Little Coloured Bricks

The name LEGO was coined from two Danish words “leg godt”, which means “play well”. It has been the company’s name and ideal since it was founded in 1932 by Ole Kirk Christiansen. From a humble beginning being a small carpenter’s workshop, it is now the world’s fifth manufacturer of toys owned by one of the founder’s grandchildren, Kjeld Kirk Kristiansen.

The purpose of the LEGO Group has always been to inspire children to explore and challenge their own creativity. By providing building toys that encourage children to engage in fun, challenging, creative activities, LEGO intends to help them learn through play. This kind of playtime supports the child’s imagination and problem-solving skills while giving a pride of accomplishment and developing their interpersonal and motor skills. The toy also caters to everyone – from toddlers, schoolchildren, teenagers, and even young-at-hearts” – making it a good bonding instrument for families.

Throughout its almost 80 years in the business, LEGO has already established its reputation of providing high quality toy materials. Their products have undergone extensive developments but the foundation is still rooted to the traditional LEGO bricks. The bricks, as designed since the start of the business, are made to interlock with each other to provide unlimited building possibilities as long as the imagination gets going.

After two very difficult years, as in the case for almost every business suffering from the world’s economic crisis, the latest accounts of LEGO demonstrate that it is already back on track. They will continue to produce brick toys while trying to explore possible innovations. In the age when electronic toys are alarmingly getting the attention of kids, it will be tough for traditional toys to compete in the market. The primary purpose of LEGO remains, to supply the children of the world with good and healthy play to prepare them for the challenges of real life.

LEGO, known makers of build-and-brick toys and everything Lego, introduces a new line of action-packed toy sets for 2010. Below is the list of the freshly launched toy sets for the new year where a variety is offered for your kids’ preference.

LEGO Ben 10 Alien Force Swamp Fire

The new LEGO Ben 10 Alien Force Swamp Fire is an immensely strong hero whose hands are able to shoot fire and whose damaged limb heal on itself in an instant. LEGO’s adaptation of this character presents a toy that is buildable by children with ages of five years and up. It features eyes that glow in the dark and a chest that has the Omnitrix symbol. Collect all six models and experience an enjoyable play time with your kids!

LEGO Toy Story Woody and Buzz Lightyear Rescue

A set that includes Buzz Lightyear with a Rocket, Woody, and a buidable RC, this Disney adaptation of LEGO is sure to tickle the funny bones of your kids. Watch your kids’ faces be smeared with total fun and entertainment as they see RC The Car takes off when pulled back, or as Buzz Lightyear flies with the Big One Rocket!

LEGO Star Wars Trifighter Droid

The LEGO Star Wars Trifighter Drois is a 268-piece set of action packed fights and battle that your boys would surely boast to his classmates and friends. These robots and droids are for children aged 5 – 11 years. The set is LEGO’s offer for children and collectors for 2010 as a follow-up to the 2005 Star Wars Trifighter Droid release. This new set presents a huge improvement with regard to key features and sizes. Grab one set for your kid and join him in an endless battle for world domination.

LEGO Bionicle Stars – Takanuva

Another LEGO masterpiece for 2010 is the LEGO Bionicle Stars – Takunava. This 21-piece set includes Bionicle Hero Takunava, his Mask of Light and body armore, with Golden Bionicle parts that are buidable by kids from ages six and up. Get the new Takunava set for your kid and let him experience optimum action in the comfort of your home!

The Lego Group is famous for making toy blocks that can be used to build houses, helicopters, castles, playgrounds, anything you can think of. However, it also has an entirely different range of products meant exclusively for children and that doesn’t only pertain to the Danish building blocks.

In 1993, the Lego Group released the first range of Lego Wear. Lego Wear is a line of clothing for active boys and girls of ages 0 to 12 years old. The collections in this line are especially designed based on the development of children at different ages.

Because the clothes are meant for kids, Lego Wear follows a unique set of values. The first one is fun. The designs of Lego Wear clothing especially in the color choices are catchy and charming and they incorporate images and graphic features normally found in Lego toys. The second value is function. Lego Wear made dressing and undressing easy for children. Because children learn different things at different ages, Lego Wear integrated features that are specific to a child’s age along with zipper straps, push buttons, hook buttons, and other buttons that are easy to handle. Lego Wear clothes also aim to encourage and inspire children to do things for themselves. Lego Wear calls it playful learning. The third value is quality, not just quality of the finish product but quality from the raw materials up to the smallest details. This is to ensure that Lego clothes will be able to survive even the most active kinds of play, everyday use, and washing. The materials used are also dependent on the age. The last value is comfort. Because most children love to explore, the clothes they wear should allow them to freely do so.

Since it first came out, Lego Wear has released a wide variety of collections, from back-to-school outfits to season wardrobes, and they are available in over 20 European countries.

Sir Nadroj's Black Pearl

The Black Pearl is now in Legolandia and Legomaniacs are continuously producing different versions of the famed ship of the rather odd seafarer Captain Jack Sparrow.  Apart from Jack Sparrow and Hector Barbossa minifigures, Pirates of the Caribbean fans who are also fond of Lego have created quite a few Black Pearl ships.

Coste Cyril, a Lego builder built the Black Pearl. This wonderful creation looks a bit modern but still has that “pirate” feel. The Black Pearl created by Sir Nadroj is a more rugged Lego creation. It is simple with its tattered sails but it is at par with Coste Cyril’s.

Coste Cyril's Black Pearl

Of course the Flying Dutchman is also in Legoland and it is now driving Lego seafarers to fear Legolandia’s seas. Sebeus I created a rather large Lego depiction of the Flying Dutchman. Based on the Dead Man’s Chest and the last of the trilogy At World’s End, Sebeus I says that the Flying Dutchman is more connected to the deep seas more than other ships because the Flying Dutchman lives.

Flying Dutchman by Sebeus I

Unlike the Black Pearl, the Flying Dutchman can sail underwater and even against the wind –making the ship more unique than any other ship. Sebeus I spent 2 months to create his Flying Dutchman Lego replica and the ship is not only huge it weighs almost 3 kilograms. Now that is some heavy Lego ship. Let us all hope that Legoland’s ports will be able to accommodate this mammoth of a ship.

For those interested in buying your own Black Pearl ship and the Flying Dutchman complete with crew, you can go to eBay. There are some sellers from Australia that sell what they have created. Unfortunately, snagging a photo from the worldwide garage sale is not possible so go ahead and search for it on eBay. As of right now the two ships are priced at AU$35.00 –five more days to go maybe Lego fans can join in, in the bidding.