In recent years, there has been something of atoybox revolution! Toy companies are realising that diversity matters!
Representing Kids of Disability/Diff-ability
Up until the twenty-first century, toy companies did little to create toys reflective of amulti-abled society.
“When I was growing up in the 80s, I never saw any deaf characters in toys, books or on TV. When I became a mum myself, I decided it was time things changed. I wanted the global toy industry to act, to better represent the 150 million children worldwide with disability and difference.”
Rebbecca Atkinson, ToyLikeMe
Why does inclusion matter?
Reflected in Rebecca’s words is the underlying isolation children felt when it came to understanding and accepting their place in the world. Despite having little or no representation in the toys they played with, children with disability made up an increasingly large proportion of society.
It was time for toy companies to step up!
Acceptance through play
“The ability to take the place of others is at the root of the development of empathy. This power of the imagination can be seen even more acutely when it comes to toy figures and dolls”.
Psychologist Sian Jones
Who is ToyLikeMe?
ToyLikeMe is anon-profit organisationwhich campaigns for diversity in the toybox. They sent out a call to toy producers to create toys that were more inclusive of the150 million children worldwidewho would be classified as being diff-abled.
Lottie Dolls answer the call!
Established in 2015,Lottie Dolls was one of the first doll makers to respond.Since our inception in 2012, we had created a range of dolls of which 25% wore glasses. It was a start, but we knew we needed to do more!
Breaking barriers – Wildlife Photographer Mia
"A great product has the potential to be life-changing”
2016, World’s first fashion doll to wear a cochlear implantis introduced by Lottie Dolls.Mia, Wildlife Photographeracknowledged in International Design Awards.
Cochlear implantnot Mia’s focal pointjust a small part of her story.
Mia’s hobby is photography encouraging children of all abilities to take an interest in nature and wildlife.
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Includes assistance dog, noise reducing headphones and light masking glasses.
Autism not doll's focus point, rather it is Hayden's love of all things space related!
Kid Activist Doll – Children’s Voices Matter
In 2018, we worked closely withMari Copenyalso known as ‘Little Miss Flint’ to create theKid Activist Doll. Aged just 8, Mari contactedPresident Obamaasking him to intervene in theFlint Water Crisis.
President Obama later met Mari in the White House in a clip which has since gone viral.
Since then,Mari has used her voice to achieveremarkable things.Inspired by her story and her achievements, Lottie has designed a Kid Activist Doll in the hope of inspiring other like minded children to take a stand andspeak up for what they believe!
The Lottie Collection - A big leap for children!
Since 2012, we have released boy dolls, dolls of colour, the world's first doll to wear a cochlear implant among many others. We believe childhood is precious and that every day of it should befilled with imaginative and fun toys. Likewise, we believe that acceptance comes more easily to children than prejudice and that through play, children can gain understanding of issues which may affect their peers. We look forward to doing much more! We echo #ToyLikeMe in our call to other toy companies tofollow our lead!
The Lottie, Finn & Friends range has something for everyone!