Summers over Booo!!!! Oh wait no …..YAY!!! To celebrate the start of the school year and the awesome consistency it brings we are having a Back to School week here on Chaotically Creative.
This week you will find everything from how to help kids become more independent, the importance of play, organization in the classroom, and the importance of a healthy meals. Make sure you have subscribed to our newsletter so that you don’t miss a post. 
Do you know why play is so important for children?
During the first 5 years of life, synapses and permanent connections are happening in the young child’s brain. During play children experience the following things which allow for healthy and essential connections to occur.
5 reasons Play is essential
- Teaches children cause and affect relationships.
- Helps build the child’s self esteem .
- Allows opportunities for social interaction.
- Helps children discover their strengths and weaknesses.
- Provides opportunities for learning language, mathematics, science and more.
5 Reasons why Play with LEGOS is essential
- children have the opportunities to learn colors when building with LEGOS.
- children learn strategizing skills and pre-planning when building with LEGOS.
- children learn cause and affect when building with LEGOS.
- children learn math skills when building with LEGOS.
- children strengthen fine motor skills when building with LEGOS.
The importance of play with LEGOS goes on and on….
Now, of course that was the short list. I could honestly write a book on the importance of play. We call each experience part of the scaffolding process when children learn. With each new experience we add a layer to that scaffolding. It’s kind of like building with LEGOS. You start with one brick and then add on top of the first one. Kids start with one brick and as they play and experience all of the opportunities above ….the scaffolding is built.
So just think it all started with a brick…. 
This summer we went to Florida on vacation and one day we decided to swing buy a local museum to see an amazing exhibit. I honestly thought I had seen and done all things LEGO but I was wrong.
After our trip to LEGOland California and the LEGO Discovery Center in Atlanta I thought I had seen all the LEGO creations on Earth.
But I was wrong…..
The first thing I saw when I walked through the Art Gallery doors was this amazing creation by LEGO artist Nathan Sawaya.
And then I thought to myself..
“It all started with A brick”
The whole human experience starts with just one brick and then we build on top of that with each new experience.
Amazing… isn’t it?
LEGOS have been such a huge part of my life in many ways. When I was 19 I was teaching in a pre-school classroom and that is the moment I realized how important these little bricks were to young children.
Making and playing are a critical part of a child’s development as it is how he/she discovers and learns about the world. Making is the simple act of doing. It is both a physical experience—being hands on—and awareness that the world is constantly being built and rebuilt.
In order to develop as creative thinkers, children need opportunities, stimulating environments and engaging materials to Make. Offering young children age-appropriate supplies is an important part of the journey. Materials like LEGO® JUNIORS bricks set kids up for successful, non-frustrating, experiences for them to Make and re-Make.
Looking at the art of Nathan Sawaya you can only imagine where it all started. Just like other makers he started with one brick making simple creations. Just like my kids started with a brick and began their first experience as LEGO Makers. LEGO JUNIORS that are geared towards ages 4-7, they are intended for creative play and step by step building.
LEGO® JUNIORS is designed to give children age 4-7 a great first experience with LEGO bricks through iconic, fun and easy to build models. LEGO JUNIORS sets contain quick start elements and numbered pre-packed bags that can be built without help from Mom or Dad – which makes any small builder extra proud.
Will all kids become LEGO artists like Nathan Sawaya? Probably not.
But they will get the same learning experience that Nathan did while playing and building with LEGOS.
So remember when you are out looking for that next thing for your child remember the importance of play and try choosing something like LEGO JUNIORS!
