The Toy Association’s Anna Yudina Discusses The Genius of Play & More on Power Kid Podcast

October 15, 2020 | The Toy Association’s Anna Yudina, senior director of marketing initiatives, joined the Power Kid Podcast this week to chat about the origins and evolution of The Genius of Play as well as the Association’s STEAM initiative and the Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards.

Speaking with host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design, Yudina gave an overview of The Genius of Play’s ongoing research into the universal benefits of play for all and how the initiative has evolved to meet the needs of today’s families − particularly in the midst of a global pandemic. Since March, The Genius of Play has not only expanded into Canada but also expanded its already robust library of play ideas and expert tips, offering new resources for families to navigate such topics as the emotional impact of social distancing and issues of race, diversity, and inclusion.

“This conversation was a great opportunity to bring into focus the work The Toy Association is doing to not only position play as a valuable and critical resource for families but also to adapt to the needs of our many audiences,” said Yudina. “We encourage our members to utilize all of The Genius of Play resources as well to underscore the power and unprecedented relevance of play in today’s environment!”

During the episode, Yudina also discussed several of The Toy Association’s other programs and their continued enhancements to better serve members through increased marketing exposure and promotion. This includes its work with leading online influencers to build excitement and buzz around the upcoming TOTY Awards finalists’ reveal and how TOTY 2021 will pivot to a virtual format that invites consumers to tune in. She also highlighted the Association’s work to create unifying guidelines for toy manufacturers designing and marketing STEAM toys. With two STEM/STEAM reports now available to Toy Association members, a third will be released in early 2021.

Toy professionals are invited to listen to the full episode on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Anchor, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and other platforms. For more information about the benefits of play, visit thegeniusofplay.org.