already working to name the generation following millennials.
Currently under consideration: Post-Millennials, iGen and Bridge.
Although Generation Z also makes the list, I feel a little nervous using the last letter we’ve got. That feels so “end of the line.”
January 27, 2016
iLoveMG
We’re in the heart of the iLoveMG initiative.
A translation: iLoveMG represents a push by Workman Publishers to increase attention and interest in middle grade reading.
Although cynics might snicker at devoting an entire campaign to this niche, grades 3-6 are key in determining what kind of reader children will become. During these years, students discover favorite authors, genres and series. Kids begin to truly read independently.
It’s worth looking past the promotional talk to recognize the importance of the issue.
January 25, 2016
Toys-to-life
Are kids still playing with their Christmas gifts? After all, the holiday was exactly one month ago.
Kids who received toys with both digital and physical properties don’t draw a line between the two elements. These “connected toys” have opened an entirely new product category called toys-to-life.
If you’ve watched your child press pictures in a print book or swish a magazine page, thinking a paper page works like a tablet, you know that new variations of these “toys-to-life” products will be under Christmas trees eleven months from today.
