What's next after Lego?

[mmack]

My 12 year old DS is getting a tablet for Christmas this year instead of his usual lego. I think he'll miss having something to build on Christmas morning though. Does anyone have any ideas for something involving model building or similar that he might like? I'm looking at Metal Earth models on amazon but all the reviews seem to be written by adults so I'm not sure if it would be too difficult for him.

[Floralnomad]

There is plenty of Lego suitable for that age, we have just built the Mini and are about to do the VW camper van - the Wall e model is really nice and so are the Simpsons sets if he likes the Simpsons .

[TheOnlyPink]

What about a warhammer starter set? My husband started when he was 12, and is still his hobby. But the, my husband still gets a lego set every Christmas! It's star wars this year, would your son be interested in one of these? Its a model, but still made out of Lego! They have a few different characters. More grown up lego set!

[timelytess]

The only answer to your question is 'More Lego'.

[dayslikethis]

I'm not sure what is next and I'm hoping my kids take after their dad and never grow out of lego but we have had some of the Metal Earth things - a Star Wars one and a building of some sort (maybe the Empire State building or something I can't remember) - DS is 10 and no way could he do them. DH tried to help him with the first one and it did not go well and ended up in the bin. I tried helping with the second one on account of me generally being better with fiddly things than DH but that didn't go well either and sadly it also ended up in the bin! I wouldn't buy them for anyone anymore.

[bruffin]

MY 18 and 20 year old got lego for their birthdays this year.

Have you seen nanoblocks as an alternative

[dancemom]

Mine craft on the tablet

[knittedsoxer]

ds is 11 and would still love any lego, he likes lego technics. what about airfix model making....ds has done one...took him all day and it was a bit of a bodge but he was very pleased with himself!!

he also has snap circuits...its a great thing about electric currents...you can make a speaker to plug tablet into or a fibre optic light thing
link

[Zucker]

Agree with timelytess, more Lego! Have a look at the ideas range, there's a Doctor Who set that looks excellent by all accounts out soon.

Lego ideas

[SoySauceAddict]

More Lego!! I'm 36 and would love the buildings to join together... Have asked for the Parisian restaurant or petshop as a start.

[mmack]

Thanks for the replies. I'll forget about the Metal Earth for now and look at the other suggestions. I don't think ds is growing out of lego-it's just that he has so much already and he's getting to the stage where he builds his own designs.

[Aprildaisy]

More Lego my son likes the architect ones or the technics sets he is 12.

[VulcanWoman]

Lego is forever.

[iklboo]

Lego Technic - especially the stuff with motors.

[LIZS]

There's a next

[Fabsolutely]

This is what we've got for our 10 yo ds - Arckit - not Lego but seems like a natural progression.

From the website:
Ideal as an affordable introductory kit for budding architects looking to experience Arckit for the first time. Arckit GO contains enough components to get you started building smaller architectural structures, which can be added to with out component packs.

[Istanbulla]

Lego Mindstorms robotics

[Trickydecision]

Are those Laser Pegs any good? They are compatible with Lego apparently.