- How often do you buy toys for your child/children?
Once a day A couple of times a year
A couple of times a week Only for special occasions
A couple of times a month Other______________
- How important do you think toys are in a child’s development?
Not at all Quite
Not very Very
Slightly Extremely
Date - / /2003
Signature -
1. This bar chart proves that the people I asked the questionnaire had children that ranged between ages. This tells me that there are many different aged children that might use my toy. With this information I will now take into consideration the ability of the toy and what age children would be able to use it. Although it will be difficult I am now going to try and produce my toy for a child of any age between 0-4 years old.
2. There is a mixed amount of males and females throughout the world that I am going to try and cater for in making this toy therefore it would sell better and appeal to more parents and children. I think I will use the primary colours as they are very unisex, whereas boys are associated with the colour blue and girls are associated with the colour pink. Consequently if I used assorted range of colour then I would be appealing to almost double the amount of children than if I just used blue or pink.
3. The average amount that a parent of today’s society is willing to spend on a toy is roughly £10. This has changed from many years ago because of people’s increased spending power and the fact that parents are earning more than what they used to. This is due to many things, one of them being the fact that women nowadays work. This is because it has now become more acceptable for women to have paid jobs outside the home. Now I know that I can push my spending boundaries on making the product from £5 to £10 as parents nowadays, generally can afford more, and higher quality toys.
- By this bar chart we can clearly see that the most popular time to buy a toy for a child between 0-4yrs old is a couple of times a month. This signifies that most parents buy their children toys every fortnight. Therefore I will have to make a toy that would last a long time, and that would be eye-catching compared to any other toy that the parents could buy.
5. Most parents that I asked about toys playing a major role in their child’s development thought that it was quite important. This is understandable as toys play a key role in helping the child to learn different skills, therefore if I make the skill(s) noticeable then the product will be more appealing to the parents.
Interview
Do you play with your child a lot? When? Why?
I play with daughter every day, normally after lunch. We have a set routine most days; morning time is taken up with activities such as play group, shopping or housework. Then after lunch I set time aside for her.
Do you enjoy it? Why?
Yes I do enjoy it because I can watch her be creative, watch her laugh and most importantly we spend one to one time together.
Does your child ever play alone? When? Why?
Yes she does, some morning when I am doing house work and preparing the evening meal.
Does your child have a favourite toy? If so please describe it…
It is a doll called “Tiny Tears” It is an old second hand doll that was given to her. It has longish blonde hair moulded face, arms and legs. The body part is padded cotton material.
I need to look in shops at the toys which are being sold because I might adapt an existing toy or generate ideas from them to make a new toy.
I could send e-mails to current toy makers asking them about their toys.
27 Medway Gardens ELC Direct
Sudbury Town Customer services
Wembley Early Learning Centre
Middlesex South Marston Park
HA0 2RW Swindon
SN3 4TJ
Dear ELC,
I am writing to ask if you could possibly send me information about your company and the manufacturing aspects of it.
Yours Sincerely,
Miss Colette McDonagh
Shortly after I sent the email Early Learning Centre sent me an email back telling me my enquiry is being submitted and will shortly hear back from them...
DESIGN BRIEF
I KNOW AND UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE TO DESIGN AND MAKE A TOY FOR A PRE-SCHOOL CHILD FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO LEARN NEW SKILLS
