Construction set

Interlocking Disks enable the construction of high-symmetry models such as that of C
₆₀ Fullerene.

A construction set is a standardized piece assortment allowing for the construction of various different models. Construction sets are most often marketed as toys. Popular construction toy brands include Lincoln Logs and LEGO.

Toys

Psychological benefits

Construction toy play is beneficial for building social skills and building trust in others because it acts as a collaborative task where individuals have to cooperate to finish the task – building an object out of Lego, for example. The effect was found in high school students.^[1]

For children specifically, children who complete models using toy building blocks have much better spatial ability than children who do not complete such models. Spatial ability also predicts completion of models.^[2]

Construction toy play is also beneficial for autistic children when both individual and group play with building blocks is incorporated. Autistic children who played with building blocks were motivated to initiate social contact with children their age, able to maintain and endure contact with those children, and were also able to surpass the barriers of being withdrawn and highly structured.^[3]

Lego health concerns

Red and yellow Lego building blocks, which were manufactured between 1963 and 1981, can release carcinogenic cadmium when exposed to stomach acid in amounts exceeding today's limits about 10-fold.^[4]^[5]

Influence on architecture

Renowned architect Frank Lloyd Wright credited his childhood building blocks designed by Friedrich Fröbel as a major influence, and his son John Lloyd Wright invented the widely-known Lincoln Logs building set.^[7] In addition to teaching architectural concepts such as modularity and load-bearing construction,^[8] many architects credit construction set play as influencing their later design.^[9]^[7]^[10]

References

^ Kato, D.; Hattori, K.; Iwai, S.; Morita, M. (2012). "Effects of collaborative expression using LEGO blocks, on social skills and trust". Social Behavior and Personality. 40 (7): 1195–1200. doi:10.2224/sbp.2012.40.7.1195.
^ Brosnan, M. J. (1998). "Spatial ability in children's play with Lego blocks". Perceptual and Motor Skills. 87 (1): 19–28. doi:10.2466/pms.1998.87.1.19. PMID 9760621. S2CID 22808504.
^ LeGoff, D. B. (2004). "Use of LEGO© as a Therapeutic Medium for Improving Social Competence". Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders. 34 (5): 557–571. doi:10.1007/s10803-004-2550-0. PMID 15628609. S2CID 9889621.
^ Reinhard Wolff (2018-02-12). "Wo ist der grüne Klotz?" [Where is the green block?]. Die Tageszeitung (taz) (in German). Retrieved 2021-02-04. Schadstoffbelastung in Legosteinen (Pollutant load in Lego bricks)
^ Andrew Turner (2018). "Concentrations and Migratabilities of Hazardous Elements in Second-Hand Children's Plastic toys". Environmental Science & Technology. 52 (5): 3110–3116. Bibcode:2018EnST...52.3110T. doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b04685. hdl:10026.1/11188. PMID 29350926.
^ Kondinski, A.; Moons, J.; Zhang,Y.; Bussé, J.; De Borggraeve, W.; Nies, E.; Parac-Vogt, T.N. (2019). "Modeling of Nanomolecular and Reticular Architectures with 6-fold Grooved, Programmable Interlocking Disks". Journal of Chemical Education. 97: 289–294. doi:10.1021/acs.jchemed.9b00739. S2CID 208759028.
^ ^a ^b Heathcote, Edwin (9 August 2013). "Toytown and the city". Financial Times. The Financial Times Limited. Archived from the original on 15 August 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
^ Stewart, Matt (12 June 2013). "Modern toys curb creativity – academics". Stuff.co.nz. Fairfax New Zealand Limited. Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 17 December 2013.
^ "Hurtownia zabawek w Wólce Kosowskiej". Retrieved 14 July 2023.
^ Anthony, Christopher. "Quelle Kindersuche". Children playground. Retrieved 15 March 2023.