The age gap

[Jareth]

One of my coworkers got her son Trio last year. (Trio is a competing building system)and the other day I noticed it was at a clearance store. So when I mentioned this to her and then jokes that "see, lego would have been a beter investment" she mentioned that the reason she didn't get lego was because of all the little pieces and how they would end up everywhere. I realized that she was right. There isn't a very good transitional lego set out there today. Some of the education sets come close, but they are hard to find.

Perhaps lego should make a better job with making transitional sets with 2x2 and 2x4 bricks instead of putting smaller, messier pieces in these starter sets.

Anyway, this isn't a request for me, I'm fine with the bricks and more sets, but I see her point, and thought you might like to hear the opinion of an unbiased parent.

[Aanchir]

One of my coworkers got her son Trio last year. (Trio is a competing building system)and the other day I noticed it was at a clearance store. So when I mentioned this to her and then jokes that "see, lego would have been a beter investment" she mentioned that the reason she didn't get lego was because of all the little pieces and how they would end up everywhere. I realized that she was right. There isn't a very good transitional lego set out there today. Some of the education sets come close, but they are hard to find.

Perhaps lego should make a better job with making transitional sets with 2x2 and 2x4 bricks instead of putting smaller, messier pieces in these starter sets.

Anyway, this isn't a request for me, I'm fine with the bricks and more sets, but I see her point, and thought you might like to hear the opinion of an unbiased parent.

Well, TLG has tried very often to make transitional systems between Duplo and regular LEGO. The Jack Stone/4 Juniors theme was a good example. Before that, Fabuland served the same sort of purpose. Of course, all these themes tended less to concentrate on basic 2x2 and 2x4 bricks than to rely on larger, "<insert that tiresome argument>" pieces with specialized functions.

Today, the closest thing to what you're asking about is the Bricks and More theme, and you're right, it does include a lot of small parts. But I suppose sets of basic bricks that don't have an assortment of large and small just haven't been shown to sell well. Keep in mind that it might be hard to transition from Duplo, which has a number of specialized pieces, into basic bricks, which would require a lot more imagination to work with at such an early age. So transitional sets may need to either include small detail parts like in today's Bricks and More sets, or include semi-specialized parts halfway between Duplo and System like the 4 Juniors sets.

Ironically, I've seen Trio sets in stores, and their general structure of columns, panels, and blocks isn't all that much different from buildings in the Jack Stone theme. I'm curious why such a building system is being used today when it was so unsuccessful in TLG's previous attempts. Perhaps after next year's girls' theme, TLG should refocus their efforts on this transitional market, both male and female, which they may currently be failing to target.

[splatman]

Has TLG put out any sets that contain both Duplo and System bricks?

A set containing a mixture of D and S bricks, and a few printed or detail pieces, may make a great transition set. It would also show both kids and parents that D and S bricks can be used together.

Until then, a few PaB cups or BrickLink orders of basic brick would probably do it. Or buy a few tubs or buckets, and take out the smaller pieces, and give those to the kid(s) later, when (s)he is old enough.

[def]

The 7616 Red Bucket is meant to be the step up from Duplo to regular bricks. It doesn't contain any very small parts, and no mini figs, just blocky ones. It's like a bike with training wheels... Not quite grownup, but closer than a tricycle.

My daughter is two and a half, and as much as she likes her Duplo, she's mesmerized by my bricks. So, for her third birthday, this will be her present.

One of the nice things about Duplo is that it fits in with regular bricks. If they made a set in between, it wouldn't work, size wise.

[Jareth]

Aanachir:Thanks for the description of trio toys. Here's a link in case anyone wants a gander at them. However considering I found them in a clearance store, I feel like they won't be around much longer. http://www.fisher-price.com/fp.aspx?st=900000&e=storethumb&pcat=fps_popBrand_triobuilding Huh....look at that DC Heroes.

Splatman: I'll make the suggestion about Bricklink to her, but we live about two hours away from the nearest lego store. Which for my wallet is probably a good thing.

Def: I took a look at that set, and that is a lot more small kid friendly. Too bad I couldn't find it on lego.com I still think that a transitional set should avoid 2x3 pieces because these don't work with duplo very well.