This year the global toys and games industry is expected to hit the $100 billion mark. And now that every marketplace is influenced by high tech gadgetry, children, too, now choose video games and electronic toys over analog toys such as board games and jigsaw puzzles. While 10% of parents say they consider touch devices as playthings, children are also becoming more accustomed to technology as toys. This means toy and game manufacturers have to keep up with new toys that focus on innovation and technological advancements on a regular basis to stay competitive.  So how can toy companies stay up-to-date and be educational at the same time?

Yesterday on “Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg” Randi discussed educational toys for kids with Vikas Gupta of Wonder Workshop, Raman Lachman of Pley, and Aparna Pande of Kidstir.

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Vikas Gupta is the cofounder and CEO of Wonder Workshop, an educational, codeable robot for ages 5 and up:

“Social media is here to stay. It’s a big part of our lives and society will just have to follow.”

“If children’s have the right tools in their hands they can solve big problems.”

“When I learned to program when I was 14, the more I did it, the better I got at it. It gave me a level of superpower, or confidence.”

“When I see kids growing up now they’re growing up with smart devices already. The challenge is the way the toys companies have approached where technology is.”

“We wanted to make the robots to be whatever the children imagined them to be. Right out of the box the robot has a personality.”

“Right in the age of 8 to 10 is our sweet spot. Kids can do a lot with the robots yet deal with the complexity of what the robot offers.”

“Dash and Dot are 1 and 0, binary references to the coding of computers.”

“We do hack-a-thons for kids where kids interact and program together. We also have robot parties.”

“Kids use the robots to express themselves better.”

Favorite app: “One Night Werewolf is an app we use in the office.”

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Aparna Pande is the CEO of Kidstir, monthly subscription boxes filled with hands-on food adventures for kids ages 4 through 10

“I had my two boys who both went into anaphylaxis from eating nuts. From then on I had to become a vigilant parent in what they were eating.”

“The more labels I read, the more I started getting more concerned about what I was reading.”

“I want to teach my kids about good food so they can be educated and not scared of it.”

“Conventional wisdom says teaching kids to cook makes them healthier and helps with family interaction.”

“People value the idea of developing their kids’ appreciation for food but there’s not a lot of time to develop it in that 6 to 6:30 hour when parents are home with their kids.”

“Kids get a cooking kit with a real cookbook that they can own and fill in.”

“Kids learn about what’s happening with the bees, geography, why do popovers pop up—there’s games and activities and two fun cooking tools.”

“Toyetic means a toy is s both fun and functional.”

“I’m very inspired by Pixar because they cracked the code on how to create an enjoyable experience for kids and parents.”

“We started creating videos and have people reaching out who want to facilitate a class.”

“I think it’d be fun to create a kids dining experience for families across the country— like a restaurant week for kids.”

“My mom is early interventionist who works with kids with disabilities and she kept reminding me to think in a broader way.”

“We just earned the AblePlay seal which says Kidstir is well suited for kids with special needs. All of our kits are packed by adults with autism and special needs as well.”

Favorite app: “I love the TasteMade app to stay in touch with food world.”

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Ranan Lachman is the CEO and founder of Pley, the Netflix of LEGOs.

“It takes time to get used to any major innovation.”

“I’m a father of two kids and realized I spent $3000 on LEGOs for my son. I thought there’s got to be a better way to do it.”

“We have a catalogue of hundreds of LEGO sets to choose from and to get each for less than $20 a month.”

“You don’t have to schlep to the toy store any more.”

“When you’re done with playing, put the toys back in the box, let the mailman pick it up and get a new box every week.”

“It’s a 6.5 minute process to clean and sanitize each box and check to make sure there are no missing pieces so every child can enjoy their box.”

“We don’t charge for missing pieces. We know kids will lose them and we can replace them.”

“With Pley you de-clutter your house, plus it’s sustainable and friendly.”

“We have the benefit of the connection with the customers that LEGO themselves doesn’t have. We have data we can provide them. We see that girls rent Star Wars, which is considered a ‘boy’ thing.”

“We run a LEGO-thon where we invite parents to bring their kids and build together.”

“We provide free LEGO birthday parties with 16 different sets to invite their friends and build together.”

“LEGO therapy is a big part of our business.”

Favorite app: “Google Cardboard.”

Join “Dot Complicated with Randi Zuckerberg” next week when she talks to the founders of TodayTix and Gametime about the Business of Mobile Ticketing only on SiriusXM Business 111 at 9am PT/12ET. 

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