By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
Wondery and Thames & Kosmos have announced a collaborative collection of STEM toys and science kits inspired by the Wow in the World podcast.
Designed by Thames & Kosmos, the Wondery Kids x Wow in the World product line combines durable science-learning toys with exclusive audio content from the hosts of the Wow in the World podcast.
“Podcasts are the perfect complement to families’ existing routines, whether it’s their daily school commute, bedtime, and even playtime,” said Wondery head, Nicole Blake. “As the leading innovators in STEM toys, Thames & Kosmos was the ideal partner to level up playtime by bringing together premium audio content with physical toys for the first time to offer a truly unique play experience. We feel confident that these are toys kids will want and that adults will feel good about giving, and that will have everyone saying WOW.”
Created by Tinkercast and hosted by children’s authors Guy Raz and Mindy Thomas, Wow in the World is an educational entertainment podcast that focuses on telling humorous and kid-friendly stories involving science, technology and artistic innovation.
“It has been incredible watching how Wow in the World inspires today’s generation of kids to follow their curiosity and we are thrilled to see our mission extending into the world of physical play through this new collaboration,” said Tinkercast CEO, Meredith Halpern-Ranzer. “Thames & Kosmos has brought the spirit of Wow in the World to toys in such a unique way and we’re looking forward to seeing how they ignite the imaginations of the next generation of thinkers and tinkerers.”
The Wondery Kids x Wow in the World toy line will include seven products based on a range of STEM subjects such as physics, geology, biology, and the natural world.
The products will be manufactured from high-quality materials and designed to encourage open-ended play patterns.
In addition to the exclusive Wow in the World audio content, each toy will come with a complimentary three month subscription to the full Wondery+ podcast catalog.
“At Thames & Kosmos, we pride ourselves on pushing the boundaries of STEM learning through play and wanted to take this opportunity to level up classic products and play patterns in a whole new way with toys that kids will learn something new from every time they play with them,” said Thames & Kosmos president, Ted McGuire. “We really feel like we’ve achieved that with these new products and can’t wait for kids’ reactions this Fall.”
Initially founded in 2001, Thames & Kosmos (T&K) is a global toy company that specializes in developing science and technology-related educational products and published content for children of all ages.
“As a toy company rooted in sparking curiosity, imagination, and a genuine love of learning, we are thrilled to work with Wondery to develop a toy line based on Wow in the World,” said Thames & Kosmos CEO, Andrew Quartin. “Wondery is a true innovator in developing podcast IP beyond audio content into lifestyle franchises and they share our commitment to making STEM learning fun and relatable. The partnership makes so much sense and we are incredibly proud of what we’ve created together.”
A division of the Wondery podcast studio, Wondery Kids & Family offers a wide range of podcasts intended for children through Wondery+ Kids, the dedicated Wondery app, Apple Podcasts and numerous other audio platforms. The Wondery Kids x Wow in the World toy line from Thames & Kosmos is scheduled to make its retail debut in fall 2024.
Additional consumer product partners for the Wow in the World podcast will be announced in the coming months.
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