Fun toys to inspire young girls

  • Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA.
    Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA. Photo: Maia Weinstock
  • Circuit stickers are the perfect product to change the way people think about electronics.
    Circuit stickers are the perfect product to change the way people think about electronics. 
  • Chibitronics LED Circuit Stickers combine arts and craft with technology. Light-up cards and paper crafts with circuits.
    Chibitronics LED Circuit Stickers combine arts and craft with technology. Light-up cards and paper crafts with circuits. 
  • GoldieBlox is on a mission to inspire the next generation of female engineers.
    GoldieBlox is on a mission to inspire the next generation of female engineers. 
  • GoldieBlox creates awesome toys, games and entertainment for girls, designed to develop early interest in engineering ...
    GoldieBlox creates awesome toys, games and entertainment for girls, designed to develop early interest in engineering and confidence in problem-solving. 
  • Roominate, getting girls excited about architecture and engineering
    Roominate, getting girls excited about architecture and engineering 
  • Roominate, getting girls excited about architecture and engineering
    Roominate, getting girls excited about architecture and engineering 
  • Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA.
    Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA. Photo: Maia Weinstock
  • Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA.
    Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA. Photo: Maia Weinstock
  • The new range of DC Super Hero Girls is due out January 2017.
    The new range of DC Super Hero Girls is due out January 2017. Photo: Lego
  • <i></i>
     Photo: Lego
  • Miss Possible - Marie Curie
    Miss Possible - Marie Curie 
  • Others in the Miss Possible range to come.
    Others in the Miss Possible range to come.  
  • Change: Barbie has released three new body types – tall, curvy and petite and a variety of skin tones, hairstyles and ...
    Change: Barbie has released three new body types – tall, curvy and petite and a variety of skin tones, hairstyles and outfits. 
  • Project MC2 Dolls ... a step in the right direction.
    Project MC2 Dolls ... a step in the right direction. Photo: YouTube

  • You may also like these photo galleries

    Ningbo Zhongkai car seat booster cushion

    Recall issued for car seat booster cushion

    Photo: Kells' Natural Photography

    Mum photographs her son in the dresses he loves to wear

    21 (2008) 12+ "21" is the fact-based story about six MIT students who were trained to become experts in card counting ...

    Family movies based on true stories

of
  • Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA.
  • Circuit stickers are the perfect product to change the way people think about electronics.
  • Chibitronics LED Circuit Stickers combine arts and craft with technology. Light-up cards and paper crafts with circuits.
  • GoldieBlox is on a mission to inspire the next generation of female engineers.
  • GoldieBlox creates awesome toys, games and entertainment for girls, designed to develop early interest in engineering ...
  • Roominate, getting girls excited about architecture and engineering
  • Roominate, getting girls excited about architecture and engineering
  • Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA.
  • Maia Weinstock, a science editor and the winner of a Lego competition for new sets created by fans, created Women of NASA.
  • The new range of DC Super Hero Girls is due out January 2017.
  • <i></i>
  • Miss Possible - Marie Curie
  • Others in the Miss Possible range to come.
  • Change: Barbie has released three new body types – tall, curvy and petite and a variety of skin tones, hairstyles and ...
  • Project MC2 Dolls ... a step in the right direction.

In recent years there have been inroads made in producing a greater variety of gender neutral toys, and toys for boys and girls that aren't reliant on gender stereotypes for their appeal.

In honour of International Women's Day, we've put together a great gallery of toys that young girls might find inspiring, just to balance out the proliferation of gendered ones.

See Also

While there's absolutely nothing wrong with pretty fashion dolls and the colour pink, making those things the only options available for girls to play with is not ideal. Imaginative play goes a long way to forming those first pathways to future work and hobbies, so a wide variety of options is ideal for all children.

Click through the gallery above to see a range of fabulous female superheroes in Lego form, scientist dolls, and other great role models for girls in toy form. You 'll also find construction and tech toys great for building skills and confidence.