Learning via hands-on activities is a great way for kids to increase their cognitive abilities while having fun. Specifically, exercising imagination and feelings of self-efficacy can be achieved by creating things that can be kept and admired for years to come. One way to engage kids in education-centered projects is to increase their interest in building models such as those of ships, cars or even houses. Creating a miniature model of a structure usually leads to interest in learning how the real life structures are assembled. For youngsters who wish to be architectures this is an especially interesting sort of project.
There are all kinds of modeling projects that are targeted at specific age groups to ensure that the building is not either too advanced or too simple. Michael’s art supply store has a number of “creatology” foam kit sets that offer children as young as age six the opportunity to construct small houses that they can then use as toys.
Older children will better appreciate complicated models that can range from subjects of ships to cars to space shuttles. Although toys stores have some advanced models, specialty shops and websites are the best place to find the widest range of models. Ehobbies.com is an example of one such model-kit-focused website.
Yet to find the best selection of building blocks with the widest range of topics and age groups, Legos are the primary tool of choice. Jumbo Lego sets can be brought for small children while tiny-pieced sets are perfect for older children and adults. Lego kits can be part of a bigger franchise like Star Wars and Harry Potter or else they can mirror things in real life like police stations and hospitals. Either way, Legos can be used to build the exact models depicted on the box or use the blocks to explore one’s own imagination and create new structures. Additionally, the finished Lego projects can be used as play sets for a long time after the building process is completed which makes them particularly appealing to elementary school aged children.
There are a lot of ways to build structures and many different materials that can be used in the process. Whether a child is interested in building models in order to better understand architecture or simply to create a new plaything, the experience of making something look as good as it does on the box creates a sense of accomplishment in children that they will not soon forget and which might, in time, provoke them to continue exploring new ways to build things and imagine structures for the future. For children who are interested in architecture and engineering, toys that center on building and construction are especially invaluable learning tools.
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