Lego Fun in 2012

Every year, toys get more and more technologically advanced, and less and less like anything we remember playing with as kids. Or do they? Some old school toys have made “retro” comebacks, and at least one never needed to come back, because it never went away in the first place. I’m speaking, of course, of Legos, the small interlocking blocks that can be used to build just about anything. Lego seems fairly determined to remove that “just about” qualifier, as they continue to come out with new kits aimed at kids who want to build replicas of buildings, vehicles, and other objects that they see portrayed in their favorite TV shows, movies, and games. If you’re the parent of a young Lego enthusiast, here are some of the newer Lego sets out there that you may want to keep in mind while gift shopping this winter.

Monster Fighters

This Lego theme includes vampires, Frankenstein’s Monster, and other fun classic monsters. There’s a Monster Fighters Vampyre Castle, a Monster Fighters Haunted House, a Vampyre Hearse, a Ghost Train, and a Swamp Creature. And that’s just to name a few. Kids will enjoy fighting zombies and mummies, saving the world from vampires, and outwitting mad scientists with their carefully constructed Lego creations.

The Hobbit

Do you have a J.R.R. Tolkien fan in the house? If so, consider the Hobbit Lego set. Build Hobbiton, and play a memory game that involves finding missing dwarves using the clues that Gandalf the Grey has left for you. The set includes four figures: Gandalf, and the dwarves Fili, Kili, and Dwalin. It also includes a buildable Lego dice, a 389 piece set, and building instructions and a game rule book. Expect to get lost in this Lego version of the Shire for awhile.

Lego Friends

These Lego sets are marketed towards girls. They feature girl characters that are supposed to have a more human-like shape than the traditional Lego characters. Along with the different characters, the sets themselves are designed to interest 5- to 12-year-old girls. Some sets include Olivia’s House, a large dollhouse that comes with several characters; City Park Cafe, which includes a kitchen, tables, and little Lego cakes and drinks; and Stephanie’s Cool Convertible, which is a lot like it sounds: a neat purple Lego convertible for the Lego Friends to ride in, complete with car wash kit and hair accesories for the dolls.

While not exactly a Lego set, you may want to also consider Lego PC or console games for young Lego fans. Lego Batman, Lego Pirates of the Carribean, Lego Star Wars, Lego Lord of the Rings, and Lego Rock Band are all popular among young gamers. Even better, their E ratings make them appealing to parents as well.

What was your favorite Lego set when you were a kid? What is your child’s favorite set now?