Entrepreneur Trudy Susan has officially launched one of the first Black-owned diverse matching card games for children.

(Black PR Wire) Atlanta, GA — Scrolling through parenting and shopping websites, entrepreneur Trudy Susan noticed a trend. Many companies lacked diverse options, and they rarely represented the full spectrum of ethnicities in educational toys and games. She decided to blend her deep passion for learning with her sharp business acumen to design a one-of-a-kind product. Susan recently launched the Brains and Beauty Matching Card Game where kids learn to embrace their natural features and respect other cultures.

“It’s a fun and powerful twist to a classic game. We feature positive affirmations alongside gorgeous illustrations of a full spectrum of Black children,” said Susan, creator and founder of the Ruby Rae Society. “Similar to a typical memory game, Brains and Beauty Matching cards help to improve concentration and can increase short term memory.”

From “Intelligent Ijeoma” to “Mindful Michaela” the game includes 36 sturdy, glossy cards that reinforce culture, character, and confidence. Kids from age three and up can enjoy fun rounds of matching alone or with a group of players.

“It’s been wonderful watching the reaction videos. Parents are sending us clips of their littles opening the game for the first time. Not only are they excited to see someone who has hair like them or resembles their skin tone, but the game really gets their imagination going and takes playtime to a different level,” added Susan.

Parents and children alike are raving about this new addition to the toybox. “We jumped right into it and my son said, ‘Daddy, we are playing the most awesome game ever!’ My daughter pulled out cards and said people’s names we know. Representation SO matters!” said mom Busola Akinbote.

Games like the Brains and Beauty Matching game are an important part of early childhood education. Playtime helps kids develop language and social-emotional skills. By also layering in diverse nuances, children can also gain an extra boost of cultural awareness and confidence. Research has shown that when kids experience stereotypical images repetitively, it can influence how they see themselves and others’ social roles.

“As a mom, you can’t help but think about the kind of society you want your child to grow up in. I want my daughter to thrive in a world where she is affirmed, where she’s told, ‘you are loveable, you are hardworking, you are beautiful and you are smart’ because it’s true,” said Susan.

The Brains and Beauty Matching game is just one way the Ruby Rae Society fulfills its mission of creating a world where underrepresented kids see themselves positively represented everywhere, especially in gifts and games. In addition to shopping for diverse learning games for children, conscious parents can also take advantage of resources and articles that can help them be more intentional.

For more information, visit RubyRAESociety.com or follow on Instagram @rubyraesociety