Power Kid Podcast: Basic Fun!'s Ashley Mady Talks the Genius of Play

It's Genius of Play Week on the "Power Kid Podcast" presented by the Toy Book. This week, host Phil Albritton of Power Kid Design welcomes four committee members representing The Toy Association's Genius of Play initiative and its ongoing mission to provide families with the information and inspiration they need to make play an important part of their kid’s day. This month represents a milestone for the organization as the Genius of Play pulls back the curtain on its newly minted Play Ambassadors — a group of exceptional individuals who are toy experts and champions of the power of play. In this episode, Albritton is joined by Genius of Play Committee Chair Ashley Mady, head of brand development at Basic Fun! Mady is integral to promoting and developing brands such as Care Bears, K’nex, Pound Puppies, Lite-Brite, Tonka, and Cutetitos. She also serves on the board of trustees at The Toy Foundation and also an advisory board member for Women in Toys. On the show, Mady explains how playing as a kid helped inform her skill as a toy and game designer and brand creator. She also shares her recent experiences in developing Tonka’s Let’s Go Play! initiative with Shaquille O’Neal and discuss how story and character development affects how kids play. Finally, Albritton and Mady close out Genius of Play Week with a discussion on why play is so important right now.