What’s more exciting than taking transport to get somewhere? Using more than one type, of course! All aboard this train-to-plane mission where we take two LEGO® DUPLO® sets, mash them together and create an awesome story for your little explorer to complete. Will everyone make the plane on time? Has everyone got their tickets? Let’s find out together...
I’m Emma, a mum of three, and I’m lucky enough to play as part of my job. I study play culture and create experiences that help people play more, and I’m excited to share some of my ideas to help you get even more joy out of your LEGO DUPLO sets!
Some themes just travel with young kids wherever they are in the world, and one of those is traveling and transport! Whether they enjoy the mechanics of the vehicles or the stories of departing and arriving at new places, traveling is always worth the trip, especially the imagined kind (and no jet lag required).
The LEGO Group asked me to play around with a couple of LEGO DUPLO sets to make up some new games. So, myself and my little builder, Scout, came up with this fun train-to-plane mission by combining the Number Train – Learn to Count and First Time at the Airport sets. Here’s how you and your little builders can play, too…
To get going on this mission, work together and use the instructions to set up the train and airport sets. Put them a short distance apart so the train has enough space to travel between the airport and back. Place a few people or animals on the train… they’re traveling to catch their flight! And at the airport, place the number bricks… this is the cargo the train needs to collect.
In this game, the train and plane need to work together to move passengers, luggage and cargo. Play doesn’t always need a goal, but kids often love a challenge, and it can be just the invitation they need to get a story going.
Load all the passengers onto the train and get them to the airport before the plane takes off! Don’t forget their luggage, and check if everyone has their tickets and passports. You can ask your little builder where they’re going. Maybe they’re explorers, or maybe they’re off on a birthday holiday?
When the passengers arrive at the airport, they need to go through security. Act out using the scanner to check each suitcase:
“Beep! What’s inside this one?”
Swap roles: one person can be the security officer, the other the traveler. Don’t forget to check passports!
Once everyone is on board and ready to take off, you can switch to getting the cargo back. Load the number blocks or boxes from the airport onto the train. You could ask, “Can we get all this cargo safely back to the city? Do we have room for it all?”
Extra challenge! Pretend the train can’t move until the cargo numbers are all in order. Once everything’s loaded, the train can return to the station and unload.
Kids love a play loop, where the same cycle repeats and keeps the story going. While repetition can feel boring for us grown-ups, kids love and need it. In this game, you can repeat the mission again and again: passengers travel to the plane, luggage gets checked, cargo is delivered, then the train returns for the next group of travelers.
Perhaps you could even make little passports for your travelers and dream up new destinations every time you play!
Got your ticket? Great! Enjoy your Train to Plane Adventure, then continue the fun with Emma’s Build Bridges in Brick Town activity.
Written and created by Emma Worrollo, Play Culture Specialist & Family Creator
