Age ratings

adventure_al

So I just picked up moon buggy for cheap locally.

Compared to the small box it has large font 'aged 5-12years'

Why do Lego shoot themselves in the foot like that? Why not just 5years+ ?

No wonder many of us go through a 'dark age' in our teens when as a 13-14year old even the manufacture is telling us its a kids toy!?

Or is it the reverse... that '5+' implies its for younger kids, whereas '5-12' at least lets them no older kids can use it...

thoughts?

emilewski

I always wondered at that as well. The lower starting age makes perfect sense, but if I can appreciate a 5-12 age range small set at 41 years old, what does the 12 really signify? It implies that teenagers (or adults) over 12 years old will not find that set challenging and/or enjoyable. I cannot see the reason to it.

CCC

If you put 5+, some people will assume it is for maybe 5-6 year olds only and that older kids would be bored by it.

Whereas 5-12 means kids in that age can cope with the building techniques in it, but 12+ kids may prefer a different set with more advanced techniques.

LegoMom1

^+^^ You are looking at this from an AFOL point of view. The suggested age, whether those of us here feel it shouldn't be an issue, is really directed at the average consumer buying for a child and I'm sure it is something that they will look at when purchasing. Even though we as AFOLs enjoy all age range sets, this is helpful to parents just starting their kids on Lego as well as anyone else not as familiar with this (dare I say?) toy.

When my son was ~2, I purchased a large duplo bucket for him. As I am an only child, and having been a female born in the mid 1950s, I didn't have first hand experience with Lego, I just liked the creative and versatile aspect of this toy. At ~4, my son graduated to Lego buckets and very soon after that, small sets and then quickly to larger sets marked well beyond his age range. This age range is to be used as a general guide and helpful to many buyers. I don't see it as Lego shooting themselves in the foot or worse yet, a self fulfulling prophacy that anyone over 12 will take as a sign that they can't continue enjoying Lego once they hit a certain age. My son is now 15 and he still enjoys building. There will be boxes and boxes of Lego under the tree this year. Some for my TFOL and some for his AFOL mom! :)

KingDave

As LegoMom1 says, the age range on the box is just a guide for (mostly) adults buying sets for children who want some sort of idea of what sets will suite little Johnny or Jill. They do make sense when you consider size of bricks (younger kids can easy swallow or lose small parts) as well as complexity and difficulty of the build. There will also sometimes be an element of age appropriateness (especially on some film franchises) for younger kids.

I think TLG get it right generally and it is worth having it there prominently on the front of the box.