The last few years have put a spotlight on mental health, especially as the pandemic caused an uptick in people's feelings of anxiety and sadness globally. In North America, this coincided with the already-existing "wellness" movement, where consumers began exploring stress-reduction through both traditional and "new age" means.
It's no surprise that this focus has extended to children’s toys, with some brands offering interactive experiences to help distract children from challenging emotions and also help teach them productive coping skills for managing stress and anxiety.
The Benefits of Interactive Toys for Kids Dealing with Stress and Anxiety
Interactive toys can provide many benefits to children dealing with stress or anxiety.
For example, they can serve as a distraction from difficult emotions by providing entertainment and fostering imagination. Additionally, these toys are often accompanied by cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) applications that help kids understand their emotions better and learn how to manage them more effectively.
Interactive toys are also multi-sensory, offering children tactile stimulation and helping them develop fine motor skills. Various apps offer games and activities to help kids make sense of their emotions, as well as learn important skills like problem-solving and decision making.
We hope you find your next Groovy thing from the list below! Each product was independently selected by our editors. Some may have been sent as samples for us to fiddle with, but all opinions in this article are our own. Oh, and FYI — MyGroovyGuide may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page if you decide to buy something (that's how we stay in business). Reviews have been edited for length and clarity. Have fun finding hip, cool stuff!
This engaging breathing activity encourages children to be fully present and bring awareness to their thoughts and feelings, while also learning to manage stressful situations and provide anxiety relief for kids.
Both high-tech tool and soft, furry toy, the Purrble companion is a cuddly, interactive friend who helps us find calm in moments of stress, overwhelm, and other big emotions.
How Interactive Toys are Changing the Toy Industry
Interactive tech-based toys have been around for a while now, but they’ve grown in popularity over recent years. These toys offer more than just entertainment; they can even monitor a child's health data and share it remotely with parents or caregivers if needed.
Interactive tech-based toys come in all shapes and sizes. Some involve virtual reality (VR) headsets that allow kids to explore different worlds and scenarios, while others offer GPS tracking features that allow parents to keep an eye on their children at all times.
The newest fidget cube dodecagon is designed to reduce the stress and anxiety, helping you to develop focus and concentration, adding more fun especially suitable for those with extra energy
Bottom Line:
Interactive tech-based toys can be an effective way of engaging with kids who are dealing with stress or anxiety. These toys not only provide adistraction but also serve to educate children about their own emotions and teach them practical coping mechanisms for managing those emotions in productive ways.
As new technology emerges, we can expect even more innovative tools geared towards helping kids navigate difficult emotional states in healthy ways. If you know someone who could benefit from interactive tech-based toys, it may be worthwhile exploring what options are available on the market today!