Hold on to your stack of LEGO bricks, I'm about to tell you about the one thing that is going to make your kids love LEGO even more. This idea checks all the right boxes.
It's an idea that promotes independent play and family connection.
It requires creative, inventive thought.
It gets siblings of different ages working together.
What is this genius hocus pocus, you ask?
A make your own LEGO board game.
Here's what I loved about this project:
- My kids worked on their own to independently develop the game, design the board and come up with the rules. Creativity, strategic planning and engineering all rolled up into one!
- After I was able to get stuff done (or read my book—I'm not telling which) while they worked by themselves, but then we got to have some quality family time and connect over their new creations!
Parents, think of it this way, while you are making dinner, your kids are building this game. Then during dinner your kids will tell you all about the game and you can play a few rounds.
Kids gain confidence when they feel their parents are interested in their creations. Win-win-win-win.
We got the idea to make our own LEGO board game from a new book my kids have been using to supplement their LEGO building.(Note: I received a complementary book; this post contains affiliate links.)
Awesome LEGO© Creations with Bricks You Already Have: 50 New Robots, Dragons, Race Cars, Planes, Wild Animals and Other Exciting Projects to Build Imaginative Worlds by Sarah Dees, creator of the blog Frugal Fun for Boys and Girls (formerly Frugal Fun for Boys).
The book has 8 chapters ranging from knights to vehicles to animals. There are even building instructions for contraptions like a marble run and a zip line! Each chapter contains two different types of projects: clearly written step-by-step instructions, and no-instruction creative challenges. All the projects are accompanied by photographs which clearly show each build. Any child who can put together a traditional LEGO© set will find something for him or her in this book.
My sons used the Ninja Challenge Game, one of the no-instruction creative challenges, as the inspiration for their own game. They called the game "Park Challenge." The goal was to get to the picnic (always a good place to be!) They decided on some creative rules for their LEGO board game and somehow I found myself doing jumping jacks when I landed on certain bricks, or waiting to rescue a dog at a construction site. But, hey! The exercise was a bonus, right?
The diy LEGO game is just one of the amazing ideas in Awesome LEGO© Creations with Bricks You Already Have. Next up - we are going to try out the brain teaser puzzle!
Beth Schmelzer says
Sounds like fun for a family on a vacation! Thanks for sharing, Erica. Your activity books are practical. You won' t believe who I bought the latest STEAM book for! My friend is turning 71 and does not want to celebrate her day any longer. But she is having a houseful for her son' s Thanksgiving birthday and for Turkey Day. I know she will love sharing the STEAM book with her grands!