Why Preschools Are the Perfect Playground for Toy Brands

“I honestly didn’t realize how much these toys could support our learning-through-play mandate. I’m definitely going to keep using the toys and resources in my classroom for years to come." -Linda P, Early Childhood Educator, Acorn Childcare Center

This feedback from a preschool teacher says it all: toys are powerful tools for learning. For toy brands, preschools offer an opportunity to showcase their products in an environment where play and education naturally come together.

Aligning your marketing and communication efforts with preschools and play-based learning is a strategy with huge potential for long-term brand building and sales growth.

Here are three reasons why this approach can be a super effective (and cost efficient!) strategy to promote toys:

1. Seamless Fit with the Environment

• Preschools emphasize hands-on, exploratory, and imaginative play, which aligns perfectly with the core purpose of toys.
• Over 90% of preschool play involving toys showcases their integral role in early childhood development, making preschools a high-impact space for toy exposure.

2. Targeted Audience

• Preschools concentrate the ideal demographic: children in the developmental sweet spot for toys, as well as their parents, who are most likely the primary decision-makers for purchases.
• By embedding toys in classrooms, marketers ensure that their products are introduced in a context where parents and caregivers perceive them as educationally valuable.

3. Teacher Advocacy

• Teachers are powerful, trusted influencers. When they incorporate a toy into their curriculum, it carries implicit validation of its educational and play value.
• The sentiment, "If a toy has enough play value to be in my child's classroom, it must be good," is powerful. It transforms toys from "products" into "learning tools," fostering trust among parents.
• Parents are more likely to purchase toys that children request or enjoy at school, creating a seamless bridge between in-classroom and at-home play.

Interested in learning more?

If making an impact in preschools resonates with you, join us for our webinar, Boost Toy Sales with the Power of Preschool Play, on January 22 or 23 at 1:30 PM, where we’ll explore how to transform toys into trusted tools for child development. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn actionable strategies to elevate your brand in the early learning market. Register now and let’s play smart together!