Which Lego is better to buy: what to look for when choosing a set?

Do you want to buy your child's first LEGO set, but don't know which set to choose? The situation is understandable and familiar: if you go to the "Children's World", then your eyes run wide from all the variety that the manufacturer provides. And this is despite the fact that not everything is on display, in online stores the assortment can be even larger.

The main factors on which the choice of a Lego set will depend:

• the age of the child;
• child's hobbies;
• How much do you want to pay.

Why LEGO?

First about LEGO. If you are still thinking whether to buy Lego or choose another analogue constructor, then the advice will be unequivocal: take the original Lego, you will not regret it!

Its advantages:

• parts made of quality material;
• fastenings are reliable and not tight. In Chinese kits, parts are often hard to attach, sometimes you even need the help of parents (for kids). Or the other extreme: they are easily fastened, but do not hold, crumble when moving the finished structure.
• variety of shapes and colors;
• the set can be “expanded” without any problems by purchasing add-ons (all parts are absolutely compatible within the DUPLO and Classic series). Lego can always be found on sale, while other designers (especially Chinese-made sets) can disappear from the shelves.

Another not entirely obvious plus - large audience of users. In any social network, you can find communities in which children and adult Lego fans communicate. There you can also see photos of crafts, be inspired by your own.

Where could I buy?

Each Lego set has an article, you can definitely find the set by it (as the names may differ in different online stores).

In the article, after each recommendation (by article), there are links to set cards in several stores. Sometimes the price is indicated for comparison. This price is for October 2015, so it may be slightly off.

Manufacturers may be different - Denmark, Czech Republic, Hungary. There is no difference between them.

Advice: in the stores "Children's World" - a huge selection of designers. Sometimes it is cheaper to buy there than in online stores. So if there is a "Children's World" in your city, go there. And sometimes there are “Lego Days” - promotions when the 2nd set is 20% off, and when buying 3 sets - 50% off one of the goods.

Does Lego have analogues?

Not a single Chinese designer can compare with real Lego. Even if they position themselves as Lego-compatible: although the pieces are connected, other efforts must be made.

Comparable in quality - sets from Mega Bloks (USA/Canada). This manufacturer also has several series aimed at different ages and different interests. As for the price, it is impossible to say unequivocally about the advantage of one or another company. Some sets (in terms of "price per piece") are cheaper from Lego, some from MegaBloks.

Analogues of the LEGO DUPLO series - Mega Bloks Maxi and Create'n Play Junior. Some thematic sets are similar to "Legov's".

For example, Lego has a Disney Princess DUPLO set (article 10596) (approximately 2300 rubles for 63 parts, link in Children's World, on mir-kubikov.ru). Mega Bloks has "Princesses. Sparkling Castle "(link to ozon.ru, about 4000 rubles for 65 parts, but there are more "bricks" in the set and fewer figures than Lego).

The analogue of the Classic series (in size) is Mega Bloks Micro.

Which LEGO DUPLO set to choose for a toddler?

You can play Lego DUPLO with kids from one and a half years old, or even younger. Different parents have different approaches to choosing designers.

Some believe that it will be more interesting for a child to play with a set in which there are a lot of figures.

Others say that constructors in which "everything is obvious" do not develop imagination well. And what if you buy a kit for creativity with a large number of cubes, bricks and other building blocks, then it will be more useful. In this case, a simple cube can be a carrot for a bunny, a nightstand, or a fox.

If your baby is a "builder", then it is best to take a set of basic elements (article 6176). It contains 80 elements. Links to goods in ozone (1304 rubles), in the world of cubes (1499 rubles). In order to “turn around properly”, you may later want to buy another such set.

The most versatile are sets for kids, which have both building blocks and figures. And in which there is a main “idea” around which the details are gathered.

An example is the Big Farm set (article 10525). It has 121 parts. Links: on ozone (3478 rubles), in the world of cubes (3999 rubles), in the children's world (3229 rubles).

A good big set, which, unfortunately, is rare, is a set for the creativity of the smallest (article 10622). The set contains 193 parts. It costs about 4000 rubles (link to the children's world).

If a large set is beyond your means or you are not at all sure whether the kid will like the designer, then you can take sets for a test:

• for the boy: The first construction site (article 10518 ), 43 parts, 2 little men, you can make 2 cars - the price is about 1200 rubles.
• for a girl: Cafe (article 10587), 52 parts, 3 little men - 1200 rubles; Ambulance Dr. Plush (article 10605 ), 16 parts - 1200 rubles.

Which Lego set to buy for a child over 4 years old

At this age, the child can already cope with the details. lego classic and sets compatible with it (Junior, and from 5-6 years old - Lego CITY, Lego Friends, Lego Creator, etc.).

I would recommend buying several Lego Classic sets. For example, a large set (article 10698 ): a link to the world of cubes (2999 rubles), in the children's world (2399 rubles).

You can buy add-ons for it:

• Supplement to the set for creativity, bright colors (art. no. 10693 ).
• Additions to the set for creativity, pastel colors (art. no. 10694 ).

If the child is older than 6 years, then his interests should already be taken into account. Boys will love the Star Wars, City, Bionicle, Creator building sets. Girls - Lego Friends, Elves, Disney Princess.

Tips to make the game with the constructor more interesting

1. Buy a building plate (small size first). On ozone, they are the cheapest: small 27 * 26 cm (article 10699) - 434 rubles; large 40 * 38.5 cm (article 10701) - 869 rubles.
2. Don't be afraid to start with Duplo, even if your child is 3-4 years old. Duplo and Classic parts are compatible. Then it will be possible to use them together (for example, quickly fold the foundation from Duplo, and then complete the rest from Classic).
3. It has already been written about the figures as part of the designer: some children are not interested without them. In this case, first buy 2-3 small sets with figures, make sure that you like the designer, and then move on to sets with building parts.
4. A lot depends on how adults present the constructor! Play with your baby! Just sit down and act out scenes every evening, give the child tasks, interest him!