5yo asking for 8+ Lego from father Christmas

[EverydayIsPJday]

So just posted on the bargain thread but probably better here. My newly 5yo Ds is Lego and Ninjago mad. He asked for a Kai motorbike so I bought him the 4+ model (it's about £9). He's now seen the 8+ super charger 71737 which shoots out the motorbike and wants father Christmas to bring it. He's adamant father Christmas knows he's a 'master builder' and he could manage it. It's another £32 on offer which I can do (😣) but I don't want it to be too much for him to manage, on the other hand I don't want him to be disappointed..what do I do?

If he's good at following the instructions then I'd get it him and accept he might need a bit of help building it.

Go for it! If he’s keen and you can afford it, it would be great to encourage him. I find the age ranges on Lego are more of an indication of the time taken/number of bags and concentration needed. He might need a break in between bags and some help with any fiddly stages and stickers, but should be fine.

If you can afford it I’d definitely get it. Worst case he might need a bit of help, but my DS would have been fine with an 8+ at 5.

I dont greatly get age things on toys (unless its inappropriate video games like GTA), its all so personal and indervidual.

As long as your child doesnt try to eat toys (choking hazzard) then ages really mean nothing.

Depends on the child. My daughter was comfortably doing 8+ lego with very little help at 5, my son wouldn't have managed and was always at around the level that matched his actual age.

If he can build the small sets without much help he can build the bigger ones. As someone else said, the age guide is more an indication of how long it takes to build and may have one or two fiddly bits you need to help with but otherwise he'll be fine.

Mine have always done way over their age, the only mistake I made was buying 16+ when DS1 was 6 … not sure that was ever finished!

Lego are doing 50% cash back via quidco today which makes it a great deal.

My DC happily do lego for any age- it just takes a bit more patience to do the older sets. I'm sure he'll be fine and you can always sit with him for the tricky bits.

Definitely go for it, my two would have been fine with that and if he is keen then it will likely last him for a few years.

Totally agree that the age ranges tend to just be a vague indication and it dependds on the child. As pp have said he may need a little help but he will have such satisfaction when he has completed it.

I bought DH the Star Wars Millenium Falcon a few years ago which is a beast, he did it with the help of DS who was approx 8 at the time - they had so much fun doing it

Do you pay this much attention to age? If its hard to do my husband just builds the stuff with them, once it's been built once it's taken apart and played with like any random box of lego. I've honestly never looked at the age on lego, we just buy what they'll like.

Go for it! What is the worst that can happen? Maybe you'd have to build it for him but he would still get the play value out of it.

My 4 year old can do 8+ Lego, my 8 year old needs help with 6+ Lego. Doesn't mean I don't buy harder stuff for them sometimes, we just build it together.

My just turned 6yo has completed a 2038 piece (made for adults). He had a bit of help from me or his sister when he got stuck but it was a great activity to so together. Why can’t you give him some help?

Why are you so worried he might struggle with it?

Struggling is part of learning & achieving.

He will learn to do it with persistence or he'll learn to ask for help. Win/win.

plus it's cool !!

My son asked for the same at the age. It really helped with his reading and focus! He became so much more creative too. It really spurred him on.

The older kits have more exciting pieces in

I'd imagine he could do it with a little help. I find the age ratings on Lego are not always based on ability anyway. Some of the 18+ ones could be built but a 5 year old with some help!

I guess it depends on of it's for him to do independently or with an adult/ sibling to help?

I would go for it. My 9 year old (who is pretty new to lego) is currently in the middle of an 18+ harry potter lego sculpture - and he's doing fine (has occasionally needed me to click something in for him but otherwise building it entirely alone). The instructions are brilliant these days, plus there's the app, and buildalongs on youtube.

If he's confident, I think he'll be fine.

Go for it, I bought my then-5yo some 8+ Lego last Christmas and he LOVED it. We did it together, I was passing pieces and keeping an eye out for where he might be going wrong.

i wouldn’t do that as a first ever Lego set, but presumably if Father Christmas knows he is a master builder (bless 😆🥰) then he’s done some simpler kits before!

I agree with everyone saying go for it. My 6 year old would happily tackle well above his age. I think it is good for them to have a challenge and lively to help them build.

Get it , the age range is only a guide , if he has demonstrated that he can follow the instructions it should be fine .

I’ve just got a 7+ Lego train for ds who has just turned 6 (and young for his age) with the logic that if I need to help a lot to build he’ll still love to play with it. And in future years he can rebuild it himself.

so get it for him if it isn’t too much of a stretch

OK thanks everyone I guess I need to give myself a head wobble and stop overthinking 🫣 I'm off to shop!

And of course we will do it with him!

I agree, I'd get it, it will be fine!