If you’ve got a little one at home who’s not pulling their weight, then this could be the job for them!
Ikea UK and Ireland are on the hunt for a ‘Chief Play Officer’ to join its ranks — someone to test new toys before they launch.
Posting the job description on LinkedIn yesterday, the Swedish retailer says the role is strictly open to children aged 4-12 only. No adults allowed.
Whilst the position is certainly a dream come true for many, it’s not all fun and games as with great power comes great responsibility! For one whole year, the successful candidate will be in charge of testing new toys before they launch in IKEA stores across Ireland and the UK.
Toys that have launched recently include the new BYGGLEK collection in collaboration with LEGO® that provides fun, functional and playful storage solutions for kids and adults alike, and the JÄTTELIK range, which blurs the lines between fantasy and reality with dinosaur-themed soft toys and bedroom accessories.
The news comes as research reveals children are spending an average of 254 hours less playing each year than their parents did at the same age. Despite most parents (70%) agreeing that play is very important to their kids’ development, unfortunately the pressures of daily life seem to be getting in the way, with 86% wishing that they had more time to spend playing with their children.
What’s more, it seems the coronavirus pandemic has had a negative impact on children’s attitudes towards play, with almost three fifths (59%) of kids playing less now than they did before the coronavirus pandemic. Almost three quarters (74%) of parents say they’ve noticed a change in their child’s mood, with 28% saying they seem less playful.
If you want to encourage more play and creativity in the home then why not think about getting your child to apply for the role of ‘Chief Play Officer’, by emailing either a bio or video of themselves to chiefplayofficer@hopeandglorypr.com by January 4. In return, all tested toys will be the successful candidates to keep.
