Birthing inclusive toy Ideas in Kyoto’s children People Project

People Inc., a company known for planning, developing, and selling toys for infants and young children, has initiated the “Children People Project.” This initiative brings together the curious minds of first-grade students from AIC International Academy Kyoto Elementary School in Shimogyo Ward, Kyoto City, to brainstorm and develop innovative toy ideas.

The project, launched in alignment with Goal 5 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Achieving Gender Equality, focuses on creating toys that appeal to all children, irrespective of gender. September 2023 saw a surge of creativity as children presented a myriad of unique ideas based on the theme “toys that not only boys or girls, but everyone wants to play with.”

People Inc. has been fostering an environment where “children’s curiosity bursts out,” with several new projects springing to life under this guiding principle. The “Children People Project” is a standout initiative among them, designed to create an impact on society driven by children’s inherent curiosity. This project has blossomed through the collective efforts of People’s employees and a supportive external network.

This July, a series of collaborative classes were conducted by the project members at the AIC International Academy, focusing on the development of toys that have never been made or sold and that everyone, regardless of gender, would want to play with. The students engaged in observational studies, interviewed individuals, and created informative posters, all aiming to refine and upgrade their toy ideas.

Following this, about 100 children nationwide, including registered monitors of People, were given the opportunity to vote on the toy ideas presented by the students. The class held in September saw the announcement of the top three ideas, which were then further refined by teams of children for the “Toy Release Mission.”

The ideas generated by the children were reflective of their inclusive mindset, considering not just gender but also aspects like age and physical abilities, displaying an unbiased and broad perspective. People Inc. has recognized the role of gender as a potential barrier in a child’s developmental journey and has been continuously working with children on themes related to toys and gender.