The LEGO Foundation

When we let children speak in their “hundred languages”, we recognise the many ways they learn, think and express themselves. Children don’t just communicate through spoken words. They express ideas through art, music, writing, and exploring the world around them - countless “languages” that reveal their curiosity and creativity.   This beautiful way of approaching learning was at the centre last week, when educators, researchers and professionals from Denmark and around the world gathered in Billund as Fondazione Reggio Children concluded its international series of conferences on play and learning.   As Cristian Fabbi from Fondazione Reggio Children reminds us, play is the key — and if we want children to learn with energy and joy, adults need to feel that spark too. "Children are competent in learning and full of potential. As adults, we have the responsibility to help them thrive and to help them develop these competences even further."

Når leg bliver et trygt sted for mor og barn. Holbæk Krisecenter arbejder med programmet Mig og Min Mor II – støttet af os og udviklet i et samarbejde mellem DGI og LOKK - Landsorganisationen af Kvindekrisecentre. Her bruges leg og bevægelse aktivt til at styrke relationen mellem mor og barn under opholdet på krisecenteret. Når børn leger, får de adgang til fundamentale behov som nærhed og kropskontakt. Det kan understøtte udskillelsen af oxytocin og skabe en vigtig følelse af tryghed. Leg bliver dermed et redskab, der kan styrke tilknytningen, især i situationer, hvor ord ikke altid rækker. Indsatsen hjælper med at støtte og genopbygge relationen mellem mor og barn i en sårbar periode. Læs mere om, hvordan programmet arbejder med leg, og hvordan det styrker tilknytningen mellem mor og barn herunder.

What happens when children feel empowered?   They play. They question. They dream big. And in doing so, they begin to build the kind of world we all hope to live in.   This World Children’s Day, we celebrate the power of children and the vital role of play in shaping a brighter future. Every child has the right to a childhood where play is not just a joyful pastime, but an essential part of growing up. Through play, children build skills, confidence, and connection - preparing to become the changemakers of tomorrow.   Let’s continue to make space for play - so every child can imagine, create, and thrive, now and in the future.

For Benjamin in Madagascar, play is more than fun — it’s how he is learning to read and spell, just like his classmates. This International Day of the Blind, we celebrate every child’s right to inclusive learning. Together with UNICEF, we are bringing LEGO® Braille Bricks to classrooms in Madagascar, and in many other countries, so children with and without disabilities can learn side by side, on equal terms. Because play is not only how children learn best, it’s also how education becomes accessible to all.

Through our support to the Play Matters programme over the past five years, our partners have helped teachers in Ethiopia, Tanzania, and Uganda use play-based, crisis-responsive teaching to help children thrive and learn. Project Director Martin Omukuba explains: "Teachers are at the heart of everything we do because we have seen the significant impact that improved pedagogies have on children's learning and wellbeing. Kids need a chance to just be kids, and Play Matters’ approach capitalises on a child’s natural desire to engage in play, guiding them through hands-on, meaningful, play-based interactions in safe and inclusive environments, with a focus on learning curricular content as well as holistic skills." Results from Play Matters’ recent randomised controlled trial in Ethiopia show that this model not only improves children's psychosocial well-being, but also their reading comprehension, social and emotional skills, and creativity. Play Matters is a consortium led by the International Rescue Committee, including Plan International, War Child Alliance, Innovations for Poverty Action, and BIT.

Der er ikke så mange regler, når man leger – og alle skal være med. Den tanke udfolder vores partner Playful Learning DK på seks skoler rundt om i landet gennem projektet “Jeg Vil Gerne Være Med.” Projektet undersøger, hvordan skolen kan tilbyde mere meningsfulde og inkluderende læringsfællesskaber – for alle børn, uanset forudsætninger.   For når børn får lov til at bruge deres egne styrker, tænke anderledes og være med på deres egne måder, bliver fællesskabet rigere. Og skolen bliver et sted, hvor forskellighed ikke bare tolereres, men ses som en styrke.   Med “Jeg Vil Gerne Være Med” ønsker vi sammen med Playful Learning at skabe læringsmiljøer, hvor alle børn kan føle sig som en værdifuld del af fællesskabet – på hver deres måde.

We’re thrilled to see the arrival of LEGO® Play Boxes at Generation Aid in Kakuma Refugee Camp — bringing play, creativity, and playful learning to refugee children. From packing Play Boxes in Billund to watching imaginations come alive in Kakuma, we’re reminded that play has the power to build more than creations — it also builds joy and connection. Together with Generation Aid, we’re helping children in Kakuma discover the power of play. Each box of LEGO® bricks opens space for creativity, curiosity, and skill-building. Transforming learning moments into opportunities for growth and joy. As the team at Generation Aid shared: “When the boxes arrived, the children couldn’t stop creating — the joy and excitement filled the whole compound. No one wanted to leave!” We’re inspired by Generation Aid’s dedication and by the children’s energy and imagination. Their joy reminds us why play matters, and how collaboration can make learning joyful, meaningful, and full of possibility for every child.

"Børn er vores eksperter," siger Maria Barbara Donnici fra vores partner Fondazione Reggio Children. Den 20.–22. november afslutter vores partner Fondazione Reggio Children, en international række af konferencer om leg og læring med et arrangement lige her i Billund, på International School of Billund. Konferencen samler undervisere, forskere og fagfolk fra hele verden for at udforske legende læring gennem Reggio Emilia-tilgangen – et perspektiv, der sætter børnene i centrum for udforskning, kreativitet og udvikling. P.E.R. – Play Explore Research er udviklet af Fondazione Reggio Children med støtte fra The LEGO Foundation og fungerer som en global platform for dialog og videndeling om leg og læring. Den forbinder lærere, socialarbejdere, omsorgspersoner og forskere på tværs af kulturer for sammen at gentænke, hvordan børn lærer og trives. Tilmeld dig her: https://lnkd.in/d766Qfbt

When children play, they worry less. For many young children, an MRI scan can feel overwhelming. The noises, the size of the machine, the stillness required. Hospitals often use anaesthesia to help, but what if play could do the same job? The LEGO® MRI Scanner set helps children understand what will happen in an MRI, in their own playful terms. - 96% of healthcare professionals say it reduces anxiety - 46% report less need for sedation - 95% say it improves the family’s hospital experience So far, the LEGO Group have donated more than 10,000 LEGO® MRI Scanners to hospitals around the world - helping over a million children feel calmer and more confident. Read more about it here: https://lnkd.in/d7rZCCQq

At the LEGO Foundation, teambuilding isn’t just about connecting with colleagues — it’s about coming together for something bigger.   Recently, our teams joined LEGO Charity to pack hundreds of Play Boxes for children in Ukraine. Each box is filled with returned LEGO® bricks that spark learning, creativity, and a much-needed break from the difficult realities many children face.   As we laughed, shared stories, and worked side by side, we were reminded that play creates hope, joy, and resilience even in times of crisis.   Each Play Box is packed with LEGO bricks but no instructions. Instead, children (and the caregivers in their lives) get the chance to build freely — strengthening skills along the way:   ▪️ Physical: fine motor skills and spatial awareness ▪️Cognitive: planning, problem-solving, adapting ▪️Social: sharing, taking turns, collaborating ▪️Creative: experimenting, imagining, risk-taking ▪️Emotional: building confidence through both success and challenge One box of bricks. A whole world of skills — and endless opportunities to learn through play.   We’re proud to be part of these efforts.