Toys for a kid who loves to build things from diagrams?
November 22, 2015 4:28 PM   Subscribe

I'm looking for a gift for a 5YO who loves building things from diagrams. Snap Circuits were a huge hit. The obvious answer is LEGO, but 1) which LEGO set? and 2) what other building-from-instructions toys are out there?

He likes to pretend he's an architect when he's "designing" and building things, so I thought the United Nations set, because we could actually go and look at the building in NY, but...friends say the pieces are too small, re-playabilty is limited, and it's generally not a great set for a child. Any other ideas? Knex? Other LEGO sets? Anything else?

The fire station/police station ones might fit the bill, but at $100, they're twice the price of the UN, and we're on a budget. I'm okay with him playing with more advanced toys because we can assist with the assembly, and in general he's pretty patient and careful with following diagrams. But I don't really know what's out there. Any ideas?

Possibly relevant: We live in a smallish apartment, so whatever it is should be able to be confined to a small table or tray. We also have a 2YO, so I'm a little nervous about chokable pieces, though he's mostly past putting things in his mouth.
posted by pipti to Sports, Hobbies, & Recreation (12 answers total) 6 users marked this as a favorite
 
The Creator line has some nice little houses, and usually a couple of different versions in the instructions:
Mountain Hut
Beach Hut
Treehouse
Bike shop
Changing Seasons
posted by EndsOfInvention at 4:43 PM on November 22, 2015


Any LEGO set. Really. But there are some that are just "build this thing" rather than "here is a toy with people and etc." - the Creator sets - my son has grabbed a few of these sets, they range from $5 to $35 or more (Sydney Opera House is over $300!!). The designs range from animals to vehicles to buildings. They have multiple sets of instructions, each set generally builds 2-3 different outcomes (at least the cheaper sets do). For example, one set my son bought makes a pickup truck, or a robot with articulated limbs. It's pretty neat. The other plus is that the sets generally have a plethora of unique or uncommon parts that can be used imaginatively to create other fun things. Pair one or two of these sets with a standard pack of starter bricks (the basic sets that come in a storage container) and your kid should be happy.
posted by caution live frogs at 4:46 PM on November 22, 2015


An Erector set has a bit more of the feel of "real" construction if he enjoys that, and there are lots of diagrams he could follow! Aimed at slightly older kids, but that's probably not an issue if he also likes Snap Circuits. Definitely choking hazard pieces, though (like Lego).
posted by cogitron at 4:55 PM on November 22, 2015


I have the full set of mini LaQ dinosaurs. They're adorable. The pieces snap together in a very satisfying way, and it's absolutely a follow instructions set. Unfortunately the parts are quite small (absolutely the right size for a two year old to eat, but on the plus side the whole operation would fit on a small tray). The sets are cute, colorful, and cheaper (ebay) than Lego (and without any franchise branding).
posted by phunniemee at 5:20 PM on November 22, 2015


Going to second Meccano or Erector.

Also the pieces come in handy when you need to fix a drawer.
posted by Hal Mumkin at 6:35 PM on November 22, 2015


My five-year-old and I really enjoy building the Ravensburger 3-D puzzles. The backs of each piece are numbered so you can construct them the "easy" way (which is still rather challenging as they don't always fit together the way they should) or you can just look at the front of the pieces and try to build your structure the "hard" way. We've done the Eiffel Tower, the Empire State Building, the lighthouse, Big Ben, a pyramid (I don't recommend those: too hard to get the bendy pieces on the sides) and several globes.

For my five-year-old, just keeping track of the numbers (from 1 to 500, sometimes) is challenging enough, so I help him by sorting the pieces into decades.
posted by math at 6:57 PM on November 22, 2015


This set is kind of fun. It comes with diagrams to follow. It looks really simple, but my 6-year-old loves it.

She also loves magnet tiles (Picasso tiles is one brand) and K'nex.
posted by Ostara at 7:51 PM on November 22, 2015


Regular model planes and cars do exactly this too. Simer sets snap rather than glue and you guys could team up so that you help paint them after.
posted by Iteki at 10:40 PM on November 22, 2015


Anything from this "Marble Extreme" series can be seriously fun!
posted by phreckles at 11:16 AM on November 23, 2015


Also, since the child likes to play architect, perhaps s/he would enjoy a 3D puzzle of a building. This and the one I mentioned above may be above the child's ability at age 5, but can be a good activity to perform assisted by an adult.
posted by phreckles at 11:18 AM on November 23, 2015


Paint by number might be fun, as you have to follow the directions and it is pleading to see progress. I know it isn't building, but it is another way to accomplish stuff by following steps.
posted by jillithd at 4:50 PM on November 23, 2015


Response by poster: Thanks everyone! We have made a list and are divvying it up amongst family. Will report as to which ones are big hits.
posted by pipti at 10:31 AM on December 2, 2015


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