Shangobunmi, the Lego reviewer, agreed: “Even though we usually think of Legos as infinite … I think it’s important to recognize and accept that a lot of kids don’t want to go off in the fully creative direction. Following directions also shows them how different pieces fit together, which lays a foundation for imaginative play later on. Sadowsky, the middle-school STEM teacher, told us kids feel a sense of accomplishment when they complete the guided steps in an instruction booklet. Our research and testing led us to conclude that if you attempt to kick-start a kid’s interest in Lego with a generic starter set-the big boxes that come with hundreds of pieces-you risk seeing them throw up their hands at the lack of direction. We have more recommendations for Lego kits, plus other STEM and learning toys, in our gift guides for kids ages 1 through 10, and for tweens and teens. (Of course, age ranges are approximate every kid is different.) You can read more about how we chose and evaluated these sets in How we picked and tested. For younger kids, chunkier Duplo blocks are a great place to start, and older kids can tackle general-audience sets such as the intricate skylines from Lego’s Architecture series. This will vary from kid to kid based on their experience with building toys, but we think 4 is the youngest age at which most children are ready to start with Lego bricks. While we’ve included the Lego-recommended age ranges for each of our picks, as a general rule, we find that Lego sets tend to be appropriate for kids several years younger than what’s advertised on the box. For kids who have developed some skill and interest in building with Lego, we recommend bigger, open-ended boxes of bricks (both Lego branded and generic) that give them the tools to head off toward the horizons of their imaginations. In this guide, we’re highlighting a few, aimed at kids between about 5 and 12, that stood out during testing-including a classic pirate ship, a Frozen -themed jewelry box, a stellar space shuttle, and interactive Minions. But if you’re helping a Lego neophyte build a collection from scratch or want to give a special set to a Lego-loving kid, it can be hard to know where to begin.Īfter interviewing three Lego experts, considering dozens of top-selling Lego sets, and testing 17 sets with more than 60 kids ages 3 to 12, we learned that there’s no single Lego set every kid will love. We reached out to real parents and real kids to learn which block sets are the most universally loved.Lego, the beloved plastic bricks that promote creative play and STEAM skills, are so ubiquitous that for many kids, their introduction comes in the form of a bucket of mixed pieces passed down from an older sibling or a family friend. A good quality set will make this easy enough for little hands. Some types of blocks fit together with magnets or links, while others need to be stacked and balanced. The best toys let the child take the lead, and not the other way around.Ī good block set will get plenty of love through childhood so you want it to last. What to Consider When Purchasing Building Blocks
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