Kids excited to create toys
The expressions on children’s faces as box after box of Lego was tipped on to the floor at Toyworld in Porirua last week were priceless.
More than 70 children aged between 2 and 12 spent a few hours of their school holidays in a creative building competition on Thursday. The winners were not announced until after Kapi-mana News went to press, with the big prize of a Ninjago set to be awarded.
Max Weinstein had spent the whole day gearing up for the competition by practising at home, his mum said. Ethan Jones, meanwhile, was getting into the spirit of the event, using many different pieces and figures to create a space station.
‘‘It’s cool, I enjoy being able to build what I like,’’ he said.
Dinosaurs, houses, transporters, space boats and battleships were among the creative entries.
Along with school holiday promotions, Lego is also holding a nationwide competition to find the best model-builder, with $100 Lego prizes and a family trip to Legoland in California up for grabs.
Regional sales representative Annie Bailey says plenty of kids in 2012 have parents who grew up with Lego, so the novelty remains strong.
‘‘Sometimes I see parents who are more excited at these competitions than their children. I think Lego helps kids be creative and while there are new models that are popular, there still seems to be a focus on the loose bricks.’’
For details on the national building competition, go to toyworld.co.nz. Entries close April 30.