Kickstarter: Wonder Crew Dolls for Boys
Wonder Crew Introduces Dolls for Boys, Now on Kickstarter
NORTHAMPTON, Mass., March 16, 2015 -- Wonder Crew (http://www.wondercrew.com), a new line of dolls for boys created by psychotherapist and mother Laurel Wider, today announced the successful launch of its Kickstarter funding campaign. To back the project, visit: http://kck.st/1aJMwCe
Wider was inspired by the way play influences child development and frustrated by the many gender stereotypes that toys perpetuate. Wonder Crew's 15-inch soft-bodied dolls, referred to as Crewmates, combine the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of a favorite stuffed animal. They provide boys with the opportunity to build emotional intelligence and creativity, addressing the developmental needs of the whole boy rather than only those commonly recognized as masculine.
"Boys need more options in toys. Many of the play options offered by large toy companies are muscle-bound and even violent," said Wider. "My goal with Wonder Crew was to show that emotional connection and kindness fit in with all types of play, including the kind that's stereotypically masculine," she added.
Despite having worked for years with clients who felt stifled by hyper-masculine stereotypes, Wider was shocked when her own son came home from preschool one day and announced that "boys aren't supposed to cry." The Grant Study, published in 2012, showed that strong relationships and the ability to connect emotionally are key to happiness, health and even career success, yet currently toys that encourage friendship and empathy are only marketed to girls, sending the message to many boys that this kind of play is not for them.
"Our culture is changing, and we're beginning to understand the importance of kindness, connection and nurturing -- even the NFL has caught on. Boys have feelings; it's time for their toys to catch up," said Wider.
Wonder Crew's first Crewmate, Will, comes in three adventures: Superhero, Rockstar and Builder. Each Crewmate comes with a matching piece of child-sized adventure gear and a mini comic book. The Kickstarter campaign, which launched March 3, completes on April 2 with delivery scheduled for August 2015.
To learn more about Wonder Crew, visit http://www.wondercrew.com/pages/about-us/.
About Wonder Crew
Northampton, MA based Wonder Crew, creator of dolls for boys, was founded in 2014 by mom/psychotherapist Laurel Wider. Wonder Crew's line of Crewmates is a line of Crewmates (aka dolls) that empower children to be the leaders, teachers, caretakers, problem solvers and dreamers of their own adventures. Crewmates combine the adventure of an action figure with the emotional connection of a child's favorite stuffed animal. Each Crewmate comes with a matching piece of adventure gear for the child to wear and a mini comic book. Crewmates are currently available in three adventures – Superhero, Rockstar and Builder - with Chef in development. To learn more, visit http://www.wondercrew.com.