Guess what? Budding architects like Lego

IT may not come as a surprise to many parents, but a child's choice of favourite toy can often predict their future career.

According to an online poll, predictable links between toy and job revealed architects favoured Lego, caring professions liked dolls and bankers enjoyed games or puzzles.

Of 2,000 people surveyed, 63 per cent in IT preferred computer consoles and games and 29 per cent of nursing and healthcare staff favoured dolls and action figures. Architects were the most likely to be influenced through toys – with 99 per cent favouring building sets such as Lego.

Royal Academy president Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, architect of the Eden Project, and David Selby, architect of Westminster Underground station, played with the toy bricks growing up.

Dr Nicola Pitchford, a developmental psychologist at the University of Nottingham, said: "These sorts of toys also encourage the creativity that is key to the profession as the number of constructions children can build is endless."