This November, as the world celebrates International Children’s Day on November 20, we turn our attention to the magic of play. We’re not just talking about having fun and staying entertained, because the power of “play” is truly how children learn, grow, and connect with the world around them. At IKEA, play is serious business. Behind every toy and every play-inspired space is a deep belief that play shapes happier, more resilient families. Products are thoughtfully designed to be affordable, safe, and supported by research that highlights just how vital play is for children’s wellbeing.

The latest IKEA Play Report shows a quiet “play revolution” underway at home, where families are putting happiness and connection first. In fact, 95% of parents say their child’s happiness is closely tied to how often they play, and 90% of children say they feel happier when they play. More than half of parents also report spending more time playing with their kids than a few years ago. In a world that can feel “unfun,” play is the antidote that builds resilience, sparks imagination, and strengthens family bonds.

Why play matters now
Play is not a break from learning. It is how children learn to solve problems, manage emotions, and collaborate. The Play Report highlights three priorities families seek through play: less stress and more joy, stronger self-confidence and self-expression, and deeper social connection at home. With children spending more time indoors, the home has become the epicenter of playful living, where ordinary spaces and everyday objects become stages for discovery. IKEA believes that living with children is more than making space for play. It is about nurturing the heart of family life, where everyone feels seen, supported, and connected while building healthy relationships and better habits together. From shared moments cooking, learning, relaxing, and playing to multifunctional furniture and safe, playful spaces, IKEA products support the many activities that happen in a home with children.

MEET SANDLÖPARE: A SAVANNAH OF STORIES
Enter SANDLOPARE, a vibrant children’s collection inspired by the African savannah. Designed to invite open-ended, imaginative play, it turns everyday spaces into wild adventures through storytelling and exploration. From soft toys and textiles to stools, rugs, mats, room accents, and activity tools, each piece carries a real animal story that nudges kids to explore, pretend, and learn. True to the IKEA democratic design principles, form, function, quality, sustainability, and affordability, most of the soft toys use 100% recycled materials and are rigorously tested for safety and durability. Inclusive and family friendly, SANDLOPARE builds curiosity, connection, and environmental awareness at home.
Giraffes, great for hugs and tall tales. The soft toy comes as a 70 cm adult or a 43 cm calf. Beyond the cuddle factor, their “perk of being tall” becomes a conversation starter about animal adaptation. Cheetahs on the move. A day-time hunter and the world’s fastest sprinter, the cheetah appears with a cub, making a perfect duo for follow-the-leader games and outdoor adventures.
Swing like a chimp. With touch-and-close fastening on hands and feet, the chimpanzee can cling to a backpack strap, chair, or little shoulders, joining the action wherever it goes.
Quick, curious meerkats. Standing upright with help from its tail, the meerkat invites lookout roles and teamwork. There is also a mini version that clips to bags or keyrings, a subtle way for kids to “show their clan.”
Zebra stripes, made for hide-and-seek. Zebra-patterned stool covers turn FLISAT and MAMMUT stools into a playful herd, encouraging camouflage games and group play.

The collection extends beyond cuddle companions to transform the whole room into an animal kingdom. A cheetah-print hooded towel helps bath time end in character. A quilted floor mat softens hard floors for reading nooks or safari setups. Storage trunks hide treasures and dress-up kits, and sticker sets let kids add heads, tails, and patterns to furniture for instant pretend-worlds. Even bed linen plays along: one side signals “night in the savannah,” the other flips to “day,” creating a simple visual routine for sleep and wake.

For hands-on learning, the SANDLÖPARE activity book uses visuals instead of words to teach facts and prompt challenges, removing language barriers and inviting all ages to join. A long coloring roll becomes “active meditation” for the whole family, blending creativity with calm focus. Together, these pieces turn small moments, getting dressed, tidying up, and winding down into mini adventures.

Designed with care, made for real life
IKEA soft toys are engineered for the rough-and-tumble of childhood. Safety sits at the center of development, with rigorous pull, wash, chemical, and durability tests. Embroidered eyes replace beads to eliminate choking risks and, as designers discovered, add livelier expressions. Everything is machine-washable at 40°C, because mud puddles are part of the story. SANDLÖPARE also draws on expertise from Nordens Ark, a wildlife conservation partner. This collaboration helps ground illustrations and product details in real animal behavior while raising awareness for endangered species, deepening the learning behind the play.

International Children’s Day is an ideal moment to recommit to playful living at home. Choose a SANDLÖPARE friend and build a simple ritual around it: a nightly “safari story,” a weekend coloring challenge, or a room refresh with stickers and a quilted mat. Small, repeatable moments matter. They boost joy, build resilience, and make family bonds stronger, exactly what the IKEA Play Report calls for in 2025 and beyond.

This month, step into the savannah. Welcome a new companion from SANDLÖPARE, and let curiosity lead the way. Because when play comes first, learning follows close behind.

Shop now at IKEA the Avenues, IKEA the Warehouse (Sabahiya), IKEA 360, IKEA Assima, IKEA Khiran, online at www.IKEA.com.kw or the new IKEA app available for iOS and Android. For more information, please call 184 0408 or follow @IKEAKuwait on Instagram.