Lego love at Mentor Library

The Dziemianzok family builds as a team during Kids @ Work at Mentor Library.

You’ve heard of our Kids @ Work program?

On the first Saturday of each month, families come to our Main Branch to play and build with our Lego blocks.

Yes, it’s that simple. Usually, there’s some sort of theme. For example, last Saturday we were building stuff that had to do with Thanksgiving.

Andrew concentrates on building his ship.

But there’s also no need to follow the theme. You can build whatever your imagination conjures.

You don’t have to register beforehand either. Just come and play. (However, we do ask that kids younger than 8 have an adult with them; and, as with any library program, we ask that you be kind to the other patrons.)

The program may be simple, but it’s also pretty popular. Our Garfield Room gets crowded on that first Saturday with young builders.

Sammy puts the finishing touches on his house.

And our Lego love extends beyond Kids @ Work. We have three Lego/Duplo programs a month—one for each of our branches.

You can rock with our blocks at the Main Branch on the first Saturday of the month, at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch on the second Saturday, and at our Headlands Branch on the third Saturday.

The rules are the same at each branch. You bring your imagination, we’ll bring the Lego blocks, and let’s see what we can build!

Kids can build based on a them or make whatever they imagine.

Three Times the Lego Fun

Sophie and John pick their Lego blocks from the pile.

You've heard of our Kids @ Work program?

On the first Saturday of each month, families come to our Main Branch to play and build with our Lego blocks.

Yes, it's that simple. Usually, there's some sort of theme. For example, last Saturday we were building stuff that had to do with the holidays.

For example, Sid built this awesome sled.

But there's also no need to follow the theme. You can build whatever your imagination conjures.

You don't have to register beforehand either. Just come and play. (However, we do ask that kids younger than 8 have an adult with them; and, as with any library program, we ask that you be kind to the other patrons.)

The program may be simple, but it's also pretty popular. Our Garfield Room gets pretty crowded on that first Saturday with young builders.

In fact, it's been so popular that we decided to triple the amount of Lego fun you can have at the library.

Tyler decides where to put his Ninjago warrior.

Now each one of the Mentor Library branches will host a Lego party every month—at our Main Branch on the first Saturday of the month, at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch on the second Saturday, and at our Headlands Branch on the third Saturday.

The rules are the same at each branch. You bring your imagination, we'll bring the Lego blocks, and let's see what we can build!

Nicole and Rebecca search our Lego for just the right block.

Learning through playing at Mentor Library

Kevin builds with Duplo blocks during a Kids @ Work session at Mentor Library.

Once a month, we break out the Lego blocks and invite everyone to play. We call it Kids @ Work.

The theme for this month's Kids @ Work session was Dinosaurs. Kids could use Mentor Library's Lego and Duplo blocks to build their own terrible lizards. Of course, children's imaginations are not beholden to any theme.

So Lynn and Landon used Lego blocks to make hybrid plane-cars, Brooke and Addy built dream homes, and Tyler seemed interested in collecting all the green blocks.

Admittedly, it was a bit of a free-for-all, but there's nothing wrong with that.

Lynn and Landon pick their Lego blocks from the pile.

There are plenty of studies that talk about the benefits of playing with Lego blocks. It's supposed to improve everything from your mathematical reasoning to problem solving to social development.

It also happens to be a lot of fun.

Our next Kids @ Work session is from 2 to 3:15 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at our Main Branch. (We schedule it for the first Saturday of the month.) And you're welcome to join us!

There aren’t a lot of rules for Kids @ Work.

Parents can help build with their kids, if they'd like.

There’s no need to register beforehand and children can build whatever they want with our Lego and Duplo blocks. (However, we do ask that kids younger than 8 have an adult with them; and, as with any library program, we ask that you be kind to the other patrons.)

But, in general, it’s just kids playing with Lego. So if your kid likes building, feel free to bring him or her to Kids @ Work. They will fit right in.

Tyler picks the blocks he needs from the pile. (And, yes, he's wearing a Superman shirt and cape. No, that's not pertinent, but it IS awesome.)

Fun free-for-all during Family Lego Challenge

Ellie and Jason answer a math problem using Lego during the Family Lego Challenge.

Those familiar with our Kids @ Work club know that we love playing with Lego at Mentor Public Library.

But it's usually just kids who get to play, so we thought it would be more fun if the entire family got a chance to break out the blocks.

We had our first Family Lego Challenge on Saturday at our Main Branch. Families used Lego blocks to construct their own family crest and answer mathematical equations. They also competed to see who could build the tallest skyscraper and strongest bridge.

Families even tested their creativity when they were given a bag with 30 randomly chosen Lego blocks and told to build whatever they could imagine.

Colin and Sarah make a space shuttle from blocks.

For more Lego fun, kids from fourth through eighth grade can come to Legomania this Saturday, Aug 9. at our Mentor-on-the-Lake Branch.

Then our Kids @ Work club returns from its summer break on the first Saturday of September.

There aren't a lot of rules to Kids @ Work. There's no need to register beforehand and children can build whatever they want with our Lego and Duplo blocks. (However, we do ask that kids younger than 8 have an adult with them; and, as with any library program, we ask that you be kind to the other patrons.)

But, in general, it's just kids playing with Lego. So if your kid likes building, feel free to bring him or her to Kids @ Work. They will fit right in.

Alec searches for just the right Lego piece among the morass.

Building to Greatness... or, at Least, a Lot of Fun

If cuteness can sometimes be its own justification, so can fun.

Once a month -- usually on the afternoon of the last Saturday of the month -- Mentor Public Library hosts a program called Kids @ Work.

It doesn't require a lot of rhetorical gymnastics to explain what Kids @ Work is. It's children playing with Lego and Duplo blocks.

Sometimes, they build something based upon a monthly theme. Other times, they build whatever they want.

There aren't a lot of rules. Kids younger than 8 need to have an adult with them; and, as with any library program, we ask that you be kind to the other patrons. But, in general, it's just kids playing with Lego. (Legos? Legoes? I'm not certain how to pluralize Lego.)

So why do we do it?

Well, for one, Lego are a fun way to stimulate the brain.

They have been used to teach everything from engineering to English as a second language.

Arthur Gugick, a math teacher at Beachwood High School, builds Lego replicas of monuments and uses his techniques to teach calculus.

But we also host Kids @ Work because it's fun for the kids.

They have a good time while building amphibious cars and medieval castles and chapels that might even impress Arthur Gugick.

Occasionally, the kids build friendships too. (It warms my heart to watch the kids share blocks and ideas.)

So, yes, the Kids @ Work program may be the starting place for some future engineers and architects; and that's awesome.

But, if nothing else, it's still a place where kids can play with Lego and have fun.

And there's nothing wrong with that.

Kids @ Work is taking a break for the summer. However, it will return on Saturday, Sept. 28.  For more information on children’s programs at Mentor Public Library, call (440) 255-8811 (ext. 221) or visit www.mentorpl.org.