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Original poster

Don't enjoy Lego sets

70 replies

Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:02

My child is nearly 4 and madly in love with Lego. Does anyone else just love a big jumble of Lego rather than all the sets? When I was a child it was rare that anyone had the sets. I remember being very envious of a friend who had a Lego castle set with knights on horses. I had a tub of mixed bricks and absolutely loved it anyway.

At the moment we have a smallish box of just jumbled bricks, pieces, wheels, and little mini figures. It seems like the sets absolutely dominate the market now though and he'll eventually start asking for them. We got him one Lego digger and he's heartbroken if bits come off and go missing, but with the mixed box he just gets on with building things and taking them apart to build new things. It's much freer and more enjoyable.

Any older kids still enjoy just playing with a jumble of Lego pieces or is it all about the sets now?

OP posts:
TooManyNiblings · 17/02/2025 22:08

I think it depends on the child. DD had a mixed box of pieces that she could never find anything she wanted in so I separated it into colours and she still never played with it. Sold it and got her two sets she loves but just built and now plays with like dolls!!
Her friend, who bought the mix, has several sets but equally loves using her imagination with the mixed bags.

ghostbusters · 17/02/2025 22:10

We have lots of sets but only a handful stay built and on the shelf. The rest get taken apart and used to build other things. Many, random things. I wish I could take a photo of the floor of my son's room. It's a tip! But they still ask for more sets!my kid are 10 & 13.

Togglebullets · 17/02/2025 22:10

I completely agree. When mine were younger I bought a big mixed bag of Lego on eBay and my lot had loads more fun playing with that than the sets. The sets are more like a puzzle - fun to put together but not something mine got lots of playtime out of

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Ilovelowry · 17/02/2025 22:11

I reckon we have about £4k of lego sets, in pieces on DS15's floor.

He builds them, keeps them for a while then dismantles them to make other stuff.

You remember those massive Lidl bags that they no longer do? We had multiples FULL of broken lego sets.

Icanflyhigh · 17/02/2025 22:11

We have both here!
2 adults, 3 DC and we all LOVE building the sets but we do have a massive box of just lego to be creative with!!

Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:22

Ilovelowry · 17/02/2025 22:11

I reckon we have about £4k of lego sets, in pieces on DS15's floor.

He builds them, keeps them for a while then dismantles them to make other stuff.

You remember those massive Lidl bags that they no longer do? We had multiples FULL of broken lego sets.

Woah! £4K!!

OP posts:
Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:23

Togglebullets · 17/02/2025 22:10

I completely agree. When mine were younger I bought a big mixed bag of Lego on eBay and my lot had loads more fun playing with that than the sets. The sets are more like a puzzle - fun to put together but not something mine got lots of playtime out of

Doesn't it seem like the sets are the thing now compared to years ago?

OP posts:
Togglebullets · 17/02/2025 22:26

Yes definitely. I did like doing the sets with mine but it felt like they got more out of a big jumble of Lego. The stuff I got off eBay was themed so it had lots of bits to make cars

holycrumpet · 17/02/2025 22:27

DS is 10. Much prefers a jumble of Lego to the sets

Danikm151 · 17/02/2025 22:28

My son has more fun playing with a jumble of lego than the step by step instructions. We’ve got a mix of both.

wombpaloumbpa · 17/02/2025 22:28

My 6 year old is utterly obsessed with- he loves a set but mainly he just loves taking them apart and making new creations from the jumble. He definitely has some friends who can't stand the jumble and only want sets. In fact most of his friends are like that.

TonTonMacoute · 17/02/2025 22:33

DS is adult now, but he loved both.

When he was a student his then GF came to stay and I found them sitting on the floor playing with a big tub of Lego. She later gave him a Lego bonsai tree kit ...

Needmorelego · 17/02/2025 22:41

If you just want bricks and other bits like wheels and windows then just buy the ones in the "Classic" theme.
They come in yellow boxes. I love Lego (see my user name) and I love a good mixed Classic box to build crazy nonsense.

Don't enjoy Lego sets
Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:53

Togglebullets · 17/02/2025 22:26

Yes definitely. I did like doing the sets with mine but it felt like they got more out of a big jumble of Lego. The stuff I got off eBay was themed so it had lots of bits to make cars

I have just ordered a "set" on vinted that is a mixed bag of bits that are good for building vehicles.

This doesn't seem to be a thing that you can get from Lego really these days though. I feel like they're missing a trick.

We got a general mixed basic set that I wasn't that impressed by, and then the rest we've cobbled together from charity shops. He likes all the odds and ends and funny looking little pieces to make strange cars out of.

OP posts:
Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:54

wombpaloumbpa · 17/02/2025 22:28

My 6 year old is utterly obsessed with- he loves a set but mainly he just loves taking them apart and making new creations from the jumble. He definitely has some friends who can't stand the jumble and only want sets. In fact most of his friends are like that.

I understand why though because Lego does seem to be about that now. And so many sets linked to movies and franchises. I think it's a shame though and they would do well to have more general boxes of jumbled pieces.

OP posts:
Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:55

TonTonMacoute · 17/02/2025 22:33

DS is adult now, but he loved both.

When he was a student his then GF came to stay and I found them sitting on the floor playing with a big tub of Lego. She later gave him a Lego bonsai tree kit ...

Bloody adorable 🥰

OP posts:
Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:55

Needmorelego · 17/02/2025 22:41

If you just want bricks and other bits like wheels and windows then just buy the ones in the "Classic" theme.
They come in yellow boxes. I love Lego (see my user name) and I love a good mixed Classic box to build crazy nonsense.

These are cute little guys!

OP posts:
Hungrycaterpillarsmummy · 17/02/2025 22:56

I agree op! We hate the sets we just want to build with our imagination

Needmorelego · 17/02/2025 22:58

Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:54

I understand why though because Lego does seem to be about that now. And so many sets linked to movies and franchises. I think it's a shame though and they would do well to have more general boxes of jumbled pieces.

Show quote history

They do !
As I said it the "Classic" range. There's several available.
(picture incoming after it's been checked....)

Needmorelego · 17/02/2025 22:59

Picture.....

Don't enjoy Lego sets
mummytalking · 17/02/2025 23:00

Yep I can honestly say we have a few grands worth of Lego sets as over the years we bought the big ones, Lego city, Harry Potter castles you name it. Only 3 have remained as they are while the rest are in 3 huge storage boxes in the loft in pieces! They asked for Lego sets for Xmas and DH went nuts when I bought them some but actually they are still in tact! They've asked for more for their birthdays. We've gone for cheaper ones now as my argument I I don't really mind if they take it apart in a few weeks as I think the building part (which can take a few days) teaches them a lot of skill. Also takes them away from gaming

Needmorelego · 17/02/2025 23:00

Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 22:55

These are cute little guys!

Show quote history

I do have an obsession with whatever I build I stick some eyes on it 👀

Dearover · 17/02/2025 23:02

The "Pick a Brick" walls in Lego shops will blow your mind. Every size, colour and specialist part you can imagine. Lego certainly haven't missed a trick.

This is the online version: www.lego.com/en-gb/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick

Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 23:04

Dearover · 17/02/2025 23:02

The "Pick a Brick" walls in Lego shops will blow your mind. Every size, colour and specialist part you can imagine. Lego certainly haven't missed a trick.

This is the online version: www.lego.com/en-gb/pick-and-build/pick-a-brick

Ooh it's definitely me missing a trick then. I've only looked online, there's no shop near us but maybe we need a trip into the city one day. Is it like a Woolworths pick n mix ?

OP posts:
Original poster
Quiteenjoyable · 17/02/2025 23:04

@Needmorelego

Ok need to buy some googly eyes now! 👀

OP posts:
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