Lego question

I just realized my girls have been using the baby Legos (Quatro) all this time. :blush: Someone gave us a box as a baby present and I just never thought much about it, though I was aware that they seemed to be losing interest. They'd probably like them more if they could build something other than a tower or a wall!

So, I want to upgrade, but am not sure whether to get Duplos (supposedly for age 2-5 or 18m-5y, depending where you look) or just go straight to regular Legos. I'm not really thinking of building an heirloom collection, but at the same time don't want to invest money in something they might grow out of in a year. Advice?

 

Lauren loves blocks. We still have the mega blocks or what ever they are called. I have no advice but can't wait to hear some suggestions.

 

Funny you should ask this! I just had this very same dilemma, and my experience can save you some time and money.

I also looked at the packages, and saw they are either 18m-5yrs or 4yrs+. I thought, well I don't want them to get bored right away, so I'll buy the 4+ ones. They liked them OK, but there were some microscopic little pieces and they got a bit frustrated that they don't quite have the dexterity to put the little pieces on. So, after about two weeks, I decided to stick those in the closet for later and went back and got the 18m-5yr set, and they have been very happy with those.

 

My two each got legos last year for Christmas (at not quite 3 year old). They got the ones for 4+ (something like this) and those have been great. :good: Personally that is what I would get for your girl. Mine play with them all the time and they'll probably get more this Christmas as well.

 

We got ours some "real" Legos (the original, tiny blocks) for their 4th birthday. They really enjoy them. We got one of the sets that includes basic blocks in a plastic box. There are pieces to build the front wall of a house. They build the wall in funny ways time and time again without getting bored. They can handle the small pieces pretty well, too. Plus, it is great fine motor skills practice.

 

OK, I guess take into consideration that mine don't have great fine motor skills. Maybe they are lacking or something, but the set I got had this bag of teeny tiny little pieces they just couldn't handle.
This is the one I initially got and put away.
This is the one they are playing with now.

ETA - they still like to play with the quattro 1-3 blocks. Maybe they are weird.

 

I'd get the normal Lego. Naomi and Luke have been using it for over a year and love it. The starter buckets (like Amy linked) are good because you can make a load of different things, and they come with instructions. Naomi will do some things from the instructions and make up her own stuff too, Luke likes to follow the instructions to the letter.

 

That's all helpful, though I'm still not sure what to do! :ibiggrin:

Kelly, I don't think my girls have fabulous fine motor skills either (Amy is ahead of Sarah there, but Sarah actually enjoys building more). I remember some of those itty bitty Legos from my own childhood and am not sure they could manage them. And they do still enjoy building walls and "Dora's house" (they've decided the yellow blocks with a face on them are "Dora") with the Quatro ones.

Maybe I'll ask their teachers if they use Legos at school, and which size the kids seem to prefer.

 

I would go w/ Duplos. Mine are 4 and like them, they can still build cool stuff- and it is big enough that they are successful. You can also buy themed ones (Kai lan, Dora, Princess etc) that give them something to 'start' with and little characters to play with. One of mine has 'developing' fine motor skills and would get overwhelmed with just a stack of tiny blocks, but if she has a place to begin she will often go off and be very creative!

Get a small set of each --- They are fairly easy to find at yard sale, Mom sale, etc and see what they think.....then you save $ and know what to get 'more' of.

 

I'm not sure what to suggest since it sorta depends on your kids and their individuality. Mine play with regular legos and have been for the last couple months; they're tiny, but they like them. Good luck in your search!

 

Those are actually the ones (not the link I posted above) the ones my two got for Chrismtas last year. They each got one of them and we still could use some more.

 

My almost-6-year-old still happily plays with Duplos, although she could probably use regular Legos at this point. But, her fine motor skills definitely aren't her strength. (I worked with her on tying her shoes today, and she finally got it!)

I think you'd be able to get at least two years of use out of Duplos.

 

My two are five. We just pulled out the duplos about a month ago. They had been in their closet and they never played with them, so , I was going to sell them. Luckily the lady did not show up. They have been a constant on out tables since. They imagine the are birds, planes, ramdom animals. they play war with them We have some of the sets for older kids, they can do theose but it usually requeres parental help, and their fine motor skills are good. But the smaller ones (the kits anyway) do not seem to stay together at their level of play, which frustrates them. But, we do have both sizes and figure we will gradually switch over but they still have lots of fun with the duplos. Good luck.

 

We have regular Legos from my older kids, and I just recently let my 3 year olds start playing with them. They LOVE them!

 

I think I'm going to go with the Duplos, partly because I think Sarah would be frustrated with the little ones, but also because (in my zeal to try to weed out unused toys, as mentioned in my other post :ibiggrin: ) I discovered that we have a small Lego table that is Duplo sized. Seems a shame to waste it.

 

Hi:

I'm in a similar quandry. We have some duplos, but not enough to keep both happily building!!

My thought is to buy duplos (on ebay), then resell them (on ebay) when the kids outgrow them and move on to regular legos. I'll probably "fill in" with a few extras or special ones that I can order online (at the Lego store)!

The duplos have so many very cute add ons!!

Just my two cents.

Meg -- mom to 3.5 year old boy/girl twins