Leggo My LEGO

There was a time, long, long ago, when televisions had rabbit ears, computers were as big as a garage and music played on tapes the size of a stack of Denny’s pancakes. There were no iPods, no laptops, no remote controls. Try explaining that to your five year-old.

Then there’s LEGO. We ‘get’ LEGO because we played with it as kids. Kids ‘get’ LEGO because they use it to create (square-themed) yellow, red and blue versions of their own unadulterated universe (what bliss).

Since there are so many LEGO fans in Calgary (ahem, we do have the only LEGO retail store in Canada, located in Chinook Centre), we have also scored the first and only Bricks4Kidz franchise north of the border.

Bricks4Kidz is an educational program based around LEGO building bricks. Programs start at the preschool age where kids work on developing fine motor skills while practicing their ABC’s and 123’s. They then extend through elementary school, where kids are introduced to basic engineering, mechanics and architecture principles. Some of the coolest camps and after-school activities include introductions into the world of LEGO MINDSTORMS robotic toys, where creations literally come to life through the use of software and sensors.

Bricks4Kidz launched earlier this year and hosts birthday parties on weekends (they’re popular, so book early). They are expanding their program this month with Spring Break camps for kids five and up (there are still spots available). In the morning, children build and play with motorized vehicles, and kids six and up can opt to stay in the afternoon as well to explore Jr. Robotics Camps at the Scenic Acres Community Association.

They also run after-school programs at a variety of locations throughout the city, and are currently accepting registration for some super cool summer camps including Stop Motion Movie Making and Space Adventures Camps.

Designed to be an educational program, Beth and Jim Thompson (owners and parents to a four and six year-old) hire certified teachers to run their after-school and summer programming.

And keep in mind that you can’t buy this LEGO in a store. In fact, you can’t even purchase LEGO Education products and software in Canada, which makes Bricks4Kidz an extra-special trip into the world of bricks and blocks.

Close the generation gap and rediscover the power of play with a trip back in time to your own childhood snapped together on the kitchen table.

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