Recommended ages

Post by **Bruce N H** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 4:39 am

Hey all,

I'm going through my old boxes and scanning them (not quite sure why, I'm odd that way). Anyway, I found it odd that set 626, Large Green Baseplate:

has a recommended age of 3-12. How did they figure this one out? Are they afraid that a 2 year old will choke on this? Or are the instructions too complex for them? At the other end, why does a 13-year-old grow out of this one?

Bruce

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:21 am

Ha ha ha... that is too funny. I keep picturing a 2 year old trying to shove the baseplate into his mouth.

Knowing corporations (especially back then), it probally had something to do with a funky formula they had for determining age specifications... I think sometimes companies stop thinking when they start implimenting such "tools".

But then again, I am a somewhat jaded cubical dweller.

lil Jon · Post by **lil Jon** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:46 am

I once heard about a "paper towel roll test"... if the toy fits in a paper towel roll then it is the right size for a small child to choke on because apparently it is about the same size as their esophagues, but I don't know how true that is.

and for the 12 year old thing... I'm going to say its just an irrational generalization that teens aren't really into toys.

Legomaat · Post by **Legomaat** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:26 am

I think that the min. age mention is mainly for insurance reasons. TCL simply don’t want the risk of getting claims when indeed a child chokes in a piece of LEGO.
The max. age mention is nonsense. For me, it means I have to be a 12 year old for the rest of my life…Not really a problem of course…

But as far as I know, there is no max. age on the boxes anymore…

The Hordesman · Post by **The Hordesman** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 3:17 pm

Most lego should be:

3-100

No, it shouldnt, since then its not so fun to be 101, so the real age recommendation should be:

From the day you stop chewing on stuff till the day someone has buried your sorry Megablocks.

Well, something like that but without the foulness.

Post by **Robin Hood** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 6:35 pm

Just a thought, but perhaps the 2 year-old could choke on it. Baseplates are one of the most breakable Lego pieces out there. It would not be impossible to have a small part of it come off and then get swallowed.

But a more likely reason is that all Lego System are rated 3-12. And Duplo and Primo are rated 0-6 or something/ It's all a matter of the studs size.

Dan

Post by **JoshWedin** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 3:49 pm

Legomaat wrote:But as far as I know, there is no max. age on the boxes anymore…

I just bought several Viking sets yesterday and they all have a maximum age limit (7-14 years of age). I would be interested to know if they do in the Netherlands. I know the boxes vary from country to country. It might have something to do with different laws in different countries.

Josh

Shadow · Post by **Shadow** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 5:40 pm

LOL! This is awesome. I can picture it now...

'Johnny, the two year-old baby, finds LEGO baseplates high in minerals and chew factor, thus chomping down on the plastic and getting a shard of baseplate stuck in his throat

'

It would be even more hilarious if they enforced the maximum age limit

Imagine trying to buy a set and having the cashier tell you to put it back because you're too old

I have no idea how LEGO can put an age limit on these sets...

I once heard about a "paper towel roll test"... if the toy fits in a paper towel roll then it is the right size for a small child to choke on because apparently it is about the same size as their esophagues, but I don't know how true that is.

Actually, that is quite common for a baby sitter to use. I (Don't ask me why) have been certified in the arts of babysitting and was taught that technique.

kajo163 · Post by **kajo163** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 9:54 pm

Well, I think to have any use of the baseplate, you should have bricks to build with upon it. And it is very possible that a 2 yearold would choke on one of those... saddly.

joel.

HenrytheV · Post by **HenrytheV** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 10:22 pm

So now kids would have to show an I.D. for buying Lego?

Would parents get in trouble for giving Lego to a minor?

eNiGMa · Post by **eNiGMa** » Sun Nov 20, 2005 11:54 pm

HenrytheV wrote:Would parents get in trouble for giving Lego to a minor?

After PCP, ABS should be quite refreshing to our law enforcers.

ottoatm · Post by **ottoatm** » Mon Nov 21, 2005 5:25 am

HenrytheV wrote:So now kids would have to show an I.D. for buying Lego? Would parents get in trouble for giving Lego to a minor?

Hmm... maybe in extreme cases... I mean, I guess anything is possible. Still, I imagine the biggest punishment would be any damage done to the child. I think it's more to protect LEGO from the parent that they put these age limits on here, and not so much protect the parent from the law.