The Carpenter Who Changed Play Forever
Today it's hard to imagine childhood without colorful LEGO bricks. From them you can build a house, a castle, a robot, or an entire spaceship. But few people know that behind the appearance of this construction set lies the story of one man — Ole Kirk Kristiansen, a Danish woodworker. His path was full of hardship, but it was his perseverance that gave millions of children around the world their favorite toy.
In This Article:
A Poor Danish Woodworker Becomes a Builder of Joy
Ole Kirk Kristiansen was born in 1891 into a poor peasant family in Denmark. From an early age he could work with his hands and decided to become a carpenter. He crafted doors, windows and furniture, and later opened his own workshop. But the Great Depression began, and orders dwindled. To feed his family, Ole started making small wooden toys. These were ducklings, cars and cubes. The toys were loved by children, but they did not bring in much money.
LEGO Born From Play Well
In 1934 Ole coined the name for his company — LEGO. It is formed from the Danish words leg godt, which means Play Well. He believed that play should be not only fun, but also beneficial for a child's development. At first LEGO produced only wooden toys. But in the 1940s a disaster struck: Kristiansen's workshop burned down. Ole did not give up; he rebuilt production and began seeking new ideas.
From Wood to Plastic A Bold Leap
In 1947 LEGO became one of the first companies in Denmark to buy a plastic injection molding machine. It was a risky step — many believed plastic would not suit toys. But it was then that the first prototypes of bricks appeared, resembling the modern LEGO. In 1958 the company patented the system of connecting bricks — the special studs and sockets, thanks to which parts hold tightly to each other. This principle is used to this day, and it is precisely what made LEGO unique.
A Global Brand Emerges LEGOLAND and Beyond
After Ole's death in 1958 the company was led by his son, Godtfred. He continued his father's work and made LEGO an international brand. In 1968 the first LEGOLAND park opened in Denmark, and soon after — in other countries.
LEGO Today A Living Toy
Today LEGO is not only bricks. It is sets for engineers and programmers, films, computer games and even educational projects for schools. But all started with the dream of one person to make children's play truly useful.
Question to Children
Do you know that even the most complex LEGO sets are built from simple bricks? Try to imagine what unusual thing you could build if you had an infinite supply of pieces!
Conclusion A Dream to Play Well
The LEGO story is a tale of perseverance, courage, and belief in your ideas. A carpenter from a small country managed to change the world of children's play. And every time we build a tower from LEGO bricks, we continue his dream — 'play well'. If you enjoyed this article, please like it!
