I’m a DUPLO person. I was even featured in Parents magazine for my love of DUPLO, so this page has been a long time coming! My boys have since graduated to regular LEGO (hello, tiny bricks hiding in my carpet), but the DUPLO bin still gets dumped out at our house all the time.
Most lists of the best LEGO sets are written for teens and grown-up collectors. But these are the LEGO and DUPLO sets I recommend for kids 2 to 6, in the order your kid will actually need them, plus how I use them in our toy rotation.
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Why We Love LEGO & DUPLO
I own at least 30 different types of building setes (probably more if I’m honest with myself). This is between LEGO, DUPLO, Magna-Tiles, K’Nex, Tinkertoys, and more. But if I had to just choose one, I’d stick with LEGO and DUPLO. Here’s why:
- It grows with them. DUPLO starts at 18 months, regular LEGO picks up around 4, and the two systems actually connect. Regular LEGO bricks snap right onto DUPLO studs, so nothing you bought early gets wasted.
- Two types of play. If you follow the instructions and build the model on the box it’s a close-ended toy. If you make a random creation of your own, that’s open-ened play.
- Kids play with it after it’s built. The fire truck puts out fires. The clubhouse is a great backdrop for playing house. So once you’re done building, you can play with the toy you’ve built.
The downsides: LEGO sets aren’t cheap, the pieces multiply and end up everywhere, and some DUPLO sets include small parts that are still choking hazards for little ones. Instruction builds can also be challenging for young kids to do on their own.
LEGO and DUPLO Sets by Age
| Age | What to look for | More toys for this age |
|---|---|---|
| 18 mo+ | A DUPLO brick box with wheels and a couple of figures | Toys for 18 to 23 months |
| 2+ | Themed DUPLO sets: fire truck, construction vehicles, Mickey’s clubhouse | Toys for 2 year olds |
| 3+ | Same DUPLO sets, now with bigger stories and their own creations | Toys for 3 year olds |
| 4+ | Bridge sets with a starter brick, then a LEGO Classic brick box | Toys for 4 year olds |
| 5+ | Classic bricks for free building, simple instruction builds | Toys for 5 year olds |
| 6+ | LEGO Creator 3-in-1 sets | Toys for 6 year olds |
🚨 CHOKING HAZARD: DUPLO sets have pieces that fail the choking hazard test. Basically, anything that can fit through a toilet paper tube is a choking hazard. Although I’m using the ages recommended by the manufacturer, I know from experience that some of the pieces in DUPLO sets fail this test.
→ My suggestion: Remove any of the pieces that fit through the tube until they are 3+ and are no longer putting things in their mouth.
✅ Always supervise your children during play.
Best DUPLO Sets for 2 and 3 Year Olds
DUPLO bricks are big enough for little hands that are still working on their grip, and pulling them apart takes hand strength, which makes DUPLO a sneaky fine motor toy too. Our building toys guide covers everything else in the block family.
LEGO DUPLO Classic Cars and Trucks Brick Box (ages 18 mo+)
If you’re buying one DUPLO set, start with a brick box like this one. You get a pile of basic bricks, wheel bases, and a couple of figures, and that’s all a toddler needs to start building things that roll. There’s no model they have to match, so there’s no wrong way to do it. It never gets too babyish because there’s nothing babyish about it.
LEGO DUPLO Classic Cars and Trucks Brick Box 10439
Even though we've graduated to regular LEGO at my house, my kids still love playing with Duplo!
- Educational STEM toy for vehicle-loving preschoolers aged 18 months and up u2013 The Cars and Trucks Brick Box playset comes with an assortment of bricks and pieces to set toddlersu2019 creative cogs in motion
- Car toy playset with lots in the box u2013 Firing toddlersu2019 imaginations to create fun 4-wheeled adventures, this creative toy includes 3 wheelbases, 1-2-3 bricks, 2 child figures and a bee figure
LEGO DUPLO Fire Truck (ages 2+)
Themed DUPLO sets are meant to be built one way, just like the picture on the box. That’s the close-ended part. Then the fun keeps going: your kid can play with the finished truck and the firefighter, or take it apart and make something of their own. For a 2 year old, that first model is a big deal. It’s a few steps, it looks like the box, and they did it.
LEGO DUPLO Fire Truck
Children can build the fire truck (close-ended) or make their own creation (open-ended). The sets are also fun to play with after building.
- BUILD STORYTELLING SKILLS u2013 Toddlers can practice pretend play as they imagine being everyday heroes, helping their firefighter figure navigate quickly to fight fires and save the day
- ENCOURAGE CREATIVE PLAY u2013 Includes a fire truck model with detachable trailer, a firefighter figure, LEGO DUPLO squirrel, and axe and wrench accessories to encourage imaginative save-the-day play
More DUPLO sets we love: the construction set builds several different vehicles, so it has more replay than a one-model set, and it’s a great pick for kids who watch every dump truck that drives by. The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse uses characters kids already know, which helps little ones who are still figuring out how to make up a story. They can act out the show first and invent their own stories later. Both are great pretend play toys once the building is done.
LEGO DUPLO Town Construction Vehicles
Children can build the fire truck (close-ended) or make their own creation (open-ended). The sets are also fun to play with after building.
- 6 VEHICLE TOYS INCLUDED u2013 Bricks assemble to make 2 tow trucks with different hooks, a loader, scissor lift, dump truck or excavator toy with a flexible arm
- PRACTICE FINE MOTOR SKILLS u2013 This toddler learning toy encourages young boys and girls to focus and figure out how to combine the construction trucks' functions to find new ways to play
- ENCOURAGE CREATIVE PRETEND PLAY u2013 Includes 2 builder figures that toddlers use to drive, direct and operate the vehicles to get the job done
LEGO DUPLO Disney Mickey Mouse Clubhouse
Children can build the fire truck (close-ended) or make their own creation (open-ended). The sets are also fun to play with after building.
- MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE TOY u2013 Young builders can enjoy activity-packed playtime with the Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with Minnie & Pluto (10465) building toy for toddlers ages 2 years old and up
- 3 DISNEY CHARACTERS & TOODLES u2013 This Mickey Mouse Clubhouse toy includes LEGO DUPLO figures of Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and Pluto, plus a Toodles the computer decorated brick for pretend play inspired by the Disney Junior show
- LEARNING THROUGH PLAY u2013 This building toy helps toddlers develop fine motor skills, creativity, emotional intelligence and matching and sorting skills through imaginative play
A tip if you already have PAW Patrol Mega Bloks: they work with DUPLO, so you can mix the pups right into your DUPLO bin. More on that in our PAW Patrol toys guide.
Making the Switch from DUPLO to LEGO
Once your child is over age 3, is no longer putting toys in their mouth, and you’re not worried about choking, you can start to watch for some signs that they might be ready to switch to LEGO:
- They’re done mouthing toys. Regular LEGO pieces are small (they all fail the choking hazard test!). If there’s a baby or a mouthy toddler in the house, LEGO needs its own table or a room with a door.
- Their fingers can handle it. Pressing small bricks together and prying them apart takes a stronger, more precise grip than DUPLO does.
- They want more detail. When a kid starts asking for windows, doors, and moving parts, DUPLO starts to feel limiting.
And don’t box up the DUPLO. Since the two systems connect, they can be played with together. My boys still build with both.
LEGO Bluey Playground (ages 4+)
This is a good bridge set. It’s labeled 4+ and built for kids who are brand new to smaller bricks: each bag makes one small model, it comes with a big starter brick, and the instructions are simple. That means a win on every bag instead of one giant build that loses them halfway through. And it’s Bluey, so the familiar characters make it easy to play with after.
LEGO Bluey Playground
Children can build the fire truck (close-ended) or make their own creation (open-ended). The sets are also fun to play with after building.
- BUILDING TOY FOR TODDLERS u2013 This LEGO Bluey toy comes with 1 buildable model per bag, plus a large Starter Brick and simple instructions to make building fast and fun for little builders
- MANY WAYS TO PLAY u2013 Bluey and Chloe can take rides on the pelican, hop over plants, climb the tower to look out the telescope, or enjoy a drinks and snack break in the picnic area
- SPARK IMAGINATION u2013 LEGO Bluey adventure toys inspire pretend play and creativity using familiar characters that little builders will relate to
Best LEGO Sets for 4 to 6 Year Olds
Once your kid is ready for regular bricks, I’d start with a basic box before buying a lot of themed sets. Themed sets are fun, but a box of loose bricks gets played with the longest. It’s also a great STEM toy: balance, symmetry, and a lot of trial and error.
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box (ages 4+)
We chose this box on purpose, and the reason is the wheels. It comes with a bunch of tires and rims, and who doesn’t like building things that move? In my house, anything that rolls wins.
The box has idea pages if your kid wants a place to start (close-ended), but most of the time the bricks get dumped out and turned into their own creations (open-ended). The container doubles as storage, which I appreciate, even if our collection outgrew it fast.
LEGO Classic Medium Creative Brick Box 10696
We chose this kit specifically for all of the wheels it came with! Who doesn't like building moving things?!
- Endless Builds – This creative toy for boys and girls includes windows, toy eyes, 18 tires and toy wheel rims that can be placed on a green baseplate for kids to role-play; plus the container can be used as toy storage
- Imaginative Play – Kids can use their imagination, picking an assortment of bricks to bring to life any building toy they want with these colorful toys, fostering kids' playtime and building creativity throughout the process
LEGO Creator 3-in-1 (ages 6+)
We love the Creator 3-in-1 line. Every box has instructions for three different builds. This one makes a space shuttle, a spaceship, or an astronaut. That’s three rounds of close-ended practice, and then the pieces are fair game for anything your kid dreams up.
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Space Shuttle Toys
We love the 3-in-1 LEGO line because you can follow three different builds (close-ended), or use the pieces to create your own build.
- LEGO Creator 3 in 1 space toy building set features a space shuttle which rebuilds into an astronaut figure with jointed limbs or a spaceship toy
- With this LEGO Creator 3 in 1 set, kids get 3 different build and play experiences; makes an out of this world gift for kids ages 6+ years old
The Magical Unicorn set works the same way: the unicorn rebuilds into a seahorse or a peacock. It’s labeled 6+ on our list, though some listings say 7+, so it’s a good one for kids who already have a few builds under their belt.
LEGO Creator 3 in 1 Magical Unicorn
We love the 3-in-1 LEGO line because you can follow three different builds (close-ended), or use the pieces to create your own build.
- The LEGO unicorn animal toy features a golden horn, colorful tail and mane plus it can be posed on its 4 legs or reared up on its 2 hind legs
- The unicorn can be rebuilt into 2 other LEGO animals; a seahorse with movable tail, fins and head, or a peacock toy with movable tail and eyes
LEGO in Toy Rotation and Quiet Time
LEGO is one of the 11 toy categories I rotate (blocks and building). DUPLO, LEGO, Magna-Tiles, gear sets, and marble runs are all blocks. Both of my boys love blocks, so we always try to have some type of block available for them.
A box of loose bricks is one of my favorite quiet time toys, because there’s no wrong answer and nobody needs rescuing. Their imagination can guide the build, and then play with their creation after. The same goes for independent play during the day.
For travel, the small DUPLO sets are great, but check them for tiny pieces first. Our travel toys guide has more. And if you want a building toy that isn’t bricks at all, the National Geographic fort kit and marble runs are a fun change of pace.
Want to see how these fit with everything else? Our toy guides page has every age and category.
FAQ
For 18 months to 3, start with a DUPLO brick box, then add a themed set like the fire truck or construction vehicles. Around 4, try a bridge set that doesn’t have tons of pieces. Then a LEGO Classic brick box. At 6, the Creator 3-in-1 sets give kids three builds in one box.
Most kids are ready for regular LEGO around 4 or 5, and the boxes are labeled that way. Wait until they’ve stopped mouthing toys and can press small bricks together on their own. You don’t have to get rid of DUPLO. The two systems connect, and a lot of kids keep playing with both.
Yes. Regular LEGO bricks snap onto the bottom of DUPLO bricks, so you can mix the two bins. Some other big-brick sets, like PAW Patrol Mega Bloks, also work with DUPLO. DUPLO bricks also fit on the building platforms for LEGO as well.
Both. Following the instruction book is close-ended, because there’s one right way to build the model. Building with loose bricks is open-ended. I like to have kids build the set first, then let them take it apart and make their own creations.
Loose bricks are great for quiet time because there’s no instruction manual or “right way to build,” something. Instruction builds are better when a parent is nearby, because a kid who gets stuck will need help or give up.
I think one brick box is enough. One that has an idea book with 10+ builds, lots of wheels, windows, and other pieces besides standard bricks. We also love small inexpensive LEGO kits (think $5 or less) for traveling, or building at a restaurant, etc.
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