I might well be the only person alive who hates Legos. Like, I deplore those little plastic demon-infested things. I was the kid who could never get the damn pieces of plastic the right way, the one who was always in search of the big red three-topper that my brother always seemed to be using.
And while Lego’s have a solid (and undoubtedly well-deserved) reputation as good learning toys, my own personal experience was marred by two factors.
First, I have a spatial disability. It was painful for me to attempt to figure out whether the right-bending Lego’s would mesh with the left-benders or vice versa. It gave me a freaking headache and made what was supposed to be playtime absolutely torturous.
I am pretty much textbook ADHD. In other words, I struggled for a long time with finishing anything I started. If I got a Lego kit, I either threw it against the wall or gave it to one of my siblings. The prospect of actually putting together a Lego World … absolutely impossible for me.
But I have not allowed my Lego prejudices to interfere with my children’s enjoyment of them. Both of my daughters went through extensive Lego phases, the younger one in particular (her father is a statistician who is all about everything going in its right place).
They’re a toy. A childhood staple, really, kind of on par with Tonka trucks and Barbie dolls, only not as gender-specific … which was, of course, part of what made them so appealing to me as a parent.
But I guess all things must come to an end.
The classic playtime favorite is typically gender-neutral, but the new Lego Friends line is catered to girls with a Butterfly Beauty Shop and a Fashion Designer Workshop. Promotions for the line showcase stylish and slimmer figures instead of the usual blocky characters.
Carolyn Costin, an eating disorders specialist …