Toy Talk: Why Lego Stands the Test of Time
Toy fads come and go. Every Christmas season, crowds gather outside shopping malls and crazed parents elbow their way through hoards of shoppers to grab that year’s coveted, must-have toy. The following year, the same toy that was fought so hard for sits under the bed, collecting dust.
Despite these inevitable toy trends, certain toys do manage to stand the test of time. One of the most enduring is Lego, entertaining kids since 1949. What is it about these tiny interlocking bricks that keeps children interested through the generations? Let’s take a look:
Sparks the imagination
The ability to imagine is an important step in our development. According to Harvard development psychologist Paul Harris, we must be able to imagine situations that we don’t necessarily see first-hand in order to fully understand reality.
Lego bricks are nothing special on their own. It’s their potential that’s so enticing to a child. With a bit of imagination and creativity, a stack of colourful Lego bricks can become anything. Without imagination, Lego wouldn’t work – which is why it’s the perfect toy for encouraging kids to think big.
Encourages problem solving
From the initial interlocking of one brick to another, to building large structures like pirate ships and castles, to play with Lego bricks is to problem solve. According to Scholastic, children are natural problems solvers, so it’s easy to see why they’re so enchanted by Lego.
This is why parents love Lego too. There aren’t many toys that can keep a child’s brain so engaged for so long. It’s tempting to sit kids in front of the TV or let them spend an extra hour playing video games but parents who want to avoid these passive activities really appreciate Lego’s ability to lengthen the attention span.
Creates opportunities for success
As a parent, it’s common to find yourself saying ‘no’ every other word, but Lego gives you a reason to say ‘yes’. Can you build a tower as tall as you are? Can you work with grandpa on a Lego car? Can you build a miniature version of our house? Yes, yes and yes.
Best of all, Lego creates an opportunity for your children to succeed. It encourages them to see a project through to completion and feel rewarded for a job well done.
Ultimately, the brilliance of Lego bricks come from their simplicity. Lego recognises that the best toy is one that’s 10% plastic, 90% imagination. Even as toys get louder, flashier and brighter, it’s easy to see why Lego continues to outlive them all.
