to ask for your help to deal with this (a light one, LEGO!)

[VacantExpression]

I need to learn to deal with lego packs not being kept separate. That the chima might end up with the Ninjango, with possibly a city police car (in pieces, obviously) for company.

That this really is ok, and nothing to worry about and my trek to ikea for 50 small storage boxes on which to stick the picture from the box and store instructions was a waste

I need to deal with this, before Christmas as I fear the worst and that things are going to get worse long before they get better.

Can anyone help me? Or suggest easy child-friendly ways that lego can be sorted and stored so everyone can have inner calm and when it comes to toy storage?

Yep, sorry itsfab - I do think it's a bit joyless. Imagination is sparked by seeing a green wheel next to a red cup and thinking that you could make a drinks dispenser on wheels. There's no way your kids are going to mix the sets up because they're not going to know which bits belong in each set's bag afterwards are they? So they will be limited to the free stuff which is fine but I don't think it's as much fun.

I have to confess that I do find it irritating when DS breaks up an expensive set to make something else within a few weeks of construction but it's his toy and it's not up to me to dictate how he plays with it. And I don't care enough to manage it on his behalf.

Having said that, my nephew has asperger's and he puts the models together and won't break them apart again so you can't even put the sodding bits away. His bedroom is like a Lego museum :o

Lego can never be joyless. Whether you build it once and keep it, or mix it all up, or store it in individual boxes or in a gigantic bucket.
Lego is fab.

Everything is awesome

Utter nonsense. They can mix all they like and then it is put back in its proper kit. Hardly rocket science to understand. Why aren't they gong to know which piece goes in each set? The instructions have an index. Again, not rocket science. There is plenty of joy in my house and no irritations when they make a kit then break it up again. That is the whole point.

If a child wants his lego organised in a particular, he/she should organise it themselves. You should not involve yourself in this task because to do so is, frankly, beneath your paygrade.

I didnt try to impose set retention, but I did try to set up a storage system sorted by type. I thought sorting out blocks (several sizes and all colors) from the various specialty pieces, like doors and wheels and other not blocks, in rough categories like buildings or vehicle was very NOT OCD of me and my son would be happy to find the pieces he was looking for so easily.

Wrong. Its in one big bin.

I also struggle with the mixing of play dough, mostly because whenever any of us played with play dough, all of us did and the afternoon ended with a big mixed mess so. My brothers didnt care, but it pained me. My son doesnt care either.

I don't know any children who would find sorting out 500+ piece Lego kits much fun but if your children enjoy that, then lucky you is all I can say!

Oh cheer up, fgs. Such a downer on a bloody thread about Lego!

Watch the Logo movie and you will see why Yabu.
I am quite frankly disturbed by those who sort lego.
I wonder at the level of control exerted by those who then label the sets with the instructions.

I'm off to drink beer.

Everything is cool when you are part of a team.

The natural order of life is chaos.

This is how Lego should be.

We have boxes per colour and for minifigs but that's it. .
Ds is just turned 5 and makes brilliant creations - his imagination knows no bounds.

Embrace the chaos.

..... Everything is awesome....

I am very cheery indeed itsfab. I'm not sorting out Lego :o

And yes, WeirdCatLady - everything is indeed awesome!

Neither am I. Have done two big sort outs in 9 years. Hardly onerous.

I feel I should point out that ds2 likes his Lego sets to be in order.

This did surprise me, I admit, being of the Throw It All In Together school of thought, but there it is.

WeirdCat your Trofast is marvellous but all I can think is "move the top green one down!" It should be in line with the other green ones!

Ours will hopefully be a sort of "organised mix" - sorted into colours / wheels and parts / home items doors windows etc / people / flora and fauna / other.

I aspire to have a home full of Lego. I bred so I could have Lego.

One box for minifigures because they are a special sort of awesome especially the genie, then everything else is in the largest plastic-box-with-a-clip-on-lid that DH could find.