LEGO Round-Up – Braille Bricks, Toy Awards and Gringotts GWP
EIGHT LEGO SETS NOMINATED FOR AWARDS, NEW BRAILLE BRICKS, AND HARRY POTTER GIFT-WITH-PURCHASE REVEALED
LEGO have always prided themselves on providing children with a unique toy experience. By combining learning and play, they seek to spark the imagination while building engineering and lateral thinking skills. As part of their latest move to improve inclusivity for the brand, LEGO are introducing their first braille bricks and elements set. The company have also seen 8 LEGO sets nominated for awards (in various categories) at this year’s Toy of The Year awards by The Toy Foundation.
It’s also been an exciting week for fans of Harry Potter LEGO, with the reveal of a new gift-with-purchase set based on Gringotts Wizarding Bank in Diagon Alley.
Let’s take a closer look at the latest LEGO updates…
LEGO Braille Bricks
The news broke on 25th August 2023 that LEGO would be opening pre-orders on their new Play with Braille 40656 set, due to be released on 1st September 2023. The new brick collection is considered a big step forward for the brand, with the story receiving attention on non-LEGO mainstream news websites such as the BBC and The Guardian.
The new LEGO set is aimed at ‘making play accessible for all’, with braille, printed letters, numbers and symbols on each brick so visually impaired children can practise their tactile skills and join in the fun. Perhaps the most intelligent aspect of the design is how LEGO have repurposed the iconic studs on each brick, so they spell out numbers and letter using Braille code.
The new, specialised brick pieces are fully compatible with LEGO elements from other sets. The collection includes over 250 white, yellow, green, red and blue bricks and 2 baseplates, offering an excellent foundation for children to create their own MOCs. LEGO have also partnered with Be My Eyes, a mobile app for blind and partially sighted people, who will be on hand to offer technical assistance.
Parents looking for play ideas are also advised to check out LEGO Play With Braille, which includes six activities to help children learn the foundations.
LEGO Receive 8 Toy of The Year Nominations
The Toy Foundation’s TOTY Awards recognises the best toys, games and licenses across 17 play categories each year. All finalists are selected by a panel of judges featuring journalists, experts, retailers and more.
We’ve picked out a few of our favourite nominations below. If you see a LEGO set you want to support, head over to the voting page to cast your ballot for the ‘People’s Choice Award’!
LEGO Minifigures Disney 100 Series – 71038
Nominated as Collectible of the Year
LEGO ‘Up’ House – 43217
Nominated as Construction Toy of the Year
LEGO Friends Heartlake International School – 41731
Nominated as Construction Toy of the Year
LEGO Art Hokusai – The Great Wave – 31208
Nominated as Grown-up Toy of the Year.
LEGO The Lord of the Rings: Rivendell – 10316
Nominated as Grown-up Toy of the Year.
LEGO Gift With Purchase: Gringotts Vault – 40598
Fans of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter can grab this GWP worth £19.99 when they spend over £115 on the LEGO website. The fun add-on celebrates the upcoming release of Gringotts Wizarding Bank – Collector’s Edition 76417 on 4th September 2023.
The gift-with-purchase features a buildable bank vault that can store and save real coins thanks to a coin slot on top – this quirky feature makes it a great gift idea for kids. It also includes a goblin minifigure to pilot the vault cart. The new set is designed to be added to the larger Gringotts Collector’s Edition model, making it a highly desirable addition.
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