TinyToyTransformer: portable play mat for young children
During the Make-a-Ton, students from different fields of study joined forces to come up with ways to empower parents in raising their children. TinyToyTransformer is one of the innovative solutions that emerged: a mobile play module that unfolds into an interactive play mat for children aged 0 to 3 years old. Discover TinyToyTransformer and meet Maité, Sid, Louis, and Thoma, the creative minds behind this invention.
What challenge does TinyToyTransformer aim to address?
"How can we turn a park, square, or empty space into a temporary, mobile, inviting meeting place with adaptable, creative play elements for families with very young children (0-5)?" That was the challenge presented by VCOK to the team of Maité, Sid, Louis, and Thoma.
At public events, there are often no suitable activities for parents with very young children. As a result, they either stay at home or don't know what to do with their little ones. Thanks to our play mat, they can join in, play together with their child, and enjoy the events as a family. It also strengthens the parent-child bond, which is crucial for the child's development and attachment.
How does TinyToyTransformer work?
The TinyToyTransformer is a mobile play module that unfolds into an interactive play mat for children aged 0 to 3. Each section offers a new experience, with motor games and sensory stimuli tailored to their developmental stage.
The minds behind TinyToyTransformer
Smart solutions require smart thinkers. Meet the three whizz students who came up with TinyToyTransformers:
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Maïté, a clinical psychology student at Ghent University
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Sid, an industrial design student at Ghent University
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Thoma, an industrial design student at Ghent University
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Louis, furniture designer
"What we did during the second year of our degree, we're now doing in just one week at the Comon Make-a-Ton!" says Sid, an industrial design student at Ghent University, Campus Kortijk. "And the best part: spending days working on a concept and collaborating intensively with other participants. I didn't know anyone here at first, but by day three, our team had already become good friends! Everyone contributes from a different perspective. You meet really motivated students here, people who genuinely want to learn, it's awesome!"
Sid also points out the atmosphere: "We feel comfortable talking to all the mentors here. They're young, very motivated, and often drop by to give feedback. They really help you move forward. There's no stress about asking questions."
Even her mother noticed the difference. Sid says, "I called my mom last night, and she said, 'You sound tired but happy.' And she was right, I am really happy. I am learning so much here and meeting new people. This might even be what I want to do in the future!"
The inventors at work
Discover all the solutions that came out of the Make-a-Ton
Also, a shout-out to all the other students. Together, they created prototypes to help people raise their children with confidence. From ‘Folia,’ a tree that brings your community into your living space, to ‘TinyToyTransformers,’ a mobile playground for children aged 0 to 3. Please note that these solutions are only ideas converted into an initial prototype for testing. They are not (yet) available for use. In the next phase, Comon brings partners together in a 'Microlab'. There, a diverse team of people from Ghent will work on further developing, testing, and implementing one of the solutions from the Make-a-Ton into a fully functioning prototype.
