Daddying and the Toys That Bind
- Allan Shedlin
- 31 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By Scott Beller
Daddying Editor and Associate Director, Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F)
The last time I attended Toy Fair in New York was 2018. I was writing about the benefits of STEM/STEAM toys and nurturing my 8- and 10-year-old kids' creative minds for parenting outlets like Raising Nerd. Last month, I made my third trip to Toy Fair. This time, in addition to learning how the toy and gaming landscape has and hasn't changed over the past eight years, my goal was to help toymakers' recognize the essential overlap that exists between "the importance of involved Dads" and Toy Fair's recurring theme of "the importance of play."
Of course, I also went to check out the latest games and activities Dads and kids can enjoy together – bond over – so I can write about them all here eventually. Like daddying, play necessarily adapts and is important for kids and Dads of all ages!
Now that my daughters are much older (and so am I), I toured the exhibition floor with a much different daddying eye. Although I noted an avalanche of new toys my kids would have lost their minds over, I found myself leaning toward the kind of games and activities that offered Dads of busy teens the promise of reclaiming some of the fun, quality time they used to share with their little kids every day and, I dare say, took for granted.
I demoed board games and card games. Battled llamas, 600-lb grizzly bears, twisted cryptids, and screaming rubber chickens. Saddled up on a Big Wheel and squished NeeDoh all for nostalgia and daddying science!
I felt at home and inspired, pitching new product reviews, guest bloggers, and potential Daddying Film Fest sponsors, including our newest Atticus Award category for 2027: Best Dad Film Depicting the Importance of Play. The award will highlight the benefits and joy inherent in Dad/dad figure-child bonding through active play, including games, sports, imaginative/role play, performing arts/dance, reading, and other creative endeavors.
I've spent the past two weeks sending follow-up emails to many of the toy/game contacts I met during my three-day toy binge. I look forward to featuring their cool stuff this year on the blog in reviews and as part of a new Games to Play with Your Kids spinoff to November's 6th annual Daddying Books to Read with Your Kids Holiday Gift Guide. At least one, the Bones is Back® book and posable toy set (think Elf on the Shelf but for Halloween), could land in both gift guides. We also want to give some of our new toy/game designer friends the chance to share their own daddying stories.
My never-ending neoteny and search for joy have never been more invigorated. Product reviews and gift guides for kids and parents of all ages are on the way. Daddy on.
Daddying Film Festival & Forum 2027
June 21, 2026
Save the Dates: The 6th annual, virtual Daddying Film Festival will take place on Eventive, January 11-20, 2027, and our LIVE Daddying Film Forum will screen Atticus Award winners and finalists, January 29-30, 2027! Start planning your submissions now for the D3F 2027 Call for Entries, which opens this Fathers' Day, June 21st. More D3F news to come!
Scott Beller is the proud, imperfect crew Dad of two teen, mighty girls, imperfect partner of their rock-star mom/regatta chaperone, a truth teller, purveyor of banned books, former youth soccer coach, championship basketball coach, retired part-time driving instructor, late-night filmgoer, Editor of the Daddying blog, Director of Communications for DCG and Associate Director of the Daddying Film Festival & Forum (D3F). He's a seasoned writer and PR agency veteran with more than 35 years of experience helping organizations of all sizes and individuals reach audiences and tell their stories. Prior to launching his own creative communications consultancy in 2003, he led PR teams with some of the world’s most respected agencies, including The Weber Group and Fleishman-Hillard. As a consultant, he’s helped launch two other parenting advocacy nonprofits with DCG founder Allan Shedlin, REEL Fathers and Dads Unlimited. His first book, Beggars or Angels, was a ghostwritten memoir for the nonprofit Devotion to Children's founder Rosemary Tran Lauer. He is formerly known as "Imperfect Dad" and Head Writer/Editor for the Raising Nerd blog, which supports parents in inspiring the next generation of scientists, engineers, and creative problem solvers. He earned his BA in Communications from VA Tech so many years ago. You can follow him and his frequently salty language on Instagram and BlueSky.
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