LEGO presents a preview of the biological game

LEGO presents a preview of the biological game

Amanda Zaluckyj*

My brothers and I loved playing with the LEGO growing up. We were building small farms and towns. We had homes and families. The possibilities were endless and we enjoyed them for hours.

Of course, classic building blocks weren’t as plentiful back then as they are today. Today you can create iconic builds from famous brands (like Hogwarts !). There’s even a game show that challenges participants to pull off the most eccentric builds possible to win.

Yet even our favorite childhood toys cannot escape today’s political culture. Take a new addition to the family LEGO : the organic garden. It’s a whimsical little set with a number of fruits and vegetables, gardening tools, rain cloud bricks and bees. LEGO claims that this set aims to help “ parents to engage in conversation regarding what grows in the garden and initiates[…] kids in ecosystem concept “. I agree with all of this, but why does it have to be organic?

In the grand scheme of life, it’s not that important. But it never hurts to say something, so I did. I decided to send to LEGO a little word regarding it:

My name is Amanda. My family is a farmer in the United States. I came across your organic garden set. I’m a bit confused – why is this an organic garden? I’m afraid you’ve decided to label it that on the assumption that organic farming is more environmentally friendly.

Unfortunately, that is not true. Organic farms generally have lower yields, which forces farmers to work more land. Organic farmers also avoid certain technologies that reduce GHG emissions, such as genetically modified crops. And organic farmers can and do use pesticides.

By the way, organic farming is a regulated label here in the United States. So, in general, the gardens do not meet the required conditions. There’s already a lot of confusion around this label, so that doesn’t really help.

I think it’s a great game Lego. We should teach our children how food is produced and how ecosystems develop. But I’m disappointed that you saw fit to slip the organic label on it. I would love to promote this game for you to my community of farming families – they would love it. But I can’t do it until the term”bio” y figure. »

I’m not kidding either. I would be a brand ambassador if they removed the bio descriptor. Most people don’t live on farms. Toys like this can provide a truly valuable educational experience.

A week later, I received a ready-made response from LEGO :

« The LEGO Group is committed to producing only healthy, non-violent toys that stimulate children’s creativity and imagination in a positive way. Our values ​​are the most essential elements of the LEGO Group and are found in every game LEGO that we produce. These values ​​are:

• creativity for the LEGO Group is self-expression and empowerment of the individual in an open way.

• Imagination is regarding endless ideas, curiosity, discovery and exploration to bring ideas to life.

• Learning is regarding playful learning, learning through play, stimulating play, practical and intellectual play, play that encourages achievement and challenges the the state in which.

• Fun is active, social, childish, adventurous fun and the thrill of creation.

• The quality for LEGO Groupit is the quality of the products, the ethical values ​​and consistency in all our actions that produce a permanent feeling of trust. »

It’s a ready-made answer. But I wonder if LEGO tries to say that conventional farms are not healthy, positive or ethical.

In truth, it’s probably not a big deal. It’s a toy with a stupid adjective that doesn’t really mean anything. Most home gardens are probably organic, simply because they don’t have the pest pressure that a farm would have. And also, who cares?

And I want to be clear: I am in no way advocating that anyone boycott LEGOthrow all the LEGO used by your children, or whatever. It’s just boring.

I guess it bothers me because those subtle clues for kids add up over time. The juice in them happy meal is organic. Food packaging bears labels “ bio » et « GMO-free “. Some cribs and sheets are made without ” toxic pesticides ».

So, of course, it’s just a toy. Or not ?

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* Amanda Zaluckyj blogs as The Farmer’s Daughter USA. Its goal is to promote farmers and counter the misinformation that swirls around the US agribusiness industry.

Source : LEGO Previews Organic Play – The Farmer’s Daughter USA (thefarmersdaughterusa.com)

My grade : I love the sales pitch for a game for 18+ month olds:

« A GIFT FOR NATURE-LOVATED KIDS – Looking for an early learning game for a child 18 months or older who loves gardening? Give him this creative toy for his birthday, the holidays or a special occasion.»