These LEGO Instructions from 1974 Should Be Included with Today's LEGO Sets

LEGO had it right in the 1970s. They supported gender equality and made a clear statement about it. They still do encourage both boys and girls to play with LEGO sets but some of that message is undermined by the fact that they have released the LEGO Friends line and marketed the overly pink collection as LEGO for girls. But, that's a rant for another day. Take a minute to read this note posted by Henry Warren on Twitter.

click to enlarge

The note says:
"To Parents
The urge to create is equally strong in all children. Boys and girls.

It’s the imagination that counts. Not skill. You build whatever comes into your head, the way you want it. A bed or a truck. A dolls house or a spaceship.

A lot of boys like dolls houses. They’re more human than spaceships. A lot of girls prefer spaceships. They’re more exciting than dolls houses.

The most important thing is to put the right material in their hands and let them create whatever appeals to them."

Preach. Kids and parents need to hear more of that sentiment.

And yes, it is absolutely real. io9 reached out to LEGO and received the following response from Roar Rude Trangbæk of LEGO corporate communications:

Is the text authentic?
"Yes, the text is from 1974 and was a part of a pamphlet showing a variety of LEGO doll house products targeted girls aged 4 and up from the 1970’s The catalogue was included with select sets in the doll house series in 1974. The text remains relevant to this day – our focus has always been, and remains to bring creative play experiences to all children in the world, based on the LEGO brick and the LEGO system – ultimately enabling children to build and create whatever they can imagine. This is visible today across the entire product range from the LEGO Group – every LEGO product is based on the LEGO system and this creative building experience."

I wish LEGO would go back to their egalitarian approach to marketing.