For my second birthday, my Grandad bought me a house, a swing, a car, a giraffe... (Lego 5417 Duplo: Deluxe Brick Box)

Member Name: jo1976

Product:	Lego 5417 Duplo: Deluxe Brick Box
Date:	26/07/09 (72 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Sturdy lidded box, excellent variety of blocks and pieces, durable, keeps toddlers entertained

Disadvantages: Can be expensive

My youngest son turned two a couple of weeks ago and, at the last minute as usual, my Dad asked what to get him as a birthday present. Our youngest enjoys messing about with his older brother's Lego, but can't manage to fit the blocks together, so I suggested some Duplo. My Dad turned up with this jumbo box the following day and it has been well used and is already one of our favourite toys!

Duplo is manufactured by Lego but the pieces are much larger than standard Lego so can be used by children from around 12-18 months upwards. The recommended age range for this box is from 18 months up to five years, which I pointed out to my six year old when the two boys started quarrelling over this set - to no avail. Much as son number one has more than enough Lego of his own to play with, this new play thing was too much of a temptation and he needed to 'help' his little brother.

This box is a starter kit for Duplo and contains 95 pieces in all, so there certainly is plenty for two children to play with at any one time. It all comes packaged in a good sized, sturdy lidded box so that all the pieces can be stored tidily away after use. I was really impressed with the selection of pieces in the set. There is so much variety that it is possible to create all of the standard (and more unusual) Lego/Duplo creations based on this set alone, although there is room in the box for other sets and pieces to be added to the collection. Particularly useful is the inclusion of a decent-sized chunky baseplate which opens up the possibility of building houses, garages and all sorts of buildings. There are lots of bright blocks included as well as a door and window, as you'd expect from a good quality set.

There are also some more unusual items, including a swing, bridge and various curved bricks so your budding architect won't be limited by a lack of variety! There is also a 'chassis' complete with four wheels and a truck roof as well as fences and even a flower. A couple of the blocks have an eye printed on, so it is ideal for more imaginative play as animals and other characters can be created. The set also includes a single Duplo figure, which fits perfectly inside the car and swing, although it might be an idea to buy a few extra figures, unless your children are better at sharing than mine!

Even though I'd suggested Duplo as a present, I was surprised by just how much of a hit this set was with my two year old. He sat surrounded by Duplo pieces and straightaway was able to construct a pretty impressive tower, without any help at all, as the blocks are so easy to fit together. He also managed to build a car of sorts and proudly 'brumm'ed it over to his Grandad. 'Look, Grandad. My car!' What a clever boy! The age group for this toy certainly seems spot on and this has been a great standby for all the rainy days we have been having recently.

The only criticism I could offer about the range itself is that some of the pieces are a little complicated for tiny fingers to assemble themselves. The bridge has to be clipped on to two other bricks and there is no way that a young toddler would be able to do this. Even my six year old struggles! The window and door are also difficult to attach to their frames, again a two year old wouldn't be able to do this without adult intervention. Most of the pieces are extremely easy to use and are a great way for young kids to learn valuable skills whilst having lots of fun at the same time.

This particular set is currently selling at Tesco Direct for under £20 (which is a great price - get it quick) and on Amazon for over £30 (which seems expensive but it is a toy that will provide hours of entertainment.) Like its Lego counterparts, Duplo is very durable and is a toy that can be played with thousands of times without any visible damage or signs of use. This is likely to be in hand-me-down condition for any younger siblings or suitable for Ebaying/car booting, even after years of use. I'd recommend this particular set as a excellent gift idea for any two or three year olds and their parents are likely to be just as pleased with the purchase.

Summary: The possibilities are endless!