Last year, adults who like to buy toys for themselves, called “kidults,” spent more money on toys even though fewer toys were sold overall in the UK. These grown-ups make up a big part of the toy market, spending over £1 billion. They buy toys because they think it’s fun and it makes them feel better. At a big toy event in London, it was clear that companies are making toys for people of all ages, not just kids.

Not only board games, but also action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys are popular with adults. People see these toys on social media and think they help them relax. With fewer babies being born and things getting more expensive, adults are buying toys for themselves instead of spending money on going out.

Even though it was a tough year for selling toys, the interest from adults is good news for toy companies. They are now making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy. This helps adults find happiness and relaxation through playing with toys.

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

🎧 Listen:

Slow

Normal

Fast

📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a few minutes to read the article. Then, have them work together to summarize the main points of the article in their own words. Afterward, have a few groups share their summaries with the class.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Have the students form pairs or small groups. Ask them to discuss and share their opinions about the topic of adults buying toys for themselves. Provide them with a list of questions to guide their discussion, such as “Do you think it’s acceptable for adults to buy toys for themselves?” or “What are the benefits of adults playing with toys?” Afterward, have a few groups share their opinions with the class.

– Word Association
Instructions: Write the word “toys” on the board. Have the students take turns saying a word that they associate with toys. Encourage them to think of both positive and negative associations. Write down all the words on the board. Once everyone has had a turn, discuss the words as a class. Ask the students to explain why they made those associations.

– Sketch It
Instructions: Divide the class into pairs. Give each pair a few minutes to discuss and come up with an idea for a toy that adults would enjoy. They should think about the design, features, and target audience of their toy. Afterward, have each pair take turns sketching their toy on a piece of paper. Once everyone has finished, ask a few pairs to present their toy to the class and explain their design choices.

– Vocabulary Pictionary
Instructions: Prepare a list of vocabulary words related to the article, such as “kidults,” “collect,” “Lego,” “relaxation,” etc. Divide the class into teams. Give each team a vocabulary word and have them take turns sending one person up to the board to draw a quick sketch that represents the word. The rest of the team must guess the word within a time limit. Award points for each correct guess. Repeat with different vocabulary words.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. Who spent more money on toys last year, kids or adults?
2. Why do adults buy toys for themselves?
3. What types of toys are popular with adults?
4. Why do adults think toys help them relax?
5. Why are adults buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
6. What is good news for toy companies?
7. How do adults find happiness and relaxation through toys?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

Last year, adults who like to buy toys for themselves, (1)______ “kidults,” spent (2)______ money on toys even though (3)______ toys were sold overall in the UK. These grown-ups make up a big part of the toy market, spending over £1 billion. They buy toys because they (4)______ it’s fun and it makes them (5)______ better. At a big toy event in London, it was clear that companies are making toys for people of all ages, not just kids.

Not only board games, but also action figures, things to (6)______, Lego sets, and (7)______ toys are popular with adults. People see these toys on (8)______ media and think they help them relax. With fewer babies being born and things getting more expensive, adults are buying toys for themselves instead of (9)______ money on going out.

Even though it was a tough year for selling toys, the interest from (10)______ is (11)______ news for toy companies. They are now making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy. This (12)______ adults find happiness and relaxation through playing with toys.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a “kidult”?
2. How would you feel if you saw adults playing with toys?
3. Do you like buying toys for yourself? Why or why not?
4. What are some types of toys that adults like to buy?
5. How do toys make people feel better?
6. Do you think it’s important for adults to play with toys? Why or why not?
7. Why do you think adults are buying toys instead of going out?
8. What are some ways that adults can relax with toys?
9. How do you think toy companies feel about adults buying toys?
10. Do you think it’s a good idea for toy companies to make toys for both kids and adults? Why or why not?
11. How do toys help adults find happiness and relaxation?
12. Why do you think fewer babies being born is affecting toy sales?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. kidults
2. market
3. billion
4. event
5. companies
6. figures
7. collect
8. relax
9. expensive
10. interest
11. enjoy
12. relaxation

Meanings:
(A) To have a good time or take pleasure in something
(B) A special occasion where people meet or gather
(C) Feeling calm and free from stress
(D) Small models of people or characters
(E) Costs a lot of money
(F) To get and keep things because you like them
(G) A place or way to buy and sell things
(H) Wanting to know more or be involved in something
(I) To calm down and not be stressed
(J) Grown-ups who like to buy and play with toys
(K) A thousand million
(L) Businesses that make or sell things
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. Who are “kidults”?
(a) Kids who like to buy toys for themselves
(b) Adults who like to buy toys for themselves
(c) Adults who like to buy toys for kids
(d) Kids who like to buy toys for kids

2. How much money did “kidults” spend on toys in the UK last year?
(a) Over £100 million
(b) Over £10 million
(c) Over £1 trillion
(d) Over £1 billion

3. Why do “kidults” buy toys?
(a) Because they want to sell them for a profit
(b) Because they want to give them to kids as gifts
(c) Because they want to collect them as investments
(d) Because they think it’s fun and it makes them feel better

4. What types of toys are popular with adults?
(a) Only board games
(b) Only action figures
(c) Board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys
(d) Only soft toys

5. Why are adults buying toys for themselves instead of spending money on going out?
(a) Because they don’t like going out
(b) Because fewer babies are being born and things are getting more expensive
(c) Because they have too much money
(d) Because they don’t have any friends to go out with

6. What is the good news for toy companies?
(a) The interest from adults in buying toys
(b) The interest from kids in buying toys
(c) The interest from adults in selling toys
(d) The interest from kids in selling toys

7. What are toy companies now doing?
(a) Making toys that only kids can enjoy
(b) Making toys that only adults can enjoy
(c) Making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy
(d) Making toys that are too expensive for anyone to buy

8. What do adults find through playing with toys?
(a) Happiness and relaxation
(b) Boredom and stress
(c) Fear and sadness
(d) Anger and frustration

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Adults are not buying toys for themselves instead of spending money on going out because things are not getting more expensive and there are fewer babies being born.
2. Last year, adults in the UK spent less money on toys than before, even though more toys were sold overall.
3. Kidults buy toys because they think it’s fun and it makes them feel better.
4. Adults like to buy board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys.
5. Adults see toys on social media and think it helps them relax.
6. Toy companies are now making toys for people of all ages, not just adults.
7. The interest from adults buying toys is good news for toy companies, who are now making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy.
8. Grown-ups who like to buy toys for themselves are called “adults” and they make up a small part of the toy market.
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 are “kidults”?
2. Why do “kidults” buy toys?
3. What types of toys are popular with adults?
4. Why are adults buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
5. Why is the interest from adults good news for toy companies?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. Who spent more money on toys last year, kids or adults?
Adults spent more money on toys last year.

2. Why do adults buy toys for themselves?
Adults buy toys for themselves because they think it’s fun and it makes them feel better.

3. What types of toys are popular with adults?
Board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys are popular with adults.

4. Why do adults think toys help them relax?
Adults think toys help them relax because they see them on social media and it helps them feel calm and happy.

5. Why are adults buying toys for themselves instead of going out?
Adults are buying toys for themselves instead of going out because there are fewer babies being born and things are getting more expensive.

6. What is good news for toy companies?
The good news for toy companies is that adults are interested in buying toys, so they are making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy.

7. How do adults find happiness and relaxation through toys?
Adults find happiness and relaxation through toys by playing with them and having fun. It helps them feel happy and relaxed.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) called
(2) more
(3) fewer
(4) think
(5) feel
(6) collect
(7) soft
(8) social
(9) spending
(10) adults
(11) good
(12) helps
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

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

2. market
Answer: (G) A place or way to buy and sell things

3. billion
Answer: (K) A thousand million

4. event
Answer: (B) A special occasion where people meet or gather

5. companies
Answer: (L) Businesses that make or sell things

6. figures
Answer: (D) Small models of people or characters

7. collect
Answer: (F) To get and keep things because you like them

8. relax
Answer: (I) To calm down and not be stressed

9. expensive
Answer: (E) Costs a lot of money

10. interest
Answer: (H) Wanting to know more or be involved in something

11. enjoy
Answer: (A) To have a good time or take pleasure in something

12. relaxation
Answer: (C) Feeling calm and free from stress
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. Who are “kidults”?
Answer: (b) Adults who like to buy toys for themselves

2. How much money did “kidults” spend on toys in the UK last year?
Answer: (d) Over £1 billion

3. Why do “kidults” buy toys?
Answer: (d) Because they think it’s fun and it makes them feel better

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

5. Why are adults buying toys for themselves instead of spending money on going out?
Answer: (b) Because fewer babies are being born and things are getting more expensive

6. What is the good news for toy companies?
Answer: (a) The interest from adults in buying toys

7. What are toy companies now doing?
Answer: (c) Making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy

8. What do adults find through playing with toys?
Answer: (a) Happiness and relaxation
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Adults are not buying toys for themselves instead of spending money on going out because things are not getting more expensive and there are fewer babies being born. (Answer: False)
2. Last year, adults in the UK spent less money on toys than before, even though more toys were sold overall. (Answer: False)
3. Kidults buy toys because they think it’s fun and it makes them feel better. (Answer: True)
4. Adults like to buy board games, action figures, things to collect, Lego sets, and soft toys. (Answer: True)
5. Adults see toys on social media and think it helps them relax. (Answer: True)
6. Toy companies are now making toys for people of all ages, not just adults. (Answer: False)
7. The interest from adults buying toys is good news for toy companies, who are now making toys that both kids and adults can enjoy. (Answer: True)
8. Grown-ups who like to buy toys for themselves are called “adults” and they make up a small part of the toy market. (Answer: False)
Go back to questions ⇧