An Old Time Favorite: Legos

Playtime used to mean getting dirty, using your hands (and not for pressing buttons!) and exploring your imagination. Nowadays, playtime means the latest video game or IPhone app. Kids just don't get as much sunshine as they used to and imagination nowadays is limited to the choices presented on a screen.

Legos are an old time favorite. I used to play with legos all day long going from one creation to the next. It wasn't just a game of stacking blocks but of building something from your imagination. In keeping up with the times Legos has created more designs that will attract the current generation. Hopefully this gets kids playing again and using their creativity.

Lego comes from the word "leg godt" which means play well. The Lego Company is a family business from Denmark and has been giving us wonderful toys since 1932. Wooden toys were their first venture until they explored plastic toys.

They started with a truck that could be taken apart and put back together. Since then they have come up with so many creations they're endless.

This video aptly shows Lego's beginnings and it's continuing success.

Legos for Learning

Legos go beyond imagination. They're one of the greatest learning tools around. Lego Education promotes the use of Legos for Pre-School and Primary school years. It's learning while having fun.

With the use of Legos children are encouraged to actively participate in the learning process as opposed to the usual talking to method. A child will gain more interest with a hands on approach than just listening to someone speak. This is encouraged especially in the early years.

It's a proven method to have children use building blocks as one of the toys that enhance their cognitive thinking. Kids imbibe the fact that learning can be fun and doesn't have to be boring.

Lego has come a long way from the small workshop it once was. Their toys can now be designed by you.

Their new feature Lego Design by Me gives you the opportunity to design and create anything you can imagine using a special Digital Designer software. This could be a supplement to a Lego design that you already have or a totally new creation. Once you've designed it, you can order your customized Lego set.

You can also join their Lego Club and upload your creations and share it with other members. It's a pool of ideas and a great way to show off your work.

Lego popularity has returned with the release of Lego Sets inspired by movies. Star Wars and Harry Potter sets made such an impact that more movie Lego sets have been made.

The newest Lego sets to hit the scene are from the following movies.

Wolverine (Lego Wolverine Chopper Showdown)

The latest Wolverine movie has our hero travelling to Japan to face his most challenging nemesis yet.

Included in the set are Deadpool's helicopter and Wolverine's Chopper along with mini figures, Wolverine, Deadpool, and Magneto.

Lone Ranger

The 1956 classic has been brought to life by Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer with Depp as Tonto and Hammer as the Lone Ranger.

The Lego Lone Ranger Stagecoach Escape includes mini figures, The Lone Ranger, Tonto, Red Harrington and 2 bandits, Jesus and Barret.

The Hobbit

The Lord of the Rings series each has it's own set and now comes the Hobbit Lego set.

This Lego set features Bilbo's dwelling along with 6 mini figures: Bilbo Baggins, Gandalf the Grey, Balin the Dwarf, Dwalin the Dwarf, Bombur the Dwarf and Bofur the Dwarf.

Also included are various accessories and weapons.

The Lego Movie came out on February 7, 2014 and was a long awaited movie. The plot is surprisingly about an average Joe who is mistaken for an extraordinary person who will save the world.

More interesting is the fact that Will Ferrell voiced the adversary which guaranteed some zany and wacky scenes.

Legos are a classic and hopefully despite the progressing technology we still hold on to these kinds of educational toys.

They may not be as sophisticated as the latest video game but they bring us back to the simplistic play and learn. It may not be a popular form of leisure for older kids but if you start them young on these toys they'll grow up fondly remembering these toys.