{"id":4398,"date":"2015-12-16T11:56:41","date_gmt":"2015-12-16T17:56:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com\/blog\/?p=4398"},"modified":"2022-12-05T13:08:17","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T21:08:17","slug":"lego-camps-and-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahblog.activityhero.com\/lego-camps-and-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Perfect Gift for Your Favorite LEGO\u00ae Lover"},"content":{"rendered":"

Learn how LEGO\u00ae\u00a0camps and\u00a0classes can help unlock your kids\u2019 interest in S.T.E.M. subjects and build important life skills. Plus:\u00a0Discover\u00a04\u00a0questions will help you\u00a0find the right LEGO\u00ae program\u00a0for your<\/em> child.<\/h2>\n

By Laura Quaglio<\/h3>\n

Fun fact for LEGO\u00ae fans: These versatile building bricks<\/a> got their brand name from a mashup of two Danish words: leg and godt, meaning play well. Since LEGO\u00ae bricks were launched in 1958, kids and adults alike have certainly taken \u201cplay well\u201d as a personal challenge, creating LEGO\u00ae masterpieces (Will Ferrell\u2019s New York scene in the movie Elf<\/em> comes to mind), attending LEGO\u00ae festivals and conventions, and flocking to see The LEGO\u00ae Movie<\/em> last year.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got a kid who loves all things LEGO\u00ae, here\u2019s a great gift idea that can help them take their building skills far beyond play time: Enroll them in an after school class or camp that uses LEGO\u00ae bricks as a tool for exploring, learning, and having fun.<\/p>\n

Find Lego Camps & Classes Near You >><\/a><\/h3>\n

Kim Nguyen-Ehrenreich is owner and executive director of Bricks 4 Kidz San Francisco<\/a>, an organization that does just that. Her company (which has franchises in in all 50 states, as well as Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands), teaches the fundamentals of S.T.E.M (science, technology, engineering, and math) subjects through the use of LEGO\u00ae bricks, using custom model plans created for Bricks 4 Kidz by engineers and architects.<\/p>\n

How LEGO\u00ae Building Helps Kids Understand S.T.E.M. Subjects<\/h3>\n

The Bricks 4 Kidz programs don\u2019t serve as another hour of classwork for kids, says Kim, but offer kids an engaging way to learn science and tech through hands-on building. Specifically, these \u201cS.T.E.M. enrichment\u201d courses guide kids to learn math, science, engineering, and technology concepts to help them build LEGO\u00ae models and robots. \u201cAnything that\u2019s interactive makes learning a lot easier,\u201d says Kim. \u201cI think our main goal is to get the kids to be excited about S.T.E.M. subjects so they can move forward in that area.\u201d By learning how these subjects apply to something they love \u2013 LEGO\u00ae bricks \u2013 kids may develop an interest in S.T.E.M., eventually leading to success in school and a rewarding career.<\/p>\n

Though many branches of science are touched upon during the 1-hour afternoon classes \u2013 including physics, engineering, life science, and others \u2013 the two points of the day\u2019s activities are for the kids to learn and remember something related to the S.T.E.M. concept and to have some creative fun. Kids of all ages are able to use LEGO\u00ae bricks and technic gears to create simple moving robots, with help from their instructors and age-appropriate plans. Older kids \u2013 say, in third and fourth grades — also work with simple drag-and-drop coding computer software to \u201cprogram\u201d the robots to make sounds or move in a particular way. \u201cWe try to make these subjects enjoyable for them,\u201d says Kim. \u201cIf they can also take away a key concept for the day, we\u2019re very happy.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GirlsWhy Not Just Build at Home?<\/h3>\n

Though free play with LEGO\u00ae bricks does allow kids to be creative, many of the new kits on the market today are essentially models, explains Kim. Often, kids will get a kit, build it, and leave it intact, she says. \u201cSo the element of free play is out the door.\u201d In Kim\u2019s programs, kids use LEGO\u00ae technic bricks to build something entirely new each week. Also, the model plans used by Bricks 4 Kidz were designed just for Kim\u2019s programs, so they\u2019re different from anything kids will find on store shelves. (A quick tip from Kim: Be sure to get your LEGO\u00ae fan some bricks that aren\u2019t part of a kit \u2013 or get them an extra kit or two that they won\u2019t leave intact — so they can dream up their own projects at home!)<\/p>\n

Using LEGO\u00ae to Build Important Life Skills<\/h3>\n

Bricks 4 Kidz programs teach skills that help kids in all aspects of life, not just S.T.E.M. subjects. \u201cThey learn how to work in a team setting,\u201d says Kim. They also develop fine motor skills, as well a self-confidence and perseverance. \u201cBuilding a model is not always easy,\u201d says Kim. Working to complete a challenge helps build patience and character. And kids take the skills they learn in S.T.E.M. LEGO\u00ae class back to their school classroom and their play room at home. \u201cI\u2019ve heard from a few of the parents that kids who took our classes seem to be more focused on whatever project they\u2019re working on,\u201d says Kim. \u201cThey become more excited about building with LEGO\u00ae models and learning about science.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"KidsFinding a Great LEGO\u00ae-Based Program<\/h3>\n

There are LEGO\u00ae-based kids\u2019 programs popping up all across the U.S. — and not just in the sciences. You may find LEGO\u00ae art classes, LEGO\u00ae-themed birthday parties, model-building camps, and even activities\u00a0focused on developing civic responsibility and leadership. (You\u2019ll find plenty of options on ActivityHero!)<\/p>\n

Here are a few key questions Kim suggests you consider when checking out LEGO\u00ae-based programs in your area:<\/p>\n

Is class placement based on both age and skill level?<\/strong> In LEGO\u00ae-based programs, the curriculum should be age-appropriate, says Kim, but instructors should be sensitive to the needs and abilities of each individual child. \u201cSome kids have really defined fine motor skills as a kindergartener,\u201d she says. This means they might be really good at manipulating tiny bricks and assembling more complex models than other kids in their grade. At Bricks 4 Kidz, children are paired with others who have a similar skill level, which helps them work together in a way that allows them to build their self-confidence and learn cooperation and patience.<\/p>\n

Is the curriculum unique to that program?<\/strong> Kim\u2019s program uses special plans created by engineers and architects. This means that the kids in her programs will be completing models that aren\u2019t available elsewhere.<\/p>\n

What are the goals of the program?<\/strong> For the younger kids, goals are probably more basic. Children might learn to break down a project into small goals and solve problems along the way. They begin by sorting and identify the pieces, reading simple project plans, and learning how different bricks and gears work together. As kids get older, they can explore other skills, such as using pre-coding software to direct a robotic LEGO\u00ae creation to move or make sounds upon command.<\/p>\n

Is there individualized attention?<\/strong> Rather than have a lot of kids working on one big model, Bricks 4 Kidz encourages children to work in pairs and on smaller, motorized models. She says this gives each child plenty of hands-on time \u2013 and a greater sense of accomplishment.<\/p>\n

For girls, are there gender-neutral or girls-only programs available? Currently, all Bricks 4 Kidz programs are gender-neutral, says Kim, but she plans to expand the girls-only offerings in the coming years. \u201cParticularly with middle-school girls, it\u2019s hard to keep them interested in S.T.E.M. subjects,\u201d says Kim. \u201cWe have to pull them in a little more and help them build their confidence.\u201d Programs designed for girls can help do just that.<\/p>\n

What are the instructors like?<\/strong> When hiring instructors, Kim looks for people who are going to be mentors for kids. \u201cWe look for people who love to be with kids and to be able to help them learn,\u201d she says. \u201cThey make a connection with the kids and encourage them to take on challenges. We have kids coming out of our programs really loving our teachers.\u201d Ask to meet with some of the instructors, ask for some specific information about the teachers, or read their bios so you can tell if the teacher will be a good match for your children.<\/p>\n

Does the program look beyond LEGO\u00ae?<\/strong> \u201cWe\u2019re not exclusive to LEGO\u00ae,\u201d says Kim, who is offering winter break camps that teach kids about renewable energy, the water cycle, and water conversation \u2013 a current hot topic due to the ongoing California drought. \u201cWe\u2019re teaching kids about the things their parents hear on the news that impact our daily lives,\u201d says Kim. \u201cThere\u2019s no limitation to LEGO\u00ae,\u201d she adds. \u201cBut we incorporate a lot of mediums in our full-day camps to teach different aspects of our focused theme.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"creativityGetting More from LEGO\u00ae Play at Home<\/h3>\n

One of the easiest ways to encourage your kids to get more out of every LEGO\u00ae session at home, says Kim, is to sit down and play with them! \u201cI think when parents sit down with their child, that helps kids feel confidence in building,\u201d says Kim. \u201cAnd it helps build the level of connection between the parents and their kid.\u201d Though Kim acknowledges that it can be tough to find time to build with your children on a weekly basis, her company sometimes offers mother-daughter and other parent-child workshops that carve out a bit of time for you to bond over a big, colorful pile of these time-honored toys.<\/p>\n

Find a LEGO\u00ae-Based Activity in Your Area<\/h3>\n

Ready to see what LEGO\u00ae classes and camps are offered in your community? ActivityHero can help! Check out our special LEGO\u00ae-based offerings<\/a> today, and give your child a LEGO\u00ae-related gift that will keep them playing happily throughout the winter!<\/p>\n

Lego Camps & Classes Near You >><\/a><\/h3>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Learn how LEGO\u00ae camps and classes can help unlock your kids\u2019 interest in S.T.E.M. subjects and build important life skills.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4399,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"templates\/template-cover.php","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[609],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4398","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lego"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4398","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4398"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4398\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13184,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4398\/revisions\/13184"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4399"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4398"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4398"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.activityhero.com/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4398"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}