Good Building Activity for a Kid who Like Legos?
December 30, 2015 10:07 AM Subscribe
Hi, I want to come up with some sort of building, construction toy or activity for my son who is 7 years old. He loves building legos and sits down with the books intensely to build them. The thing is that he doesn't actually like to play with them later. We have many legos for this reason but it is getting out of hand since the only part he likes is the building!
I have been trying to come up with some other activities that he might enjoy. I was looking at Raspberry Pi, for instance, but have my doubts that he will be able to do things by himself without much help (which is also important to him). More than anything, he likes to follow instructions and build according to the instructions.
I have seen a couple of sets where you can build multiple designs (lego even has a creator set) but am not fully convinced.
Definitely would love to hear some suggestions. Particularly other kind of "real worldy" things that he may enjoy with the same underlying process.
FYI. Should also add that we are homeschoolers.
I have been trying to come up with some other activities that he might enjoy. I was looking at Raspberry Pi, for instance, but have my doubts that he will be able to do things by himself without much help (which is also important to him). More than anything, he likes to follow instructions and build according to the instructions.
I have seen a couple of sets where you can build multiple designs (lego even has a creator set) but am not fully convinced.
Definitely would love to hear some suggestions. Particularly other kind of "real worldy" things that he may enjoy with the same underlying process.
FYI. Should also add that we are homeschoolers.
Best answer: Definitely look into the Lego Creator sets, which can be built into multiple vehicles/houses/scenes etc. A kiddo in my life who is similarly obsessed with building but generally uninterested in playing with the final product loves having 3-5 projects to build out of one set.
If you keep the packaging nice (carefully opening the box, keeping track of pieces and blueprints) you can also get a lot of resale mileage out of used Lego.
Erector sets have lots of projects, as do some K'nex sets. He might also be into something like Snap Circuits where you can build different projects and functions. There are also lots of beginning programming / robot toys out there that might scratch the itch.
posted by charmcityblues at 10:18 AM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you keep the packaging nice (carefully opening the box, keeping track of pieces and blueprints) you can also get a lot of resale mileage out of used Lego.
Erector sets have lots of projects, as do some K'nex sets. He might also be into something like Snap Circuits where you can build different projects and functions. There are also lots of beginning programming / robot toys out there that might scratch the itch.
posted by charmcityblues at 10:18 AM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
There are a ton of Lego services where you are sent the materials, keep them for a month or so and then send them back.
posted by k8t at 10:23 AM on December 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by k8t at 10:23 AM on December 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
Best answer: charmcity mentioned Snap Circuits which I was coming to post.. I found that because your question reminded me of a circuit board I had as a kid, much more complex as it turns out than the Snap Circuit which has fewer builds in it, whose name I can't seem to bring to mind.
Edited to add:
Mine was something like this. I played with it for hours and hours..
posted by bird internet at 10:27 AM on December 30, 2015
Edited to add:
Mine was something like this. I played with it for hours and hours..
posted by bird internet at 10:27 AM on December 30, 2015
One thing I'll note is that, as a kid who loved legos, I was given a wooden Erector set clone, and it really did not click for me for whatever reason. The results were too uninspiring, I think, even if they were mechanically more interesting.
Agree with bird internet: One of those many-in-one electronics kits might be interesting, since they do include directions and use breadboards/spring connectors to avoid soldering, which is probably not age-appropriate. That particular kit looks to be heavy on the microcontrollers, and pretty expensive; the one I had as a kid was more like this. Either way, lots of instructions, and many simple circuits to build, most of which beep or blink in rewarding ways. Mine served me pretty well, though I had a parent who worked in electronics prototyping, so I maybe had more help/immediate good answers to questions than your average kid.
posted by Alterscape at 10:51 AM on December 30, 2015
Agree with bird internet: One of those many-in-one electronics kits might be interesting, since they do include directions and use breadboards/spring connectors to avoid soldering, which is probably not age-appropriate. That particular kit looks to be heavy on the microcontrollers, and pretty expensive; the one I had as a kid was more like this. Either way, lots of instructions, and many simple circuits to build, most of which beep or blink in rewarding ways. Mine served me pretty well, though I had a parent who worked in electronics prototyping, so I maybe had more help/immediate good answers to questions than your average kid.
posted by Alterscape at 10:51 AM on December 30, 2015
My LEGO addict also was fond of k'nex. FWIW, we also homeschooled.
posted by Michele in California at 10:56 AM on December 30, 2015
posted by Michele in California at 10:56 AM on December 30, 2015
Best answer: If you're interested in kits that let you put circuits together, LittleBits makes some great magnetic snap-together circuits.
posted by Jeanne at 11:09 AM on December 30, 2015
posted by Jeanne at 11:09 AM on December 30, 2015
I had tons of Legos, K'nex, and Rokenbok as a kid, but nothing got so much use as my Capsela. I'd look into that.
posted by fifthrider at 11:42 AM on December 30, 2015
posted by fifthrider at 11:42 AM on December 30, 2015
Definitely snap circuits.
For virtual construction, my lego-obsessed 7 year old is also obsessed with Minecraft PE. The game is essentially an upgraded level editor that allows a user to create structures on a landscape and build things from many different kinds of material.
posted by zarq at 11:44 AM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
For virtual construction, my lego-obsessed 7 year old is also obsessed with Minecraft PE. The game is essentially an upgraded level editor that allows a user to create structures on a landscape and build things from many different kinds of material.
posted by zarq at 11:44 AM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
There are lots of intro to electronics & Arduino kits out there that are very much use these parts to do these things in this order to get this to happen.
posted by smirkette at 11:46 AM on December 30, 2015
posted by smirkette at 11:46 AM on December 30, 2015
Best answer: Make an account at Rebrickable. Then you can input the set numbers of the sets he has now and get build instructions for new, remix sets. The set numbers are on the boxes, and it's easy enough find them with google if you don't have the boxes still.
For some sets, people have come up with remix instructions just using the parts from that set; most of them require parts from several sets, but if you input all your set numbers it will give you a list of builds sorted by the percentage of parts you have available. You can additionally tell it whether you want exact color matches, approximate color matches, or don't care about color. This will, of course, expand the number of sets you can build.
(If you happen to have this set, there are A TON of alternate builds.
posted by telepanda at 11:54 AM on December 30, 2015 [9 favorites]
For some sets, people have come up with remix instructions just using the parts from that set; most of them require parts from several sets, but if you input all your set numbers it will give you a list of builds sorted by the percentage of parts you have available. You can additionally tell it whether you want exact color matches, approximate color matches, or don't care about color. This will, of course, expand the number of sets you can build.
(If you happen to have this set, there are A TON of alternate builds.
posted by telepanda at 11:54 AM on December 30, 2015 [9 favorites]
If the part he likes are building and following plans, perhaps non-Lego model kits? The kind where you snap out plastic pieces, glue and assemble them, and then paint them in detail?
I never got into them when I was a kid, but I had a friend who used to build model airplanes and spaceships, and then hang them from the ceiling of his bedroom with fishing line.
posted by fings at 12:10 PM on December 30, 2015
I never got into them when I was a kid, but I had a friend who used to build model airplanes and spaceships, and then hang them from the ceiling of his bedroom with fishing line.
posted by fings at 12:10 PM on December 30, 2015
Not sure how crunchy your home-schooling is, so I'll suggest Sloyd.
posted by jillithd at 12:12 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
Unlike most manual training systems, Sloyd was recommended for elementary school, where — it was recognized — students’ brains were very actively developing - 2004 Woodwork article PDF about SloydI enjoy reading the Wisdom of the Hands blog immensely, which talks about teaching kids woodworking, which I found when I was first searching for sloyd-type stuff to read.
posted by jillithd at 12:12 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
If you're looking for another analog thing, kids (and adults) who love Lego stuff also invariably love the insanely simple Straws and Connectors.. Seriously. The website has instructions on building specific shapes, as well.
posted by softlord at 1:04 PM on December 30, 2015
posted by softlord at 1:04 PM on December 30, 2015
In my house (4 homeschooled kids, one now graduated) any construction set is fair game. (There are WAY too many different types to name them all.) And I'd really recommend not totally ruling something out based on the recommended ages - this kind of toy can often scale older or younger very well, so long as you don't need to worry about anyone eating the pieces. (Our huge Lego Duplo set still gets regular use by the 12-19 year olds... even when the 7 and 3 year old relatives aren't around.)
Probably 95% of the time, the "play" is in the building, not after the set is completed. (Unless of course it's a marble run, domino drop, or something made explicitly to be used afterward.) Most kids seem to eventually transition to building at least some of their own creations, especially if they have access to non-specific block sets and/or the pieces all get lumped together. (Our style tends to be that once they're created, the legos all go in bins together, and the directions go in a binder/pile/tub/it varied over the years.)
Some kids, however, are just perfectionist / OCD enough - or their parents are - that the legos have to stay in sets. (Honestly, IMO, it's a lot less fun & more stress that way...) So to encourage free-building, make sure a couple of those sets are of the non-specific blocks.
Another alternative that you might find useful is Pley - a lot of homeschoolers really like it. It's neither our style nor in our budget, but it's a cool idea for those it works for.
Lincoln Logs (yet another huge ebay-obtained lot) had more "turns into pretend play" moments for us than Lego, but not every kid is still doing much of that sort of play by age 7. Mixing in characters, vehicles or rug maps (don't know what else to call them) of any sort also seemed to increase the occurrence if you feel the need to try to encourage pretend play with the construction toys.
posted by stormyteal at 1:17 PM on December 30, 2015
Probably 95% of the time, the "play" is in the building, not after the set is completed. (Unless of course it's a marble run, domino drop, or something made explicitly to be used afterward.) Most kids seem to eventually transition to building at least some of their own creations, especially if they have access to non-specific block sets and/or the pieces all get lumped together. (Our style tends to be that once they're created, the legos all go in bins together, and the directions go in a binder/pile/tub/it varied over the years.)
Some kids, however, are just perfectionist / OCD enough - or their parents are - that the legos have to stay in sets. (Honestly, IMO, it's a lot less fun & more stress that way...) So to encourage free-building, make sure a couple of those sets are of the non-specific blocks.
Another alternative that you might find useful is Pley - a lot of homeschoolers really like it. It's neither our style nor in our budget, but it's a cool idea for those it works for.
Lincoln Logs (yet another huge ebay-obtained lot) had more "turns into pretend play" moments for us than Lego, but not every kid is still doing much of that sort of play by age 7. Mixing in characters, vehicles or rug maps (don't know what else to call them) of any sort also seemed to increase the occurrence if you feel the need to try to encourage pretend play with the construction toys.
posted by stormyteal at 1:17 PM on December 30, 2015
Snap Circuits is great for this. My kids just got the Thames & Kosmos Amusement Park Engineer set for Christmas; you build one ride (for example, the roller coaster) and then the instructions have you modify it several times to experiment with how changing the length, angle, later bumps, etc., changes how the ride "works" to teach physics ideas. Then you cannibalize the first ride and build the next one. They have a couple of similar take-apart-and-rebuild sets that deal with airplanes and electronics and whatnot. My six-year-old lego fan can follow the directions fine.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:34 PM on December 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 1:34 PM on December 30, 2015 [2 favorites]
Would he respond to a challenge to build something that wasn't a proscribed model? Would he respond to building something while "in competition" with someone else? Is he doing this alone or with others because the Lego play of my youth as I remember it was exclusively with friends/siblings. In particular I remember building a large airport with lots of buildings a runway and planes and we'd create lots of scenarios...most of course involving plane crashes.
posted by mmascolino at 4:11 PM on December 30, 2015
posted by mmascolino at 4:11 PM on December 30, 2015
I'm surprised no one has mentioned Meccano yet. They come in sets, but you can easily build anything with the stuff.
posted by PorcineWithMe at 5:33 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by PorcineWithMe at 5:33 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
I'm not sure if this works for your son since it is not "real worldly" but minecraft in creative mode is unlimited numbers of blocks with no monsters which he can build as either as he sees fit or one could look at pictures of other builds and try to create those.
posted by bhdad at 6:50 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
posted by bhdad at 6:50 PM on December 30, 2015 [1 favorite]
A couple ideas:
1. Check out Lego rental places. There may be some near you, or try online with pley.com or netbrick.biz. After the set is built, send it back, get a new one!
2. Look for any maker spaces near you - if he's inclined to build, they may have different programs or projects involving Legos or other building materials he may dig. (if no maker spaces, check for local science museums or libraries which may have similar programs).
posted by Unsomnambulist at 8:06 PM on December 30, 2015
1. Check out Lego rental places. There may be some near you, or try online with pley.com or netbrick.biz. After the set is built, send it back, get a new one!
2. Look for any maker spaces near you - if he's inclined to build, they may have different programs or projects involving Legos or other building materials he may dig. (if no maker spaces, check for local science museums or libraries which may have similar programs).
posted by Unsomnambulist at 8:06 PM on December 30, 2015
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by adamwolf at 10:11 AM on December 30, 2015