How the Indian Toy Industry is empowering parents & kids during the time of social distancing!
by Prashant Kapadia/ NHN
Founded in 2016 by two old friends & new fathers who started building on a dream: to make screen time more meaningful and learning more empathetic for Gen Alpha. That’s how PlayShifu was born! Now, they are ecstatic knowing that over 600,000 children around the world enjoy their toys.
Growing with the industry, PlayShifu offers products like Shifu Orboot Earth, Shifu Plugo letters, Shifu Orboot Dinos, etc. They use advanced technologies like Augmented Reality and yet make it accessible to all via a smartphone or tablet. This added layer of tech and interactivity makes PlayShifu uniquely placed, with huge acceptance within parents and their kids for the ‘phygital’ tech. They also recently acquired a series B funding of $ 17 million and are planning to expand their product range from 12 to 30 products in the Indian & foreign markets.
According to India Toys Market Report 2021, The Indian toy market reached a value of US$ 1.2 Billion in 2020. Looking forward, the Indian toys market to grow at a CAGR of 12.2% during 2021-2026.
This unpredictable pandemic had an immediate impact on children’s outdoor activities. Kids are staying cloistered at home, away from playgrounds & social spaces. Parents across the world are coming up with different solutions to keep the children engaged. According to some surveys, there has been an increase in the selling of toys as parents have started realizing what their children actually like to play with.
While looking for toys that foster’s child’s development, there are three things to remember – education, engagement, and entertainment. Educational toys benefit kid’s motor, sensory and problem-solving abilities. There are technologies like Artificial Intelligence and Virtual Reality that help in engaging kids and make the learning experience seamless and enjoyable.
Shifu Orboot is an AR-enabled globe that helps children learn their way around our world in an easier, more engaging manner. It is the best Rs 1,999 you will ever spend! The Shifu Orboot is not only a toy for children but a whole experience in itself. The app is free to download and easy to use. There are games and quizzes in the app which are also very engaging. We definitely recommend it for children.