Today, 11 June, is International Play Day. A day that reminds us of something simple, but incredibly important: children need time, space and freedom to play.
Not every game needs rules. Not every build needs instructions. Not every toy has to be brand new.
Sometimes the best play starts with a box of mixed bricks, a few minifigures, a pile of colours and one simple question:
“What shall we build today?”
That is exactly why second-hand LEGO fits so beautifully with International Play Day. Used LEGO bricks already have a history, but they are never finished. Every brick can become part of a new story, a new world or a new adventure.
A blue brick can be water. A red brick can be a rocket engine. A grey plate can become a castle wall, a robot foot or the floor of a secret laboratory. Children do not see “loose pieces”. They see possibilities.
At Gebruiktspeelgoed.nl, we believe that toys are made to be played with again and again. Second-hand LEGO, pre-owned LEGO, used LEGO, or as many people in the Netherlands search for it: tweedehands LEGO it all has one thing in common. It gives existing bricks a new life and children a new reason to create.
Why second-hand LEGO is perfect for International Play Day
International Play Day is not about perfect results. It is about play itself.
It is about trying something, changing your mind, laughing when a tower falls over, rebuilding it stronger, inventing characters, solving problems and making stories from nothing.
That is where second-hand LEGO really shines.
With a new boxed set, children often follow a manual. That can be fun, of course. But with a box of second-hand LEGO, there is no single right answer. The bricks invite open-ended play. Children have to think, combine, test, search, swap and imagine.
That kind of play is powerful.
It helps children practise creativity, patience, storytelling, problem-solving and collaboration. And for parents, it creates a moment to slow down and join in. Not to take over. Just to play along.
So today, on International Play Day, put a box of LEGO on the table. Forget the instructions for a while. Let your child lead the way.
Need a little inspiration? Here are 10 creative LEGO ideas you can build today.
10 fun LEGO ideas for International Play Day
1. Build a city from the future
Ask your child to imagine what a city might look like 100 years from now.
Will houses float in the air? Will cars fly? Will every roof have a garden? Will robots clean the streets? Can animals live safely in the middle of the city?
Use second-hand LEGO bricks to build towers, roads, parks, vehicles and strange inventions. The city does not have to look realistic. In fact, the more surprising it becomes, the better.
Extra play idea: let your child give a guided tour of the city when it is finished.
2. Create a LEGO treasure hunt
Hide five LEGO bricks or minifigures around the room. Write simple clues such as:
“Look under something soft.”
“I am close to something blue.”
“You will find me where stories live.”
“I am hiding near a chair.”
Once your child finds all the hidden pieces, the real challenge begins: use those exact pieces to build a treasure chest, secret cave, pirate island or hidden temple.
This is a great way to combine movement, problem-solving and building.
3. Build an animal that does not exist
Forget lions, dogs and dinosaurs for a moment. Today, your child gets to invent a completely new creature.
Maybe it is a winged turtle with wheels. Or a rainbow dragon that lives in a treehouse. Or a tiny brick monster that only eats yellow LEGO pieces.
The fun is not just in building the animal, but in creating its story.
Ask questions like:
Where does it live?
What does it eat?
Is it friendly or a little bit naughty?
What special power does it have?
This idea works perfectly with mixed used LEGO, because unusual pieces often lead to the best creatures.
4. Send a minifigure on a mission
Choose one LEGO minifigure and give it an important mission.
Maybe the minifigure has to rescue a lost robot, deliver a message across a dangerous bridge, escape from a volcano or find the missing golden brick.
Then build the world around that mission.
A few bricks can become a mountain. A plate can become a road. A small arch can become the entrance to a secret base. The story can grow while your child builds.
Tip for parents: do not ask “What is it?” too quickly. Try asking: “What is happening here?” That usually opens up a much better story.
5. Design a dream house
Let your child build the house they would love to live in.
It can have a slide from the bedroom, a rooftop swimming pool, a LEGO room, a pet dragon garage, a secret door or a snack machine in the hallway.
There are no building rules today. The stranger the house, the more fun the conversation becomes.
This is a lovely International Play Day activity because it gives children the freedom to design their own world. It also shows how creative they can be when adults do not correct every idea.
6. Make a LEGO obstacle course
Build a small obstacle course for a minifigure or LEGO car.
Add a bridge, a tunnel, a jump, a narrow path, a lava pit, a gate, a ramp or a wobbly tower. Then test the route.
Can the car make it to the finish?
Can the minifigure cross the bridge?
Does the tower fall down?
Can you make it harder?
This activity is great for children who like action and movement. It also turns building into testing, improving and trying again.
And if the whole thing collapses? Perfect. That is part of play.
7. Make a LEGO mosaic
A LEGO mosaic is a picture made from bricks.
Start simple: a heart, a smiley, a flower, a rainbow, a football, an animal face or the first letter of your child’s name.
You can use flat plates if you have them, but ordinary LEGO bricks work too. A mosaic is especially nice for children who enjoy patterns, colours and quiet concentration.
With second-hand LEGO, colours may be mixed and random. That actually makes the result more unique.
No two LEGO mosaics have to look the same.
8. Build with your eyes closed
This one usually creates a lot of laughter.
Put a small pile of LEGO bricks on the table. Let your child close their eyes, pick a few bricks and build something without looking. After one or two minutes, everyone has to guess what it is.
Is it a spaceship? A chair? A monster? A sandwich machine?
There is no wrong answer. The fun is in the surprise.
You can also take turns: parent builds with eyes closed, child guesses. Children often love seeing adults play badly on purpose.
9. Open a LEGO restaurant
Build a restaurant, food truck, café or ice cream shop from LEGO.
Then let the minifigures become customers. What do they order? Who is the chef? Is the restaurant fancy, silly, messy or magical?
The menu can be completely invented:
Rainbow soup
Rocket pancakes
Brick burgers
Dragon ice cream
Spaghetti with treasure sauce
This idea naturally turns into role-play, language play and storytelling. A few second-hand LEGO plates, windows, doors and minifigures are enough to start.
10. Do a screen-free LEGO build challenge
For the final idea, keep it simple.
Set a timer for 15 or 30 minutes. Give one challenge and build together.
Try one of these:
Build something that can fly.
Build a vehicle with no wheels.
Build a home for one minifigure.
Build the tallest tower you can.
Build something that makes you happy.
Build an animal using only ten pieces.
Build a place where you would like to play.
When the timer ends, take a moment to look at each creation. Do not judge it. Ask for the story behind it.
That is where the real value of play often appears.
The best LEGO builds are not always the biggest
On International Play Day, the goal is not to build the most impressive model. It is not about perfect instructions, rare pieces or complete sets.
The goal is to play.
To sit together. To make something. To let children lead. To give old bricks a new role. To turn second-hand LEGO into fresh imagination.
That is why we love tweedehands LEGO so much. A used LEGO brick is not less valuable because someone played with it before. It is more interesting because it is ready to be played with again.
So today, open the box. Spread the bricks on the table. Pick a minifigure. Build something strange. Make up a story. Let it fall over. Build it again.
Happy International Play Day.
Now grab the LEGO and start playing.
