Lego building challenges

As I mentioned in Christmas Lego, I’ve been trying to encourage B to build his own creations with Lego.  To help with this, I have created a list of building challenges to get him started …

build a car
build something very tall
build something with a window
build a bridge
build a house
build a boat
build a piece of furniture – a chair, a bed
build a cube
build something symmetrical
build a maze
build a pyramid
build a tree
build flowers
build an insect
make a pattern
build something with only 20 Lego bricks
build an animal
build a sea creature
build a snake
build the first letter of your name
write your name in Lego
build a house for a toy animal of your choice

At the moment. I am just suggesting things from this list for him to build when we get out the Lego, but I may write each challenge on a paddlepop stick and let him draw a stick each time.  Some other things that help when he is stuck are

• selecting the pieces he should use for the challenge (ie. limiting his choices)
• building alongside him in a friendly competition

If you want some other ideas or a place to start with Lego building you could try these Lego building instructions.  I have printed some of these instructions out and put them in plastic sleeves to create a Lego building book.
There is also a blog, Lego Quest, that posts regular Lego building challenges.  Some past challenges that are suitable for my son’s age (5 y.o) are …

build something using only one colour of Lego
try to reproduce an ancient monument
create a flag design
create a marine vessel that floats
create a playground

How does your child like to build with Lego?  Do they like to follow instructions for make it up as they go along?