You love that your kids love LEGOs—they make for such imaginative and tactile play! But when those primary-colored, sharp little bricks cover your house like a (very painful) carpet, or your little builder needs new inspiration, it’s time to try one of these awesome, local LEGO activities.
video credit: Movies by Kids
Action! LEGO Animation Workshop
At MBK Studios’ LEGO Animation Workshops kids 7 & up make all of their LEGO scenes and help their created worlds come to life, literally. Instructors offer kids hands-on help in writing, building (LEGOs provided!), directing, and recording their visual masterpieces.
Locations: Los Angeles and Irvine (See website for workshop details.)
Online: moviesbykids.com
photo credit: Play-Well TEKnologies
LEGO Summer School
Kids won’t even know they’re getting an education this summer at Play-Well TEKnologies’ Engineering With LEGO camps and classes. In a curriculum designed by engineers and teachers, kids 5-11 gain engineering and architecture skills using over 20,000 bricks (that’s a lot of bricks).
Locations: Various locations around Los Angeles and Orange County, check website for details.
Online: play-well.org
photo credit: Orsolya D. via yelp
Mini-Build Events at LEGO Stores
On the first Tuesday of every month, at 5 p.m., LEGO stores around LA host a specially-themed “mini-build” event (for example, February’s theme is Space Shuttle). Models used for class are not available for sale, so your 6-14 year old gets not only a free set, but a special, limited edition one! If you can’t get to a build event and want the instructions for what was built, step-by-step instructions are posted here. Parent tip: These lines get long. Like really, really long. (Because, free LEGOs, duh.) So make sure you arrive early, with snacks and something to keep them occupied while they wait.
Locations: Glendale, Canoga Park, Anaheim and Mission Viejo
Online: lego.com
photo credit: playparty.net
LEGO Birthday Party
Brick-building enthusiasts turning 4-10 will think “everything is awesome” when you arrange to have Play Party bring LEGO-mania to their next birthday party. And you’ll think it’s awesome that they do all the work. Play Party brings four play stations (more for groups bigger than 20), tables and chairs, they oversee the activities and then swoop it all out like a magic party fairy.
Locations: They come to you!
Online: playparty.net
photo credit: Doug Kline via flickr
Discovery Cube OC LEGO Exhibit
From January 17 to May 10, 2015, check out the LEGO Travel Exhibit at Discovery Cube OC. At this hands-on event kids can build vehicles, view model sculptures by Master Builders on display for inspiration (including a kid-size LEGO racecar!), and create virtual LEGO vehicles that can move through various terrains. It’s an afternoon in LEGO paradise.
Location: 2500 N. Main St., Santa Ana
Online: discoverycube.org
photo credit: mathnificent.com
LEGO at the Library
At participating Los Angeles public libraries, join other LEGO lovers for free Game Days (which include LEGOs plus other board games to enjoy as a family), or the LEGOs-only Bricks 4 Fun, Block Parties and Brick Building Clubs, where kids 2-11 can build to their heart’s content using the library’s collection. DUPLO are often offered for the youngest builders.
Location: These activities are offered at multiple locations, check with your local branch or online to find the participating library nearest you.
Online: lapl.org
photo credit: Rolling Robots
LEGO Mindstorms Robotics Class
LEGO Mindstorms, if you haven’t heard of it yet, is a brand of LEGO that you can assemble and then program to do really cool stuff like go over all kinds of terrain or wrestle. It’s super expensive to buy (these bots are really complex!) so the best way to try them out is to take a Mindstorms class from a seasoned facility like Rolling Robots or Bricks 4 Kidz. At Rolling Robots, ages 4-14 can enroll in their “Bots with Brains” classes that are offered mid-day for homeschoolers, as well as afterschool and on weekends. Bricks 4 Kidz offers preschool and afterschool programs for 3-13 year-olds.
Rolling Robots
Locations: Los Angeles, Glendale and Rolling Hills Estates
Phone: 1-888-ROBOT-08
Online: rollingrobots.com
Bricks 4 Kidz
Locations: Brentwood, Hacienda Heights, Huntington Beach, Eagle Rock, South Pasadena, Sherman Oaks, Thousand Oaks
Online: bricks4kidz.com
photo credit: Meghan Rose
LEGOLAND
This wouldn’t be a complete list of SoCal LEGO fun without mentioning Legoland, which is easy driving distance away in Carlsbad. Your family will ooh and ahh over the ever-growing and changing LEGO village featuring full, often animated replicas of scenes and characters from Star Wars to Washington DC to Las Vegas. Kids (especially those under 10) love the many age-appropriate LEGO-themed rides, and in the summer everyone enjoys getting wet at the water park.
Location: 1 LEGOLAND Dr., Carlsbad
Phone: 760-918-5346
Online: legoland.com
Read our in-depth tips about visiting the Legends of Chima Waterpark or staying at the Legoland Hotel.
Have we missed any spots that thrill your little LEGO-Maniac? Let us know!
-Shannon Guyton
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