Trafford Centre's Legoland launch new lockers for guests to surrender their phones

The Trafford Centre’s Legoland Discovery Centre has launched a new initiative to encourage guests to switch off their phones and have fun instead.

Launched on ‘International Lego Day’ on Friday, January 28, the ‘switch off and play’ initiative has seen the introduction of new lockers on site where visitors can lock away their phones to resist temptation of checking their social media.

It offers guests the option to surrender their devices and store them safely to ensure that active playtime has their full attention, as playing with the building block toys has been proven to be ‘highly beneficial to people’s overall wellbeing and mental health’.

The new initiative has been implemented at the Manchester centre , as well as the Legoland Discovery Centre in Birmingham, too.

Amy Langham, General Manager at Legoland Discovery Centre’s Birmingham branch, said: “We love seeing people interact with each other and our Lego at the Discovery Centres. However, every now and again we notice electronic devices getting in the way of playtime.

“We wanted to introduce this new initiative to encourage visitors to switch off from technology and be present in the moment. This will hopefully result in our guests being able to reap the full rewards Legoland Discovery Centres have to offer, creating a more positive environment and improving mental wellbeing.”

Research by whatagraph revealed that people spent an average of three hours on social media in 2020 - so, what better way to ‘le’go’ of those January blues than to put down your phone and reminisce about a childhood activity at the Discovery Centre?

Suzy Hutchins, Legoland's Global Education and Wellness ambassador, added: “It is my strong belief that the earlier on in our children’s lives that we take time to nurture their emotional intelligence the more likely they are to become resilient, confident and kind.

“When children engage with mindful activities like Lego, they will improve their focus and attention and become aware of their thoughts and feelings in a positive way.

“Enjoying creative Lego play with loved ones will help develop a breadth of essential skills; social, emotional and cognitive and the inclusive nature of brick play means it can be enjoyed by everyone.”

The switch off and play lockers will be situated within the attractions for guests to use on a first come first served basis during their scheduled visit.

You can book your visit to the Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham or Manchester here.