Blossom: The Toy You Never Outgrow
Time: 14 weeks
Materials: Wood, fabric, food dye, paper
Skills: User-centered design, system thinking, material exploration, storytelling
Children’s toys are vital for early development but need to be replaced often as kids learn. This project grows over multiple years and transforms into a cherished keepsake that celebrates a child’s growth.
The problem
Children's toys should target age-specific developmental needs, but that shouldn’t mean
they must be constantly replaced.Insight from parents
“It’s hard to find toys that our 3-and 6-year olds will play with together.”
“We’re always looking for a toy that feels special enough to pass down."
“We keep buying toys that all feel like junk.”
Age-specific toys that need to be replaced often.
Long-lasting toys don't target specific development needs.
Therefore...
I wanted to work within that space. My goal was to create a toy that was long-lasting and gained value over its lifetime so that parents wanted to keep it or pass it down.
Fabrication
To create a modular system I looked at wood TinkerToys and simple Lego flowers. I designed a simple dowel-and-hole system.
I tested the initial pieces on a 2-year-old to help understand their strength and fine motor skills and loosed tolerances to make it easier to use.
CNC router cutting flowers Drilling into stems to create hole for leafsSanding stems Dyeing parts with food coloring
Material Considerations
The toy is made of wood and cotton. Both these materials are renewable and biodegradable.
I used food dye which is safe if children put the toy in their mouths.
The modularity means that, unlike puzzles, the toy can still be used if pieces break or go missing.
Stages of Growth
Blossom grows over three years as new pieces are added each year. Each set builds on the last with pieces that target age-specific developmental goals. Each bag includes a book that contextualizes the pieces and guides children through the new toy. The combination of challenge and play keeps kids engaged and the toy gains meaning as children play with it.
Stage 1 (age 2): The toy starts with six flowers in simple shapes and colors. The flowers and leaves are detachable from the stem to target fine motor skills. Stage 2 (age 3): Bugs are added, guiding children towards storytelling and imaginative play while teaching them about the interactions between bugs and plants. Stage 3 (age 4): A more complex petal system is introduced with matching cards to target both problem-solving and creativity. With all the pieces combined, the flowers become a lasting display of growth and memories.