My daughter was playing with some rocks and stones in the park and I just smiled indulgently while she carried on with her PLAY. To me, it didn’t look like much more than a small child playing with rocks and stones at that point.
But then I thought about it and with a bit of encouragement, this activity can be turned into a learning event for her– rocks can be sorted into colours, sizes, textures and shapes, and suddenly my daughter has learned something new.
But besides this educational type of PLAY, I have realised PLAY can teach our kids so many other things. With the world changing so fast, it is essential to teach your children values so they can influence the world for the better.
We all know that young kids love to PLAY. It’s in their nature. They have a wild imagination and a wonderful sense of unadulterated fun. But is playing just for fun or is it an integral part of their development?
Values I Want My Kids To Learn From PLAY
Loyalty
Being loyal to their friends is so important. Loyalty amongst friends is a value I have always emphasised with my kids. After all, if things get sticky or they feel excluded, these friends will have their back.
Bravery
There will be ups & downs and while we want to save them from everything, they will stumble, fall and get up again. Being brave when faced with trouble shows your character and makes you even stronger.
Patience
I have always taught my kids to be disciplined & to finish what they started. There have been times when they have been trying to put together a LEGO® set and they just don’t get it right. Tears are shed, and pieces are hurled across the floor. But then in a bit, once they calm down, they pick up the pieces and start again. They just need to learn to be patient.
Thirst For Adventure
Life is a rollercoaster and you just have to learn to enjoy it. Explore, learn, have fun & re-learn – that’s what playing can teach our kids and help them develop their skills along the way.
Trust In Their Skills
There will be days when they feel they are not good enough. Someone is better than them. Her friend can climb the jungle gym higher than her or make a superbug catcher or build a LEGO® NINJAGO® Heatwave Transforming Lava Dragon all on their own. Everyone can’t be good at everything. But I want them to believe in themselves and know that there are so many other things that they are better at and trusting themselves and their skills is important.
And you know which of my favourite characters are known for these skills – Ninjas. The teenage ninja crimefighters from the island of Ninjago – Kai, Nya, Jay, Cole, Zane, Llyod, & Sensei Wu are all working together to defeat the evil in the Ninjago underworld and bring peace. Their favourite phrase is “Never put off until tomorrow what can be done today.” So apt
Sometimes I wonder how one brick at a time can create so many of our favourite characters and themes every month!
We have reviewed 5 epic LEGO® sets this month. From dragons to katanas, from Spinjitzu flips to airships – let the kids role-play & build exciting stories as they travel through Ninjago!
Check out our favourite LEGO® NINJAGO® sets
LEGO® NINJAGO® Kai’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Flip
Ninja fans can help train their hero to do backflips with this LEGO NINJAGO Kai’s Dragon Power Spinjitzu Flip action toy. The playset comes with a Dragon Power Kai Minifigure ready to do tricks, plus an Imperium Droid figure that can tilt side to side when hit.
Age: 6 + years
LEGO® NINJAGO® Heatwave Transforming Lava Dragon
You can play out battles from the NINJAGO Dragons Rising TV series with this Heatwave Transforming Lava Dragon playset. This NINJAGO set comes with Kai and Lloyd, each armed with 2 katanas, Wyldfyre, Imperium Claw Hunter with an Imperium sword and Lord Ras with a golden hammer.
Age: 8 + years
LEGO® NINJAGO® Sora’s Transforming Mech Bike Racer
This building set features an Arin minifigure armed with a katana and a grappling hook, Sora with 2 katanas, and Rapton with an Imperium sword on a glider armed with 2 stud shooters
Age: 8 + years
LEGO® NINJAGO® Destiny’s Bounty – Race Against Time
The iconic LEGO vehicle is now an airship with a roof that can be removed to reveal a navigation room and a playroom with an arcade machine and features a battleship, 2 dragon toys and 6 minifigures ready for aerial action.
Age: 9 + years
LEGO® NINJAGO® City Markets
The world of NINJAGO’s biggest-ever model features 4 floors of shops, restaurants, offices and apartments, as well as a cable car, lift, boat, bridge and even a flushable toilet. There is something for NINJAGO fans old and young in this amazing set, including a bakery, a blacksmith’s, a general store, the Borg store, market stalls, a rooftop food court and a karaoke club with a pool table and stage.
Age: 14 + years
Check out all the best LEGO® Sets here
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