I am writing this post with great enthusiasm. I have recently been discovering the joy of LEGO. It wasn’t something I grew up playing with, being in a girls’ house. It’s a shame, because LEGO isn’t just for kids or even kids. It’s a great way to get creative, expand your imagination, and build cool stuff.
LEGO can be a family activity, a social activity, or a solo activity. I am a convert These are some of my observations on this classic toy.
Lego is attractive
LEGO is a great toy investment because it is reusable, unlike many things that are built or used once and then dumped on a shelf, never to be played again. Once you build what you are supposed to do with the kit, the real fun begins. What you build is only limited by your imagination. LEGO is an activity in which all members of the family can participate. Older children and younger children can experiment and build up to their skill level. LEGO is very cooperative, it is always more fun to play together and build bigger things together.
Adults can engage young builders by asking leading questions such as: “What kind of tools or machines would we need in space, under the sea, on a desert island, in a futuristic city, etc.?” and see what your children come up with. , you will probably be very surprised by their imagination and creativity. You can ask your children to make up an invention that solves a problem and build it in LEGO. Encouragement is key, praise your child’s creative efforts as they create “LEGO Masterpieces.” Not only can he build new toys, but he can play with them too!
Getting on the floor and playing LEGO with your kids is also a great way to expand your own creativity. What you can create with LEGO is only limited by your imagination.
You can also practice simple math concepts like addition, subtraction, multiplication and division, using LEGO blocks as a visual / tactile learning tool.
Lego can be messy
Many parents stay away from LEGO due to the possibility of clutter. What makes LEGO fun and interactive, those tiny pieces can also create a lot of clutter. There are a couple of things you can do to contain the LEGO.
If you have the space, set aside an area of the floor or your child’s rec room and let the LEGO be alone. An easy way to do this is to use an old playpen (the kind you put on the floor). This holds the LEGO while keeping it outside, encouraging use and self-directed play.
Otherwise, clean the LEGO after each use. An easy way to do this is to play Tidy Up Treasure Hunt:
Have a timer that can be set. Set the timer for 1 to 5 minutes, depending on the size of the mess to be cleaned. You want the children to have enough time to finish cleaning, but short enough for them to feel the thrill of a race.
Select a LEGO piece to put away. Tell the children that they are on a “scavenger hunt in order” and that they have x number of minutes to clean up. One of the items is a treasure in disguise and whoever cleans that particular piece is the winner. Announce the piece and the winner at the end of time. You can offer a small prize if you wish, but the excitement and recognition for the winner and the accolades for everyone who played and ordered is enough.
Lego can be expensive
The new LEGO can be very expensive, although in terms of toys I think it is a good investment. One of the best things about LEGO is that it never goes out of style, there are no parts to break (LEGO can break, but the pieces are almost always replaceable), there are no batteries to buy. You can slowly add to your collection and still have fun.
If you can’t afford a new LEGO, here are some creative ways you can get some for your family. Post a search ad in your local newspaper, penny saver, or the www.freecycle.org group. You can also spread the word to other parents in your circle or school that you are looking to buy some old LEGOs. If you’re not looking for complete sets, you can often find second-hand LEGOs pretty cheap. Thrift stores and yard sales are also good places to look for used LEGOs.
Finally, don’t feel like you need to buy your LEGO. LEGO is a great product for your kids to save their own shopping money; Help them choose a set to save and establish a way to track their progress. I’m sure you could find any number of interesting progress indicators using LEGO that they already have! And if they like LEGO enough to buy a lot, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to introduce them to the finer details of budgeting and purchasing, like accounting for taxes, how much you can buy with what you have, potentially pooling resources with a brother ( Sharing!), Waiting for sales and price comparisons.
I hope this post has given you some ideas on how to use LEGO in your creative family. How does your family use LEGO? Post below, it’s new to me and I’d love the ideas. In the meantime, I’m going to go build something.
Have a creative day