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Jumping stages: Life stages overlap. New perspectives or self-deception?

Trend 08

Jumping stages

Jumping stages

Life stages overlap. New perspectives or self-deception?

Trend axes

  • Kidults
  • Old soul
  • Peter Pan syndrome
  • Boomerang generation

Some figures

4,600

Millions of euros in toy sales generated by the Kidult market in 2022, across Spain, France, Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom.

7

In every 10 parents admitted that they will also enjoy the toys they buy for their children, according to a study by the BBC.

20%

Percentage of young people aged 14 to 18 who smoke some kind of tobacco product, such as vapes, according to a survey by SemFYC.

53.8%

Percentage of teenagers who admitted having seen sexual content for the first time before the age of 13, according to the NGO Save the Children.

Early adulthood

Young people are increasingly taking on behaviours that do not match their age, such as risky sexual practices, an obsession with body image, taking part in extravagant events, excessive attachment to technology and, at times, the return of habits unusual in their generation, such as smoking tobacco.

This rush to grow up leads them to skip important stages, all in order to be accepted and enter the adult world prematurely, with all the dangers that entails. More and more, they are pressured to compete and show a maturity that does not match their age.

The consequences of this early influence show up in alarming everyday news: cases of sexual violence, a decline in cognitive skills such as concentration and an increase in prejudiced and discriminatory attitudes.

The question arises of how far it is beneficial to treat children as adults so early. It is essential to consider how to protect their emotional wellbeing and healthy development while we tackle these contemporary challenges.

Brands face an ethical dilemma over how much they should exploit this audience’s impressionability, or whether it is better to preserve their innocence and natural development. A crucial question for companies to carefully consider their role in shaping the values and attitudes of this emerging generation.

Society as a whole reflects on how to guide young people towards the right balance between discovering new realities and preserving their innocence.

Expert view

Luis Arnau Carreras: CEO Scalextric

Luis Arnau Carreras

CEO Scalextric

The tendency of young people to take on adult behaviour prematurely, contrasted with the growing “kidult” phenomenon, poses interesting challenges and opportunities for Scalextric as an iconic maker of scale racing sets. It is undeniable that younger generations seek experiences that allow them to escape the stress and pressures of the adult world, and this is where products like Scalextric’s can play a crucial role.

Scalextric has long been a timeless symbol of fun and excitement for several generations. In response to the diversification of consumer behaviour, Scalextric’s strategy focuses on developing products that cover both young people looking for more mature adventures and “kidults” who long to relive the nostalgia of their childhood. Our catalogue is made up of themed products that appeal to different audiences, from thrilling race tracks with jumps and loops to designs that evoke memories of times gone by.

At Scalextric we have integrated innovative technologies to enhance not only the thrill of racing, but also the possibility of personalising and sharing these experiences through digital platforms. The goal is greater user interaction and participation, creating an online community that shares its love of Scalextric.

In short, Scalextric has the opportunity to capitalise on the duality of these trends, adapting its product and marketing strategies to attract a diverse audience, from young speed enthusiasts to “kidults” looking to reconnect with the happiness of their childhood. Flexibility and innovation could be the key to keeping Scalextric relevant in an ever-changing market.

Cases

01 / 05

Zorraquino spotlights

  1. 01

    Kidults are an increasingly interesting market niche for brands, which strive to help them relive their nostalgia in different formats.

  2. 02

    The growing purchasing power of this segment means a renewed impact for sectors such as toys, technology and merchandise.

  3. 03

    These consumption habits, based on seeking financial stability without giving up treats, will have an impact on the family model.

Zorraquino playlist

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