the logical way to share Lego

I have 5 boys who regularly play Lego at day care. We have 2 Lego guys. (working on getting more) How would you logically set it up so everyone gets a chance to share?

Take the guys apart and fight over who gets to play with the red arm.

 

We have the same problem in my classroom only it's with the one blue lego car - everyone wants that car. My students are special needs/autistic, so I use it as a social learning opportunity. My students have learned that if there is constant fighting over a toy, the toy goes to time out for a while. When it comes back out, we discuss what we can do to share better so everyone gets a turn. If they fight over it again, it goes back to time out for a longer period of time. Of course it helps that I have a rule only 2 people per tub, so I'm usually only working it out with 2 of them at once. If they can't work it out, the toy is mine.

 

I take things away quite a bit. I have Mr Lego guy's arms (both of them) in my work sweater's pocket right now.

My curriculum states I can't limit the number of kids at an activity. Said curriculum was of course written by someone whos never had to implement it in any way other than optimal conditions.

 

I have the 2 person limit to stay consistent with what our kindergarten teachers do. I like the rules to be the same in both settings - homeroom and my class. I don't know how old the students in question are but maybe you could have them work out some kind of schedule or time limit amongst themselves for control of the lego man, at least until you get more. They could switch off days or maybe set a timer and each gets a certain amount of time for a turn. If they help work on the solution, maybe they will be more willing to stick by it. The consequence of not following the sharing agreement would be the loss of lego man for a designated amount of time.

I take things away and stash them in the toy time out - a locker outside my room.

Hope this helps.

 

A few different ideas: first, see if they are willing to share, and keep track of who had them, and when... If they can't share, then they disappear... Honestly, I think it's kind of unreasonable to only have 2 lego people for that many kids to play with... Is there any way the center could buy more?

 

We have had more guys but they disappear either into other boxes (there are 4 in the centre) or into whereever lego disappears to. You can't buy lego guys alone, I've looked. But then, fights happen even when you have more guys than kids. Either they are the wrong colour or the decoration on it is wrong or one is out of favour for some reason. We have a no-saving rule though.

As of Friday Lego was "out", I added Straws and Connectors and those are the big thing right now.

 

Actually you can buy just the lego guys.

I know I have done it

You download the lego builder on their site, and make a man, then you have the option to buy that man. He costs right around 2 dollars if I remember correctly.and you even get to design a box and then they send him to you complete in your original box with the directions on how to build him. Its actually a nifty little program.

http://creator.lego.com/en-us/Products/Vehicles/4993.aspx Here is the link, its called the lego creator. Just download the program, and you can build anything. there are not alot of people to choose from, but one or two is better than none. We built a couple railroad conductors in our set.

 

Ok here is the sing up for a lego account, you need one to use the creator.

https://account.lego.com/en-us/Signin.aspx?...mymodels%3dtrue

Sorry for the long link LOL

Here is the link to download the creator itself,

http://ldd.lego.com/download/

Ok just built my own little man and he costs a whopping .92 cents to have him boxed and shipped to me. So you could get several little men for your guys,a nd you can pick exactly what head, body, accessories, and legs they have. for about 1$ each.

 

That sounds very cool - I'm at work so I can't download it but I may think about letting my nephew create something on there for Christmas. I wouldn't get to see him open it but sounds like he would love getting to build it.

 

I know it's different at home with just three of my own, but what works best for us is the timer. My girls now ask for the timer even when it doesn't apply :lol: A few more lego men would help I'm sure but, here at least, the arguing is more about winning, irritating each other and getting your way than the actual toy itself most of the time.

 

QUOTE(Kendra @ Nov 25 2008, 06:15 PM) [snapback]1086792[/snapback]
I have 5 boys who regularly play Lego at day care. We have 2 Lego guys. (working on getting more) How would you logically set it up so everyone gets a chance to share?

Take the guys apart and fight over who gets to play with the red arm.


I just saw this link on the ToysRus website and thought about this post from before Christmas. This would give you a few spare men.

ToysRus Canada

T

 

I bought a bag of lego at Value Village and it had 5 guys in it so we are good now. (though the girl one is totally untouchable)

Lego is out right now for my guys, they are all about the domino raceway (elaborate domino set ups) and Wedgits.

 

Oh, yes, Dominos, they are THE thing for the boys to play during indoor recess in Marcus' class!