Source: LEGO

LEGO Friends, the LEGO brand designed for kids ages 6-12, is getting a new show on YouTube.

LEGO is aiming to make the brand more inclusive, featuring new characters who struggle with anxiety, learning, social skills, ADHD, and more. One character, Autumn, was born with only one arm.

“Two things are true when it comes to kids and mental health: today’s kids are experiencing high levels of stress and today’s kids understand the importance of opening up to someone about it,” says parenting psychologist, Dr. Becky Kennedy.  “Kids don’t usually ‘open up’ with their words; rather, most kids open up in play; a range of diverse toys and figures ensures that more children will have the opportunity to see themselves, feel less alone, explore their emotional experience, and build coping skills for life.”  

There are characters from different countries, including Zac, who is African-French; Olly, who is British; and Leo, who is Mexican. The line also features a variety of skin tones, so kids can feel better represented.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4faIPs8ZEY&list=PLRNbTEZ7dhL2dOuYL17jYrhP5fdEoZDqn&index=4

“At the LEGO Group, we understand that children want the characters they encounter to be more like the diverse personalities they embody and the friends they meet in real life,” says Fenella Charity, Creative Lead for LEGO Friends. “We spoke with real kids; some even sent us letters about how they want to see themselves represented.  To us, evolving our products is more than just checking a box on diversity but something deeply personal. We want to celebrate real kids’ life experiences and the re-imagined LEGO Friends universe aims to explore the emotional ups and downs and challenges of real friendships while including the vast range of visible and non-visible diversities that make them unique.”  

Related: LEGO Honors Disney’s 100th Anniversary, Long Collaborative Partnership

The LEGO Friends YouTube series — LEGO Friends: The Next Chapterdebuted last week with a 44-minute long special. The show will feature 11 full episodes of the group as they experience their first year at Heartlake International School. 

LEGO also dropped a new line of LEGO Friends building sets this year to go along with the show. Some sets include Heartlake International School, Autumn’s House, a Cat Hotel, and more. The full line is available at specialty retailers, mass retailers, and at LEGO Stores.

About the author

Ashley Pelletier

Ashley Pelletier

Ashley is assistant editor for The Toy Insider, The Pop Insider, and The Toy Book with a Master's in journalism from Quinnipiac University. When she isn’t writing her latest story, she is reading a fantasy novel or rewatching one of her three favorite TV shows over and over again. She’s also a big fan of showing people pictures of her two dogs and cat.

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