Last year, more grown-ups started buying toys for themselves, even though fewer toys were sold overall. This group of grown-ups, called “kidults,” makes up a big part of the toy market, spending lots of money on toys. People think grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy inside. At a big toy event in London, people saw that those who make and sell toys are trying to get grown-ups to buy toys by making different kinds of toys and games for them.

Not just board games, but also action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys are popular with grown-ups. Social media and the idea that toys can help grown-ups feel calm are reasons why they like them. Also, because there are fewer kids and things cost more, grown-ups are buying toys for themselves as a treat instead of spending money on going out. Even when it’s hard to sell toys, the interest from grown-ups in toys is a chance for those who make and sell toys to do well by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy.

Original news source: Cuddly toy sellers chase an unlikely audience: ‘Kidults’ (BBC)

🎧 Listen:

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Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– Charades
Instructions: Divide the class into small groups. One student from each group will act out a toy or game while the others guess what it is. The student acting out the toy or game should use body language and gestures, but cannot speak or make any sounds. The group that guesses correctly gets a point.

– News Summary
Instructions: Read the article as a class and then have the students write a short summary of the main points. After they have finished, have them share their summaries with a partner or the whole class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Ask the students if they like toys and why or why not. Have them write down their answers and then go around the class and ask their classmates the same question. They should tally up the responses and then share the results with the class.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Write down a list of vocabulary words from the article (e.g. toys, grown-ups, kidults, board games, action figures) on the board. Divide the class into small groups and give each group a whiteboard or paper. One student from each group will choose a word and draw a picture to represent it. The other students in the group must try to guess what word it is.

– Think-Pair-Share
Instructions: Have the students read the article individually and then pair up with a partner. They should discuss what they found interesting or surprising about the article. After a few minutes, have them share their thoughts with the whole class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who are the “kidults”?
2. Why do grown-ups like toys?
3. What kinds of toys do grown-ups like?
4. How does social media make grown-ups like toys?
5. Why are grown-ups buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
6. Why is it important for toy makers to make toys for grown-ups?
7. How can toys make grown-ups feel calm?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Last (1)______, more grown-ups started buying toys for themselves, even though fewer toys were sold overall. This group of grown-ups, called “kidults,” makes up a big (2)______ of the toy market, spending lots of money on toys. People think grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy inside. At a big toy event in (3)______, people saw that those who make and sell toys are trying to get grown-ups to buy toys by making different kinds of toys and games for them.

Not just (4)______ games, but also action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys are popular with grown-ups. Social media and the idea that toys can (5)______ grown-ups feel calm are reasons why they (6)______ them. Also, because there are fewer kids and things cost more, grown-ups are buying toys for themselves as a treat instead of spending money on (7)______ out. Even when it’s (8)______ to sell toys, the interest from grown-ups in toys is a chance for those who make and sell toys to do well by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

Students can ask a partner these questions, or discuss them as a group.

1. What are “kidults”?
2. How do toys make people feel?
3. Do you like toys? Why or why not?
4. What kinds of toys do grown-ups like to buy?
5. Why do you think grown-ups like to collect things?
6. How do toys help grown-ups feel calm?
7. Do you think it’s a good idea for grown-ups to buy toys for themselves? Why or why not?
8. What other things could grown-ups spend their money on instead of toys?
9. How do you think toy makers can make toys that grown-ups will enjoy?
10. Do you think it’s important for grown-ups to have fun? Why or why not?
11. How would you feel if you saw a grown-up playing with toys?
12. What is your favorite toy and why do you like it?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. kidults
2. market
3. event
4. action figures
5. collect
6. Lego
7. social media
8. calm
9. treat
10. chance

Meanings:
(A) An opportunity to do something good
(B) A special time when people come together to see or do something
(C) Feeling peaceful and not worried
(D) Grown-ups who like to play with toys
(E) Websites where people share pictures and talk to friends
(F) A place where people buy and sell things
(G) Small toy people that you can play with
(H) Colorful blocks you put together to make things
(I) A special something you give yourself because you’re happy
(J) To get and keep things because you like them
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who started buying toys for themselves last year?
(a) Kids
(b) Grown-ups
(c) Teenagers
(d) Babies

2. What are grown-ups called when they buy toys for themselves?
(a) Kidults
(b) Adults
(c) Teenagers
(d) Babies

3. Why do people think grown-ups like toys?
(a) Because they are boring and make them feel sad inside
(b) Because they are scary and make them feel scared inside
(c) Because they are gross and make them feel sick inside
(d) Because they are fun and make them feel happy inside

4. What kinds of toys are popular with grown-ups?
(a) Books, puzzles, cars, and dolls
(b) Balls, bikes, computers, and robots
(c) Board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys
(d) Food, clothes, shoes, and jewelry

5. What are some reasons why grown-ups like toys?
(a) Social media and the idea that toys can help them feel calm
(b) Social media and the idea that toys can help them feel scared
(c) Social media and the idea that toys can help them feel sad
(d) Social media and the idea that toys can help them feel sick

6. Why are grown-ups buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
(a) Because there are more kids and things cost less
(b) Because there are fewer adults and things cost more
(c) Because there are fewer kids and things cost more
(d) Because there are more adults and things cost less

7. What is the chance for those who make and sell toys?
(a) To do poorly by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy
(b) To do well by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy
(c) To do well by making toys that grown-ups will not enjoy
(d) To do poorly by making toys that grown-ups will not enjoy

8. What is the big toy event mentioned in the article?
(a) A toy event in Paris
(b) A toy event in Berlin
(c) A toy event in Tokyo
(d) A toy event in London

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Grown-ups like board games, action figures, collectibles, Lego sets, and soft toys.
2. These adults are called “kidults” and they spend a lot of money on toys.
3. Social media and the idea that toys are only for kids are reasons why they dislike toys.
4. Grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy.
5. Adults are avoiding buying toys for themselves in order to save money for going out.
6. Last year, fewer adults bought toys for themselves.
7. Even though it’s challenging to sell toys, the disinterest from grown-ups is a barrier for toy makers to do well.
8. At a toy event in London, people saw that toy makers are making different kinds of toys for grown-ups.
Go to answers ⇩

📝 Write a Summary:

Write a summary of this news article in two sentences.

Writing Questions:

Answer the following questions. Write as much as you can for each answer.

1. Who started buying toys for themselves last year?
2. What are these grown-ups called?
3. Why do people think grown-ups like toys?
4. What kinds of toys do grown-ups like to buy?
5. Why are grown-ups buying toys for themselves instead of going out?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who are the “kidults”?
Kidults are grown-ups who like to buy and play with toys.

2. Why do grown-ups like toys?
Grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy inside.

3. What kinds of toys do grown-ups like?
Grown-ups like board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys.

4. How does social media make grown-ups like toys?
Social media shows grown-ups what toys are popular and makes them want to buy them.

5. Why are grown-ups buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
Grown-ups are buying toys for themselves because there are fewer kids and things cost more, so they want to have fun at home instead of spending money on going out.

6. Why is it important for toy makers to make toys for grown-ups?
It is important for toy makers to make toys for grown-ups because they can make more money by selling toys to them.

7. How can toys make grown-ups feel calm?
Toys can make grown-ups feel calm because they can help them relax and have fun, which can make them feel calm and happy.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) year
(2) part
(3) London
(4) board
(5) help
(6) like
(7) going
(8) hard
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. kidults
Answer: (D) Grown-ups who like to play with toys

2. market
Answer: (F) A place where people buy and sell things

3. event
Answer: (B) A special time when people come together to see or do something

4. action figures
Answer: (G) Small toy people that you can play with

5. collect
Answer: (J) To get and keep things because you like them

6. Lego
Answer: (H) Colorful blocks you put together to make things

7. social media
Answer: (E) Websites where people share pictures and talk to friends

8. calm
Answer: (C) Feeling peaceful and not worried

9. treat
Answer: (I) A special something you give yourself because you’re happy

10. chance
Answer: (A) An opportunity to do something good
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who started buying toys for themselves last year?
Answer: (b) Grown-ups

2. What are grown-ups called when they buy toys for themselves?
Answer: (a) Kidults

3. Why do people think grown-ups like toys?
Answer: (d) Because they are fun and make them feel happy inside

4. What kinds of toys are popular with grown-ups?
Answer: (c) Board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys

5. What are some reasons why grown-ups like toys?
Answer: (a) Social media and the idea that toys can help them feel calm

6. Why are grown-ups buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
Answer: (c) Because there are fewer kids and things cost more

7. What is the chance for those who make and sell toys?
Answer: (b) To do well by making toys that grown-ups will enjoy

8. What is the big toy event mentioned in the article?
Answer: (d) A toy event in London
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Grown-ups like board games, action figures, collectibles, Lego sets, and soft toys. (Answer: True)
2. These adults are called “kidults” and they spend a lot of money on toys. (Answer: True)
3. Social media and the idea that toys are only for kids are reasons why they dislike toys. (Answer: False)
4. Grown-ups like toys because they are fun and make them feel happy. (Answer: True)
5. Adults are avoiding buying toys for themselves in order to save money for going out. (Answer: False)
6. Last year, fewer adults bought toys for themselves. (Answer: False)
7. Even though it’s challenging to sell toys, the disinterest from grown-ups is a barrier for toy makers to do well. (Answer: False)
8. At a toy event in London, people saw that toy makers are making different kinds of toys for grown-ups. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧