LEGO Duplo is a popular line of Lego sets designed for toddlers and young children. The Duplo bricks are larger in size than traditional LEGO bricks, making them easier for small hands to grasp and manipulate.
In addition, their bright colors and simple designs are perfect for encouraging imaginative play and creativity in young children.
The Duplo line has existed for over 50 years and has become a beloved staple in many households with young children. LEGO has designed Duplo sets to support children in developing age-appropriate skills at an early age. The Duplo LEGO city sets offer kids a chance to learn about the world as they put together things like barns, schools, and race cars.
These playsets also support the development of children’s imagination by giving them the tools needed to bring amusement parks, farms, and building sites to life in their own LEGO City with Duplo minifigures.
Many parents appreciate the educational benefits of Duplo sets. Duplo LEGO sets also encourage the development of fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Children also learn about colors, shapes, and numbers and practice problem-solving and critical thinking while playing with Duplo sets. With so many benefits, it’s no wonder that LEGO Duplo is a go-to choice for parents looking for fun and educational toys for their young children.
What is LEGO Duplo?
LEGO Duplo is a core product range of LEGO products designed for children from 1 1/2 to 5 years old. The larger size of LEGO Duplo allows children to explore their creativity and imagination without the danger of swallowing a small piece from the set.
The Duplo range includes a variety of LEGO toys, including animals, vehicles, buildings, and more. These playsets often come with unique features, such as moving parts or sound effects, to enhance the play experience for young children.
In addition to the traditional brick playsets, LEGO Duplo also offers bath toys, such as boats and animals that children can play with in the tub. My daughter particularly loves playing with the floating red panda during bathtime. These toys are designed to be water-resistant and easy to clean, making them a great addition to bathtime fun.
Benefits of LEGO Duplo
In this section, we will discuss some of the benefits of LEGO Duplo.
Educational Benefits
LEGO Duplo is not just a toy but also a fun learning tool. Here are some of the educational benefits of LEGO Duplo:
- Improves creativity: LEGO Duplo allows children to use their imagination and create with their hands. This helps encourage creative play while enhancing problem-solving skills.
- Enhances math skills: LEGO Duplo helps children to learn basic math concepts such as counting, sorting, and matching with its counting LEGO sets.
- Develops language skills: Playing with LEGO Duplo can help children develop their language skills as they communicate with others and describe their building. Grown-ups can also use it to introduce new vocabulary to children.
Developmental Benefits
LEGO Duplo has many developmental benefits that can help children grow and develop. Here are some of the developmental benefits of LEGO Duplo:
- Improves fine motor skills: Playing with LEGO Duplo helps children develop their fine motor skills by manipulating the bricks and putting them together.
- Enhances social skills: LEGO Duplo brings kids together. It encourages sharing, taking turns, and cooperation, which helps to develop social skills.
- Boosts self-esteem: Building with LEGO Duplo can be a great confidence booster for children as they see their creations come to life.
- Encourages perseverance: Building with LEGO Duplo can be challenging, but it encourages children to keep trying and persevere until they finish building each LEGO set.
Choosing the Best LEGO Duplo per Age Range
Not all LEGO Duplo sets are created equally. However, LEGO does a great job of categorizing which collection is appropriate for each age range. The list below contains the best-rated LEGO Duplo sets per age range.
Age Range 1-2 Years
For children aged 1-2 years, LEGO Duplo offers a range of sets specifically designed to promote sensory exploration, hand-eye coordination, and motor skills. These sets feature large blocks that are easy to grip and manipulate, perfect for little hands.
Some of the best LEGO Duplo sets for children in this age range include:
LEGO Duplo Heart Box
The LEGO Duplo Heart Box is recommended for ages 1.5 to 3 and includes 80 pieces to build multiple creations. This set features LEGOs that are more traditional and open-ended. This set helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination with its large pieces.
LEGO Duplo Number Train – Learn To Count
The Number Train from LEGO Duplo is a great tool to help children learn how to count. This LEGO set is recommended for ages 1.5 to 3 years old, and its bright colors and numbers will help develop children’s number recognition skills.
LEGO Duplo Alphabet Town
The Alphabet Town set is recommended for young toddlers and includes 87 pieces. Your child can use these pieces to build a town with blocks with large letters to help build early literacy skills and letter recognition. In addition, this set encourages imaginative play, even at an early age.
Age Range 2-3 Years
Children aged 2-3 years begin developing more advanced motor skills and cognitive abilities. LEGO Duplo sets for this preschool age range focus on promoting imaginative play, problem-solving, and creative expression.
Some of the best LEGO Duplo sets for children in this age range include:
LEGO Duplo Space Shuttle Mission
The LEGO Duplo Space Shuttle Mission is a fantastic toy for children aged 2-5. With 23 pieces included, children can build their own space shuttle and astronaut Lego minifigure. The toy features realistic details that encourage imaginative play and storytelling, helping to develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
LEGO Duplo Police Station & Helicopter
The LEGO Duplo Police Station & Helicopter is another excellent toy for children aged 2-5. With 40 pieces included, children can build their own police station, police helicopter, and LEGO friends police officer figure.
In addition, the toy features a jail cell, opening doors, and a working rotor on the helicopter, providing a realistic play experience.
Like the Space Shuttle Mission set, this toy helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, encourages imaginative play and storytelling, and is made with durable and safe materials for young children.
LEGO Duplo Garbage Truck and Recycling
The LEGO Duplo Garbage Truck and Recycling set is an excellent toy for children 2-5 years old who love vehicles and the environment. With 19 pieces included, children can build their own garbage trucks and recycling containers.
In addition, the toy features a tipping function for realistic play, helping children to understand the importance of recycling and taking care of the environment.
Age Range 3-4 Years
Children aged 3-4 years are more independent and confident in their abilities. LEGO Duplo sets for this age range promote more complex building and problem-solving skills. Some of the best LEGO Duplo sets for children in this age range include:
LEGO Duplo Learn About Chinese Culture
The LEGO Duplo Learn About Chinese Culture set is an excellent toy for children 3-4 years old interested in learning about different cultures and traditions. With 124 pieces included, children can build a Chinese temple and other cultural figures. This toy helps children learn about and appreciate Chinese culture and traditions.
LEGO Duplo Mickey & Minnie Birthday Train
The LEGO Duplo Mickey & Minnie Birthday Train is a fun and festive toy for children aged 3-4. Children can build a birthday train with Mickey and Minnie figures using the 22 pieces included in the set.
In addition, the toy features a buildable birthday cupcake and number blocks for counting and number recognition.
LEGO Duplo Construction Site
Help your child create their own LEGO construction site with this playset. This LEGO set is excellent for young children who love vehicles and construction sites. Children can build a construction site LEGOLAND with vehicles and figures in the set.
In addition, the Duplo playset features a crane with a rotating cabin, a dump truck, and a bulldozer which children can use to create their own LEGO world.
Age Range 4-5 Years
Children around age five are ready for more challenging building tasks and imaginative play scenarios. LEGO Duplo sets for this age range offer more complex designs and building instructions while promoting creativity and problem-solving skills.
Some of the best LEGO Duplo sets for children in this age range include:
LEGO Duplo Frozen Ice Castle
The LEGO Duplo Frozen Ice Castle is a magical toy for young children aged 2-5 years old who love the Frozen movie. With 59 pieces included, children can build an ice castle setting with Elsa and Olaf minifigures. In addition, this LEGO set features a slide and other magical details from the movie.
Like other Duplo sets, this toy helps develop fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination and is made with durable and safe materials for young children. It can also be combined with other Duplo sets for more building possibilities.
LEGO Duplo Steam Train
The LEGO Duplo Steam Train is a fantastic toy for young children who love trains and transportation. Children can build a steam train with tracks with this 59-piece set. The LEGO set features a steam engine and passenger wagon, providing a realistic play experience.
LEGO Duplo Wild Animals of Europe
The LEGO Duplo Wild Animals of Europe set is an excellent toy for young children who love animals and nature. With 85 pieces included, children can build a variety of European animals, including deer, fox, bear, and more. The toy features realistic details, helping children learn about different animals and their habitats.
Like other Duplo sets, this can also be combined with other Duplo sets for even more building possibilities.
This article originally appeared on Wealth of Geek and has been republished with permission by Mama Say What?!
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock /Wirestock Creators
