It’s a common lament that the proliferation of LEGO sets, and especially branded LEGO sets (Harry Potter, Star Wars, etc.) is a sign of the times – that we are systematically destroying creativity in the play of our children.
I argue the opposite. For most LEGO kids, yes, LEGO instructions are just rules to follow to get a finished toy to play with. But plenty of future creative individuals use that as a jumping-off point to use their creativity, remixing and mashing up LEGO sets to create their own worlds.
Furthermore, and more importantly, kids can learn creative patterns by following someone else’s patterns, to start. They learn the mechanics of building, the engineering requirements, the logic of design, and the (literal) building blocks that they can use for their own creations.
It’s a little like the painting parties I see many people post about on Facebook. A group of people get together and learn to paint the same picture. It’s fun! It’s a creative outlet. And it’s following instructions just as much as building a LEGO set. But do enough of those painting parties, and you’ve learned enough about painting to get started on your own…you’ve learned to be creative through an intermediate step that required less of your own creativity.
Don’t knock LEGO sets, don’t knock painting parties, and DO think about how to use intermediate semi-creative projects to help build creativity in your students and children.