Transitioning Your Little One from LEGO® DUPLO® to LEGO bricks!

Is your little one ready to move on from LEGO® DUPLO® bricks (sob) to LEGO bricks (yay!)? Here’s how to transition your bigger child to smaller bricks…

Parents of young children will know the great feat it is keeping a tiny human happy and safe in their preschool years. Well done, you! But did you also know that by the age of five, 90% of their brain is developed?

Incredibly, much of this development happens while our little ones are playing. If that sounds magical, well, it’s because it is. It’s why we’re so passionate about creating brilliant LEGO DUPLO sets for children aged 18+ months. Not only are they a whole lot of fun but they also encourage important developmental milestones like honing fine motor skills, learning patience and boosting creativity and cognitive growth. Amazing, right?

And, from around the age of four, there’s a new inspiring milestone ahead… Soon, your child will be ready to enter the wonderful world of LEGO bricks. These smaller bricks create opportunities for more intricate building and complex decision-making and allow children to explore a whole new world of LEGO creativity! Exciting times ahead.

If your child isn’t ready for LEGO sets or still shows a preference for playing with LEGO DUPLO sets, it’s better to wait – in fact, four is the earliest age we would advise introducing LEGO bricks to your child.

Step this way for our handy guide on how to transition from LEGO DUPLO bricks to LEGO bricks with ease…

Look for Signs of Readiness

Is your little builder adept at attaching and pulling apart their LEGO DUPLO bricks? Improved motor skills are just one of the signs they’re ready to make the transition.

If you’ve noticed your child’s attention span has improved and they’re showing an eye for finer detail or higher-level creativity, it could also be a sign they’re ready to make the switch.

Start small

Start small by choosing a beginner-level LEGO set with a small number of pieces. You can filter results in our online shop based on age, so you can find sets that are suitable for ages 4+ and have less than 100 bricks.

These sets also split the bricks into numbered bags in manageable chunks, feature illustrated guides, and the bricks are usually pre-painted instead of requiring stickers.

Choose The Right Sets

Remember, decisions determine destiny! So, when choosing that perfect first set, you’ll want to consider what your child is into. Browse Easy LEGO builds for young builders to find popular themes, with the reassurance these sets are created with first-time LEGO builders in mind.

Got a huge Disney fan in the household? LEGO | Disney Princess Ariel’s Music Stage (43235) or Elsa’s Frozen Castle (43238) could be the perfect first LEGO build. Mad about cars? LEGO City Green Race Car (60399) or Tow Truck and Sports Car Repair (60435) will zoom them into the LEGO set-building mood!

Everyday scenarios

Try helping your little one create a familiar scene, like a LEGO brick-built kitchen or playground, to help with pretend play in a scenario they’re already familiar with. Then sit back and watch them create their own imaginative story!

Celebrate their builds

Be their biggest cheerleader! It’s all about positive reinforcement – you fabulous parent, you! Why not try showcasing your child’s LEGO brick creations in pride of place on a shelf? Not only will it help boost their confidence but help to build a positive relationship with their new hobby, too. Win-win!

Make a Game of It

Inject some extra fun into the DUPLO to LEGO brick transition with a little game. Try these…

1. Color sorting.

Spread out a mix of LEGO DUPLO bricks and LEGO bricks and ask your child to sort them by color. Then, it’s time to build something with each pile.

2. Mini Masterpiece.

Build something simple from LEGO DUPLO bricks and then ask your little one to recreate the same model with LEGO bricks.

3. Brick hunt.

Hide LEGO bricks around the room to create a mini scavenger hunt. Then, ask your child to build something with the pieces they’ve found.

Keep Building Together

The best way to encourage kids on their new LEGO brick journey is to spend regular time building together. Keep it fun by encouraging them to make up stories and lean into their imagination. With a little help, you’ll soon see them flourish.

So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to get those future master builders on their way to LEGO brick masterpieces!