Lego advice please

[BeaWheesht]

Ds is almost 7 and has never been too fussed with Lego but has recently started to play with all the Lego people have bought him over the years and has asked for 'a big set' for Christmas.

I am keen to encourage it because he has issues with fine motor skills so anything that helps with those is a good thing, however, I don't want to spend a fortune in case he loses interest.

So can anyone reccommend a Lego set that looks impressive (ie big box!!) but that doesn't cost the earth ? It's a long shot I know.

look at the lego city range :)

they do some big sets and they are great for his age.

I second looking at the Lego city range. My ds loves them! Good sized boxes too

This was one of the first one we bought ds. Last christmas so he was almost 6. Lots of different vehicles to build plus you can get additional instructuons on the Lego website.

Highly recommended as a 'starter set".

And the box is big

Bea I have a DS almost 7 who is absolutely obsessed with lego, the only thing he wants for Christmas is this....
www.amazon.co.uk/LEGO-Harry-Potter-4738-Hagrids/dp/B003H9NBRA
Why is Lego so expensive?

Lego is expensive because of the manufacturing tolerances. Every lego brick we have sticks fine to any other (including the 40year old stuff I had). If you get given any cheap lego compatible stuff, the bricks usually don't stick very well as they're not made to the same standards.

Having said that, I never buy the wretched stuff unless it's discounted and my DS is a Lego addict too!

I'd look around for deals - occasionally they are available. We've got the Lego city police station & the fire station both of which are good sets.

Thanks everyone, will have a look at suggestions.

Remember the Tesco clubcard exchange in December. We got a billion quid worth of Lego for not much last year. They will reinstate any expired vouchers too if youask.

The Lego City stuff or any other Lego own theme tends to be better value as it is only Lego branded, when you buy the themed stuff i.e. Star wars, Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Pirates of the Carribean etc you are paying an extra mark up for the money Lego has to pay to use the brand.

Some of the sets can build more than one model too so they tend to be good value.

As he is enjoying playing with the people, a building or some vehicles are probably the way to go.

Xmas last year cost about 25 in actual money last year. Result. Am planning with military precision this year ?

We've just used all our club card vouchers to buy the Hudl tablet , must be due some more soon though?

My dd2 would like some Lego for her Christmas can anyone recommend some girly sets?

Well, there are the Lego Friends stuff, but if you don't want to go that route, then (apart from the fact that someone will come on and say that all lego is unisex :o ) I would recommend something like Apple tree cottage (?) or something similar - my son liked that set too.

I think there is a house set that builds 3 different houses but i can't remember what it's called - Lego Creator House maybe?

the harry potter lego is expensive because it was discontinued and no longer in stock at most places. last year my dd wanted diagon alley lego set and it was ridiculously expensive everywhere, but I found it at Tesco, of all places, and has it delivered to my local store hagrids hut would be harder as that it's an older set. I managed to get some second hand from eBay.

Thank you, although I know Lego is unisex, she is quite a "girly" girl iykwim but will definitely scour eBay/amazon/tesco etc

Check out HOPE and NES Arnold (same company now, I think). You can get a large set at a reasonable price. They supply schools.

np puhpullplaylow imo there is nothing wrong with her being a girly girl and wanting girly things, it just seems sometimes that people are ready to jump up and down for suggesting that girls wouldn't rather have a Lego tractor or something - it would be a strange world if we all liked the same things.

Ebay is your friend for lego purchasing. Even if it comes without the box or instructions you can download the pics/instructions from lots of free sites. I've put ebay lego in decorated shoebox (got right pics off internet) and made some nice presents for mine. Another school mum showed me - I had no idea. Now we do it all the time for presents. Luckily we are all in same boat and trying to be very frugal so no one worries.

oh, and also, the lego shop themselves are not always the most expensive either - i'd definitely check out the actual price on the lego shop before scouring for "bargains" which aren't always what they seem and remember to count in the cost of postage from some places too.

There is some Lego City stuff which is fairly unisex so have a look at that range. 60026 is probably pricey but great - a town scene with a bus, restaurant, and lots of people. Some of the coastguard and cargo sets look like they have several bits in them. Or look at set 60023 - police, fire and ambulance in one set.

sunny Thanks for that link, that set looks perfect for us. I had to laught at the reviews though:

Product was good quality but I think age group should have been higher as my very inept 4 yr old grandson struggled with the smaller bits.

then:

Our 4 year old can easily put these together with a little help. We all enjoyed making them and playing with them

What a mean grandparent!

Someone mentioned Lego Creator - these are also great because you can make multiple models. I want 7346 myself - a brilliant beach house. Would work for boys or girls.

Ebay is your friend for lego purchasing.

It is indeed. I got a brilliant bundle for DS for £16 including Creationary, two other small games, some Lego Racers and (the much desired) Lego Football. Oh and a random vintage box of odds and ends. All in very good condition and even unopened.

Another vote for Lego Creator - 3 sets of instructions. DS has one set that makes plane/hovercraft/chinook and there are larger sets that make animals, vehicles, buildings ... really love them here.