Lego - Buckets of Imagination and Education

By far the best toy I ever bought my kids was a Lego Create bucket. 

With hundreds of pieces and a manual to guide them to make 50+ different vehicles they played with it for hours and hours. 

​Following the maps keeps them focused and entertained and once one vehicle is made and proudly paraded around - they can break it down and make something new either from the manual or from their own imagination.

LEGO Classic

These sets are currently marketed as Lego Classic.

​Sadly my children later discovered the very addictive - Lego City, Star Wars, Power Miners, series.  These series do create the same enthusiasm for the build, and some are very complex, but once built the models tended to be put on display on a shelf.  Instead of being creative - both architect and engineer - kids become simple builders and the passion for creativity became a passion to acquire the full series.  It may be more profitable for Lego but its less enriching for the children.

If you're looking for Lego for your children I encourage you to seek out the Lego starter sets and Lego tubs/boxes/buckets.  They're much harder to come by but are so much better value for money and an investment in your children's education. There are also good value Duplo sets for younger children to encourage dexterity and, with bigger pieces, avoid a choking hazard.

Lego has a long history, I have lots of memories or building houses and towers with mine and my children's love of the stuff almost assures that my grandchildren will play with it too.

What are your memories of Lego?  And how have your children engaged with this amazing toy?

Where to Buy Lego Classic in NZ

1. Kmart has boxes and buckets of Lego Classic bricks from $45 - $75.  One of the $75 boxes has 790 pieces (believe me you need them).  My local stores are sold out though.
2. Paper Plus has a range of smaller sets with prices ranging from $18 - $109.