PLAYING CAN BE AN enjoyable and effective means of helping children learn and develop their intellectual and physical potential. Parents around the world are becoming increasingly aware of this, and their quest for quality play for their children is driving demand for educational toys.
As a major toy exporter, Hong Kong has been quick to capitalise on this emerging trend, developing a growing market for educational toys, according to the Trade Development Council.
Educational toys were one of the focus sectors at the Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair last month, and the sector was hailed as an up-and-coming international market winner. Smart toys and web-compatible toys were identified, in particular, as having future potential.
While some operators believed that further market cultivation was required, the industry was generally sanguine about the future in view of the huge emerging market in China, and expected demand to grow in developing economies such as Eastern Europe.
Andre Delore, head of Childford, which specialises in educational toys for toddlers and children up to the age of six, said that contrary to common perception, parents in developing economies were more prepared to spend money on educational toys than those in richer, developed economies.
'Our experience in these markets shows that there is a stronger desire among parents in the less-well-off places to equip their children for a better future, making them more willing to invest in educational toys for their kids,' Mr Delore said.
The company's head offices are in France and Switzerland, where the design of toys and related research and development (R&D) are conducted. Its Hong Kong office plays a supporting role in supervising production in the mainland and co-ordinating the export of products to overseas markets.