“If you want a demonstration of the accelerating infantilism of contemporary culture, look at Lego. Its origins lie deep in the history of European pedagogy, co-mingled with the Scandinavian design ethic. The bricks [were designed] to encourage intelligent decisions about structures, stimulating a child’s imagination. It was the ultimate open-ended system, with infinite potential for the user to explore ideas of their own. These days, Lego wants to sell you Hollywood tie-ins, or to instruct you to build a McLaren P1. It’s an affluence that diminishes the imagination, while feeding the cupidity of the semi-literate.”  (Stephen Bayley in The Daily Telegraph).

And I thought it was just me who felt like that!  Giving ready-designed Lego products to small children has been such an empty disappointment, and not inexpensive, either.  You sit there, helping the child assemble a moon landing vehicle or whatever. But when it’s done, it’s done. Fini.  Complete.  It sits on a shelf to be admired for a few days, and that’s the end of it, until eventually it is dis-assembled.  Then you find the specially- designed parts don’t suit other, ad hoc, attempts to be creative.

My younger son wisely won’t allow pre-designed Lego products in the house, only loose bricks etc. The result is that, when we visit, the oldest grandchild has barely said hello before he proudly shows off his latest creation.  It is his, not something devised by grownups from a design department.  Alleluya!

The sad thing it that people – a lot of them – buy these pre-designed products, and Lego makes a fortune from them.  Let the imagination of kids flourish, free and creative!