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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think Lego now is rubbish

42 replies

fermerswife · 07/02/2019 11:54

When I was growing up I loved nothing more than my Lego. Many an hour was spent building houses, cars you name it. My mum still has it and my 5 year old loves getting creative....

When then is all the Lego you can buy now wee small complicated pieces that doesn't have enough big bits to make anything remotely creative on your own at that age? I know there are Lego classic boxes but even then it's still all 'bits' doors, wheels etc need assembled. Happy to be corrected if I am wrong and please can you send me a link to where I can buy it!

OP posts:
Original poster
fermerswife · 07/02/2019 11:54

Why then...sorry on phone and the autocorrect is awful.

OP posts:
toomuchtooold · 07/02/2019 11:58

You're right, there's not enough flat plate bits, and not enough 2-wide bricks, and not enough big pieces generally.. I had a set in the 80s that had these 6 by 6 wall panels that were brilliant, you had a whole wall up in about 2 minutes. It was like the timber frame extension of Lego sets...

whatsthepointthen · 07/02/2019 11:58

Ive tried to buy my son lego so many times but it always just ends up all over the floor and he struggles to build anything even though I buy the ones for his age range as they are all so complicated (hes almost 7)

Doyoumind · 07/02/2019 11:59

You can buy individual bricks if you are looking for specific items.

MissSueFlay · 07/02/2019 12:00

If you can get to a Lego store, they have a pick'n'mix wall and you pay by weight. So you only need to buy the bricks you want, it's good. Not sure if they offer that from the online store

Doyoumind · 07/02/2019 12:03

When you buy online you pay per item rather than by weight.

user1474894224 · 07/02/2019 12:05

I think you are wrong. Google Lego classic for basic sets. Although my daughter spends hours rebuilding her Lego Friends sets. (We bought large base plates from Wilkinson as they are loads cheaper). - I think it depends on the kids. My boys have no interest in Lego. Daughter will build knex, spend hours with air dry clay or junk modelling. And if she can mix junk models with air-dry clay and build something to use with the Lego she is more than happy.

LaurieMarlow · 07/02/2019 12:11

It has changed significantly since I was young and not, imo, for the better.

However, DS (4) is massively into Lego and seems to manage ok. When he gets a new set he'll build it, then he lets loose on the imaginative stuff and builds what he wants.

I made sure he has sufficient 'basic' pieces though. You can still buy those sets.

Original poster
fermerswife · 07/02/2019 12:11

Thank you I will look online.

I know the classic sets are more basic but they still don't have simple things like I had back in the day e.g. an 8 block with a wheel out each side for quick and easy vehicles or Windows and doors already in a frame so all you had to do was stick it in.

I know some children will enjoy the more complex stuff and I'm sure he will too especially as he gets older it's just been tricky getting exactly what he wants (he loves my old less complicated Lego).

Thanks for the suggestions

OP posts:
NannyR · 07/02/2019 12:11

I don't think it's rubbish. If you are wanting larger, simpler pieces, there is the Lego junior range that is aimed at 4-7 year olds. I look after two boys who are 5 and 3 and they both spend ages building their own creations from the Lego sets that they have been given. They will build the original model with an adults help, although the five year old is pretty competent at following the instructions himself now, then they play with the model for a few days before it gets broken up and added to the big box of bricks for them to build their own models.

IamPickleRick · 07/02/2019 12:12

Lego now is more like a 3D jigsaw puzzle, as you put it together as per the instructions, there isn’t that individual element.

However I’d like us, you build your own hybrids, it can still be very creative. Just mix it all together!

IamPickleRick · 07/02/2019 12:12

If, like us*

crumbsinthecutlerydrawer · 07/02/2019 12:13

I think there are too many licensed sets that date very quickly and end up being retired after a couple of years making it difficult to get replacement parts for, the classic Lego is still good as is the Lego city range. I’ve just bought my dd a few boxes of bricks and she plays really happily with those. Ds who is older has a few Star Wars sets and Lego Movie sets and they have some very specific pieces that aren’t useful outside of these sets.

I don’t think the quality is as good as it was, my mum has our old sets in her loft that are 30 years old and we still get them down occasionally. I’ve had a couple of pieces from ds’ sets break and had to order replacements. They tend to be the pieces from very specific sets.

bookmum08 · 07/02/2019 12:14

There is a large variety of the Classic sets. Plenty to choose from to get a good amounts of bricks and baseplates but you can buy, as others have said, pick and mix style in the Lego Store or online through Lego (I believe it is called Bricks and Pieces) to get specific bits.

Crystalintheeyes · 07/02/2019 12:15

I don’t think it’s rubbish but I agree that it’s a lot more small bits that you can’t really build much else with u less you have loads.

Luckily my daughter has a ton of it now so she can build houses and all sorts but she must have over 50 sets (mixture or big and small) and it’s still only one box full.

Aeroflotgirl · 07/02/2019 12:15

It is, there seems to be this obsession with sets, even for little ones with a gazillion instructions as tiny pieces that small hands find difficult. I much prefer the larger sturdier bricks of the 80s with the flat plates bases, so it leaves the imagination open.

InDubiousBattle · 07/02/2019 12:16

YABU! Lego is still great! We have dps old lego (so 35 year old stuff) and I don't think it's better, just more basic. Creator and Lego City sets are best for houses and cars etc. The super hero stuff tend to have the more specialised pieces.

Original poster
fermerswife · 07/02/2019 12:18

Thanks again, yes rubbish was a bit tongue in cheek just too many specific sets. I've seen some of the "old" style stuff on eBay and will pick up a box of classic bricks.

OP posts:
InDubiousBattle · 07/02/2019 12:19

Lego Juniors is easier to put together and has fewer, larger pieces if that's what you're ĺooking for.

Sarahjconnor · 07/02/2019 12:19

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

GerryblewuptheER · 07/02/2019 12:19

You can still get the old fashioned bricks akd the basic sets though.

Dd2 loves Lego. There are some fab sets . we have a women of NASA dd1 has a Harry Potter one. Although I have to disagree with dd2 on that there really is such a thing as too many fire trucks.. Hmm

Aeroflotgirl · 07/02/2019 12:21

I bought a box of Lego classic, was very disappointed, bricks seemed smaller, lots of tiny pieces. I. Ended up throwing it away as D's 5 at the times was not able to do much with it.

bookmum08 · 07/02/2019 12:23

The Juniors range has been rebranded this year. It will now have a big 4+ Logo on the box and the sets part of the relevent range (City, Friends, Ninjago etc). However many of the Juniors sets are still in the shops. It sounds like you want to get a few Juniors sets and Classic sets.

LaurieMarlow · 07/02/2019 12:26

Actually I think the juniors kits are the weakest in the range. They're easy to put together, but the pieces aren't very versatile after that.

I'd concentrate on the classic sets first of all and then add some Lego city.

JasperKarat · 07/02/2019 12:26

Charity shops and bootsales sometimes have boxes of random often old Lego bits. Put it all in a pillowcase knot it and put it in the washing machine on a cool wash with some Dettol or something

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