With the vast number of sets available, you may be wondering how to buy the best LEGO set for your kids. Even if your child is new to LEGO, or is an experienced builder, it can be challenging to pick a set you know your child will love. Fortunately, there are some easy ways to break this down. In this post, we will examine the top 3 ways to buy the best LEGO set.

Top 3 Ways to Buy the Best LEGO Set

1. Use our flowchart below to pick the best set fast!
2. Shop by age.
3. Shop by theme.

Let’s explore each of these three methods below.

The Brick Parent Flowchart

Our flowchart algorithm provides a quick and easy way to pick the best set! Start at the top and work your way down by answering to questions to have the algorithm pick the best theme for your child. Only the most popular themes are included. See the “Shop by Theme” section below for a list of all of the LEGO themes to choose from.

We think this flowchart is pretty amazing! But, if it doesn’t seem right for you, then continue on to Shop by Age or Theme!

Shop By Age

There a couple of different ways to sort LEGO sets by age. The official LEGO website does it one way, whereas other big retailers like Amazon categorize the ages a bit differently. We have included 5 main age categories below. The most important points to remember is that the younger kids start with LEGO DUPLO, and then graduate to regular sized bricks at age 4+. The sets then increase in size, complexity, and time to build all the way up to sets made especially for adults!

LEGO Age Categories

Check out the different age categories below to help you narrow down the best LEGO set to get!

Ages 1-3

LEGO DUPLO sets are perfect for little ones who are new to building and are developing their fine motor skills.

Ages 4-6

Look for the special “4+” on the box, which designates these sets are made of regular sized LEGO bricks but are a bit easier to build.

Ages 7-11

Themes such as the Creator 3-in-1 are larger, more complex, and offer alternative builds.

Ages 12+

These sets are more challenging and detailed. They provide hours of build time and fun.

Adults (Ages 18+)

Of course, there are sets made for adults! These are the most challenging builds and will take many hours to complete. They are perfect as a gift for your favorite AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO)!

Now that you know the different age groups, you can further narrow down your choice of set by theme.

Shop by Theme

Another great way to make sure you buy the best LEGO set is to choose the right theme! You can use our flowchart above to have it pick one of the best and most popular themes for you, or you can browse the list of the current themes below. Note that this list is subject to change as themes are changed, updated, or retired.

List of Current LEGO Themes (2021)

To shop by theme, browse the list below to help you narrow down the best set to get!

Architecture

View iconic cityscapes, buildings and landmarks from across the globe. Build cities like San Fransisco, Paris, or London, and landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty or the Empire State Building.

Batman

Fight crime with the Dark Knight against his greatest foes including the Joker, Harley Quinn and The Penguin. Assemble gadgets and vehicles such as the 1989 Batwing or the Classic TV Series Batmobile.

BOOST

Utilize the free LEGO Boost tablet app to create and code models with motors and sensors. Bring creations such as a robot to life!

BrickHeadz

These blocky figures incorporate many different themes into their unique art style. From wild animals to pets, and Disney to Star Wars, you can find your favorite characters reimagined.

Brick Sketches

Discover these small portraits of your favorite heroes including Batman, BB-8, First Order Stormtrooper, Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, and The Joker.

City

One of the most popular themes, create your LEGO world with these iconic sets. Explore police, fire, space, ocean, racing, and train sets, including vehicles and buildings to complete your city.

Classic

If you are new to LEGO these sets are perfect as they include many loose bricks and build ideas. For even more ideas check out our list of the Top 10 Best LEGO Books for Parents and Kids.

Creator 3-in-1

Vehicles, animals, and buildings are just some of the things you can build with these sets. Each set is able to be built 3 different ways to keep the creativity going.

Creator Expert

Advanced sets such as the NASA Space Shuttle Discovery, the Colosseum (the largest LEGO set to date), Flower Bouquet, and Police Station are included in this theme. If you are looking for a true challenge pick up one of these sets.

DC

Build and play with your favorite heroes from the DC Universe, such as Wonder Woman and Superman.

Disney

Play with your favorite Disney characters, princesses, heroes, and villains with these sets. Build your best-loved stories with all the castles, vehicles, towers, and minifigures that you need.

DOTS

Make arts and craft projects with these unique decorated tiles, such as picture frames, bag tags, and bracelets.

DUPLO

Your little one will love playing with these larger sized blocks, specially made for kids under 4 years old.

Friends

Explore the word of LEGO with your best friends. Heartlake City is home to shops, a park, a hotel, a beach, and a hospital, just to name a few buildings where the Friends go on their adventures.

Frozen 2

Bring your favorite moments from the Frozen II movie to life with these magical sets. Discover your favorite characters from the movie in minifigure form, along with epic locations and playsets.

Harry Potter

The Wizarding World of Harry Potter comes to life with these incredible sets. Relive your favorite magical moments from the movies and books.

Ideas

Your own personal ideas can become a real LEGO set! These sets are all designed by LEGO enthusiasts from all over the world. If an idea receives over 10,000 votes within a period of time, it is judged by the LEGO Group and if it wins, becomes a real product. You have to be over the age of 13 to vote. Some of the awesome ideas include the Ship in a Bottle, Winnie the Pooh, Medieval Blacksmith, and Central Perk from FRIENDS.

Jurassic World

Straight from the blockbuster Jurassic World movies, these sets include dinosaurs and characters from the films.

Art

Hang these unique art sets on your wall! Each one has 3 or 4 different building options, from Marvel Studios Iron Man, Andy Warhol’s Marilyn Monroe, Disney’s Mickey Mouse, Harry Potter Hogwarts Crests, or Star Wars The Sith. Additionally, every set comes with a soundtrack for listening while you build, and an informational booklet.

Education

Normally, these sets are only available for schools, but are now available for a limited time to help with home learning. They explore STEAM concepts and skills with guides and learning activities.

Originals

Design your own 5:1 version of the LEGO minifigure made out of oak, inspired by the very first toys made out of wood by LEGO’s creator, Ole Kirk Christiansen. Check out the LEGO Wooden Minifigure on the online LEGO Shop.

Super Mario

Create your own Super Mario adventure by designing your own course. LEGO Mario has a built-in LCD screen, speaker, and motion sensor so he knows if he is collecting coins, smashing a Goomba, or jumping! LEGO Luigi is now available!

Marvel

The Marvel Universe comes to life with your favorite Avengers and other Marvel heroes and super villains.

MINDSTORMS

Build robots that can talk, walk, think, and more! Control it with the included remote or your own smart device.

Minecraft

Bring the world of Minecraft to life with unique landscapes and minifigures straight from the highly popular online game.

Minifigures

Mystery bags contain highly collectable LEGO Minifigures from incredible themes such as Looney Tunes, Disney, and Harry Potter.

Minions

The Despicable Me and Minions movies brought us these lovable, mischievous characters. Play out your favorite moments with these sets.

Monkie Kid

A centuries-old Chinese legend is brought to life with these heroic sets.

NINJAGO

Ninjas battle the forces of evil with these unique playsets, including dragons, mechs and vehicles.

Power Functions

Power your LEGO sets with motors, lights, and more with these additions to your creations.

Powered UP

A newer version of power functions, these components add LED lights, power hubs, smart motors, and color and distance sensors to your builds.

SERIOUS PLAY

LEGO Serious Play is a professional workshop used by businesses to promote creative thinking and communication.

Speed Champions

Ultra fast cars from Porsche, Ferrari, and Lamborghini are able to be built with these sets.

Spider-Man

Your friendly neighborhood wall-crawler comes to life with these web-slinging sets.

Star Wars

Bring the galaxy from far, far, away to your living room with these epic playsets. Be sure to check out all of our content on LEGO Star Wars.

Stranger Things

From the popular Netflix series, explore The Upside Down.

Technic

Experienced builders will love the elements in these sets such as gears, axles, wheels, and beams. Build challenging vehicles such as monster trucks, excavators, hovercraft, and race cars.

Trolls World Tour

Inspired by the film, these fun and playful sets will bring adventures from the movie to life.

Toy Story 4

Starring your favorite toys from the movie, these sets are super fun and exciting.

VIDIYO

Make your own music videos with songs from Universal Music Group featuring a case of unique and original minifigures.

Xtra

Expand your brick collection with these accessories for your LEGO City. These sets feature plants, sports equipment, food, and more!

As you can see, there are many different themes to choose from. Pick one your child is interested in and find a cool, unique set they don’t have yet!

Buy The Best LEGO Set

The “best LEGO set” can be different for almost everyone! But we hope that by using one (or more) of these methods, you will be able to buy the best LEGO set for your friend, child, or other loved one. I hope you are able to create and share some amazing memories with your family.

The post How to Buy the Best LEGO Sets for Kids appeared first on The Brick Parent.

Which method do you use when sorting LEGO bricks? How long does it take you to find a specific LEGO brick or specialty piece you are looking for? More than a couple of minutes? Do you have to dump your entire collection out onto the floor to search for a missing piece?

If you are answering yes to any of these questions, you are sorting your LEGO bricks incorrectly. Yes, it is possible to do so. I also was sorting them incorrectly for almost 30 years. This guide will examine why most of us are sorting our LEGO bricks incorrectly and what do to about it. We will examine if your collection is sorted wrong (it probably is), and why you should take the time and effort to sort it correctly. Believe it or not, you will save time in the long run.

You are Sorting LEGO Bricks Wrong

First, we need to examine your LEGO collection and determine if it is sorted incorrectly. Take a look at the images below.

Top clues to determine if you can sort your bricks more effectively:

LEGO bricks are not sorted at all and are stored all together in a large container. At least the container is transparent.

LEGO bricks are sorted by color. An attempt was made to sort by brick, but this is still very inefficient.

The worst of them all. What is even stored in here? There are too many boxes and cannot even tell what is inside.

Why You are Sorting LEGO Wrong

If your LEGO collection looks like one of those above, it’s not you’re fault! In all the years of collecting LEGO, no one ever told us the correct way to sort them. The majority of LEGO is purchased in sets, which come in pre-sorted bags in the order of how to build the set. Unless you are planning on displaying the built set, or sort your collection by sets, you need a good way to sort the bricks.

Sorting your LEGO bricks takes some time, planning, and adequate space for storage, so unfortunately, the path of least resistance is to throw all of your loose bricks into a plastic bin and hope for the best. This method makes it extremely inefficient to find the exact brick you are looking for, as most of the time is spent digging through a huge pile of bricks.

Why You Should Take the Time to Sort LEGO Right

Putting the initial investment of time to sort your LEGO bricks correctly is well worth it. There are many benefits of doing so:

• You will only have to sort your collection once. Digging through a large plastic bin or pile of bricks on the floor will be a thing of the past. Think about how many times you saw the same brick over and over, and not the one you were looking for.
• You can find the needed brick in a matter of seconds. This will save a lot of time in the long run.
• Your LEGO brick inventory will be much easier to keep track of. You will know much more efficiently which bricks you have, but also which ones you are missing.
• Find missing bricks from your existing sets. It will be much easier to find those one of a kind pieces to complete a missing set.

LEGO Parts Categories

The BrickLink Catalog currently lists over 16,700 sets, 65,400 parts, and 13,000 minifigures. Therefore, you can see why it is important to have a sorting strategy.

BrickLink further breaks the parts down into the following categories:

The sheer amount of categories can feel overwhelming. Before we start to make sense of it, let’s dive in a bit further. The best way to sort LEGO is by part, which is further broken down by size. The three main categories of parts you will be dealing with will be bricks, plates, and decorated pieces.

LEGO Brick Categories

LEGO “bricks” refer to the standard size bricks, and can be categorized by their size based on the number of “studs” each brick has. Studs are the name for the small bumps on top of each piece.

The major brick categories are the following:

As you can see, the bricks are named in the order of Width by Length by Height. The units of the width and length are in studs, whereas the units off the height are in bricks. For example, a 1 x 2 x 3 brick is 1 stud wide, 2 studs long, and 3 bricks high.

LEGO Plate Categories

LEGO “plates” are like thinner versions of the LEGO bricks. I like to refer to them as “flat” bricks. They can also be categorized by their size based on the number of “studs.”

The major plate categories are the following:

The plates are named in the order of Width by Length. The units of the width and length are in studs. Notice that all of the plates are the same height, which is one-third the height of a brick. Therefore, three plates stacked on top of each other equal the height of one brick.

Decorated Parts

The last main category of bricks to sort are the ones with decorations. You may have noticed that many of the categories have “decorated” in their name. This refers to LEGO bricks and pieces with decorations, patterns, or stickers on them. It is important to sort these pieces separately, as they can be hard to find amongst the solid color bricks. Many of the decorated parts are small 1 x 1 or 1 x 2 tiles.

Different Methods to Sort LEGO

There are many different ways to sort LEGO bricks. A few of them are described at the beginning of this article. Take a look at these methods in more detail below.

Sorting LEGO Bricks All Together

This method guarantees that you will have a very difficult time finding the part that you need. This method is basically taking all of your bricks and putting them in the same large plastic storage bin. Finding the part that you need entails digging around in the large bin, becoming frustrated, and eventually dumping the bricks out onto the floor. There is a better way!

Sorting by Color

This is another method that seems like an improvement, but it is not much better than sorting the bricks all together. This method involves sorting all the bricks of the same color together, without regards to size, shape, or type. This method might work for colors where you don’t have a lot of bricks, but for the larger colors such as black, grey, or white, it doesn’t work very well. It is still difficult to find smaller or decorated pieces.

Sorting by Set

This is a great way to sort LEGO if you are able to accomplish it. The easiest way is to keep the sets separate as you purchase them, and store each set separately. The downside is that this method can take up quite a bit of storage space.

Sorting by Part

In our opinion, this is the best way to sort LEGO. The method involves taking all pieces of the same part and sorting them together, without regards to color. For example, this means taking all of the 1 x 2 bricks of any color and sorting them together. You do not have to use all of the parts categories listed above, but you may find it helpful to use a fair amount of them. The main downside of this method is that it requires a large amount of time to do the sorting, but as described above, it is well worth it.

The Best Way to Sort LEGO

In conclusion, the best method of sorting LEGO is by part! If you are sorting your bricks wrong, now you don’t have to worry! We hope you have found this comprehensive guide to sorting LEGO helpful. Let us know in the comments what method you use.

The post Biggest Mistakes When Sorting LEGO and How to Fix Them appeared first on The Brick Parent.

LEGO is extremely popular and doesn’t go on sale very often. However, it is possible to find LEGO sales and deals, you just have to have a little patience and know where to look! What follows below is a list of where to find LEGO on sale.

LEGO Online Store

The LEGO website has a sales and deals page where you can find exclusive items. The selection on sale typically isn’t that large. You should sign up to be a LEGO VIP to earn points on your purchases which you can redeem for special rewards, including discounts and collectable items.

Kohl’s

Kohl’s sometimes has LEGO sets on sale. You can use Kohl’s Cash to pay for LEGO purchases, even though they are not eligible for promotional offers and discounts.

Amazon

Amazon typically has a small collection of LEGO sets that are on sale or are offered less than retail price. They aren’t all listed together in one spot, so you might have to search around a bit.

Target

Target usually has a very small list of LEGO sets on sale online. We have also found sets in the clearance section at the end of the aisles in the physical store. This takes some luck to find, so don’t pass them by when you find one!

Walmart

Walmart has LEGO Deals of the Week, with a pretty large collection of sets on sale. Some sets are sold by third parties online through their website.

Costco

Costco has a small collection of LEGO sets available online. They have a larger collection in the physical stores when you can catch them in stock.

Walgreens

Don’t forget about pharmacies that carry toys, such as Walgreens that has a decent small collection of LEGO sets.

Slickdeals

Coupon or deals sites such as Slickdeals has a nice list of sales, deals, coupons and promo codes.

Reddit

Reddit’s Lego Set Deals sub is a great resource to find and share LEGO sales.

As you can see, there are many different sites and stores to find LEGO sales. With a little bit of luck and patience, you can find some great deals!

The post How to Find LEGO Sales appeared first on The Brick Parent.

Hopefully your LEGO storage looks more like the right of the picture than the left. However, it is not uncommon that LEGO bricks are stored in multiple containers with no easy way to see what is inside! This post will cover the best solutions for LEGO storage. Included are some of our favorite storage containers and solutions.

IRIS Storage Solutions

IRIS is a great brand for your storage needs. We have several of the below storage containers for organizing our collection. The latched lids are great for kids to carry around so the bricks don’t fall out.

6-Case Activity Chest with Organizer Top

This activity chest by IRIS comes with 6 removable multicolored cases. Each of these cases has an attached lid. The lid latches on well for easy transport and to keep the LEGO bricks from falling out. The assorted colors are nice for a children’s room or toy room. We have one of these units in our LEGO room and it works very well. I like that the cases slide in and out easily.

2-Piece Sorting Tray Dividing Set

These sorting trays by IRIS come in a set of two. They fit perfectly inside the above activity cases. They are very helpful to sort and store accessories, small bricks, or one-of-a-kind pieces. We have a set of these which we use to sort minifigure accessories, bricks with decorations or patterns, and vehicle accessories, such as steering wheels.

6-Case Scrapbook Cart with Organizer Top

This scrapbook cart by IRIS also comes with 6 removable cases. The cases are clear, but the outside tower comes in white or black. These cases are larger than the ones in the activity chest above. Therefore, they will not fit the sorting trays as well. However, the larger case size allows a lot more LEGO bricks to fit inside. The cases latch well so the bricks cannot fall out. We also have one of these in our LEGO room.

10-Drawer Cart with Organizer Top

This storage cart by IRIS comes with 10 drawers. Each drawer has plastic tabs in the back to prevent it from falling out, but they are also removable by pressing the sides in pulling the drawer out. Adult assistance would be required to remove the drawer. We have one of these carts in our LEGO room. We use it to store wheels and other larger items such as plates. The cart also comes in 4-drawer and 7-drawer sizes.

Storage Cabinets

Storage cabinets with drawers of varying sizes are a great way to sort smaller bricks or pieces.

44-Drawer Storage Hardware and Craft Cabinet

This storage cabinet by Akro-Mils comes with 44-drawers. Only 8 small drawer dividers and 4 large drawer dividers are included, but not all storage cabinets have the ability to support dividers. Storage cabinets like these are great for LEGO storage. Be sure to store it in a place where it can’t fall over! We don’t have one of these yet in our LEGO room, but it is on our list! They come in many different sizes, such as 24-drawer and 64-drawer.

Storage Containers

Storage containers are great for storing complete sets, instruction manuals, and bricks with decorations or patterns. They come in many different sizes and are stackable. We like to store several smaller containers inside the larger ones to stay even more organized!

6-Quart/5.7 Liter Storage Boxes

These small storage boxes by Sterilite are great to store individual LEGO sets, instruction manuals, or loose bricks. You can even stack and store several small boxes together in a larger box. They are clear which makes it convenient to see what is stored inside. We have several of these in our collection for storing complete LEGO sets.

We hope that these LEGO storage solutions help organize your collection! Let us know in the comments what your favorite storage solutions are!

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How do some people seem to have such large LEGO brick collections? They are buying LEGO in bulk! This post will show you how and where to buy bulk LEGO. There are many different ways to buy LEGO by the pound. Generally, LEGO bricks sell for about $5 – $10 per pound. It can even be higher if minifigures or full sets are included.

Below are the top 5 best options to buy bulk LEGO. For a more in-depth guide of all of your buying options, check out our post on 58 different ways to buy LEGO bricks and LEGO sets.

Buy Locally

The best option to buy LEGO in bulk is from local sellers such as yard sales, or using local resale apps like OfferUp. You can save a lot on shipping costs and score great deals, but finding these local sellers can be difficult. Using an app can make the process easier, but you might have to be patient to find a great deal. Check out our in-depth Guide to Buying Bulk LEGO Using the OfferUp App.

Pick-a-Brick Online or in LEGO Stores

The LEGO Shop online has a pick a brick section of over 1,300 bricks to choose from. In LEGO stores, they have a pick a brick wall where you can fill up a small or large cup with loose bricks. The section from store to store varies and is not as large as online.

Ebay

Ebay has a large selection of bulk LEGO lots. A random search for “bulk LEGO” yielded over 11,600 results. Prices on this site can run higher than the $10/lb price point though, especially when factoring in shipping costs. It can take a lot of patience and hunting to find a good deal.

Amazon

Amazon has some selection of LEGO in bulk, but this is a better place to buy individual LEGO sets. The price point can be a bit higher here also.

BrickLink

BrickLink has a huge selection from individual sellers. You can buy as many bricks as they have in their inventory, typically for reasonable prices. This is a better site to purchase individual bricks, but I always like to add a few (or a lot) of extra bricks if I’m placing an order. I’m paying for shipping anyway!

With time, patience, and a bit of luck, you can greatly expand your collection using these sources! What places do you prefer to find your bulk lots? Let us know in the comments!

The post How to Buy Bulk LEGO appeared first on The Brick Parent.

Maybe you are passing your old LEGO sets down to your kids. Maybe you purchased a big plastic bin full of LEGO bricks from a yard sale. It is only a matter of time before you notice a brick or two is missing! Sometimes all it takes is just a few bricks to make a set complete again. The good news is that it is possible to just buy individual LEGO pieces.

Below are the top 3 best tips and tricks of how to find these missing LEGO bricks! For even more ways to purchase or replace individual pieces, check out our guide on 58 ways to buy LEGO bricks and LEGO sets.

Order or purchase missing bricks from LEGO Customer Service

If you have a new set that has missing or broken bricks, you should visit LEGO Customer Service. LEGO also has an online shop to buy replacement bricks. Although, their prices for individual bricks may be a bit higher than other sites and their inventory isn’t as robust. Currently, purchases are taking about 5-7 weeks to be delivered.

Borrow missing bricks from another set

The fastest way to find missing bricks is to simply “borrow” them from your collection of loose bricks or other another set. You might want to keep track of what you are borrowing, because that set will now be missing the same brick! This method only works if you happen to have the missing brick in another set. I like to keep track of these “borrowed” bricks so I can add them to my shopping cart the next time I’m placing an order.

Purchase missing bricks from BrickLink

BrickLink is the largest online LEGO marketplace. They have the largest selection and should have any part that you might ever need. The inventory depends on the individual sellers’ storefronts, but the selection is vast. The bricks are purchased directly from these online resellers. The best way to find a missing brick is to search by the set number and then click on the parts inventory to find a listing of all the bricks included in the set. You can also see a listing of the online stores that are selling that particular brick, and for what price. Be sure to keep shipping costs and minimum order requirements in mind when placing an order.

With these three methods above, you should be able to find any missing LEGO bricks for you or your child’s sets.

The post How to Find Missing LEGO Bricks appeared first on The Brick Parent.

Inevitably, instructions for LEGO sets go missing. Whether they get old and worn over time, or you purchased a big lot of loose bricks, you likely have a need to find missing LEGO instructions! Luckily, there are several ways to do so!

LEGO Customer Service

LEGO Customer Service provides a free online database of downloadable instructions. You can search by set number, theme, year, or keyword. Currently, these sets only go back to 1996, so if you need instructions for an older set it might not be available. The instructions provided here are high-quality PDF downloads, which do not have any color distortion in the images.

BrickInstructions.com

Brick Instructions also provides a free online database of downloadable instructions. You can search by keyword or set number. These sets go back all the way to 1965, however the quality of the scanned images isn’t always the best. One issue with the instructions is that the colors can appear darker than normal. This can cause some confusion when trying to pick the right color for a build, such as between dark grey or black.

BrickLink

BrickLink is the largest online LEGO marketplace and is owned by the LEGO Group. You can purchase instructions on this site directly from the online sellers. Typically the prices are not too high for just the instructions, however, shipping costs or minimum order requirements may preclude you from just ordering a booklet or two. You may want to combine it with a larger order to get the most for your money.

With these three above methods you should be able to find the instructions you are looking for, for free or very cheap! Let us know in the comments any tips and tricks on how you find your missing instructions!

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Are you and your child new to the World of LEGO and are wondering where to begin? Then “The Brick Parent Starter Guide” is for you!

Below is a step-by-step guide to starting out! It will continue to be updated as our blog grows and expands! Feel free to follow them in order, or skip around as guided by your needs and interests!

Please comment below how this guide has been helpful to you and any suggestions on what to add!

LEGO is About Family

One of my earliest childhood memories is of myself coming down the stairs on Christmas morning to find the LEGO set 6285 Black Seas Barracuda (pictured on the right) completely built sitting on the coffee table. At the time, I was too young to be able to build it myself, but I couldn’t believe the amazing sight I was beholding. I remember years later my mom told me that my dad had stayed up all night building it (I can believe that after spending hours building the 71044 Disney Train and Station for my son). This epic pirate ship was one of the first LEGO sets I ever owned, and helped to launch my lifelong hobby.

Over 30 years later, the original Black Seas Barracuda has survived! Although, it needs a few missing or damaged parts replaced. (I accidently melted the cannons with matches when trying to make a LEGO movie decades ago – DO NOT try this at home!)

Now as a parent myself, I am thrilled to be able to share my hobby with my child. Not every parent may have grown up with LEGO as I did, so they may need some help and guidance with getting started! LEGO has been around for decades and there is a lot to learn and know. Below is our starter guide for parents, which provides an overview of how to begin your LEGO hobby with your kids.

Parents Starter Guide

Step 1: Sign up for the free LEGO Life Magazine

• Explore how and why you should sign your child up for the LEGO Magazine! It is completely free and you can keep up to date on the newest sets and news. Don’t forget to also sign up for the free VIP weekly newsletter!

Step 2: Find missing instructions

• It can be very frustrating to not have the correct instructions for the set you want to build! Fortunately, there are a couple of free ways to find the missing instructions that you need! No more taping ripped or torn instructions back together!

Step 3: Find missing bricks

• Are you ever in the middle of building a set and can’t seem to find a brick or two to complete it? This post will help you discover how to replace missing bricks to complete your sets or custom creations.

Step 4: How to buy LEGO bricks in bulk

• How is it that some families seem to have such large collections of bricks? They buy in bulk! Learn how to expand your collection or bricks, minifigures, and specialty pieces.

Step 5: How to sort LEGO bricks

• Now that you have a large LEGO collection, you should check out how to sort your bricks correctly. Learn how to find the brick you want quickly and efficiently.

Step 6: Best storage solutions

• As your collection grows it can quickly become a storage nightmare! A large plastic bin is not the answer! Discover how to store LEGO efficiently and effectively.

Step 7: How to find LEGO sales and deals

• It is not that hard to find sales and deals on LEGO! Explore this list of websites and stores to find great sales, deals, coupon codes, and more.

We hope that this comprehensive parents guide to LEGO has been helpful for you! We would love to hear from you in the comments with any questions or feedback. Which part of the guide do you like the most?

The post New to LEGO Starter Guide appeared first on The Brick Parent.

What should you do when your child starts to show an interest in LEGO? Sign up for the FREE LEGO Magazine! This is your way to stay connected to the latest news, sets, and trends. Plus, kids love receiving their own mail!

At some point almost 20 years ago, I stopped receiving the LEGO Magazine. As a kid, I used to love looking through these and circling what I wanted for Christmas or my birthday. The photo above shows my only four magazines from the late ’90s and early 2000s that survived.

Recently, I found myself asking, what happened to the LEGO magazine? I don’t remember ever unsubscribing to it! When I was a kid, it was called the LEGO Club Magazine. As of 2017 the name is now the LEGO Life Magazine.

How Can You Sign Up for the LEGO Magazine?

You can sign up your child for the magazine online here. Before you can sign up, you have to login or sign up for a LEGO account. It might take up to 6 – 16 weeks for the first issue to arrive. The website states that is is only for children ages 5-9, but I was able to sign my son up for it (who is under the age of 5). Starting with the last issue of 2020, there are now two different versions of the magazine. One for children below age 7 and one for children above age 7.

You can also download prior issues here.

The magazine is completely free and is mailed four times a year! Let us know in the comments how long it took you to receive, and what your favorite parts are!

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