LEGO Games Provide Fun and Creativity

My kids have always been fans of building with LEGO® bricks, as well as playing with board games. So when LEGO® launched their new line of interactive board games using their famous bricks to construct the games themselves, I knew this was a great option for our family. My kids now own several of these games, and we have had a lot of fun playing them as a family. While some are more difficult than others, they all hone creativity, which is a huge plus in today's world of seemingly non-stop television and video games.

Most of the LEGO® board games start with a game board and die that's actually constructed out of LEGOs®. The game comes with an instruction manual, just like any other LEGO® kit, so kids can build the game themselves. Once the board is constructed, there's a separate manual with the rules of the game. The starting age for the games varies from ages five to seven, and the difficulty of each game varies accordingly. The basic rules of each game are fairly simple and fun to play. But the best part is that LEGO® has added several variations for each game to keep kids engaged. Just like the bricks can be mixed and matched to form new creations, so can the rules and elements of the board games. Even the die can be taken apart and reformed to vary game play. Kids are also encouraged to come up with their own variations of the rules, which is a fun twist on what kids have been doing for centuries: using basic elements to make up their own games and sets of rules.

The most difficult, yet creative, LEGO® game we have encountered so far is LEGO® Creationary. This game is similar to the classic Pictionary game, but instead of drawing the clues, players construct the clues out of LEGO® bricks. The clues fall into one of four categories: nature, vehicles, buildings, and objects, and there are three difficulty levels from which to choose. The concept is great, but even the lowest-level clues can be difficult to make. Pictures of some of the clues can be found on the box, which helps to get an idea of how to use the bricks provided. However, I wouldn't recommend this game for kids under age 8; younger children could become easily frustrated, since this game can be challenging even for adults.

Overall, I highly recommend LEGO® board games for elementary and middle school-aged kids, especially those who are already fans of building with LEGO® bricks. The games are fun to build and even more fun to play, with endless possibilities on rule variations. My kids enjoy playing them with each other, and they've also been a hit with my husband and me for family game nights. If you'd like to spark creativity in your kids, these games are just the thing.