Little Tikes Celebrates 50 Years of Play by Inviting Families to PLAY BIG!

Ohio-based Little Tikes celebrates a milestone this year with its 50th anniversary. The maker of the iconic Cozy Coupe and Turtle Sandbox is re-energized with a new brand mission in an effort to get kids and parents playing together. The mantra — PLAY BIG! In a world where schools have cut access to daily recess, Little Tikes claims PLAY BIG! as its new “rallying cry” to fight the playtime crisis and get families moving.

“For 50 years, Little Tikes, an iconic brand born in Hudson, Ohio, USA, has brought smiles and happiness to children all over the world,” says Isaac Larian, CEO and founder of MGA Entertainment, which owns Little Tikes. “Little Tikes’ ingenuity has created the biggest toy manufacturing facility in the USA and continues to produce products built to last. In fact, a childhood favorite, the Cozy Coupe, still offers drivers zero gas mileage and ranks as one of America’s best-selling cars of all time!”

Ahead of Toy Fair New York, the company has issued a calendar of PLAY BIG! activations for the year ahead.

Little Tikes 2019 PLAY BIG! Schedule:

March — Project: Play Big! – Hosted by Trading Spaces co-star, Brett Tutor, this new YouTube web series showcases families across the country who need some playtime in their very busy lives. Each webisode features a deserving family that is brought ideas and inspiration designed to PLAY BIG! All play tips introduced on the show will be available through select products and on the newly launched Little Tikes website.
April — Cozy Coupe Charity Challenge – The iconic Cozy Coupe will celebrate its 40^th anniversary this year. To celebrate in a BIG way, Cozy will get re-imagined looks as designed by celebrities and brands. A parade of Cozy’s will make their way to various events throughout the country and at the end of the year will be auctioned off for charity.
May — World’s Biggest Playdate – On May 18, 2019, Little Tikes will host the World’s Biggest Playdate. The tentpole events in cities around the world will include activities for kids and parents to play together. The U.S. event will be held in Southern California, and additional cities around the world will have opportunities for parents and kids to play as well.
Summer — Retail Activations – Little Tikes will travel the country making stops at key retail locations. Parents and kids will be invited to play, through activities that they can do together.

Little Tikes was launched by founder Thomas Murdough in 1969. The company has changed hands over the years, but the commitment to play has remained the same.

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.