The Nizhny Novgorod designer "Emelya's Stove" won an all‑Russian competition.

      10 September 2025 17:23

      [184]

      Economy

      The electronic construction kit "Emelya's Stove", developed in Nizhny Novgorod, won the "Technical and Technological Toy" category of the All-Russian "Rodnaya Igrushka" (Native Toy) competition. The competition final took place at the National Centre "Russia" as part of the large-scale Childhood Festival (0+), which brought together participants from across the country. This was reported by the regional government's press service.

      Gleb Nikitin, Governor of Nizhny Novgorod Region, emphasized that the region led in the number of applications — more than 1,500 were submitted. He noted that the win in the technical category is especially significant because the project combines cultural heritage with a pursuit of knowledge. According to him, the region's children's goods cluster already includes more than 90 companies, and the success of "Emelya's Stove" can inspire other manufacturers to create high-quality domestic toys.

      The electronic construction kit, created by Anton Cherkashin, allows children to assemble a moving model of the stove from the Russian folk tale. The robot moves along a drawn track, and no soldering or programming skills are required for assembly — it is enough to join the parts and install the sensors with the control microchip. The toy is intended for children aged eight and up and helps them learn the basics of electronics, develop logic and imagination, while preserving a connection to cultural traditions.

      The kit's development was carried out with the support of the Nizhny Novgorod company "Desyatoe Korolevstvo Volga", which served as the competition's technological partner. As the region's Minister of Industry, Trade and Entrepreneurship, Maxim Cherkasov, noted, the company's specialists helped the project's author refine the concept, select materials and improve the toy's design.

      The head of the department added that Nizhny Novgorod Region is actively developing the children's goods sector. Since 2023, the region has successfully operated a specialized cluster that brings together manufacturers of children's products in all areas. About 25% of the cluster's participants are enterprises producing children's toys.

      Also reaching the competition final was a development by Natalya Shkorkina, a kindergarten teacher at Kindergarten No. 97 in Dzerzhinsk. Her project "Mnemariki" consists of soft cubes shaped like animals — a bear, a wolf, a hare and others. Each cube has a pocket with task cards designed as mnemonic charts. This form of learning makes the process of discovery interesting and visual for little children.

      The "Rodnaya Igrushka" competition started in November 2024 and immediately gained nationwide scope — more than 28,000 applications were received from all 89 regions. Participants came from a wide range of professions: teachers, designers, engineers, doctors, as well as parents inspired by their children. Many projects were created within families, where children became full co-authors.

      Winners were determined in several stages. At the final stage, each toy was evaluated by up to 45 experts — teachers, psychologists, technologists and manufacturers. In addition to the professional jury, families with children from different regions participated in the selection, testing the toys for durability, interest and usefulness.

      Maxim Dreval, General Director of the "Znanie" society, noted that the competition has ended, but the most important thing lies ahead — launching production of the winning toys and their appearance in stores. He emphasized that "Rodnaya Igrushka" united representatives of different professions and generations, proving that a toy can be not only entertainment but also a way to transmit traditions, foster interest in history and bring a family together.

      Earlier it was reported that Nizhny Novgorod folk crafts were recognized as the best in Russia.

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