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Expert questions whether products take away chances for kids to be imaginative.

Lego has unveiled new high-tech “smart bricks” it says will bring its classic toys to life with lights, sound and interactive movement.

But one expert on early learning says that could lessen the potential for imaginative play that makes Lego a good toy for children’s development.

The Danish toymaker unveiled its new Smart Play system this week at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas. It includes bricks and minifigures with electronic elements such as miniature speakers and sensors that allow the toys to respond to movement and sound.

For example, a new Star Wars-themed set features pieces that make lightsabre hums and engine noises, while a Lego helicopter can make whooshing sounds when moved or rotated.

The toymaker said in a news release the new products are “designed to inspire children” and “bring an interactive play experience … full of exploration and imaginative storytelling.”

Early Lego toys, like the loose bricks that could be put together in various different ways, were great for encouraging imaginative play because they gave kids the freedom to build whatever they wanted, says Mariana Brussoni, professor in the faculty of medicine at the University of British Columbia and director of the Human Early Learning Partnership.

However, the more modern Lego kits that are built into specific, predetermined things can limit that potential for imagination — and make them less effective as a development tool, she said.

Brussoni says these latest products could have similar limitations.

“If a child is hearing a helicopter sound from this particular brick, they're not going to be using it in ways that don't otherwise represent a helicopter right?” she said.

“It's just kind of limiting children's options in terms of how their imagination can shape their play.”

Sensory issues

Dr. Jillian Roberts, a professor of educational psychology at the University of Victoria, says she thinks anything that keeps kids off of screens and encourages them to play with each other is a positive thing.

“If Lego could make something that makes it cool to not be on a device or on a screen, getting kids back building things and interacting with each other in real life, I don't see that as a bad thing,” she said.

But the toys might not be appropriate for kids with sensory issues, such as those with autism spectrum disorder or photosensitive epilepsy, she said.

“So parents that are buying these toys need to be thoughtful about their child's ability to manage the sensory input of them.”

The new toys are set to hit the market on March 1, with pre-orders opening this Friday, Lego's website says.

They’re also not cheap: a Darth Vader-themed set is priced at $69.99 US (or about $97) while another featuring Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia is priced at $89.99 US (or just over $124).

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