Lego!

[Babytalkobsession]

Talk to me about Lego!

DS has just turned 5 and has been given lots of little sets from his friends as birthday presents. He also has a 'creative' mixed box.

I hate the stuff & find it gets everywhere but want to keep on top of it before it all goes up the Hoover!

Do you keep all the sets separated once built? Or mix it all up? I've decided that I'm not building them for him, he has to work it through himself, just helping a little if he needs.

Is 5 too young to expect him to build stuff?

Also, any good storage ideas? Thank!

Expedit from ikea is your friend.

A Lego obsessed 8 year old that I know has a combination of mixed bricks/sets and built up sets displayed on a shelf. Your DS will probably want to keep the ‘cool’ ones or harder to build ones, then will experiment and need to break others up.

Keep any instruction manuals in a separate drawer for if he wants to go back and make one that he’s broken down.

Also, abilities vary child to child - some will find building the sets really easy and others will need guidance. Try him out with the creative box and some of the suggested builds in that first to see how he manages.

I love lego.....unless i stand on it. 2 of my ds's love lego. I keep it all in a huge chest and the manuals in a draw, it did take me 5 nights to make Bennys spaceship though as had to trawl through everything, i didnt mind that and neither do my dc.

Oh, i do have a friend that keeps all her lego in colour coded boxes.....bit weird if you ask me!

Honestly, I think you decide your boundaries and then wait and see how far your child gets into it. Decide what you are prepared facilitate, but don't micro-manage.

I have a 6 (nearly 7 year old) who is obsessed and has been building kits from the instructions on his own for about a year and a half, a 4 (nearly 5 year old) who loves lego but 'freestyles' rather than following the instructions and a 2 year old who is known as Captain Destruction.

My rules are:

1. Lego stays on the lego mat. (circular mat with a drawstring that can be scooped up in a big bag and hung up at a moment's notice. You'll find them on Amazon, and other places too probably.)

1. I don't build lego.

1. I don't look for lego - tiny pieces lost around the house are not my responsibility and may well be accidentally hoovered. (Please refer to rule no. 1).

1. Half built/ precious structures must be looked after by the owner. I provide plastic boxes with multiple compartments (available from Ikea and probably other places) for storing parts for work in progress. I also provide bedroom shelves out of reach of smallest siblings for storing these, and beloved masterpieces.

I struggled at the beginning but came to love Lego!
At 5 your son might be able to build kits but it's easier if they start off with very simple kits until they get used to 'reading' the instructions.
Lots of kids just love Lego and they seem to have good levels of the logical /visual/ spatial/ motor skills it can require. Other kids can develop these skills as the play. Other kids love the purely creative play. I really encouraged and facilitated my boys Lego use for years because DC1 in particular loved it. I would never hoover up a brick- it was precious to them.
We ended up with large plastic boxes of colour sorted pieces and a huge container of mini figs and accessories. Also carcasses of kits which were raided for bits over time. Best advice is to keep all the instruction booklets.

I still pride myself on my ability to find the smallest most obscure piece from a huge container.

Thanks for your suggestions everyone! I especially like the sound of a Lego mat - will look into that.

I don't have a creative bone in my body so no good at playing with it with him. Will see if his interest grows before investing in proper storage - some shelves in his room would be a good start to display any creations away from his little brother!