Lego Friends Launches Characters With Down Syndrome, Missing Limbs And Anxiety
Lego has released a series of new diverse Friends sets containing characters with disabilities, including one with Down syndrome.
Popular with young girls, Lego Friends was launched in 2012 and contains “mini-doll” figures which are the same size as traditional minifigures but more detailed and realistic.
The toymaker is striving to make its sets more inclusive and ensure that its characters represent all children across the world.
Lego’s new figures were announced in October 2022 and the sets went on sale in January 2023. They also feature in a new YouTube special that arrived this month.
Five Lego Friends sets contain the new characters
The new people will come in five different Lego Friends sets which are all available to buy on the Lego website now worldwide.
Here are the sets and prices:
- 41724 Paisley’s House (£39.99/$39.99)
- 41727 Dog Rescue Center (£54.99/$59.99)
- 41728 Heartlake Downtown Diner (£24.99/$29.99)
- 41730 Autumn’s House (£59.99/$69.99)
- 41731 Heartlake International School (£99.99/$99.99)
You can watch the TV special Lego Friends: New Beginning for free on the Lego YouTube channel now. It’s 44 minutes long and features all the locations in the sets.
The most exciting Lego release in 2022 was definitely the Eiffel Tower, which is the brand’s tallest set at a whopping 149cm tall.
Specifically designed for people aged 18 and above, it has 10,001 pieces, is ultra-realistic, and will set you back $629.99.
Lego Friends introduces character with Down syndrome
The characters show “multiple skin tones, cultures, physical and non-visible disabilities, and neurodiversity,” Lego says.
One of them has Down syndrome, whilst others suffer with anxiety, vitiligo, and have a missing arm. There is also a pet dog with a wheelchair.
Every year, 6,000 babies are born with Down’s syndrome in the US alone, the CDC reveals, making it the most common chromosomal condition in the US.
That means Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 700 babies in America, and those children will now feel represented by Lego.
The new toys will “explore and work to overcome modern challenges that they face, passions, obstacles, and differences, all while trying to create friendships”.
They will help children feel more represented
Lego says the “diverse” characters will “enable more children to feel represented during play” and celebrate “diverse friendships in the modern world”.
“At the LEGO Group, we understand that children want the characters they encounter to be more like the diverse personalities they meet in real life”, said Tracie Chiarella, Head of Product, LEGO Friends at the LEGO Group.
She added that they are continuously trying to evolve products so they are reflective of society today and are more authentic.
“We have chosen to evolve the LEGO Friends Universe and TV show to be more inclusive in order to give parents and kids more tools to navigate friendship and their emotions as they grow and learn.”
This comes as two rumored Lego sets have leaked for Disney’s 100th anniversary, including a celebration train and the house from the movie Up.
Five Lego Friends sets contain the new characters
The new people will come in five different Lego Friends sets which are all available to buy on the Lego website now worldwide.
Here are the sets and prices:
- 41724 Paisley’s House (£39.99/$39.99)
- 41727 Dog Rescue Center (£54.99/$59.99)
- 41728 Heartlake Downtown Diner (£24.99/$29.99)
- 41730 Autumn’s House (£59.99/$69.99)
- 41731 Heartlake International School (£99.99/$99.99)
You can watch the TV special Lego Friends: New Beginning for free on the Lego YouTube channel now. It’s 44 minutes long and features all the locations in the sets.
The most exciting Lego release in 2022 was definitely the Eiffel Tower, which is the brand’s tallest set at a whopping 149cm tall.
Specifically designed for people aged 18 and above, it has 10,001 pieces, is ultra-realistic, and will set you back $629.99.
Same Difference 