Make the Connection

Jasmine talks with Ahren Hoffman of People of Play about the Young Inventor Challenge, which lets kids ages 6 to 18 submit their own toy and game inventions. They cover prototypes, how much parents can help, and the Chicago Toy & Game Fair.

• How the Young Inventor Challenge works for kids ages 6 to 18
• Prototypes can be built from things around the house
• How much parents can help with an entry
• Kid-invented games that made it to store shelves
• Chicago Toy & Game Fair, November 7 and 8, 2026

Autism dad Jason Hsieh shares how his son's diagnosis led him to found the sensory toy company LakiKid. He talks about calm down corners, sensory toys, and why dads need support after a diagnosis too.

• What a calm down corner is and how weighted items can help
• Why dads often struggle after a diagnosis, and how to bring them in
• Free mentorship for dads through the Special Father Network
• Do your research before you build a sensory toy
• Shop early for the holidays this year

Jasmine talks with Hilary Key, owner of the Brown County Toy Chest in Nashville, Indiana, about limiting screen time and the value of open-ended play. Hilary shares how to choose toys that fit a child's age and stage.

• A simple screen time limit that makes family game night the default
• Scaffolding kids toward open-ended play
• Shop for the child, not the trend, and buy for right now
• Why it's "the year of the squish" and other holiday toy trends
• Finding family board games that fit your crew

Jasmine talks with Ryan Hamilton, CEO of Plus-Plus USA, about why the brand uses only one shape and how constraints spark creativity. Ryan also shares the origin story of the Hexel fidget toy.

• How Ryan discovered Plus-Plus at a toy fair in Germany and brought it to the U.S.
• Why Plus-Plus committed to one shape: the constraint forces creativity
• How hands-on, three-dimensional play builds gray matter
• Toy trends: squishies, Nadi, and the return of analog, craft-based play
• The invention story behind Hexel, 2025 Specialty Toy of the Year

Jasmine talks with 13-year-old Ava N. Simmons, founder of Team Genius Squad, about turning a dyslexia diagnosis into a screen-free STEM toy brand. Ava shares why hands-on play changed how she learns and why kids should be free to discover on their own.

• How a 2021 dyslexia diagnosis led Ava to hands-on learning
• Why hands-on, screen-free play matters most
• Ava's advice to moms: let kids play and discover on their own
• Building Team Genius Squad and hosting Mini Fab Science Lab on PBS Kids

Jasmine is joined by Bret Faber, Vice President of Sales for Plus-Plus USA, to talk about how toys get selected and why specialty stores still matter. He also shares how parents can choose better toys in a crowded aisle.

• How toys actually get onto store shelves
• Why specialty toy stores still matter for discovery and expert help
• Using your kids as the ultimate focus group
• Tips for overwhelmed parents in the toy aisle
• Fun first: balancing entertainment and development, all things in moderation