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:
- 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.
- The LEGO Group is a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company is still owned by the Kirk Kristiansen family.
- In February this year, LEGO was named the Most Powerful Brand In The World (beating Disney, Nike, Google & Ferrari).
- 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.
- 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.
- 1983 saw the introduction of the very first DUPLO people. Today the DUPLO range includes figures, cars, houses & trains.
- DUPLO bricks are compatible with LEGO bricks, plus every single LEGO brick created since 1958 can still interlock with a LEGO made today. Hooray!
- 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).
- The plural of LEGO is not LEGOS! It is LEGO. LEGO is an adjective & is not meant to be a standalone name.
- DUPLO is basically indestructible (except for if you drive over it with a car – eek). This happened to us one sad, sad day.
- 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.
- Most parents & child minders enjoy building LEGO & DUPLO just as much as the kids do!
- If LEGO Minifigures were humans, they would be the world’s largest population (there are over 4 billion around the world).
- Stepping on a LEGO block is potentially one of the most painful things that can happen to a parent! Here’s why.
- 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.