Disclosure: This is not a compensated or sponsored post. I was provided the product for review purposes only. All opinions expressed here are my own.
There are always times when boys would want to use play to explore more emotional and nurturing behaviors, like with dolls or creative activities, and there have always been times when girls want to play with more action and adventure figures.
It’s only been recently that society has recognized the folly of forcing kids to play within strictly-defined traditional gender roles. The marketing of toys has caught up with reality as traditional gender-defined roles have evaporated. The end result of this is a better choice of toys for all kids.
In that spirit, Laurel Wider, a psychotherapist and mom, developed Wonder Crew. Wonder Crew is a hybrid doll/action figure, intended for boys, but also fun for girls, that allows kids to figure out their own play patterns.
There are four different versions of the original Wonder Crew doll, “Superhero Will” (Caucasian),”Superhero Erik (Asian), “Superhero James” (African-American, seen right) and “Superhero Marco (Hispanic). The dolls are identical, save for their ethnicities.
Extra outfits, allowing the dolls to become construction workers, explorers and more are coming soon.
Wonder Crew combines the emotional attachment that a child has to a doll with the sense of adventure that kids get with action figures. In essence, this is the best of both worlds. Plus it offers an additional bit of role play fun. Included with each Crewmate is a child-sized matching-piece of adventure gear. When children suit up alongside their Crewmate, this not only adds to the crew-like vibe, but also deepens the imaginative play experience. Wonder Crew is aimed at kids ages three and up. The target audience would probably be in the three to seven-year-old range, which is the perfect age for fostering imagination through play.
These are solidly-made toys, built to withstand the rigors of playing with an active three-year-old. Made like a traditional baby-doll, with a plush body and plastic head, hands and feet, the dolls come with removeable superhero outfits–a cape attached with velcro, a mask held on with an elastic band, plus shirt and pants.
The cloth items are very well-made, and the doll is more than up to snuff, with a sharp headsculpt that kids will love. The dolls are around 16 inches tall, which makes them perfect for smaller hands, and with their soft body, they’re also great for snuggling.
The bonus with Wonder Crew is that kids get to make up their own stories, and with the accessory packs on the way, they’ll be able to take their imaginations in new and exciting directions.
