Billund Builds

Billund Builds was a serious initiative focused on inclusive learning environments with playful learning at its core. Children explored common themes together with adults in daycare centers and schools, as well as with others from the local community. Everyone learned something new. The children created creative and intelligent solutions within the shared theme.

Billund Builds started as a themed week across daycare centers and schools in Billund Municipality, with a focus on building as a means of learning. Later, Billund Builds evolved into a strong collective project under the Capital of Children, focusing on children as creative global citizens. Billund Builds combined co-creation with children and a playful approach to learning. The shared theme was developed in project-based local courses, but the approach and method could be applied throughout the year.

The theme could vary and include topics such as nature, global goals, road safety, the climate crisis, friendships, unique love, great art, and much more. It was something significant, meaningful, and relevant for all children and adults.

However, the method remained the same: co-creation with children in a playful manner. This meant that in safe environments, children had the space to investigate, wonder, delve deeply, test, and experiment, working together to create something of value that could not have been achieved alone.

In Billund Builds, this meant that diversity was essential, and both children and adults contributed in different ways to the collective solutions. Setting the framework was important, as was openness in the process – the discoveries led to new insights for both children and adults.

At CoC Playful Minds, we believe that children who help create solutions gain skills and a desire to take responsibility – not just in school or with their families, but for the city, the country, and the entire world.

Co-creation is a special way of collaborating across disciplines, generations, and cultures. It is based on respect, fundamental curiosity, and equality. In short, co-creation is about the idea that shared projects and children's engagement in them are at least as important as that of adults. Not just for a week. Not just in Billund. But all year round. And all over the world.

The website was used to learn more about co-creation with children, explore methods for co-creation, download templates and other relevant materials, and dive into specific inspiration for Billund Builds themes and projects.

Billund Builds was driven by the organization behind the Capital of Children in collaboration with Billund Municipality and The LEGO Foundation.

Billund Builds themes through the years