Lego brick sets for all interests

The world of Lego has grown from simple bricks of yesteryear (like the Classic Lego Creative Brick Box, a bucket of bricks and wheels) to a wide variety of pop culture-inspired minifigures and kits. The company even adopted fan suggestions via Lego Ideas, which puts user-submitted decor ideas in front of a LEGO sign for review and potential production). This initiative has given us themed sets ranging from The Upside Down in Netflix’s Stranger Things to the International Space Station, Ghostbusters ‘Barracks Headquarters, and Friends’ Central Perk Cafe. The sky is the limit, really.

“These are some of the most creative LEGO sets of all time,” says Brian Korte, an artist at Brickworkz, a company that designs and delivers LEGO themed illustrations and portraits.

One way to narrow down what your Lego giveaway wants is to scroll through existing offerings because Lego “has a pretty good idea of ​​what the kids want to build,” says Joe Meno, editor of BrickJournal, a bimonthly magazine for enthusiasts. from LEGO. which was launched in 2005. “You can ignore this”.

The Lego Iron Man minifigure has an opening helmet. Kids love it, “notes Meno.” Adults love display; but children like to play and display. “

The best legos to buy for every age group

LEGO gives you a hint on what to buy with each set. Each box has a recommended age group noted on it. “The age range is going to give you an idea of ​​the skill building,” Meno explained. “The younger a child, the more unlikely it is that he will be able to build something complex.”

The best Lego brick sets for ages 1 to 3

Lego Duplo sets are larger blocks that are easier to put together and perfect for toddlers.

1. Lego Duplo My first number train

This 23 piece set does a lot of work. The running wheels of the train allow movement and play. The numbers allow you to work on counting. And a boy, a girl and a cat jump out of a simulated story that comes with it.

The best Lego brick sets for ages 3 to 5

With my own kids, I made the decision to move on to the next age range of sets (with the smaller standard bricks) only when I could trust they wouldn’t put the pieces in their mouths if they did. were playing alone.

2. Lego Duplo Number Town Steam Train

The 59-piece set comes with a small motor and allows kids to start or stop the train with just a touch. There are also colorful bricks that match the sounds, lights, and action of the train.

“It’s a really intriguing set. It teaches cause and effect and provides basic coding insight, ”Meno advised.

Best Lego sets for ages 5-7

Once the kids leave preschool, Lego roughly regroups the sets in two-year increments. Kits get a little more complicated – and potentially a lot more expensive – with each subsequent age group.

“You can’t expect kids to build the Empire State Building at age seven,” Meno says. “But they can build a house.”

3. The Lego City Ice Cream Truck

A dog and scoops of ice cream are among the 200 pieces in the set. The dynamic ice cream truck is an easy build for beginners and offers plenty of play time after it’s built.

“It’s a nice little self-contained set,” says Meno. “It’s a kid-friendly version of what we’re used to seeing.”

4. Lego City Police Monster Truck Theft

This 362 piece set is a mini bank heist with a big escape vehicle. The monster truck even has a magnetic arm, which allows the safe to be removed from the building.

“There is a beautiful conflict between good and evil here. Children are getting more and more sophisticated [at this age] and start looking at their town and their village, ”notes Meno.

Best Lego sets for ages 7-9

Older age groups are exposed to more complex series like the Lego Creator series, which offers 3 in 1 sets, for example.

5. Lego Creator 3-in-1 Townhouse Toy Store

In this case, a child can build a toy store, a pastry shop or a florist. I recommend the 554 piece kit because it also introduces the concept of modular and scale building, where structures can be linked together in an imaginary city.

6. Lego City Deep Space Rocket and launch control

“I am a geek. You’re making a rocket launch pad – what more do you want? Meno talks about the set of 837 pieces with a monorail and a rocket. “But here you go to space. It’s accessible. He gives [kids] something to work with and we’ll see where we get to. “

Best legos for 9-11 year olds

The Lego Creator Expert series is the evolved form of Creator sets, where builders start to think about design and function.

7. Lego Creator Expert Ford Mustang car model kit

The 1471-piece Mustang set has a working hood and trunk and plenty of hot-rod modifications. But the big draw is that this one will delight kids and adults alike who might be building alongside them (or after going to bed).

“Lego is in the unique place to be able to create your memories,” Meno says. “I had a Mustang, and by golly, this car just feels good and reminds me of my high school days.”

Best legos for ages 12 and up

Young teens and adult fans – as well as those who come to the hobby because of the limited edition Lego Ideas sets – will find a host of challenging and intricate builds that come with a higher price tag as well.

8. Lego Ideas Tree House

This set has more than 3,000 pieces. You’ll want to set aside a day or two to build the treehouse with cabin roofs that can be removed and a working crane to lift a basket off the ground. Not to mention that some bricks are made of plastic of plant origin.

“The price is high,” Korte says. “But given that it’s so smartly constructed, attractive to display, and extremely fun to build, I think it’s warranted.”

9. Lego Gingerbread House

If you’re the type to get a head start on holiday shopping, consider gifting a seasonal Lego set, like this festive gingerbread house. It has over 1,470 pieces and is marked as a “hard to find” item on the Lego site. The resort set includes a candy-filled exterior, fireplace, candy-style furniture, and more. It is also equipped with a gingerbread family to live in the house.

10. Lego Stormtrooper Helmet

This set is intended for more advanced Lego builders ages 18 and up. If you have a Star Wars fan or are up for the challenge, it comes with 647 intricate pieces. When finished, you can put it on a coffee table and leave it on display.

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