Lancaster County, PA – In barns and living rooms tucked behind cornfields, a quiet pastime is taking hold among Amish families. Neatly stacked bins of Lego bricks, the colorful Danish toy that has charmed children worldwide since the 1950s, have become a fixture in many households that otherwise avoid modern entertainment.
For a community known for its careful separation from technology, the adoption of Lego might surprise outsiders. But the toy, rooted in simple, creative play, fits neatly within Amish values of hands-on craftsmanship, family togetherness, and wholesome recreation. “We have always cherished the work of our hands,” said Bishop Eli Stoltzfus of Bird-in-Hand. “Lego is a way for our children to build, to imagine, and to create without worldly distraction. It is a pastime I believe strengthens both mind and family bonds.”
The broader context helps explain why this pastime has flourished. North America’s Amish population surpassed about 400,000 in 2024 and is spread across 32 states, with the largest communities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Indiana. High birth rates and strong youth retention, with around 85 percent of young adults joining the church, keep the population young and family-centered. Typical families raise six to eight children, an environment where durable, pass-along toys thrive. Those demographics translate into lots of shared, screen-free playtime, and Amish parents often guide children toward toys that reward patience, collaboration, and problem-solving.
At the same time, Lego’s global popularity is reaching new heights. In 2024 the company reported record revenue of about $10.9 billion, a 13 percent increase over the previous year, with 12 percent consumer sales growth. Growth was especially strong in the Americas, the same regions where Amish communities are concentrated. For Amish families, what matters most is that the toy requires no screens or batteries. A bucket of bricks can be used for years, shared among siblings, and reimagined in endless forms such as barns, buggies, and covered bridges that often mirror the landscapes outside farmhouse windows.
Evidence of this enthusiasm is easy to find in Amish country. Lancaster County’s general stores display Lego sets alongside hand-crafted wooden toys and classic puzzles. At Good’s Store, a longtime local staple, the toy department sells Lego right next to Amish-made goods. In Ohio’s Amish Country, specialty shops advertise wide selections of Lego sets and even out-of-production items. Some Amish craftsmen have even designed sturdy wooden tables and storage units specifically for Lego play, furniture built to last through generations.
Parents echo the reasoning behind this embrace. “Lego lets our children work together, and it keeps them busy with their hands,” said Mary Lapp, a mother of seven in Holmes County, Ohio. “It feels close to the values we already teach, and it is something they can do as brothers and sisters without arguments.”
On a recent Saturday, a group of boys sat on a farmhouse porch, arranging Lego horses in front of a blocky wagon while siblings debated how to brace a roofline with the few remaining pieces. Their laughter carried across the yard. As Bishop Stoltzfus reflected, “The world will always change faster than we do. But if a toy teaches our children to build up rather than tear down, then it is a good toy, and one we can welcome.”
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