Mascots Appeal to Kids
Friday, April 15th, 2011Mascots are generally developed as tools for marketing. These characters develop their own identity that is easily associated with a business, sports team, or other entity. The qualities of that identity then become part of the overall brand and, with luck and hard work, contribute to the brand’s success. Professional sports teams especially have recognized the importance of having kid-friendly mascots.
What kid isn’t attracted to and delighted by mascots? This includes cartoons, animated characters, and actors in Mascot Costumes . Mascots are about fantasy and kids love fantasy of all kinds. They relate to animals and inanimate objects that take on a life of their own. Some mascots are huggable and gentle while others are humorous and prone to antics. Both can inspire loyalty in fans and transfer goodwill for the mascot to the company, product, or team that it represents.
A good example of this is sports mascots. When very young children attend sports events they aren’t able to follow the complex rules and action of the sport itself. However, they will carry home with them the actions of the larger than life mascot — and want to return again and again. Eventually they start watching the team as well as the mascot and a lifelong fan is born.
Another example is the success of characters like Smokey Bear and the Give a Hoot Don’t Pollute Owl. These and other public service mascots draw kids in with their approachable characterizations and, in the process, teach valuable lessons and inspire children to develop better life habits.