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Finding the Right LEGO® Set for
the Child on Anyone’s Holiday Shopping List
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Helpful tips for shopping during the 2008 holidays
Whether shopping for a grandchild, son, daughter or friend, the LEGO Group has a variety of gift ideas that are sure to inspire and engage imaginations of all ages this holiday season. Below are a few helpful hints for navigating the LEGO aisle this holiday season.
GENERALLY SPEAKING...
TIP #1:
Go to the LEGO Parents Website and use the Whole Product Timeline
to get inspired quickly and access what LEGO sets other parents and caregivers have bought for different age groups.
TIP #2:
All LEGO building sets are compatible with one another. No matter what selection you make, recipients can easily incorporate new sets into their existing LEGO collections as they grow.
TIP #3:
Get to know your child’s play interests as a guide to choosing the right set. Does she like to build houses or cars? Does he like outer space or medieval knights? Knowing ahead of time will help you narrow your choices once in-store.
TIP #4:
If you’re unsure of a child’s interests, look for LEGO sets with lots of versatile pieces. Any of the LEGO CREATOR sets provide great bricks to add to any collection, and are designed for building and re-building many models and themes from one kit of parts.
TIP #5:
Look for the model boxes that most retailers have on-shelf. Here you can see what some of the hottest models look like assembled. The size, scale and complexity of the model will help you choose the right set for his or her ability.
TIP #6:
Follow the age markings on the packaging. Many people purchase things for older children as a way to promote their younger child’s progress, but age markings are provided for a reason. LEGO designers spend a lot of time determining which models and themes provide the best building experiences for children. A set marked 8+ is designed to be challenging and rewarding for children 8 years old and up. Unless a 5 year old is a very advanced builder, this is not the right LEGO set for him, and you’ll probably spend a lot of time helping him complete the model.
TIP #7:
Not all construction sets are created equally. Look for the LEGO logo on the box if you want the highest quality materials, clear step-by-step building instructions and the peace of mind that comes from knowing that the company’s commitment to a child’s creative development has spanned the course of 75 years.
TIP #8:
Buy early! LEGO sets are in strong demand this year, so don’t wait until the last minute to get that set your child is wishing for!
AN OVERVIEW OF THE LEGO® SYSTEM OF PLAY BASED ON WHAT FANS, PARENTS AND GIFT GIVERS JUST BOUGHT IN THE LEGO SHOP@HOME
LEGO DUPLO® (Ages 1 ½ to 5 years)
LEGO DUPLO bricks are four times bigger than traditional LEGO bricks and easily fit together so children can explore their imaginations while they develop motor skills through stacking, sorting and free-form building. Open-ended, versatile play is packed into every LEGO DUPLO bucket, and new LEGO Thomas & Friends™ building sets introduce role-playing to building.
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HOT HOLIDAY PICK:
DUPLO® Friendly Zoo
– the perfect starter kit for the little builders! Recommended for children 24 months to 5 years old. |
LEGO System Bricks (Ages 4+)
As children’s building skills develop, they can transition to traditional LEGO brick building. With Creative Building buckets and tubs, children get a variety of bricks and specialized pieces with which to build anything they can imagine – from cars to houses to flowers and tress – and to help them gain confidence in their ability to build. LEGO CREATOR sets provide a versatile collection of bricks and pieces, along with building instructions to make 3 models from each kit, plus building inspiration for many more. Kits range by theme and models have varying levels of building challenge.
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HOT HOLIDAY PICK:
LEGO® Deluxe Brick Box
– With a large base plate, 2 LEGO minifigures and special house and vehicle pieces, builders will have enough for years of imagination, creativity and fun! For ages 4 and up. |
Play Themes (Ages 5+)
Play Theme sets add storylines and role-playing to LEGO building fun. There is a Play Theme for every child’s interest: CITY for recreating real-life downtown fun, new, Agents for choosing your own mission, MARS MISSION for out of this world fun, CASTLE for medieval adventures, RACERS for car lovers, EXO-FORCE for futuristic fantasy battle and BIONICLE® for action figure role-playing and storytelling.
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HOT HOLIDAY PICK:
LEGO® CITY Cargo Plane
– Take off for distant deliveries! This big transport plane is ready to carry cargo anywhere you can imagine! Use the baggage truck to haul the cargo out onto the runway, then raise the lift to load the pallets onto the plane. You’re ready for takeoff! For ages 5 to 12 years old. |
Licensed Play Themes (Ages 6+)
For kids who love movie and TV stories and characters, the LEGO Group offers several ways to recreate the adventure and fun of today’s hottest properties, like Ferrari™, Indiana Jones™, SpongeBob Square pants™, BATMAN™, and Star Wars™.
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HOT HOLIDAY PICK:
The Batcycle™: Harley Quinn’s Hammer Truck
– Here comes Harley Quinn in her big-wheeled hammer-slammer truck! Can Batman’s high-speed Batcycle dodge her pavement-pounding mechanical mallet and put an end to the mischievous jester’s crime spree? Fire the missiles and find out! For ages 7 to 12 years old. |
LEGO TECHNIC® (Ages 7+)
The gears, rods, pins, beams and bricks found in LEGO TECHNIC sets are designed to provide a more challenging and engaging building experience for skilled builders. TECHNIC building is all about creating authentic models that work just like their real-life counterparts. The TECHNIC system is also found in the LEGO MINDSTORMS® NXT robotics toolset, letting children ages 10 and up design, build and program their very own robots.
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HOT HOLIDAY PICK:
LEGO TECHNIC® Telescopic Handler
– Lift nearly anything with this heavy-duty Telescopic Handler! It’s loaded with realistic functions that you build right in, including a mechanical actuator that raises and lowers the extending boom, front-end stabilizers, and working four-wheel steering. You can even add 8293 Power Functions Motor Set to motorize the telescoping boom! For ages 10 to 16 years old. |
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