New Delhi: An antidote to the digital screen is physical, tactile play. At the 17th Toy Biz International Expo here, the battlelines against children’s digital fatigue were drawn not with apps, but with sensory puzzles, tactical board games and rugged ride-on jeeps.As families flooded the exhibition floors at Pragati Maidan’s Bharat Mandapam on Sunday, the second day of the four-day expo, the event transformed from a strict business venue — Saturday was reserved for business delegates and B2B buyers — into a vibrant playground.Parents searched for toys that could break the spell of smartphones and tablets. From infants to pre-teens, over 400 domestic brands stepped up with innovations designed to pull children back into the real world.“My daughter is always glued to the phone, but I found many baby-proof toys and puzzles here that will hopefully keep her busy,” said Priya, a battery developer and mother of a five-month-old. Her sentiment echoed across the convention hall, where exhibitors noted a massive surge in demand for products offering a healthy sensory distraction.Tapping into this demand for purposeful play, a group of students from Delhi University (DU) stole the spotlight with an agro-centric educational board game designed for children aged eight and above. Captivating dozens of curious parents at their stall, the students showed how they reimagined the classic mechanics of ludo into a vibrant, lesson-driven farming simulator.In this version, the four traditional houses represent distinct Indian soil varieties — alluvial, black, red and laterite. Instead of rolling the dice, players navigate a terrain where every soil type is tied to real-world climate conditions, showing which crops can successfully grow in each.“The idea is to initiate children to the basics of agriculture while keeping the competitive thrill of a strategy game intact,” said Vishvit, one of the creators. “By choosing to make it purposeful and agricultural, we are teaching kids the delicate balance between weather and farming. They absorb basic geographical concepts while trying to win the game.”Further down the pavilion, a rhythmic hum of miniature engines pulled crowds towards physical, high-octane alternatives: electric ride-on jeeps, cars and bikes.One of the players on the floor was Mini Cruises, a domestic manufacturing brand spearheaded by founder Kriday Agarwal who has spent 12 years tracking the changing contours of the toy market. According to him, a heavy demand for children’s vehicles even in a hyper-digital era stems from a fundamental childhood instinct.“Kids are naturally curious; they watch their parents drive every day and instantly want their own set of wheels,” Agarwal said, adding that for parents desperately trying to push children aged one to 10 towards physical activity, these interactive vehicles act as an ideal catalyst.Reflecting the real-world automotive market, preferences of children have shifted from classic sedans to rugged SUVs and jeeps, he said. Among the visitors, the highest engagement was in the three-to-six-year bracket, with automobile models ranging across a broad budget of Rs 2,000 to Rs 15,000 grabbing eyeballs.While many families spent the evening exploring options, the primary parental concerns remained locked on safety and value for money. “Parents want to ensure their investment keeps a child happy for at least three to four years,” Agarwal said. “To give them that peace of mind, everything on display is Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certified, equipped with proper seatbelts and backed by a six-month warranty.”
