In a study published online in the journal Plos, a team from the University of New Zealand says children's toys are becoming more violent and gory. We always try to be as humorous as possible to lower the level of conflict. "Conflict play, like other types of play, is part of a child's self-development. In addition, the study searched lego catalogues from 1973 to 2015 and found that the scenes depicted in the company's toy sets were also increasingly violent.

New Zealand researchers said in a study that violence in Legos is on the rise as toy makers compete for children's attention in the digital age.

Troy Taylor, a spokesman for Lego, said the company sells a range of toys including construction, fantasy and conflict games. There is a general feeling that violence generates excitement."

The Danish company, which has reportedly been producing bricks since 1949, was the first to use weapons in its 1978 castle set, which included swords, axes and javelins, the study found.

Christoph Bartneck, the team's lead researcher, said: "Lego's products are not as harmless as they used to be.

The study found that "around 40 per cent of Legos now contain some form of violence, with scenes such as shooting and threatening behaviour particularly on the rise in recent years." The research also shows that Legos are just part of a broader trend in children's entertainment." Troy Taylor said. The proportion of battle scenes in lego weapons and themed sets has been increased. "Toymakers are in a arms race to come up with exciting new products in order to get customers' attention. The violence in Legos seems to go beyond the rich games.

"The study says. The researchers concluded: "Violence in Lego toys increases exponentially over time.

In a study published online in the journal Plos, a team from the University of New Zealand says children's toys are becoming more violent and gory. We always try to be as humorous as possible to lower the level of conflict. "Conflict play, like other types of play, is part of a child's self-development. In addition, the study searched lego catalogues from 1973 to 2015 and found that the scenes depicted in the company's toy sets were also increasingly violent.

New Zealand researchers said in a study that violence in Legos is on the rise as toy makers compete for children's attention in the digital age.

Troy Taylor, a spokesman for Lego, said the company sells a range of toys including construction, fantasy and conflict games. There is a general feeling that violence generates excitement."

The Danish company, which has reportedly been producing bricks since 1949, was the first to use weapons in its 1978 castle set, which included swords, axes and javelins, the study found.

Christoph Bartneck, the team's lead researcher, said: "Lego's products are not as harmless as they used to be.

The study found that "around 40 per cent of Legos now contain some form of violence, with scenes such as shooting and threatening behaviour particularly on the rise in recent years." The research also shows that Legos are just part of a broader trend in children's entertainment." Troy Taylor said. The proportion of battle scenes in lego weapons and themed sets has been increased. "Toymakers are in a arms race to come up with exciting new products in order to get customers' attention. The violence in Legos seems to go beyond the rich games.