What is a duplo ?LEGO is designed for children from 6 years old and upwards, while DUPLO is for children from 1½ to 5 years old. As a result, DUPLO blocks tend to be bigger than regular LEGO blocks, reducing choking hazards. DUPLO blocks are also easier to build, requiring less precision and coordination to make than LEGO.
This article will explore LEGO and DUPLO and how they are similar and different from each other.
We will also attempt to provide answers to some common questions you may have about DUPLO, such as if they are interchangeable and if adults can still play with DUPLO.
What Is LEGO?
LEGO is a plastic, brick-style construction toy line for children and adults. Originating from Denmark, LEGO bricks are designed to be stackable yet can be taken apart for reuse. LEGO also has many lines, such as DUPLO, Technic, Classic, and Junior. Each line focuses on the different ages and abilities of the players.
LEGO is a line of plastic construction toys for children and adults alike. A typical flagship LEGO set would usually consist of many colored interlocking plastic bricks in configurations such as 2X2 (two columns of studs, in two rows), 2X3, 2X4, or more.
A standard LEGO set would also come with an array of gears, figurines, and many other smaller parts. LEGO blocks are designed to be stackable and taken apart multiple times, making them reusable for building new things.
LEGO comes in many lines of products, catering to children as young as 18 months old all the way to adults. Many LEGO players eventually become lifelong players of it, starting with DUPLO, to LEGO Junior, LEGO Classic, and ultimately building with LEGO Technic sets as an adult.
LEGO sets are manufactured worldwide today, with over 600 billion parts manufactured since its inception in 1932. LEGO means ‘play well’ in Danish, where the brand originated.
What Is LEGO DUPLO?
DUPLO is a line of plastic, brick-style construction toys from LEGO. DUPLO focuses on children from 18 months to five years old. DUPLO sets are double the size of regular LEGO bricks, enabling smaller children’s hands to manipulate them better. DUPLO sets are also often simpler than other LEGO sets.
DUPLO first came into being in 1969, when LEGO attempted to create a new line of LEGO sets suitable for younger children. This new line aims to create LEGO sets that would introduce children to the world of LEGO and make bricks that are easily workable for children’s small and less agile hands.
The decision was made to make larger LEGO bricks, creating DUPLO. DUPLO bricks are twice the size of regular LEGO bricks. The larger size also helps reduce choking hazards, as younger children have a habit of placing things into their mouths.
Similar to many other LEGO lines, DUPLO has undergone many changes since its introduction. Some remained with it till this day, while some were reversed due to poor market reception or other practical reasons.
The initial DUPLO sets only come in four colors, red, yellow, blue, and white. More colors were added on, as well as more brick configurations, such as 2X2 bricks in 1972.
In 1977, LEGO renamed DUPLO as LEGO Preschool and then introduced figurines. Compared to regular LEGO, DUPLO figurines at this time are simple, with a cylindrical head, and limbless. LEGO eventually reversed the renaming and brought back DUPLO in 1979.
DUPLO improved on their figurines in 1983, introducing DUPLO People. These figurines have movable heads and limbs, similar to actual LEGO figurines. However, they are undetachable, making them safer for children since it reduces the risk of choking. Further additions were introduced into DUPLO, such as screwdrivers called DUPLO Toolo and a rail train system in 1993.
LEGO tried to leverage the success of DUPLO by trying to produce a simpler version, aiming it at children as young as 6 months old. Released in 1995, DUPLO Primo is significantly larger, simpler, and less compatible with other LEGO bricks. It was renamed LEGO Baby in 2000, but poor reception and overlapping target market with LEGO Quatro resulted in its discontinuation in 2006.
DUPLO’s most known sets are those produced under license from Bob The Builder and Thomas and Friends. Many DUPLO sets also come with trucks, cars, and engines, albeit simpler. Modern DUPLO sets can be somewhat similar to other LEGO sets but much more straightforward to build and have a higher cuteness factor.
Many DUPLO players graduated into building with more complicated and difficult LEGO sets, progressing from LEGO Junior to Classic to eventually LEGO Technic. The word DUPLO is derived from the Latin word ‘Duplex,’ showing its size relation with regular LEGO bricks.
How Similar Are DUPLO and LEGO?
LEGO and DUPLO are products from the LEGO Group, have the same construction system, and are built with Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastics. These similarities are the result of both coming from the same company.
Company
Both LEGO and DUPLO are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately-held group based in Billund, Denmark.
LEGO is an umbrella brand, with many other series and lines underneath it, such as LEGO Junior, LEGO Classic, and LEGO Technic. DUPLO can be considered as part of the lineup. However, LEGO has a tendency to push the DUPLO brand more than LEGO itself.
You may roughly equate the relationship between LEGO and DUPLO to how Toyota treats Lexus. They are part of the same company, but Toyota tends to promote Lexus as a separate brand.
Construction Structures
Both LEGO and DUPLO use similar construction structures. Both LEGO and DUPLO bricks contain ‘studs’ and ‘tubes.’ The studs are the rounded extension on the top side of the bricks, while the tubes are the holes at the bottom of the bricks.
The studs are designed to fit into the tubes tightly while being easily removable at the same time. This allows the bricks to be taken apart again for reconstruction later.
The difference will be in the size of the tubes and studs. You may assume that DUPLO’s studs and tubes are double the sizes of regular LEGO bricks. However, despite the size, they fit together. You can attach a regular LEGO brick into a DUPLO brick and get a good fit.
Materials Used
Both LEGO and DUPLO bricks were built using similar materials. The regular bricks for both LEGO and DUPLO are mostly made from Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) plastics.
Transparent parts are made from Methyl methacrylate-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (MABS), while some accessories also use polypropylene. All in all, there are 12 types of plastic being used in LEGO and DUPLO models.
It took LEGO almost five years to experiment to finally find the perfect type of plastics to use for their bricks. ABS was eventually selected due to its rigidity, scratch resistance, and long-term performance. ABS is also environmentally friendly, as it is recyclable.
What Are The Differences Between LEGO and DUPLO?
LEGO and DUPLO differ in size, difficulty, safety, range, creative possibilities, and more. The reason these differences exist is that DUPLO aims itself at younger children. At the same time, LEGO works with players across all ages.
There is a reason LEGO created the DUPLO line – it focuses on very young children that have specific needs. Their limited and growing cognitive ability also may require a more straightforward building set to lay the foundation for them to build more complex sets in the future.
Above is information what is a duplo. Hopefully, through the above content, you have a more detailed understanding of what is a duplo .Thank you for reading our post.
