Toy & Game Young Inventor Spring Challenge: Chicago Toy & Game Fair (CHITAG) Is Calling All Kid Inventors! by Mary Couzin

The Chicago Toy and Game Group will host the 15th Annual Young Inventor Challenge (YIC), a global search for the most innovative toys and games designed by kids, for kids, with a special spring event for kids sheltering at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The competition offers winners the coveted opportunity to win prizes and enter into licensing deals with toy and game industry giants, and is presented by Mattel with supporting sponsor Magformers and promotional partners Scholastic and the American Specialty Retailer Association (ASTRA).

The virtual event has already launched and is hosted by the Chicago Toy & Game Group. The goal of the Young Inventor Spring Challenge is to inspire creativity and innovation and to provide an immersive STEM fun activity for kids. All entrants will receive a certificate of participation and are also encouraged to participate in the fall competition. Winners will receive $1,000 in play products as well as the opportunity to have their idea developed and distributed in partnership with leading toy and game manufacturers. Last year’s winners and finalists entered into deals with PlayMonster, Goliath/Pressman and Target.

Entry is free and kids will have access to many materials, including: 

• design guide
• videos
• articles
• a new series of videos recorded by top toy and game inventors offering valuable advice to aspiring inventors

To enter, young inventors are required to provide a toy or game project description, photos and a pitch video showing the prototype and explanation of how the toy or game works. The deadline for online submissions is June 15, 2020. Winners will be announced on July 1, 2020, and will be judged by members of the Mattel and Magformer design and marketing teams.

To learn more and register for the Young Inventor Challenge, visit Chitag.com/yic.

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