IKEA x LEGO – the design collaboration of every child and adult’s dreams!

Have you ever stepped on a LEGO piece and have your whole life flash before your eyes or are you normal? Kids love to play with LEGO blocks but always leave a mess, these boxes were designed to encourage storing their toys so you can feel safe about walking around the house like its not a land mine! So IKEA and LEGO teamed up to make storage bins, called BYGGLEK, that makes tidying up another fun game. The white boxes come in four sizes and can store hundreds of bricks and you can easily stack them up because they are made like giant LEGO blocks. “The box itself can be a house, a swimming pool, a sports arena – there is no right or wrong!” said Rasmus Buch Løgstrup, the Lego designer who led this project. The BYGGLEK range consists of one set of three small boxes, and two sets of bigger boxes and one set of LEGO bricks for the complete experience right from the moment you get your package.

The good part is that BYGGLEK can be used with any existing and future LEGO elements because of the thoughtfully placed studs on the lid and front which make it a part of the play system. The designers worked with child psychologists, who told them that children don’t see a pile of blocks on the floor like a mess; they see it as a creative environment – it is a stimuli for their imagination. So the parents needed an “out of the box” solution for cleaning/storage and who better to do that than IKEA – every adult’s happy place. “At IKEA, we always believe in the power of play. Play lets us explore, experiment, dream and discover.” said Andreas Fredriksson, designer at IKEA of Sweden, “Where adults often see a mess, children see a stimulating creative environment, and BYGGLEK will help bridge the gap between these two views to ensure more creative play in homes around the world. Plus, the BYGGLEK collection matches perfectly with other IKEA products, making it possible to have your children’s creativity becoming a nice and unique piece of decoration at home.” Works for all the residents of the real house and the toy house!

The two big boxes will come in a traditional IKEA flatpack and has been designed to be so simple to assemble that 5-year-olds will be able to do it. It comes with no instructions so kids can be as imaginative as like. IKEA will also sell a 201-piece LEGO brick set that has been specially curated by designers with less complex elements to ensure that even the youngest child could use them. The toys and design are rooted in a warm and cozy home life and include a little LEGO hot dog for a snack in case you get hungry! They’ll be available to buy throughout Europe and North America from October 1st, expanding to the rest of Ikea’s retail channels throughout the year.

Designer: IKEA and LEGO

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11 Best ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ Toys to Buy This Holiday Season

The Secret Life of Pets mini figures

Every year there’s an animated film kids go crazy about. This year it was The Secret Life of Pets, which makes it an easy decision for parents when it comes to what toys to get their children this holiday season.

For those who haven’t watched the film yet, it’s time you step on it. Not just because it’s a great film for children and adults, but it’ll help you figure out which The Secret Life of Pets toys your kids will react to in the best way. We’re offering our help with the following recommendations:

The Secret Life of Pets Blu-Ray

Whether you and your kids have already seen the movie, having the Blu-Ray is a must at any home with kids and pets, and one of those films that personally I don’t mind watching a couple of times each week.

The Secret Life of Pets Perler Bead Kit

Perfect for parents and kids who love to mess around with Perler Beads, the Secret Life of Pets Perler Bead Kit contains 6000 beads, 3 small square pegboards, a pattern sheet and ironing paper, along with easy instructions to follow.

The Secret Life of Pets Max Talking Plush Buddy

Most of the kids I know prefer Max, the lovable Jack Russell Terrier, as their toy from the film. This version of Max talks and makes noises when they tilt or squeeze him, resulting in some pretty sweet interaction.

The Secret Life of Pets Gidget Talking Plush Buddy

You can buy the Gidget talking plush buddy out of The Secret Life of Pets on Amazon.

The Secret Life of Pets Snowball Talking Plush Buddy

The Secret Life of Pets isn’t just about dogs, if you’re wondering. It also has a crazy rabbit, snowball, who makes an excellent talking plush buddy.

The Secret Life of Pets 3D Puzzle

There’s nothing like some puzzle building to have some good family fun that actually helps your kids develop some skills. Why not do that while building a cool 3D The Secret Life of Pets Puzzle?

The Secret Life of Pets Knot-A Pillow

Stitch, stuff and knot! It’s pretty simple. Create a 15×15 inch pillow with Max from The Secret Life of Pets smiling at you: Just knot the edges and stuff the middle.

The Secret Life of Pets Shrinky Dinks Playset

A sweet and very well reviewed The Secret Life of Pets playset, enabling the kids to set up a building for the pets, color them, bake for them and even shrink them. A whole lot of fun in just one set!

The Secret Life of Pets Funko POP Max

Another cute version of Max, this time in vinyl form via Funko.

The Secret Life of Pets Chloe Funko POP

And there’s also a Chloe Funko POP toy to give you a more complete ‘The Secret Life of Pets’ collection.

The Secret Life of Pets On-Leash Max Toy

One of my personal favorites on this list, this Max toy gives a kid a way to walk around with a life-sized doll of a dog, maybe making them feel more confident about getting an actual dog if they don’t have one yet.

The Secret Life of Pets Mini Apartments

The funny thing about this The Secret Life of Pets mini-apartments toy is the different mood each animal seems to be in. Things are better the higher you go.

The Secret Life of Pets Mini Figures

The Secret Life of Pets mini figures set includes Max, Snowball, Chloe, Duke and Gidget.