Mattel’s New Action Figures Honor the Heroes of the Pandemic

Doctors, nurses, emergency medical technicians, grocery workers, delivery drivers … we can all agree that these are the heroes on the front lines during the coronavirus pandemic. And Mattel’s newest line of action figures were created to honor all of these brave workers.

Play it forward is the tagline for this new line of toys, and it’s a fitting one. The Mattel website sums it up:

“We’re talking about those brave souls who carry on doing their jobs despite the risks in order to keep the rest of us safe, secure and healthy. We salute these heroes, and we think they’re pretty amazing role models for kids. Let’s play their heroism forward by lending a helping hand and sharing a little gratitude”

Mattel is offering 16 action figures for $20 each as well as a set of five Little People figurines for $20 total. Like Mattel’s other toy brands (Barbie, Hot Wheels, and American Girl), it’s a safe bet that these #ThankYouHeroes Fisher-Price action figures and Little People figurines will be pretty popular.

These toys heroes are also geared toward a good cause: The net proceeds of purchases from now through May 31 will be donated to the #FirstRespondersFirst fund, which provides essential supplies, equipment, and resources to help protect healthcare workers and their families.

You can preorder the #ThankYouHereoes toys through the Mattel #PlayHeroes website. Orders are anticipated to ship by December 31, 2020.

And if you need any more reasons to love these toys, here’s one: The action heroes are available in different genders, skin colors, and hair colors. This isn’t the only way Mattel has contributed during the COVID-19 pandemic: The company has also been making cloth face masks and face shields for medical workers.

In our books, these toys are a win-win: Fun role models for kids to play with, plus the knowledge that your purchase is going toward a good cause. What a great way to #PlayItForward!