The Benefits of Playing with LEGO for Childhood Development

Whether as a child or an adult, chances are you’ve probably played with LEGO® before. There’s an undeniable magic to building and creating with these colorful bricks. However, while this may seem like a simple pastime, LEGO play is actually a powerhouse for learning. From boosting cognitive skills to fostering positive self-esteem, LEGO offers many benefits for young minds. Read on to discover some of the lifelong benefits of playing with LEGO for childhood development!

Summer of LEGO! at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County 

Join us for some brick-tastic fun all summer long! Summer of LEGO! takes place on Saturdays, 12:00 pm-3:00 pm, and Sundays/Mondays, 10:00 am-3:00 pm. Don’t miss out on this fun and educational program, running through August 26, 2024! 

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How Does LEGO Play Help Early Child Development?

Did you know that 90% of our brain growth happens before the age of five¹? Play is serious work, especially when it comes to a child’s development. Playtime allows children to learn how to learn and helps them develop all kinds of life skills. Through imaginary worlds and playful exploration, kids problem-solve, experiment, forge bonds and friendships, and discover the power of their own minds.  

Building with LEGO Bricks is a prime example of how play fosters learning. LEGO provides a versatile and engaging way for children to learn and develop important skills that they’ll use for the rest of their lives. Below, we explore some of the amazing ways LEGO play can positively benefit a child’s development:

Building with LEGO Toys is like a mental workout for little learners. Children develop problem-solving, spatial awareness, and critical thinking skills as they experiment and build with different combinations of bricks. This also helps improve memory, focus, and attention span as they plan and build different structures.

Plus, LEGO play is a great way to introduce kids to concepts like counting, sorting, and pattern recognition. As they build and create, they are also naturally learning about sizes, shapes, and colors.   

When building with LEGO Bricks, those little hands (and minds!) are actually hard at work! Manipulating the bricks helps children develop dexterity, hand-eye coordination, and finger strength. These skills are essential for future activities like writing, drawing, using utensils, and even playing musical instruments.

LEGO sets are available in various sizes specifically for different age ranges and developmental stages. So as children grow and develop greater dexterity, control, and coordination, they can move on to playing with smaller, more intricate pieces. 

One of the greatest benefits of LEGO Toys is their ability to spark imaginative and independent play. If children have appropriately sized bricks, they can engage with the activity any way they like without adult guidance or restrictions. This type of unstructured play allows little ones to test their own capabilities and explore their interests at their own pace.

Additionally, when children have the freedom to create without limitations, their natural creativity and resourcefulness take center stage, fostering greater confidence and self-esteem.

LEGO play is just as great of a self-guided activity as it is a collaborative one. Because these brick sets have so many pieces, children are naturally encouraged to practice important social skills like sharing and taking turns.

By working together on a fun LEGO creation, children learn to communicate with others, listen to their peers, compromise, and build friendships. For many younger kids, this can also be one of their first experiences with teamwork and collaboration, which is no small milestone.  

Building with LEGO can also contribute to language development. By describing the colors and shapes of specific pieces, children expand their vocabulary and improve their ability to articulate thoughts and ideas.

Creating stories around their LEGO builds also encourages descriptive language use and enhances storytelling skills. Plus, collaborative LEGO play fosters communication skills as children negotiate, share ideas, and provide feedback to their friends. 

The open-ended nature of LEGO play allows kids to build anything their imagination can dream up. This freedom to experiment fosters creative thinking and problem-solving as they figure out how to bring their ideas to life.

Children also use LEGO Bricks to create and role-play characters, landscapes, vehicles, etc., and invent elaborate adventures. They can explore their own made-up worlds and scenarios, further fueling their unique self-expression and imagination.

LEGO provides a natural introduction to many STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) learning concepts for young children. Advanced scientific concepts are simplified and observable as they learn how gravity, balance, and force affect their LEGO creations. The process of building with these bricks naturally encourages them to think like little engineers as they experiment with connecting different pieces. The different shapes and sizes become building blocks (pun intended) for early math skills.

Through this engaging play, LEGO Toys provide a perfect foundation for children to explore their unique interests and develop essential skills for future STEAM learning. 

Summer of LEGO! at the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County

LEGO play is a cornerstone of early childhood development, offering many benefits for young minds. These colorful toy bricks help children build essential skills that will benefit them well into adulthood. From practicing fine motor skills to fostering creativity, the positive impact of playing with LEGO is undeniable. 

At the Children’s Museum of Sonoma County, we believe in the power of learning through play. We invite you to celebrate the magic of play with us during our Summer of LEGO! program! This summer-long event takes place every Saturday from 12:00-3:00 pm and Sundays/Mondays from 10:00 am-3:00 pm in the Dow Event Center. Don’t miss out on this fun and educational program, running through August 26, 2024!

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References

1. First Things First. (2023, January 13). Brain development – first things first. https://www.firstthingsfirst.org/early-childhood-matters/brain-development/