If I think of my childhood and the toys that helped shape and inspire me, LEGO is one of the first things that comes to mind. I have these vivid memories of building with my dad for hours on end and then sitting on my own and letting my imagination run free as I created entire worlds for my LEGO people to inhabit.
As an adult, my love for LEGO has never entirely fizzled out. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t get a mad rush of excitement whenever the topic of LEGO is brought up. It’s also my go-to gift idea whenever one of my baby cousins, nieces or nephews has a birthday coming up.
LEGO acknowledges how fundamental they are to many children’s childhoods, so the new LEGO Friends Universe aims to create a more representative way to play and learn. In a nutshell, LEGO Friends Universe includes digital content that features the latest generation of characters, storylines, and associated toys.
The line also introduces an array of physical and mental traits, complex emotions, and unique cultural backgrounds in the hopes that all children can feel represented and seen.
“The relaunch answers a call for change that real kids desire to see in their toys and the content they watch. New characters feel, express, and acknowledge a range of emotions similar to those of today’s kids, helping them relate to and explore their mental well-being through play,” the company wrote in its announcement.
LEGO Friends Universe includes characters with limb differences and dealing with more complex issues such as ADHD and anxiety. Before starting to work on this line, The LEGO Group conducted surveys of children between ages 6 to 12 and saw that over 70% of those polled were looking for toys that represented emotions beyond simply “happy” and instead wanted more realistic expressions and more powerful emotions.
Even the new characters’ stories have been refined to represent the complex emotions and diverse experiences of children today. Autumn is the first LEGO character representing someone born with a limb difference. Still, throughout the story, it’s shown how she never lets this impede her adventurous spirit.
Paisley is a character who struggles with intense social anxiety and letting her voice be heard. Liann is a super creative and imaginative kid with ADHD, and Nova is a game streamer who needs to learn how to communicate better with those around her.
What do you think about this new line? I love it, and I also love the fact that decades on, LEGO can still grab children’s attention and make an impactful difference in their lives.