Welcome!

We, Team Infento, are delighted to announce the publication of the inaugural issue of the Modular Monthly. From countless conversations with you, our customers, we have felt that a dedicated journal would be the ideal vehicle to build on the community we have created together. This first issue celebrates the heroines all around us, for International Women’s Day 2020!

In the next months, we will provide you with articles covering child development and parenting. Each issue will end with a Maker of The Month! Submit here for a chance to get featured!

Always aim for the moon

In 1969 a woman helped propel a man to the moon. For the first time. “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind”, as reportedly said by Neil Armstrong. The woman who had a huge part in this undertaking was Katherine Johnson. 

Katherine grew up in West Virginia, US, and as a young girl she already showed a talent for math. Her parents made sure she got a good education so she was able to reach her full potential. In 1953 Katherine got a job at NACA (now NASA) where she worked as a mathematician and aerospace technologist. She calculated the trajectory for the first American space flight in 1962 and, as said, for the 1969 moon landing. Just as important: she also calculated the safe journeys back to earth! 

Before the digital computers entered the workspace ? she actually was the computer that did the calculations. Johnson was known for her great accuracy. Her impeccable math was trusted on. One tiny error could have been fatal for a space crew, as well as for the reputation of a country. We all know Armstrong, but had you ever heard of Katherine Johnson before? 

“Fly me to the moon” sang Sinatra in 1964. It was only a couple of years later that the first moon landing was a fact. With a big thanks to Johnson’s brilliant mind. In February 2020 she died at the incredible age of 101. A strong and smart woman that we like to honor the 8^th of March, International Women’s Day. 

From space to LEGO

Three years ago LEGO launched a special ‘Women of NASA’ set, featuring four pioneering space scientist. It included the astronauts Sally Ride and Mae Jemison, but Katherine Johnson did not get a mini figure in the set. The Women of NASA are a very popular LEGO set, reaching #1 best sold toy on Amazon when released.  

When it comes to LEGO figures and equality, there’s a lot of catching up to do for the firm from Denmark. In 2014 a 7 year old girl named Charlotte wrote a letter to LEGO about the roles of the boys and girls:
“All the LEGO girls did was sit at home, go to the beach, and shop, and they had no jobs, but the boys went on adventures, worked, saved people, and had jobs, even swam with sharks.”

Ouch. It’s painful that a 7 year old girl has to point out to a multinational that their construction set characters are not equals. Despite the NASA set and an ‘Ideas’ set with 3 female scientist (do note: the Ideas sets have been voted up for by the LEGO community), there’s still a huge gap to close. Just think about the gender stereotype pink-purple colored ‘Friends’ range, for example. 

But it’s not just the roles LEGO attributes to the men and women mini figures. Our own research shows that from 20 LEGO sets (randomly picked from more neutral themes like the CITY range for example), the ratio between male and female figures is 70 to 42. Forty percent less women than men is a noteworthy and worrying discovery to make. About time for change, LEGO? Brick by brick, stone by stone, but hurry up. We know you can do it, proven by the women characters in the pictures. 

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Infento’s mission is to teach every child, boy or girl, the basics of engineering. To let families enjoy their Infento Kit together. Whether it’s a father building and bonding with his daughter, a grandma with her grandson, or any other variety. 

Isabella is the maker of the month! Her father John Price tells us: “Recently I bought the Pioneer Kit for my 6 year old daughter and it is brilliant. Great to spend quality time with her as well. She can’t wait to finish it so she can have a go!”

Do you want to motivate your child(ren) to develop important skills for the future? Like creativity, engineering and critical thinking? 

START THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE FUTURE

Keep on riding,

Team Infento