More and more adults in the UK are buying toys for themselves, and this trend is growing. Last year, sales to adults, also known as “kidults,” increased by 6%. This means that more than a quarter of the toy market, which is worth over £1bn each year, is now made up of adults buying toys for themselves. Adults say they buy toys for fun and because it helps with their mental health.

Even though overall toy sales went down by 5% last year, the market for kidults is still doing well. Toy manufacturers and sellers had a tough year in 2023, with sales going down by 7% and the value of toy trading dropping by 5%. But the UK is still one of the biggest toy markets in Europe, worth £3.5bn in 2023.

At the recent Toy Fair in London, it was clear that companies are now making toys for a wider range of ages, not just young children. Kidults, who are 12 and older, are the ones driving the increase in sales to this group, especially those who are over 18. People like Gareth Edwards, who is in his late 50s, showcased his board and card games at the fair. He has been collecting board games for over 40 years and has more than 1,000 at home. Other people, like Adam Turner, have also turned their hobbies into businesses, taking advantage of the growing popularity of kidult games.

It’s not just board games that are popular among kidults; action figures, collectibles, building sets like Lego, and even cuddly toys are being sold to adults. Social media and the idea that these toys help people relax have made them popular among adults. The declining birth rate and the rising cost of living have also played a part in adults buying toys for themselves. With fewer children to buy toys for, some young adults are treating themselves to comforting toys instead of going out or doing other activities.

Even though the toy industry faced challenges last year, the rise of kidults has created a new opportunity. Toy makers and sellers are changing to meet the needs of this group and are targeting a wider range of ages. The toy industry is always changing to meet what people want.

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

🎧 Listen:

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📖 Vocabulary:

Group or Classroom Activities

Warm-up Activities:

– News Summary
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will read the article and then work together to create a summary of the main points. They should focus on the increase in toy sales to adults, the reasons behind this trend, and the impact on the toy industry.

– Opinion Poll
Instructions: Students will form pairs or small groups. Each group will come up with a question related to the article, such as “Do you think adults buying toys for themselves is a positive trend?” or “Why do you think toy sales to children have gone down?” They will then conduct an opinion poll within the class, asking their question to other students and recording the responses. After collecting the data, they will share their findings with the class.

– Keyword Hangman
Instructions: The teacher will select 5-10 keywords from the article and write them on the board, leaving out the vowels. Students will take turns guessing the missing letters to reveal the keywords. After each keyword is guessed, the teacher can lead a class discussion about the meaning and significance of the word in relation to the article.

– Sketch It
Instructions: In pairs or small groups, students will select a key event or concept from the article and create a quick sketch to represent it. They can then take turns presenting their sketches to the class, explaining the connection to the article. The class can discuss the different interpretations and perspectives.

– Future Predictions
Instructions: Students will work individually or in pairs to write a short paragraph predicting how the toy market for adults will evolve in the future. They should base their predictions on the trends mentioned in the article and any additional insights they have. After writing their predictions, students can share and discuss their ideas with the class.

🤔 Comprehension Questions:

1. What is the trend in the UK regarding adults buying toys for themselves?
2. How much did sales to adults increase by last year?
3. Why do adults say they buy toys for themselves?
4. Did overall toy sales go up or down last year?
5. How did toy manufacturers and sellers perform in 2023?
6. What is the value of the toy market in the UK?
7. Who are the ones driving the increase in sales to the group of kidults?
8. Besides board games, what other types of toys are popular among kidults?
Go to answers ⇩

🎧✍️ Listen and Fill in the Gaps:

More and more adults in the UK are buying toys for themselves, and this trend is growing. Last year, sales to adults, also known as “kidults,” increased by 6%. This means that more than a quarter of the toy market, which is worth over £1bn each year, is now made up of adults buying toys for themselves. Adults say they buy toys for fun and because it (1)______ with their mental (2)______.

Even though overall toy sales went down by 5% last year, the market for kidults is still (3)______ well. Toy manufacturers and (4)______ had a tough year in 2023, with (5)______ going down by 7% and the value of toy trading dropping by 5%. But the UK is still one of the biggest toy markets in Europe, worth £3.5bn in 2023.

At the recent Toy Fair in (6)______, it was clear that companies are now making toys for a wider range of ages, not just young children. Kidults, who are 12 and older, are the ones (7)______ the increase in sales to this group, especially those who are over 18. People like Gareth Edwards, who is in his late 50s, showcased his (8)______ and card games at the fair. He has been (9)______ board games for over 40 years and has more than 1,000 at home. Other people, like Adam (10)______, have also turned their (11)______ into (12)______, taking advantage of the growing popularity of kidult games.

It’s not just board games that are popular among kidults; action figures, collectibles, building sets like Lego, and even cuddly toys are being sold to adults. Social media and the idea that these toys help people relax have made them popular among adults. The declining birth rate and the rising cost of living have also played a part in adults buying toys for themselves. With fewer children to buy toys for, some (13)______ adults are treating themselves to comforting toys instead of (14)______ out or doing other activities.

Even though the toy industry faced (15)______ last year, the rise of kidults has created a new opportunity. Toy makers and sellers are changing to meet the needs of this (16)______ and are targeting a wider range of ages. The toy industry is always changing to meet what people want.
Go to answers ⇩

💬 Discussion Questions:

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

1. What is a “kidult”?
2. Have you ever bought a toy for yourself? If so, what kind of toy was it?
3. How would you feel if someone made fun of you for buying toys as an adult?
4. Do you think it’s important for adults to have hobbies like collecting toys? Why or why not?
5. Why do you think adults say buying toys helps with their mental health?
6. What other activities do you enjoy doing to relax, besides buying toys?
7. How do you think the declining birth rate and rising cost of living have affected the toy industry?
8. Do you think it’s better for adults to spend their money on toys or on going out and doing activities? Why or why not?
9. Have you ever turned one of your hobbies into a business? If not, would you like to? Why or why not?
10. Why do you think social media has made toys more popular among adults?
11. How do you think the toy industry will continue to change in the future?
12. Do you think it’s important for toy makers to create toys for a wider range of ages? Why or why not?
13. What kind of toy do you think would be popular among adults that hasn’t been mentioned in the article?
14. How do you think the rise of kidults has affected the toy industry?
15. Why do you think people enjoy collecting things like board games or action figures?

Individual Activities

📖💭 Vocabulary Meanings:

Match each word to its meaning.

Words:
1. trend
2. manufacturers
3. decline
4. collectibles
5. showcased
6. hobbies
7. popularity
8. comforting
9. challenges
10. opportunity
11. targeting
12. industry
13. declining
14. cuddly
15. advantage

Meanings:
(A) A general direction in which something is developing or changing
(B) Displayed or presented, especially in a way that attracts attention
(C) Items worth collecting because they are interesting or valuable
(D) Using a situation to gain a favorable outcome
(E) Directing efforts or attention towards a specific group
(F) A decrease or reduction in numbers or amounts
(G) A chance that offers a good possibility for success
(H) Soft and designed to be hugged
(I) Companies that make goods in large quantities
(J) The state of being liked, admired, or supported by many people
(K) Difficult situations that need to be dealt with
(L) Becoming smaller in size, amount, number, etc.
(M) Activities done for enjoyment in one’s spare time
(N) The organized action of making and selling goods and services
(O) Providing a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation
Go to answers ⇩

🔡 Multiple Choice Questions:

1. What is the term used to describe adults who buy toys for themselves?
(a) Kidults
(b) Adults
(c) Toy enthusiasts
(d) Collectors

2. How much did sales to adults increase by last year?
(a) 5%
(b) 7%
(c) 8%
(d) 6%

3. What percentage of the toy market is now made up of adults buying toys for themselves?
(a) Half
(b) One-tenth
(c) More than a quarter
(d) Three-quarters

4. What is the value of the toy market in the UK?
(a) £1bn
(b) £3.5bn
(c) £5bn
(d) £2bn

5. Who is driving the increase in sales to the kidult group?
(a) Young children
(b) Teenagers
(c) Elderly people
(d) Those who are over 18

6. What type of toys are popular among kidults?
(a) Board games, action figures, collectibles, building sets, and cuddly toys
(b) Electronic gadgets
(c) Sports equipment
(d) Musical instruments

7. What are some reasons why adults are buying toys for themselves?
(a) To resell them at a higher price
(b) To decorate their homes
(c) For fun and to help with their mental health
(d) To give as gifts to children

8. What has played a part in adults buying toys for themselves?
(a) The increase in toy prices
(b) The declining birth rate and the rising cost of living
(c) The influence of social media
(d) The popularity of kidult games

Go to answers ⇩

🕵️ True or False Questions:

1. Adults buy toys for practical purposes and because it helps with their physical health.
2. Toy manufacturers are now making toys for a narrower range of ages, not just young children.
3. Last year, sales to adults, also known as “adult-kids,” decreased by 6%.
4. Over a quarter of the toy market in the UK is now made up of adults buying toys for themselves.
5. More adults in the UK are buying toys for themselves, and this trend is growing.
6. The UK is one of the biggest toy markets in Europe, worth £3.5bn in 2023.
7. Overall toy sales went up by 5% last year, and the market for kidults is declining.
8. Action figures, collectibles, building sets like Lego, and cuddly toys are popular among kidults.
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. What is the trend among adults in the UK when it comes to buying toys?
2. How much of the toy market is made up of adults buying toys for themselves?
3. Why do adults say they buy toys for themselves?
4. Despite a decrease in overall toy sales, how is the market for “kidults” doing?
5. What types of toys are popular among adults?

✅ Answers

🤔✅ Comprehension Question Answers:

1. What is the trend in the UK regarding adults buying toys for themselves?
The trend in the UK is that more and more adults are buying toys for themselves.

2. How much did sales to adults increase by last year?
Sales to adults increased by 6% last year.

3. Why do adults say they buy toys for themselves?
Adults say they buy toys for themselves because it’s fun and it helps with their mental health.

4. Did overall toy sales go up or down last year?
Overall toy sales went down last year.

5. How did toy manufacturers and sellers perform in 2023?
Toy manufacturers and sellers had a tough year in 2023, with sales going down by 7% and the value of toy trading dropping by 5%.

6. What is the value of the toy market in the UK?
The value of the toy market in the UK is worth £3.5bn in 2023.

7. Who are the ones driving the increase in sales to the group of kidults?
Kidults, who are 12 and older, are the ones driving the increase in sales to the group of kidults, especially those who are over 18.

8. Besides board games, what other types of toys are popular among kidults?
Besides board games, action figures, collectibles, building sets like Lego, and even cuddly toys are popular among kidults.
Go back to questions ⇧

🎧✍️✅ Listen and Fill in the Gaps Answers:

(1) helps
(2) health
(3) doing
(4) sellers
(5) sales
(6) London
(7) driving
(8) board
(9) collecting
(10) Turner
(11) hobbies
(12) businesses
(13) young
(14) going
(15) challenges
(16) group
Go back to questions ⇧

📖💭✅ Vocabulary Meanings Answers:

1. trend
Answer: (A) A general direction in which something is developing or changing

2. manufacturers
Answer: (I) Companies that make goods in large quantities

3. decline
Answer: (F) A decrease or reduction in numbers or amounts

4. collectibles
Answer: (C) Items worth collecting because they are interesting or valuable

5. showcased
Answer: (B) Displayed or presented, especially in a way that attracts attention

6. hobbies
Answer: (M) Activities done for enjoyment in one’s spare time

7. popularity
Answer: (J) The state of being liked, admired, or supported by many people

8. comforting
Answer: (O) Providing a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation

9. challenges
Answer: (K) Difficult situations that need to be dealt with

10. opportunity
Answer: (G) A chance that offers a good possibility for success

11. targeting
Answer: (E) Directing efforts or attention towards a specific group

12. industry
Answer: (N) The organized action of making and selling goods and services

13. declining
Answer: (L) Becoming smaller in size, amount, number, etc.

14. cuddly
Answer: (H) Soft and designed to be hugged

15. advantage
Answer: (D) Using a situation to gain a favorable outcome
Go back to questions ⇧

🔡✅ Multiple Choice Answers:

1. What is the term used to describe adults who buy toys for themselves?
Answer: (a) Kidults

2. How much did sales to adults increase by last year?
Answer: (d) 6%

3. What percentage of the toy market is now made up of adults buying toys for themselves?
Answer: (c) More than a quarter

4. What is the value of the toy market in the UK?
Answer: (b) £3.5bn

5. Who is driving the increase in sales to the kidult group?
Answer: (d) Those who are over 18

6. What type of toys are popular among kidults?
Answer: (a) Board games, action figures, collectibles, building sets, and cuddly toys

7. What are some reasons why adults are buying toys for themselves?
Answer: (c) For fun and to help with their mental health

8. What has played a part in adults buying toys for themselves?
Answer: (b) The declining birth rate and the rising cost of living
Go back to questions ⇧

🕵️✅ True or False Answers:

1. Adults buy toys for practical purposes and because it helps with their physical health. (Answer: False)
2. Toy manufacturers are now making toys for a narrower range of ages, not just young children. (Answer: False)
3. Last year, sales to adults, also known as “adult-kids,” decreased by 6%. (Answer: False)
4. Over a quarter of the toy market in the UK is now made up of adults buying toys for themselves. (Answer: True)
5. More adults in the UK are buying toys for themselves, and this trend is growing. (Answer: True)
6. The UK is one of the biggest toy markets in Europe, worth £3.5bn in 2023. (Answer: True)
7. Overall toy sales went up by 5% last year, and the market for kidults is declining. (Answer: False)
8. Action figures, collectibles, building sets like Lego, and cuddly toys are popular among kidults. (Answer: True)
Go back to questions ⇧