Tag: Duplo

Duplo 30 Days Of Play

Duplo 30 Days Of Play Challenge

Duplo 30 Days Of PlayI’m coming in late to the Duplo 30 Days Of Play challenge, run by Canada based blog magazine Today’s Parent.

I had heard about this set of Lego Duplo activities previously but not really taken the time to check it out, which I now realise was a mistake.

Because it is such a great idea!

The Duplo 30 Days Of Play

The challenge is basically this.

Each day for 30 days the blog posts an activity you and your child can make and do with Lego Duplo.

Most of the activities don’t involve any special pieces and if they do, you can usually substitute or modify them with basic blocks.

Lets look at an example:

Duplo 30 Days of Play – Day 4
Build A Container 

Lego Duplo 30 Days of Play Day 4The instructions for today’s activity are as follows:

“Build a box you can use for whatever you choose! Build a container and help expand your little one’s imagination.
Have fun imagining all sorts of uses, the sillier the better.”

Sounds simple doesn’t it!

What a cool (and practical!) idea.

Lego Duplo SetWhile the site recommends Lego Duplo sets you will “need” for this exercise, you can create this with just about any blocks and enhance your creation with any special pieces you might have, just as they have done so with the flowers.

If you need some help choosing a basic set to start check out our guide to Lego Duplo.

30 Days + More

Each day is a different activity and it really is a wonderful way to connect with young children and encourage their creativity and hand/eye co-ordination.

There is a competition on the site as well, open to Canadian residents. You can submit another idea for creative play with Duplo and go in the draw to win a trip to Legoland for four people. By sharing the competition on Facebook/Twitter you also help Lego raise money for the Canadian Make a Wish Foundation.

The competition closes on 8th of April but hopefully the site will remain live after that time so parents can continue to take the 30 day Play Challenge and share their Duplo play ideas.

You can check out the Duplo 30 Day Play Challenge on the Today’s Parent blog.

Duplo Blocks – A Parent’s Guide To Basic Duplo Sets

Duplo BlocksDuplo Blocks are large Lego blocks designed to be played with by small hands. Lego Duplo is compatible with regular Lego and is a wonderful toy to give children to develop their hand-eye coordination as well as their ability to imagine and create.

Duplo can be used by children from 18 months and is available as both themed kits which have a vehicle or playset that needs to be built by instructions and also basic block sets which contain a variety of loose blocks of different sizes and colors.

The re-designed playset kits are great for older toddlers but the basic sets containing just Duplo Blocks are recommended for the youngest children as they develop early skills.

Duplo Block Sets

The basic Duplo block sets contain a variety of bricks that can be pieced together, stacked and taken apart easily.

For very young children the blocks provide something to grab hold of. The bricks feel solid and strong and won’t bend or break like cheaper brands can. The colors are vibrant and hold their appeal for many, many years (we had ours for 8 years and we passed them onto friends who were ecstatic).

The following sets are the basic Duplo sets, containing mainly blocks. For other sets see our guide to Lego Duplo.

Duplo Basic Bricks Deluxe

2011 Duplo Block Sets

LEGO Duplo Basic Bricks Deluxe 80 Piece – (Set 6176)

This set has been at or near the top of the Amazon Toy Bestseller list almost all year. And with good reason.

Set 6176 is a great first set for toddlers and a wonderful addition to a child’s growing collection. The collection of 80 blocks enables children to build and stack and, when they are ready, create just about anything their minds can envisage.

And it is only $20.

The set consists of:

  • 56 2×2 stud square pieces
  • Duplo Basic Bricks Deluxe Blocks20 2×4 stud rectangular pieces
  • 2 2×4 stud pieces (1/2 thickness of regular pieces)
  • 1 2×6 long rectangular piece
  • 1 2×8 stud extra-long rectangular piece

Which are mixed into colors:

  • 14 red
  • 13 each of green and yellow
  • 12 blue
  • 8 each of light green and orange
  • 5 each of black and white
  • 2 transparent blue 2×2 peg pieces

My First Lego Duplo 30 Pieces – (Set 5931)

My First Lego Duplo Set BoxThis is a smaller collection of pieces but has the added bonus of including a figure, some flowers and a door/window structure.
This set is probably more appropriate for slightly older children who are becoming interested in the world around them but not quite ready for the larger Duplo sets.
The set also comes with an “inspiration guide”, a small manual which contains ideas to create a number of different creations including a house, boat and a plane.
The set retails for $15 and is also great value.

More Duplo Blocks Sets

There are more Duplo blocks sets available at Amazon who offer a wide range of the basic block sets as well as the larger playsets.
The great thing about Lego and Duplos that the toys never go out of style and are never superseded. You can start small and build a collection over time knowing that the bricks you buy when you child is very young can still be used and enjoyed when they are much older.
In this way, Duplo bricks become a wise investment that kids use year after year and are often passed onto the next generation when a child moves on to other things – like Lego Technic sets!