For anyone coming of age in the last 60 years , Legohas been a constant fellow traveller . The tiny credit card bricks that fit snugly together have provided Brobdingnagian pleasance for multiplication of budding engine driver , scientists , architects , carpenters , bricklayer — and yes — writers . Lego , which celebrates its 60th anniversary on Jan. 28 , 2018 , ( from the patent of invention day of the month of the Lego brick ) has sold more485 billion piecesof the interlocking piece , and today it ’s one of the most iconic brands on the satellite .
Still , building aBatmobile , treehouse , bridge circuit , apolice mobile statement centeror theEiffel Towerout of Lego bricks is more than just tike ’s play . Research has shownthat building with Lego brick let children to hone their motor , spatial and spoken communication skills . It helps children on the autism spectrum as well as wannabe scientists solve problems and wangle 3 - five hundred information in their head . When children bet with Lego bricks , they analyze what parts make up the whole and how each block relates toone another .
Not bad for a humble toy that had its beginning in a non - descript hamlet named Billund in southern Denmark . That ’s where a carpenter list Ole Christiansen , who left mellow school when he was only 14 , survive . When the Great Depression remove in the 1930s , Christiansen ’s shop lose as mass build up fewer homes and less piece of furniture . The one thing mass did seem to scrape up enough money for , Christiansen noticed , were toys .
Lego’s Beginnings
By 1936 , Christiansen became a toymaker , producing more than 40 different toys carved from wood . Christiansen even created his own brand name , ramification godt , a Danish term that in English read into " play well . " The name after morph into Lego . By 1949 , Christiansen ’s company began bring about midget plastic construction bricks that kid seemed to love . Nine age later in 1958 , the Lego brick took shape and was grant apatent . Each brick had interlocking tubes that offered children unlimited ability to build anything their imagination could arouse .
That ’s on the dot what Godfred Christiansen , Ole ’s son , had envisioned for the company . In 1963 , agree to writer Lee Slater in his book , " LEGO Manufacturers , " Godfred challenged the ship’s company to comprise 10 characteristics in each Lego intersection , including unlimited romp potential difference , and the ability to help oneself children become more creative and imaginative . It was a recipe that worked . Through the 1960s and seventies , the Lego line apace expanded . In 1977 , for instance , the company launch its Expert Builder Series , models with motor and gears . A class by and by , thecompany introduce its first yellow - faced Lego man .
Lego also restrain pace with technology . Through the 1980s , Lego setsbegan to let in electric light and sound - making equipment . The society also ramify out into the hospitality field , open up LEGOLAND theme parks around the universe . But by 2003 , Lego , which was still base in Billund , was on the verge ofbankruptcyas the firm dealt with changing play habit . Kids , it seemed , were more interested in playing video games and logging on to the internet than they were playing with Lego bricks . The sales of fresh products , such as Star Wars and Harry Potter sets , full and waned count on when the film were released .
Lego Future Lab
The party ’s unexampled management had to do something . Like the baby who trifle with the bricks , executives used their imagination and within 10 years Lego was once again expand . Much of its winner was due to its Future Lab . The research lab was staffed by 50 or so investigator , scientist and designer . Their jobs were to devise Modern manoeuvre experiences for tike . To that final stage the fellowship partner with university and others in the hopes of finding out what kid wanted . They research popular film , mode movement , powder magazine and websites . The inquiry paid off . In 2017 , according toForbes magazine , Lego was worth $ 7.9 billion , and ranked as the 76th most valuable brand in the world .
Unlike other toys , Lego ’s products work together as one organisation of play , whether it’sLego Duplo , for preschool children , the extremely advancedLego Technicor classic Lego .
" From the youngest builder to the savviest teenager and adult , we have a Lego solution for every constructor of any age , building accomplishment and interest for any play occasion , " Amanda Madore , older managing director , trade name relations at Lego Systems , Inc. , enounce in an email . " We are focused on what the stain mean to children — both physically and digitally — and we bear on to serve their needs , so we believe that our occupation potential is as illimitable as our gambol material . "
Lego and Cognitive Play
Although Lego bricks have always been fun to play with , research has shown they can be central to a child ’s education and cognitive acuity . Specifically , Lego brick are an important tool that can help children on the autism spectrum . Dr. Dan Legoff , a clinical neuropsychologist in Philadelphia , has incorporated so - called Lego - base therapy into his research . He has found that child on the spectrum become more societal and communicatory while play with the bricks in group preferences .
Part of the reason is that Lego is ahighly - structured toythat requires children to divide labor , communicate , determine rules , make decision and interact with others . research worker have also learned to use Lego robots to help wellness professionalsmeasure the cognitive abilityof children with life-threatening disabilities who can not be measured through traditional examination .
In addition , there ’s a good chance the scientists of tomorrow are presently playing Lego bricks . Amy Shelton , acognitive psychologistat Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth , has canvass the wallop work with building blocks including Lego , has on young children . She says children who encounter with theses toy taper their spatial reasoning ability .
" These attainment not only have a relationship to academics , but to the airfield you might gravitate to , and where you ’re going , " she say in a statement . " If you want to build future STEM enthusiast , you demand to start with fundamental skills and they need to come early . Something as simple as making certain kid have exposure to block play would determine them up for a future where they can work up the correct kinds of skills for whatever field of operations they want to go into and they wo n’t be restricted because of their lack of early experience . "
