Why Can't LEGO Click?

A reader writes "This article from FastCompany.com contains a fascinating history of Lego, from wooden toys and the basic eight-stud brick to Star Wars kits and Mindstorms. According to the article, changes in the way children play has made the Danish toymaker struggle to adapt, while holding on to the values that helped build it's reputation. 'Once, for a brief moment, Lego changed the way kids played as well as the way kids learned to think. Lego hasn't been that kind of leader in a long time.'" The article itself paints a sad picture - LEGOs were such an integral part of my growing up, I can't imagine growing up without them. My favorite thing was to construct vast cities, and then launch billiards balls at them, pretending it was meteors coming down. Hurm. I think that may disqualify me from ever being put in charge of heavy weapons ordnance.

Comments

Re:Construx.

[Christopher Thomas]

I was never a fan of LEGOs (for whatever reason) but I really did like to build things w/Construx. god only knows how many times I built myself into a box and had to have my mom come and try to get me out w/o breaking the new creation I made.

I used to amuse myself by building towers that reached the ceiling (at least three times my height in those days) :).

Through much deviousness, I also managed to build a working Construx pendulum clock at one point... even if the hand went a quarter-turn around with each tick. (Show your kids the guts of an old-fashioned pendulum clock some day; I was endlessly fascinated by those as a kid.)

The most challenging task, though, was to build construx mazes for my hamster in such a way that he couldn't push any of the panels out. The trick was to make sure that all of the panels attached from the inside of the tunnels, which imposed interesting design constraints.

I had the good fortune to be exposed to many building toys as a kid. Construx is still one of my favourites.

As a side note, two-by-fours and nails work too. Let your kids help build the tree-fort you're making for them :). Just take steps to ensure safety if the bottom floor is above ground level.