My son loves to build! He mostly loves following directions and building all sorts of Lego sets, K'nex sets, and even has an erector set. The problem is that he likes the process of building them, but doesn't play with them much. And he refuses to disassemble them because he takes pride in the final project. We built a shelf in his closet to store his completed Lego sets, which is almost starting to overflow. Recently, he has built these huge K'nex roller coasters (which doesn't fit in any closet, let alone on a shelf!). Occasionally my son plays with the coasters, but more often than not, they sit and collect dust. We luckily have a huge house that supports the large footprints of these projects, but even so, they still get in the way. What do you mamas do? How do you manage completed creations? (Note: taking a picture is not good enough for my son and he doesn't want to take them apart to rebuild them again even though that's what he loves to do.)
I would not buy him any more Knex, legos, or erector sets. He must use what he has, and if he finds some cool blueprints to build a giant project, he must take apart what he already has to complete it.
Well, since your the "mom" and he's the "child" I'd say do whatever you feel like you need to do to keep things from getting out of hand. For me, if things are getting to be too much for them to maintain in their rooms, then it goes. Taking a picture might not "be good enough" for him, but if that's what needs to be done then do it! Do you want your house to be Lego Land by the time he graduates! My son and daughter would have my house covered with lego sets and art creations if I LET them. When my son builds something new that he is super proud of, I let him have it sitting around for a week or two, but then it's time to put it away, take it apart. The good side of this is that he uses his imagination to build and create new things from those same parts. I don't know how he is funding all these sets, but if it is you, then stop it. And the next time he wants to build, suggest that he demo some of his creations and come up with a new one!
My daughter is the same exact way, she loves to build giant buildings, towers, projects, but just wants to leave them built and not play with them. I usually let her leave them assembled for a few days and then they are taken apart, and if she wants to rebuild later she can. Sometimes I leave them out for as little as one day if she's not really paying attention to them, and she never complains much because she knows that's the rule. If the building process is the most fun for him, he probably won't mind rebuilding once he gets over losing his finished products after a few days. Set a time limit ahead of time so he knows, and then follow through. After a while it will just become habit.
Well they are his 'trophies."
the end result of his creating.
He likes to see it.
But it is accumulating too much.
How old is he?
maybe he can donate them to places where kids can play with the finished product.
For me, I actually super glue together my son's Lego models that he/I build. That way it does not come apart. But my son does play with them.
My, now, 10 yr. old has been building and playing with Legos for several years, now. We have totes and totes of Legos!! When my son gets a new lego set, he puts it together in record time. He admires it, shows everyone, then takes it apart and likes to build original designs. However, there are times when what he's built is pretty spectacular. I take a picture of it and file it in Lego Creations on the computer. Eventually, I want to print them and make a little memory book for him. One day, he may want to show his kids all his creations. Maybe your son would be ok with taking a picture and "framing" his latest accomplishment? You could have a special frame or place on the fridge for it. I know you said he's not interested in a picture, but if it gets displayed, maybe?
My son browses the Internet, looking at some of the really unique designs people come up with. Maybe if he saw what he could do on his own, after taking the set apart?
Yeah, there's no way we could keep all the final projects. We barely fit all the totes in the house. If it's really getting out of control, you could tell him that he can keep __x__number of final projects and the rest have to be disasembled. He can keep his favorites, but the rest can be made into new favorites!!
Good luck!!
Personally I envy you. My son is the opposite. As soon as he's done building these $50.-$100.+ Lego's, he pulls them apart and makes other things out of them! It drives me nuts, but my husband doesn't mind. He feels he's getting more out of them that way. My suggestion would be, if you have an attic, put them there. OOh, or.....how about (make sure they're glued) hang them from his celing like mobiles. Stick a bulb in the middle and make an awesome hanging chandleir/lamp of them. How avent gard!
I don't know the answer to this. We are still a big Lego family.
In Europe they have books of what to make from Lego.
You could wright to Lego and find out where to get these book they
might inspire your son.
There is a big Lego store at Mall of America in MN that has all sorts of things.
We used to order extra Lego pieces when we lived in England.
Sorting the Lego became a family event. Then we would start new projects
My daughter even made a Lego movie with characters she created.
Give it a try.
