Rule #1 when visiting a Lego Store: Be kind. Okay, that’s the rule everywhere, but it can really pay off when you treat the staff well. They can give you the dirt on events, new releases, and tricks to maximize your time in the store.
Sending mixed “kindness” vibes.
Minifigure Swap Monday occurs at every Lego Store on the third or fourth Monday of each month. It goes on for the whole day and children 6 to 14 can bring in their own minifigure to trade with the store’s collection of loose figures. For this trade, a “minifigure” is defined by five parts: head, torso, legs, accessory (back piece or something carried by the fig), and hair or head wear.
Figures are traded in-whole and you can often find great additions to your collection (we recently acquired some Harry Potter characters).
Jor-El is not comfortable with magical beings.You may bring home some madness.
Tip: Don’t bring damaged, dirty, or poor condition figures to trade. Your figures will go into the collection for someone else to find. Your never-played-with, duplicate policewoman might just be the fig someone else is looking for. Again, be kind.
(For Inspiration & Respect of Science & Technology) FIRST Lego League Jr. (FLL Jr.) is a structured exploration of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) concepts for 6- to 10-year-olds through teamwork, loosely guided creativity, a myriad of online and physical resources, and, of course, Lego elements. Teams tackle a real-world problem and build solutions, including a Show Me poster and programmable robot. The FIRST Core Values: discovery, innovation, impact, inclusion, teamwork, and fun, are central to each meeting and provide a strong foundation for positive experiences for all involved.
My sons love Lego, STEM, STEAM, coding, and problem solving, forming an FLL Jr. team seemed the due course. Once registered, FLL sends you the Inspire Set of Lego bricks focused on this year’s challenge (Mission Moon), a Team Meeting Guide for the coaches, Engineering Notebooks for each team member (6), and the Lego Education WeDo 2.0 Core Set.
The Team Meeting Guide spells out activities for each of 12 sessions and makes the planning process amazingly simple. Alternative paths for fewer sessions and extended build opportunities are provided to add a lot of flexibility within the program.
As a hardcore unschooler, I was rather proud of how our team was able to walk into a well organized classroom setting for Session 1.
Within 20 minutes (an appropriate time frame to call up the anticipation) the team is discussing challenges of living on the moon and building solutions.
GreenhouseShooting Range
Living QuartersPower PlantRecreational AreaCommunication Center
Session 2 involved how we would get to the moon and what we would need to take. Instructions for a rocket ship are included and the team works on what essentials it would carry.
Session 3 is when things start to get fun. The team has to design and build storage for all the things they will need on the moon. There are also instructions with the WeDo set to build their first robot capable of pushing or pulling materials from the rocket ship to storage.
Watching them work together and figure out the programming on their own is an absolute joy.
Pushing BotProgrammingTestingMotion Sensor Bot
Come back to see what they come up with in Session 4: Water on the Moon!
We are fully addicted Lego Maniacs now and that mania was born at Hockessin Library‘s Lego Club. It runs every Tuesday in September, 4:30-5:30 pm. This where I got to see my sons explore piles of bricks and build whatever came to mind. We still visit occasionally and I love watching the children build together, many of them winding down from a busy school day. It’s also gratifying to watch parents and caregivers assisting and, sometimes, building on their own.
Friday, September 7th, 10:30 – 11:15 am, Brandywine Hundred Library‘s Lego Storytime will focus on early childhood literacy and problem solving skills. My sons love to recreate and extend stories with their bricks.
Saturdays, September 8th and 22nd, 1:00 – 2:00 pm, South Coastal Library‘s Lego Club is for children 6 to 11 and requires preregistration by stopping by or calling the library at 302-539-5231.
Mondays, September 10th, 17th, and 24th, 3:00 – 5:00 pm, Brandywine Hundred Library‘s Lego Club is the place to be. Miss Katherine provides themes each week, but free building is encouraged for all ages. This program is dear to us as it was born out of local efforts by home educators working with this great library.
Wednesdays, September 12th and 26th, 3:30 – 4:30 pm, Claymont Library hosts their Lego Club for ages 4 and up.
Wednesday, September 12th, and Friday, September 28th, 6:30 -8:00 pm, feature a monthly building project at Newark Free Library‘s Library Lego Land Club for ages 5 to 10.
Saturday, September 15th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Bear Library‘s Lego Club is directed at children ages 6 to 12. And Delaware City Library‘s Lego Club will have themed building for a similar age range, 2:00 – 3:00 pm.
Monday, September 17th, 6:00 – 8:00 pm, Bear Library‘s Lego WeDo Robotics Club just went on my personal calendar. I’m coaching a FIRST Lego League Jr. team this season and I’m looking to learn more about WeDo, an introductory build-and-program system. Registration required at the Kids desk or call (302) 838-3300.
Tuesday, September 18th, 6:30 – 7:30 pm, Appoquinimink Community Library‘s Lego Club requests registration through this link for ages 5-11. There will be construction challenges and free building.
Wowzers. Lego is expensive and none of these programs will cost you a dime. If your local library doesn’t have a Lego program, just ask. Many of them have a bin of bricks that aren’t being utilized. Maybe even step up and volunteer to host one yourself. You’ll be amazed at what children create.
Each month, The Lego Store releases a calendar of in-store and online promotions. A PDF of September’s calendar can be downloaded here. The online promotions offer extra VIP points and bonus items for specific purchases and early access to more in-demand sets.
It’s a good idea to join the Lego VIP Loyalty Program as much of what is discussed in this article will require this free membership.
August 6 – September 30th describes the in-store building promotion. This is a fun bin of Lego elements designed to excite you about the theme of the moment. Nothing to take home, but a chance to see some of the elements you might find in your next set.
September 11 – 12 are the dates for the VIP Monthly Mini Model Build. You must have a VIP account and the builder(s) must be between 6 and 14 years of age. Registration opens online here on the 15th of the previous month. Slots begin at 3:00 pm and continue on to closing. These models can be taken home and the program is free. If you make a monthly habit of this one you can grow an eclectic little collection in no time.
The third or fourth Monday features my favorite Lego program: Minifigure Swap Monday! This is also for ages 6-14, but a guardian can participate as long as he or she is polite with the staff and lets the children do the real choosing. This is a free program in which children can refresh their minifig collection by trading with the store’s (and sometimes an employee’s) grab bag of minifigs. A “minifigure” consists of five elements: head, torso, legs, headpiece (hat/hair/helmet/etc.), and accessory (anything carried in its hand or on its back). You do not have to stick to a theme for your offering, but this is a generous program and please consider that other children may be excited to find what you have left. Don’t bring in dirty, scratched, or broken elements.
We were rather fortunate on our last trade and walked away with a couple brand new Harry Potter/Fantastic Beasts minifigs as well as Superman’s dad!
September 19 features an exciting build-and-take magic wand. You do not need to be a VIP member, but you do have to stop in the store or call (Christiana Mall Lego Store: 302-453-1897) to register beginning September 1. On weekdays, build times are usually 5:00 pm-7:00 pm. On weekends, the events often run 10:00 am-12:00 pm. Registration for these build-and-take events always opens on the 1st of the same month. Ages 6-14.
The Lego Life Meetings offer a chance to build the September Mini Model Build, make it your own creation, and enter it in a contest to win one of two $50 Lego Store gift cards. These events cost $10 per child ages 6-14. Registration opens on the 1st of the previous month (August 1st in this case).
August 13 – October 7 describes another in-store building promotion. This one is a little different and a bit more fun as you can display your creation right in the store.
Almost all of these programs are free. Yes, they’re designed to get you in the store and buy something; however, if you regularly visit the store and don’t buy your children something, they will learn that a lot of enjoyment can be had without opening mom or dad’s wallet.
This has been a big week. I skated along the edge of disaster and took on three new responsibilities that mean a lot to me and provide me the opportunity to create value for others. I can’t rate them as each is aligned with my passions.
The invitation to write for Macaroni Kid Wilmington-Newark-New Castle gives me a tangible way to share and promote many of the enriching experiences our area has to offer. Nothing in my life is expressly separate from our grief journey, but this will be much more than the story of us “moving on.”
As a volunteer Community Outreach Moderator for Homeschool Delaware I’ll be able to create formal relationships with many of the local educational resource providers that we already know and love. I’ll also get to form new relationships and build connections between the home-education community and the wider world. There are many local resources not being exploited during the school day. I believe that home education is for all; not necessarily full time, but as a lifestyle outside of school. By facilitating more programs directed at smaller groups of children with broader age ranges, I believe we can benefit families of all educational stripes.
I’m also back in a managing role with Classics II, the over-30, co-recreational soccer team that has meant so much to me in the last ten years. My late wife was my co-manager, accountant, cheerleader, roster adviser, inspiration to stay fit and play hard (she wasn’t easily impressed, it was my greatest joy when she was), and confidant. A couple great friends and teammates have stepped up to help me lead the team again.
There are FOUR new responsibilities! I’m coaching a FIRST Lego League Jr. team. I’m not quite an AFOL (okay, maybe I am), but my sons are insane for the bricks and programming, so this is the best game in town. We finally received all the materials and will start sharing that journey here as well.
