LEGO DUPLO Read! Build! Play!
LEGO® DUPLO® INVITES PARENTS AND CHILDREN TO BUILD THEIR WAY TO EARLY LITERACY DEVELOPMENT
NEW YORK, American International Toy Fair (February 7, 2013) - LEGO Systems, Inc., the world's leading construction toy manufacturer, recently announced two new additions to its LEGO® DUPLO® Read and Build series: Peek-A-Boo Jungle and A Fairy Tale. Making story time even more playful for children under five, the Read and Build collection blends early reading with construction play encouraging youngsters to build along as their parents read simple, age-appropriate board books to them.
Play Sparks Both a Child's Imagination and Mind
"Play is essential to how children learn and is one of the primary ways that they discover the world," said Michael McNally, brand relations director for LEGO Systems. "Whether a child is learning to read or discovering how to share with a friend, play shapes a child's life in unexpected ways. The play experience truly becomes magical when a child can both grow their life skills and have fun-this is exactly why we create products like LEGO DUPLO Read & Build."
Introducing play to story time has been shown to develop and reinforce early literacy development. The following research supports the combination of play and story time:
- The Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) research has shown that parents or caregivers engaging daily in five practices of reading, singing, talking, writing, and playing with their children may increase children's early literacy skills.
- Recently released ALSC White Paper cites the positive effects of block and brick play on early literacy. One positive effect is on language and vocabulary learning. As children decide what to build they communicate with peers and adults.
- Further research indicates that construction play benefits toddlers and preschoolers on multiple dimensions and contributes to every stage of learning. Feedback from parents underscores the value they place on DUPLO play - for nurturing analytical, social, emotional and imaginative skills while also delivering multiple play opportunities and long-term value.
LEGO® DUPLO® Read! Build! Play!
In 2012, LEGO DUPLO and the Association for Library Services To Children (ALSC) joined hands to celebrate and support local libraries in their quest to support early literacy with LEGO DUPLO Read! Build! Play! LEGO DUPLO Read! Build! Play! combines simple construction play with story time so children under five can "build" their way to early literacy skills. From reading-focused play activities to local events to downloadable resources, Read! Build! Play! is all you need to build a new kind of educational play time with your little ones. Check your local library to see if Read! Build! Play! is coming to your town or download a parent activity guide and do at home: http://www.readbuildplay.com.
It begins with the brick - Preschool Building (Ages 1½+)
LEGO DUPLO® introduces youngsters to construction play by inspiring them to be creative and tell stories as they build. DUPLO Read and Build ($12.99 each) sets blend early reading with construction play, encouraging youngsters to build along as their parents read to them. The series is comprised of three books: Grow Caterpillar Grow!, Busy Farm and Let's Go! Vroom! - each of which includes DUPLO bricks that can be used to build the main characters and objects in the story. The two new products, Peek-A-Boo Jungle and A Fairy Tale, will be available in fall of 2013.
New sets cater to even younger children, such as a Toddler Build and Play Cubes ($12.99) and Toddler Build and Pull Along ($14.99) which both offer larger, colorful cubes and elements that are easier for smaller hands. A collection of "My First" DUPLO sets - My First Garden ($12.99), My First Construction Set ($19.99), My First Circus ($34.99) and My First Train Set ($44.99) - combines creative building and imaginative role play. New licenses include LEGO DUPLO brand Jake and the Neverland Pirates and LEGO DUPLO brand Disney® Planes that bring beloved characters and stories from top preschool properties ($14.99 - $39.99).
About LEGO Systems Inc
LEGO Systems, Inc. is the North American division of The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund, Denmark, one of the world's leading manufacturers of creatively educational play materials for children. The company is committed to the development of children's creative and imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the 1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: "Only the best is good enough." Visit http://www.LEGO.com
About ALSC
The ALSC is dedicated to the constant improvement of library service for children. With 4,000 librarians, literature experts, publishers, and faculty members, the ALSC generates new programming that's at the forefront of our nation's literacy campaigns.
LEGO, DUPLO, their logos and the minifigure are trademarks of The LEGO Group. ©2013 The LEGO Group.