Keep Your Kids Entertained With the Best LEGO Sets
Buying Guide: LEGO Sets
LEGO can bring plenty of fun to kids and adults alike. This guide will cover everything you need to know about LEGO sets.
What Is LEGO?
Before we dive into the specific sets that you may want to consider, let’s do a quick refresher on LEGO. LEGO is a toy company that sells plastic bricks that you can build with. They’re such a popular company that over 400 million people have played with LEGO bricks.
While original LEGO sets started with just bricks, the parts quickly evolved, and today you can build pretty much anything with the right LEGO components. But with so many different types of parts it can be difficult to figure out how to build what, and that’s where LEGO sets come in.
LEGO sets are basically pre-made sets of LEGO bricks and parts that you can build on your own without too much difficulty. The challenging aspect of building LEGO sets is actually taking the time and effort to put the parts together. But in terms of designing the actual sets, all you need to do is follow the instructions. LEGO sets are especially handy for those who can’t afford tons of LEGO pieces, as they allow you to build cool structures without needing to spend a whole lot of money on different parts.
One interesting thing about LEGO is that they’ve partnered with many companies and corporations over the years to create sets relating to specific products. You can find LEGO sets for popular movies, TV shows, video games, and cars. There’s a ton of stuff you can build thanks to these partnerships and collaborations.
Why You Should Get a Lego Set
They keep your child entertained
One aspect of LEGO that isn’t often brought up is the fact that you can entertain your child for a long time with a single LEGO set. Why is that? Because your child must build the set before they can play with it. When you buy your child a doll or action figure, they’ll be able to play with the toy right out of the box. At some point, your child will get bored and you’ll need to find another way to keep them entertained.
Things are a little different with LEGO. Before your child can actually play with the LEGO set, they need to build the set from scratch. This means hours of fun and entertainment, with your child patiently following the instructions until they’ve set everything up. While the building process may sound boring, it’s actually quite fun — but more on that particular aspect later.
Once your child finishes building the LEGO set, they can start playing. By then, you’ve kept them entertained for an afternoon’s worth of time, and they have yet to actually play with the set. Even if they start getting bored with the set, they can always make some changes to it to suit their preferences.
They fuel your child’s creativity
One of the biggest reasons why LEGO is so popular as a toy is that it fuels your child’s creativity. While other toys are fun to play with on their own, all your child can really do is play with them. They can’t change the way the toy looks or how it moves, which can make the toy boring after a while. With LEGO, your child can have a little more creative flexibility.
With enough creativity, your child can make pretty much anything with LEGO sets. For example, they may re-orient the wheels of one of their LEGO cars downwards, pop some angled bricks on the sides and they’ve made a flying car. Or maybe they want to turn a shark into a terrifying land creature, so they add some legs to it. These unique changes can be a form of spacial recognition exercises. Studies show that such exercises improve your ability in mathematics, making LEGO sets a great way to sharpen and help develop your child’s mind.
They create a bonding experience with your child
Finally, it’s important to mention that LEGO is fun for adults, too. This means you can bond with your child while helping them build the LEGO set. If your child has a complex LEGO set that may take a while for them to set up, you can help them and the two of you can build the set together. This serves as a form of family bonding and also gives you something to take your mind off things for a while.
Even if your child isn’t interested in LEGO all the time, you may end up becoming a fan yourself. You don’t need to have a wild imagination to enjoy LEGO; half the fun is actually building the sets! Once you’re done building, seeing your work in its full form is one of the most satisfying things in the world. So, if you feel like doing something a little more constructive in your downtime, LEGO is a great way to go.
Things To Consider When Buying a Lego Set
Theme
When it comes to LEGO sets, the theme matters a lot, especially if you’re buying the set for your child. This is because LEGO sets are often themed, and this theme may determine how interested your child will be in the set. The key is to pick a set that has a theme your child is interested in. Once you’ve done that, you can bet that your child will enjoy the set a lot.
Luckily, LEGO makes it very easy to choose the right set. Many LEGO sets are themed after popular TV shows and movies. If your child is a fan of shows that have partnered with LEGO, you can get a set that they’re bound to enjoy. In the event that your child doesn’t have any particular show or movie they’re a fan of, you can get them a set that’s related to their interests, such as animals or plants.
Size
LEGO sets can vary greatly in size. You can build small, hand-held sets or you can build a huge spaceship that’s a few feet in length. Because LEGO sets are pretty stiff once you’ve finished building them, you need to be sure you have a place to store them when you’re done building. If you’re building large and complex sets, be sure to set aside space beforehand so that you don’t end up taking up precious floor or table space.
Complexity
While size and complexity often go hand in hand, it’s a little different when it comes to LEGO, as some parts are larger than others. Some sets have less than 100 parts, while the more advanced sets can easily have over 1000. The more parts a set has, the more difficult it is to build. Your child may feel too overwhelmed to want to start or finish building a set if it’s too complex.
If you think that you bought them a set that’s too difficult, you can always build it with them. If your child appreciates a little challenge, going for a more complex set may give them a more satisfying feeling when they finish building it.
Here Are the Top LEGO Sets of 2024
LEGO Star Wars Set – Best Overall
As one of the most popular sci-fi franchises in the world, Star Wars has become synonymous with all things high-tech and futuristic. It’s got a great story and world that spans decades in the making.
As one of the most popular sci-fi franchises in the world, Star Wars has become synonymous with all things high-tech and futuristic. It’s got a great story and world that spans decades in the making. There’s a Star Wars story or game for everyone these days, with kid’s shows and more mature movies catering to all age groups. One of the most popular forms is not a Star Wars film, but rather a Star Wars LEGO set.
LEGO has always been a perfect medium for Star Wars fans. You’re able to build the fighter jets and machines found in the sci-fi world, and you can re-enact iconic scenes throughout the many films and TV shows. For kids, Star Wars LEGO sets are great to give as gifts. These toy sets can introduce your child to Star Wars and get them excited about the story and characters. The bright colors and cool designs will excite your kid to build their own Star Wars-inspired world. We’ve chosen this LEGO set as the best overall set thanks to its unique design and included figurines.
Pros
- Sci-fi themed LEGO set
- Features Stars Wars-inspired pieces
- Great to give as a gift
Cons
- May be difficult to assemble
LEGO Creator Deep Sea Creatures – Best Nature
You don’t need to turn to fiction to find something that will excite your kid. In fact, nature is full of cool and interesting creatures that your child will want to build with LEGO.
You don’t need to turn to fiction to find something that will excite your kid. In fact, nature is full of cool and interesting creatures that your child will want to build with LEGO. As one of the least explored domains on Earth, oceans are full of interesting and vibrant life, and some of the most iconic sea creatures can be a joy to build with a LEGO set. This LEGO Creator Deep Sea Creatures set comes with three different sea animals and creatures that you can assemble either all at once or one by one if you’d rather take things slow.
The three items included in this set are a shark, a crab, and a box full of treasure. But that’s not all — you can actually reassemble the pieces to turn the creatures into other, more terrifying animals, such as a squid or even a deep sea angler fish. Because it’s LEGO, your child can get creative and mix and match the bricks as they please to create a shape that’s totally unique. While it may look simple on the surface, this set has a lot of potential if you take a deeper look!
Pros
- Comes with interesting sea creatures
- Can be assembled in multiple ways
- Great for unleashing creativity
Cons
- Not as many bricks as other sets
LEGO Bonsai Tree Set – Best for Adults
LEGO is as popular among adults as it is with kids and that’s not just because many adults are actually kids at heart.
LEGO is as popular among adults as it is with kids and that’s not just because many adults are actually kids at heart. The very act of assembling and building something can be a form of therapy and serve as a relaxing pastime. Many adults reserve entire afternoons to build LEGO sets for fun, and while they don’t end up imagining scenarios and playing with the sets after they’re done building them, they can admire the work they’ve put in by displaying the sets.
Because of this, there are some LEGO sets that are perfect for displaying. This is the case with the LEGO Bonsai Tree Set. Bonsai trees, which are small, dwarfed trees, are very popular for interior decoration. But these unique trees require maintenance, which can be an issue for busy people. Thanks to LEGO, you can build and display a bonsai tree all year long. The resulting piece is nothing short of beautiful.
Pros
- Ideal for putting on display
- Fun to assemble even for adults
- Comes with alternate leaves
Cons
- Not for playing with
LEGO Speed Champions Car Set – Best Car Set
LEGO is popular among kids, but do you know what else is popular? Race cars.
LEGO is popular among kids, but do you know what else is popular? Race cars. Racing as a sport is incredibly fun to watch, and even if kids don’t understand the finer nuances of the sport, seeing a car drive fast can excite them nonetheless. That’s why this next set is perfect for kids who love to pretend to drive. The LEGO Speed Champions Car Set comes with two different model cars that your child can build and pretend to drive around your home.
The two cars in the set include replicas of both the 2020 Chevrolet Corvette and 1969 Chevrolet Corvette. This set allows your child to build smaller versions of the actual cars used in real races. This makes this particular set fun not just for kids but also for car and racing enthusiasts, no matter how old you may be. There are even a couple of human figurines included that you can play with to pretend you’re driving the vehicle!
Pros
- Fun and interactive set
- Comes with two human figurines
- Builds two unique race cars
Cons
- Box may come damaged
LEGO Minecraft Bee Farm Set – Best Gaming
Many kids these days love to play video games, and while many of them are educational and great for learning, they can sometimes take up a bit too much of their time.
Many kids these days love to play video games, and while many of them are educational and great for learning, they can sometimes take up a bit too much of their time. If you’d rather have your child do something more constructive, consider getting them a LEGO set inspired by one of their favorite video games. LEGO has quite a few sets related to Minecraft, a popular video game that involves building houses and farms to survive and thrive. It’s a well-known video game that’s popular among kids and adults alike. This set may be perfect for your child if they play the game, too.
What makes this particular Minecraft-themed set interesting is the fact that your child is physically building a bee farm in real life. In the game, bee farms are fun to set up and build on your own and with friends, and this is also the case when doing it with LEGO. You can even move some of the parts in the set to make the entire structure feel more lifelike. While this set isn’t the best set to give a child if they haven’t played Minecraft before, it’s one of the best possible sets to go for if they have!
Pros
- Themed after a popular video game
- Features interactive elements
- Colorful and creative design
Cons
- Ideal for those who play Minecraft
People Also Asked
A: While they may seem challenging to set up, LEGO sets are actually fairly easy to build as long as you follow the instructions that come with the set.
A: Yes, many find that the actual building process is quite enjoyable and relaxing. Some even use LEGO sets as a form of stress relief.
A: While LEGO sets do contain small parts, as long as your child is old enough to know not to put these parts in their mouth LEGO sets are very safe to play with.
