When Oliver was still a tiny baby, we were given our very first set of DUPLO (which is basically LEGO for tiny tots aged 1,5 – 5 years).

I thought yay another lovely gift. But I had no idea how amazing it really is. I never played with LEGO as a child, so I honestly didn’t know. When Oliver was about two years & three months he actually ‘discovered’ the DUPLO & has not stopped playing with it for one day. We received some more sets, we bought a couple & also asked Father Christmas for a DUPLO train set in 2015. All I can say is I’m a total DUPLO (& LEGO) fan these days – except for point 11 & 14 below. The DUPLO train has provided all of us with hours of fun. Little friends also have a massive fascination with it whenever they come over to play.

It has literally been the toy that he has spent hours & hours & hours playing with. He is a bit of an inside body (like me), but the DUPLO sometimes make it into the bath, the pool or even out in the garden. Probably not the best idea, I know.

Then, for his third birthday, friends gave him his very first LEGO set, so now we have a double obsession: DUPLO & LEGO. (The only bigger toddler obsession around here is Paw Patrol). Last Christmas, the very first gift that he opened was a LEGO fire engine. Needless to say that he didn’t open one additional gift after the LEGO. He was fixated on building it (with his uncle) & has been playing with it ever since.

So, in case you need some more convincing about the awesomeness of these wonder blocks & whether or not you should get them for your niece / nephew / godchild / son / daughter or friends’ kids, take a look at these 15 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT LEGO & DUPLO:

  1. LEGO was founded in Denmark in 1932 & has twice been named the toy of the decade. The word means “play well”, from an abbreviation of the words LEG & GODT.
  2. The LEGO Group is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is still owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family.
  3. In February this year, LEGO was named the Most Powerful Brand In The World (beating Disney, Nike, Google & Ferrari).
  4. All LEGO products are based on this underlying philosophy of learning & development through play. LEGO believes that play is a key element in growth & development & stimulates the imagination & the emergence of ideas & creative expression.
  5. DUPLO came about in 1969. Think of them as big blocks for small hands – specifically designed for children aged 1.5 to 5 years old.

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  1. 1983 saw the introduction of the very first DUPLO people. Today the DUPLO range includes figures, cars, houses & trains.
  2. DUPLO bricks are compatible with LEGO bricks, plus every single LEGO brick created since 1958 can still interlock with a LEGO made today. Hooray!
  3. DUPLO bricks are twice the length, height & width of traditional LEGO bricks, making them easier to handle & less likely to be swallowed! DUPLO comes in two ranges: My First Range (for kids 1.5 to 3 years) & Town Range (for kids 2 to 5 years).
  4. The plural of LEGO is not LEGOS! It is LEGO. LEGO is an adjective & is not meant to be a standalone name.
  5. DUPLO is basically indestructible (except for if you drive over it with a car – eek). This happened to us one sad, sad day.

  1. Parents of toddlers spend at least 8 hours a week looking for lost LEGO parts. Ok ok, I made this up, but I’m sure the real numbers are not too far off.
  2. Most parents & child minders enjoy building LEGO & DUPLO just as much as the kids do!
  3. If LEGO Minifigures were humans, they would be the world’s largest population (there are over 4 billion around the world).
  4. Stepping on a LEGO block is potentially one of the most painful things that can happen to a parent! Here’s why.
  5. The reason why LEGO figurines are yellow, is to best represent all races & ethnicities.

Are you a big LEGO fan? Or are your kids? I’d love to hear from you.

Yolandi ♥

Ps. This is not a sponsored post. We just seriously love our DUPLO & LEGO & play with it morning, noon & night, so I’m basically just spreading the love about awesome things in our lives.

 

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