Lego Dreamzzz was developed by The Lego Group alongside in-depth global research of children aged 6-12 years old from 29 different countries. — Photo: Handout
A global survey of over 23,000 children has found that two in three children globally said dreaming helps them be more creative, a revelation that has led to toy company Lego developing a new theme that is the first to be inspired by the way children dream.
Lego Dreamzzz was developed by The Lego Group alongside in-depth global research of children aged 6-12 years old from 29 different countries. The survey looked at children’s imaginations, the psychology of dreams and their importance in processing emotions, problem-solving and the importance of play for creative experimentation.
The global research of over 23,000 children has found almost seven in ten (69%) are experiencing complex emotions, such as stress or loneliness, in their day-to-day lives, with one in four (24%) citing events in the world or on social media as causes.
However, psychologist and behavioural sleep expert Dr Shelby Harris, who is working with Lego on the research, shared that dreams can play a key role in helping children process complex emotions and engage their imaginations.
The children on the survey concurred, with two thirds reporting that dreams are important and help them be more creative during the day (68%).
“Kids are natural dreamers and experimenters but as they get older, societal pressures begin to confine them and limit their imaginations," Dr Harris said. "Dreaming is a universal phenomenon generally welcomed by children across the globe. With more stress and demands in their daily lives, encouraging free play and creativity is important in today's world.
"The research has clearly shown that kids that have access to free play time increases their frequency of dreams and as a result makes them feel happier and more imaginative."
Specifically in Malaysia, out of 1,000 children surveyed, three in five (58%) children believe dreaming is important. In addition, three in four (73%) say dreaming helps them explore their creative imagination, and the same proportion say when they have happy dreams it helps them to be more creative (74%), and 66% say it gives them ideas for things in their life whilst awake. Two thirds (68%) believe it helps them think differently.
The Lego Dreamzzz series launched with 10 episodes on 15 May and be accompanied by a brand-new product range and further episodes from August 2023. The series follows the adventures of school friends, Mateo, Izzie, Cooper, Logan and Zoey, as they join a secret agency and learn to use the power of imagination to journey into the Dream World – and learn to defeat the tyrannical Nightmare King.
According to Cerim Manovi, the theme's creative director, Dreamzzz is Lego's very first concept that "celebrates the wondrous world of dreaming".
"(It) explores what happens when dreams become real, ordinary kids become extraordinary and creativity is a superpower!” he said in a press release. “We want children to feel empowered to bring their wildest dreams to life and revel in the true force of their creative imaginations while dreaming.”
The theme’s launch also saw Lego announce its intention to appoint a group of children as its first ever 'Chief Dream Creators', a press release said, who will "use the creativity and imagination of their dreams" to inspire the company. For more information on this, visit Lego.com/dreamzzz.
