Lego building blocks were invented in the late 1940s in Denmark but it’s only in 1958 that the Lego brick as we know it today was developed. Did you know that the 1958 bricks still interlock with those made in our time?
Since 1958, Lego has become very popular around the world and has released thousands of sets tested by both parents and children!
The sets are actually designed to appeal to kids. There are many themes including historical themes (vikings, castle, wild west), town and city themes, etc which encourage children’s creativity. Lego building blocks also help enhance fine and gross motor skills as younger children put blocks into place.
There are sets for every age. For younger children, Lego building blocks are usually larger in size. For school age children, Lego blocks are smaller in size and can become quite complex and can have thousands of pieces. Some Lego sets go as far as including motors, lights and gears.
Another important aspect of Lego building blocks is that they can help children develop social skills as they play with other children and work on a project. And developing social skills is a key aspect of children’s development. For toddlers and preschoolers (ages 18 months to 5 years), we recommend the Lego Duplo. This is a simple set and thus an ideal starter set for toddlers. The pieces are large so that they are safe and can be used by smaller hands. There are enough pieces for kids to express their creativity.
For children ages 4 and above, we recommend the Lego Set Ultimate Building. What we like about this set is that it includes a container that allows for storage. It also includes building instructions for 5 models that lets younger children build a house, a car and more. Another benefit of this set is that it can be incorporated into other Lego sets as your kid expands his collection. If you are looking for a larger set, we also recommend the Deluxe version.
For slightly older children (ages 5 and above), we recommend the Lego City set. This set is a little more challenging as it has lots of details and includes many small pieces. Kids build an entire street corner that includes a pizza parlor, fire hydrant, street lamps, a city bus, and various shops. This set has an educational value as children engage in role playing and can solve real life problems (like building a structure). Kids usually love this set and don’t be surprised if you see your kid spending hours on it.
For children ages 7-12 , we recommend the Lego Creator. Children build a beautiful country retreat or a log cabin. The set has lots of great details (for instance, wooden logs, roof tiles, opening windows, a canoe).
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