07 3818 0066 [email protected]

Awesome Stuff

Brick'n' News

 

 

We’ve been actively participating in Brisbricks, and our family is thrilled to mark a decade of LEGO building alongside this incredible community.

We’ve been actively participating in Brisbricks, and our family is thrilled to mark a decade of LEGO building alongside this incredible community.

Every passing year witnesses the remarkable growth and enhancement of BBX. As we approach the weekend of September 9-10, located at RNA in Brisbane, we are brimming with excitement at the prospect of once again presenting our latest creations to the world.

To ensure you don’t miss out on this extraordinary LEGO event, we strongly encourage you to secure your tickets in advance. You can easily obtain them by visiting the following link: https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1053924.

We learn, we build, we play with LEGO® Bricks

 

Copyright © 2015 Bricks 4 Kidz. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY | CORPORATE CONTACT

LEGO® and DUPLO® are registered trademarks of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs or this web site.

Book NOW for our Winter School Holiday Workshops

Book NOW for our Winter School Holiday Workshops

Workplace School Holiday Programs: A Great Idea for Companies and Staff!
👨‍👧‍👦 ❤️ 👩‍👧‍👦

Come BUILD with us!  Our Winter School Holiday Workshops with LEGO® and Robotics will be held in locations across Brisbane and are sure to spark IMAGINATION and INSPIRATION in the Vacation.  Join us for the best School Holiday Programs in Brisbane!

It’s a BRICKTASTIC Experience for Kids!

🤩 Australia’s Favourite Holiday Programs with LEGO®

👋 Exciting, Engaging, Hands-on and Screen-free

🎯 Convenient locations across Brisbane

❤️ Fun and Friendly Experienced LEGO® Instructors

Our School Holiday Workshops start on Monday, June 26!

Everyone gets to take home a BRICKTASTIC gift at the end of the workshop. Come BUILD with Us at BRICKS 4 KIDZ! Spots are limited so book quick!

YES 👍!  

We can’t wait to see your budding LEGO® Master again soon for another BRICKTASTIC School Holiday period!

Grab a Mate, Make a Date and Come CREATE at BRICKS 4 KIDZ!  Book today to make sure you don’t miss out!

Copyright © 2019 Bricks 4 Kidz. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY | CORPORATE CONTACT

LEGO® and DUPLO® are registered trademarks of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs or this web site.

 

Workplace School Holiday Programs: A Great Idea for Companies and Staff!

Workplace School Holiday Programs: A Great Idea for Companies and Staff!

Workplace School Holiday Programs: A Great Idea for Companies and Staff!
👨‍👧‍👦 ❤️ 👩‍👧‍👦

School holidays are a stressful time for working parents! They have to juggle their work commitments with finding childcare for their children. This can be a challenge, especially if they have young children or if they work long hours! 

 

In the quest for a harmonious work-life balance, companies are constantly exploring innovative ways to support their employees’ personal and family needs. One such initiative gaining popularity is the implementation of a workplace school holiday program! By offering a dedicated program to accommodate the children of staff during school holidays, companies can foster a welcoming and supportive environment that encourages employees to return to the office. Let’s delve into the reasons why this idea holds immense potential in creating a better work-life balance for staff members!

Supporting Working Parents

Working parents often face the challenge of finding reliable and quality childcare options during school holidays. By providing a workplace school holiday program, employers alleviate this burden, enabling parents to concentrate on their work knowing their children are well cared for within the workplace itself. This support instills a sense of loyalty and gratitude among employees, encouraging them to choose the office as their preferred work environment.

Strengthening the Sense of Community

A workplace school holiday program fosters a stronger sense of community and camaraderie among employees. As children gather at the office for engaging activities, employees have the opportunity to witness their colleagues’ family lives firsthand. This shared experience creates a deeper connection, building stronger bonds within the workplace. The resulting positive work culture cultivates a sense of belonging and encourages staff members to return to the office.

Boosting Productivity and Engagement

When employees have peace of mind regarding their children’s care and well-being, they can fully focus on their work responsibilities. By providing a dedicated school holiday program, companies help eliminate distractions and reduce stress levels for working parents. This, in turn, enhances productivity and job satisfaction, as employees can concentrate on their tasks without the constant worry of balancing work and childcare arrangements.

Flexibility and Convenience

A workplace school holiday program brings convenience to working parents’ lives. Rather than navigating external childcare logistics, employees have the advantage of having their children nearby in a familiar and secure environment. This arrangement allows for greater flexibility, as parents can easily attend to their children’s needs during breaks or participate in special program activities. The resulting peace of mind and reduced logistical challenges enable employees to achieve a better work-life balance.

Promoting Work-Life Integration

Companies that prioritise work-life integration are more likely to attract and retain top talent. By offering a workplace school holiday program, employers demonstrate their commitment to supporting employees’ personal lives and well-being. Such initiatives create a culture of understanding and flexibility, empowering employees to seamlessly integrate their work and family responsibilities. This approach not only enhances work-life balance but also contributes to a more positive and productive work environment.

If you are interested in offering a workplace school holiday program, there are a few things you need to do!

First, you need to decide what type of program you want to offer. There are a variety of programs available, from traditional daycare programs to more specialised programs, such as STEM programs or art programs.

Once you have decided on the type of program you want to offer, you need to find a qualified provider. There are a number of companies that offer workplace school holiday programs. You can also find providers through your local chamber of commerce or online.

For example, BRICKS 4 KIDZ has collaborated with several prominent companies and organizations in Australia. They organized a four-day event for Cisco Systems at their premises in Sydney. In addition, they have conducted events in Brisbane for companies like AngloAmerican, TRI, Qld Health, QUT, and have also provided school holiday programs for entities such as Amazon, Brisbane and Ipswich City Councils, Dimension Data, Foxtel, Capgemini, Accenture, and Biogen.

Finally, you need to communicate the program to your employees. Make sure they know about the program and how to sign up. You can communicate the program through your company newsletter, email, or intranet.

Offering a workplace school holiday program is a great way to show your employees that you care about their needs. It is also a great way to improve work-life balance for your employees and boost your company culture.

In an era where work-life balance is highly valued, workplace school holiday programs emerge as an exceptional solution for companies seeking to create a supportive environment that encourages employees to return to the office.

By providing support for working parents, fostering a strong sense of community, enhancing productivity, offering convenience, and promoting work-life integration, workplace school holiday programs bring forth a wide range of benefits. Companies that prioritize the well-being of their employees and their families will reap the rewards of a happier and more engaged workforce, resulting in increased productivity and long-term success.

Copyright © 2019 Bricks 4 Kidz. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY | CORPORATE CONTACT

LEGO® and DUPLO® are registered trademarks of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs or this web site.

 

After School Workshops Balmoral Park Morningside

After School Workshops @ Newstead

the Danish Club, Brisbane-Springfield

 

 

 

 

Bricks4Kidz @ Morningside

" Morningside Scout Group " 
Jean Howie Dr, Balmoral Park, Morningside

Location: Jean Howie Dr, Morningside

✷ Our Workshops in SCHOOL TERMS, at

Term 3 -> Morningside

Term 4 -> Springfield, Newstead,

Future Engineers After School Workshop with LEGO®

Sports Spectacular:

Wednesdays in Term 1, 2023,  Feb 22 – Mar 28 |  $156

3:30 pm to 5 pm,  1.5 hours weekly for 6 weeks

Explore sports ranging from gymnastics to biking, mini-golf to airplane acrobatics! This unit is a great way to get “sporty” kids building and get LEGO® fans interested in sports. Some lessons focus on the importance of physical fitness and different aspects of fitness, such as stamina and strength. Other lessons describe the mechanics of the sport, such as the physics involved in golf and the components of a stationary bike.

But the best part for the students is the way the models move and the fun they have playing with them after they’re built – hitting a plastic golf ball with the mini-golf model, watching the gymnast spin around the bar and seeing the tiny airplanes spin around and around on the air show model. Maybe they’ll be inspired to try a new sport, or build a model of their favorite sport!

Ages 5+

When we have spaces available, fees are pro-rated for the rest of the term.

 

Bricks-4-Kidz-Brisbane-Springfield-Club-workshops-with-LEGO-Brik-Briks-Duplo-Book-Now


We always love hearing from people! So if you feel like joining us for a class, have us host your next birthday party, or just have something to say, give us a SHOUT!

 
Contact Us:
The Springfield Education Center              
[email protected]
07 3818 0066

 

Click on Location:     

We are hopping to have After School Workshops TERM 4, 2023:

    Newstead  Springfield  Morningside 

 

HELPFUL INFORMATION

Our classes are open to students from all schools in Prep to Grade 6 or ages 5 to 15.   When we have spaces available, fees are pro-rated for the rest of the term.

Keeping Everyone Safe in our Programs

The health and well-being of our BRICKS 4 KIDZ community is our top priority! We will offer FULL REFUNDS if we need to cancel programs due to the CV19. We are guided by the current government recommendations in everything we do.

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations made up to TTWO week from the start date of the program will receive a full refund. There are no refunds for cancellations LESS than ONE week prior to the scheduled date of the program.

Missed Classes

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the program, we cannot make up missed classes.  We understand that illness can occur that will result in a missed class and in cases where a doctor’s certificate is provided, we will issue a credit for the missed class that can be applied to a future workshop or program.

Food and refreshment 

Please note that food is not provided.  Please provide a nut-free snack for your child to enjoy after school before the start of the workshop.

First Aid

While activities in BRICKS 4 KIDZ® workshops with LEGO® Bricks are very safe, we place a very high focus on child welfare – at least one staff member at every one of our activities will have a valid First Aid certificate.

Payments

Payment can be made using credit cards online through our secure payment gateway. Your child’s place is confirmed when payment is made.

All transactions are processed in Australian dollars (AUD)

 

 

Kids at BRICKS4KIDZ Grow in Maths and Science Skills!

Inspiring STEM-based learning and the advancement of education in Queensland through the use of LEGO® and LEGO® Robotics.

The importance of maths and science education grows with each passing year. Australia’s Office of the Chief Scientist recently reported that STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Maths) degrees make uni graduates more employable and have more successful careers. Throughout the world, parents and educators recognise that children must start to learn these skills as early in their educational careers as possible.
BRICKS 4 KIDZ offers a unique approach to building STEM skills. We use LEGO® and our own in-house lesson plans to teach STEM skills to children across the Sunshine Coast. We offer all kinds of programs – from fun and popular birthday parties with LEGO®, super-AWESOME school holiday workshops with all kinds of themes including RoboticsOOSH & Vacation Care incursions, to shopping centre events – however, the most STEM-focused lessons and activities take place in our After School programs. We are convinced that encouraging kids to build with their hands and explore the natural and mechanical world around them inspires their learning about STEM and STEM concepts.

Advanced Education Measurement Study

To better understand the relationship between BRICKS 4 KIDZ programs and growth in maths and science skills, our US colleagues asked Advanced Education Measurement (AEM) to perform the first-ever national study of program effectiveness. AEM administered a pretest / post-test design that measured student ability in targeted maths and science skills for two BRICKS 4 KIDZ programs to 702 students across the US in years K-5. AEM first distrib­uted its full results through a white paper available here

The main finding from AEM’s study was that BRICKS 4 KIDZ students of all ages demonstrated growth in targeted maths and science skills. Participation in BRICKS 4 KIDZ School Incursions and After-School programs was associated with increased scores on test items that measured student understanding of key BRICKS 4 KIDZ curriculum points.

Growth on Targeted Skills

To measure growth, social scientists often employ a pretest / post-test design. Students take a test at the beginning of a course of study, receive instruction, and then take the same test after the instruction has been completed. Researchers expect that if students have increased their knowledge of targeted material, they will score better on the post-test.

AEM designed a pretest / post-test design for five groups. For BRICKS 4 KIDZ School Incursions, AEM designed a test for kids aged 6, 8, and 10. For BRICKS 4 KIDZ After-School programs, AEM designed a test for students years K-2 and 3-5. If BRICKS 4 KIDZ increased understanding of targeted math and science skills, one would expect to see students score better on the post-test than the pretest.

 

That is exactly what happened in AEM’s study of BRICKS 4 KIDZ. Figure 1 (above) shows that students in all five groups scored better on the post-test, a result consistent with the hypothesis that our programs increase student maths and science ability. Improvement for students in our After-School programs ranged from a 6.7% increase for Years 3-5 to a 10.7% increase for Years K-2. The improvement for students in our School Incursions is even more pronounced. Workshop students aged 6 improved 11.3% on the post-test, those aged 8 improved 37%, and those aged 10 improved 44%. For the entire study, the average child improved 24.4% on the post-test!

Figure 2 (above) shows that the average student also improved on the post-test. 59.9% of students scored at least one more item correctly on the post-test over the pretest. In other words, 6 out of 10 children improved their maths and science skills over the course of their BRICKS 4 KIDZ participation.

Spots at our BRICKS 4 KIDZ After School programs at Newstead and Springfield are currently open, and going quick. If you’d like to talk with us about bringing BRICKS 4 KIDZ to your school, give us a shout!

Conclusion

The results from AEM’s study show that participation in BRICKS 4 KIDZ programs was associated with improvement in maths and science skills. Students demonstrated a greater understanding of tage-appropriate curriculum at the end of their BRICKS4KIDZ participation.

About AEM

Advanced Education Measurement uses cutting-edge data science and statistical analysis to help educators, policymakers, and their partners improve student outcomes. AEM Founder Dr. Bryan Shelly is a Princeton-educated Ph.D. who uses his 15 years of education research experience to design peerless systems of program evaluation, on-track and early warning indicators, student and community engagement, and more.

How Aussie LEGO lovers are celebrating toy brand’s 90th birthday

How Aussie LEGO lovers are celebrating toy brand’s 90th birthday

How Aussie Lego lovers are celebrating toy brand’s 90th birthday

How Aussie Lego lovers are celebrating toy brand's 90th birthday

How Aussie Lego lovers are celebrating toy brand’s 90th birthday

The world’s favourite toy is turning 90!

It’s a toy that’s become synonymous with play all around the world, now the LEGO Group is celebrating 90 years as a company.

Over the decades, LEGO has gone from strength-to-strength, becoming a multi-billion dollar empire.

The world's favourite toy is turning 90!
The world’s favourite toy is turning 90! (A Current Affair)
LEGO Australia's Angie Tutt.
LEGO Australia’s Angie Tutt. (A Current Affair)

A Current Affair has joined LEGO to take a look back at the company’s history, dating back to 1932.

Starting from humble beginnings in a Denmark workshop, a carpenter started carving and selling wooden toys.

But Ole Kirk Kristiansen’s real success wouldn’t come for another 17 years when the famous brick we all know and love were born, in 1949.

“I bet back then they wouldn’t have thought how big the Lego company would be after introducing that brick. And I guess the rest you could say, is history right?” LEGO Australia’s Angie Tutt told A Current Affair.

“I think the success really lies down to the magic of this brick, a very simple brick,” she said.

There’s an incredible 70 billion pieces of LEGO sold every year.

There are also more LEGO mini figures on earth than there are humans, with 8.3 billion LEGO people in circulation.

“If you look at everything we’ve launched across time, it’s around 18-thousand products we have bought to market in our history so quite a lot going on,” she said.

Miller Keys is the only LEGO Master Builder in all of Australia, the 24-year-old says has built many sets since he was a child.

Miller Keys is the only LEGO Master Builder in all of Australia, the 24-year-old says has built many sets since he was a child.
Miller Keys is the only LEGO Master Builder in all of Australia, the 24-year-old says has built many sets since he was a child. (A Current Affair)

“It’s like art, like painting but you don’t need to know how to paint. You just need to know how to click two bricks together and then you can build anything – that’s what makes it cool,” he told A Current Affair.

Keys works at Melbourne’s LEGOLAND Discovery Centre at Chadstone Shopping Centre.

“When I was four and playing around with LEGO, if I would have known it would become my full-time job it would have absolutely blown my mind,” he said.

Inside the Legoland Discovery Centre is a whole world of LEGO, including a recreation of Melbourne, made up of 1.5 million bricks.

Keys says it took builders 5000 hours to assemble it all.

These days, the toy juggernaut is more than just bricks.

There are 830 LEGO stores globally, dozens of blockbuster movies and TV shows about Lego and in more recent years, intricate sets designed specifically for adults.

“What everybody doesn’t really do enough these days is play. So that’s what makes Lego really awesome as well – it can bring adults back to their childhood as well,” Keys said.

Over the decades, Lego has gone from strength-to-strength, becoming a multi-billion dollar empire.
Over the decades, LEGO has gone from strength-to-strength, becoming a multi-billion dollar empire. (A Current Affair)

So what’s next for LEGO?

While they couldn’t reveal to us exactly what was to come, Tutt says next year we can expect a few surprises.

“In 2023 you need to look out for new partnerships we’ve got coming, definitely some new products and new ideas and we really want to get back out into Australian communities and get bricks in hands,” she said.

To celebrate its 90 years, LEGO is rereleasing some classic LEGO sets and encouraging fans to play for 90 minutes on August 10.

A World of Learning Through Play

Children know that play is their superpower and this platform created by The LEGO Foundation has the goal to inspire, share knowledge and offer ideas to playfully learn with the children in our lives because clearly, it’s us adults that need convincing.

Children know play is their superpower 

We’re here to convince the grown-ups. Because play is something every child, everywhere in the world can do. It fuels curiosity, sparks creativity, and inspires a lifelong love of learning. Children who play pick up all kinds of skills to thrive today – and lay the foundations for a happier, healthier life tomorrow.

Why play matters

Play unlocks essential skills

Our world never stops changing, so how do we prepare children to navigate it? We let them play. Children thrive on play. It’s also perfect practice for tomorrow. Given the chance to think, negotiate, adapt to new rules and try again when things don’t go to plan, children develop essential skills that’ll last a lifetime.

Play boosts wellbeing for life

Better mental health. More resilience. A love of learning that lasts a lifetime. All ways that play boosts wellbeing from childhood.

Play is for everyone, everywhere

Play is how children learn naturally. That’s what makes it so powerful, and why it’s so important to make room for play.

Ready to play?

When children play, they learn. They solve problems, think strategically, relate to others, and manage life’s ups and downs. Play helps children learn how to learn – and love learning. We’ve gathered some of our favourite games. You can play them anywhere – using things you find at home.

link:  

https://learningthroughplay.com/

https://www.bricks4kidz.com.au/brisbane-springfield/news/

Be sure to sign up to our Mailing List TODAY for unBRICKlievable deals! 💰 🎉 👍

Be sure to sign up to our Mailing List TODAY for unBRICKlievable deals! 💰 🎉 👍

To make sure your aspiring LEGO® Master doesn’t miss out on spots at our next School Holiday Workshops, sign up to our BRICKS 4 KIDZ True Fans Mailing List TODAY!

Signing up to our Mailing List will give you access to unBRICKlievable deals such as Early Bird access and discounts, latest news alerts and more!

Be sure to sign up NOW so that you receive exclusive Early Bird access to registration for our July School Holiday Workshops.

We can’t wait to share all of these exciting offers with you!

For News & Discounts, join our Mailing List
* indicates required

LEGO® Activities in Brisbane | School Holiday Lego Fun for kids

We at Bricks 4 Kidz are super excited that we are the highest ranked LEGO® Activities in Brisbane according to Brisbane Familiemagazine. We are #2 below with Gold Coast events above us:  


LEGO® Activities in Brisbane | School Holiday Lego Fun for kids

 

WHERE TO FIND LEGO® ACTIVITIES IN BRISBANE

THESE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS

LEGO® is huge at the moment (who are we kidding, it is always HUGE!).  We have found lots of places in Brisbane that you can take the kids for LEGO® fun events these Easter school holidays.  There are free LEGO® events and some require you to pay a fee. Make sure you check to see if you need to book ahead.

As with everything during this difficult time, please check directly with the venue to check that they are open on the days you wish to visit!!


GOLD COAST: BRICKMAN IS AT DREAMWORLD THESE EASTER HOLIDAYS!

Lego at Dreamworld on the Gold Coast these Easter holidays

These school holidays at Dreamworld, memories are made of LEGO® bricks! For a limited time only, enjoy the Brickman® Wonders of the World exhibit during your Dreamworld visit.

Explore a world of over 45 large-scale LEGO® brick masterpieces, built with intricate detail and offering a journey of discovery during an indoor, walk-through experience. With iconic landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, Arc de Triomphe and more, see models that will immerse you in history, send you into the future and even take you around the world, with no passport required.

Showing from 27 March – 18 April in the Dreamworld Exhibition Centre, this unforgettable experience will take you around the world with NO passport required! From the Leaning Tower of Pisa to the Taj Mahal and beyond, see some of the world’s most famous landmarks without leaving the country. And the best part? It’s free with your Dreamworld entry.

Find out more about Brickman at Dreamworld this Easter here.


BRISBANE: BRICKS4KIDZ | ACROSS BRISBANE

Bricks4Kidz workshops are a fresh and fun way for kids to learn with specially-designed LEGO®models and robotics.LEGO® activities in Brisbane Brickz 4 kidz

These awesome summer activities are held in Newstead, Sherwood, Mt Ommaney, and Springfield in Air Con for those hot summer days! With different workshop themes, there is something for everyone. The program is aimed at kids ages 5-12 and is staffed by trained, and screened BRICKS 4 KIDZ® instructors. Find out more here.

This is so exciting. Can’t wait to book into our Easter Holiday Workshops. Bricks4Kidz.com.au/Brisbane-Springfield\Holiday/

IPSWICH: ON THE MOVE

Ipswich Art Gallery School Holidays

Build a LEGO® vehicle of the future to test on the race track at On the Move, a FREE exhibition at Ipswich Art Gallery. Created in collaboration with illustrator James Gulliver Hancock, On the Move allows kids to discover fascinating facts about different modes of transport and types of vehicles. Construct a paper plane and see how it flies, pretend to drive cars, and play ‘mechanic’ in the pop-up fuel station, plus heaps of other hands-on activities. Bookings required. Ipswich Art Gallery.


BY APPOINTMENT: BRICKS’N’FUN – LEGO® BUILDROOM

BricksnFun LEGO Buildroom | Capalaba

***  UPDATE March 2021: The Buildroom is closed to the public due to COVID-19 restrictions. The LEGO Display is open every Saturday. To see the display you must book online or ring the shop during business hours. Retail sales are still open ***

Ever wanted to build that LEGO® kit but couldn’t because you just didn’t have all the right parts? Well, now you can!  At Bricks’n’Fun you get to build from a huge selection of LEGO® kits. From the simplest to the rarest. Build them all! All kits come complete and with full instructions. You get hours of fun. They allow 12 builders at a time into the LEGO® Buildroom which keeps it nice and friendly and their Master Builders are always available when builders need help. As part of the LEGO® Buildroom admission price you also get to see the great LEGO® displays.


ONLINE: LEGO® VIRTUAL MAD MACHINE LEARNING LABS | ONLINE

LEGO® Educational Centre School Holiday Programs | South Brisbane

Inspire innovators of tomorrow to understand how the real world works today! Suitable for Ages 7-10, children will participate in 3 x 1 hour virtual hands-on workshops, exploring GEARS, LEVERS and PULLEYS in real world models. The LEGO set is included and can be used with 2 children.


AT HOME: LEGO CHALLENGE AT HOME

Summer Days at the Museum

This LEGO challenge calendar is totally awesome because it gives kids inspiration for creative building without telling them exactly what to build! It has inspired lots of fun LEGO play in our home.


PREVIOUS HOLIDAYS

BRISBANE CITY HALL LEGO BUILD | BRISBANE

Brisbane City Hall LEGO Build

Go and help Museum of Brisbane celebrate a major birthday! City Hall is 100 years old and renowned LEGO® builder Ben Craig, also known as The Brick Builder is undertaking a monumental project.

Ben will rebuild Brisbane City Hall from the ground up, using over 40,000 LEGO® Bricks. This City Hall LEGO® replica will include the building’s iconic features, from the prominent entryway to the Clock Tower and copper dome, with a large internal viewing space exploring stories and moments from the iconic building’s history. 

Visit Brisbane City Hall from 27 June to 30 July 2020 to see the City Hall Lego Build Pop-up.

UNDER CONSTRUCTION, IPSWICH

Get your hard hats on for a construction zone like no other and create a masterpiece with LEGO® and other construction systems.

Inventors Workshop

Have you ever wanted to build your own transport invention? How will we travel in the future? What types of engineering masterpieces will you create to take home? Let your imagination run wild in this hands on inventors workshop zone. Dream it! Design it! Build it! Kids and adults will love this area, jam-packed full of Lego® and other construction gear ready for them to build and test their own inventions. This area includes a special under 3’s big block builder’s activity space for little engineers.  2019 @ The Workshops Rail Museum.

LEGO® FAN GROUP: BRISBRICKS LEGO® FAN EXPO

BrisBricks is going back to where it all began and will be doing a special one-day expo at the Mt Gravatt Showgrounds. Go see a wide range of custom LEGO® displays and creations form the Brisbane LEGO® Fan community. Find out more here.

 

 

 

What are Lego bricks made of, and why is treading on them so painful?

What are Lego bricks made of, and why is treading on them so painful?

 Lego is one of the most popular and instantly recognisable childhood toys out there. Have you ever wondered what those bricks are made of,  or how they’re made?  Or,  for that matter, why it hurts so much if you tread on one?  This graphic takes a look!

 Lego bricks have always been made of plastic, but it’s not always been the same kind of plastic. From 1949 until 1963, cellulose acetate was the polymer used. This is the same substance that was once used in the movie industry for films. It’s also used in the plastic frames of some eyeglasses to this day.

 In 1963, Lego changed the plastic their bricks were made from to another polymer, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS for short). ABS has several advantages over cellulose acetate: it’s stronger, warps less over time, and is more resistant to colour fading. The only downside was that, unlike cellulose acetate, ABS is opaque, so transparent Lego parts can’t be made from it. In these cases, a polycarbonate plastic is now used instead. To get the various colours of Lego pieces, Macrolex dyes are added to the ABS.

The Lego manufacturing process starts with tiny granules of ABS, brought by the lorry-load to factories. Here, they’re dumped into giant metal silos, then fed into molding machines where they’re heated to 230˚C (450˚F). This melts the granules, producing a plastic goo which is automatically fed into Lego part moldsThe molding machine applies pressure to ensure that the Lego parts are perfectly formed, then they’re cooled and ejectedAfter this, any necessary decorations are added, and parts that need to be put together, such as mini figures, are assembled.

 In 2014, Lego manufactured an astonishing 60 billion parts. Of these parts, at least 318 million are miniature tyres for Lego vehicles – making Lego the biggest tyre manufacturer in the world! These tyres are made from a slightly different polymer to ABS, styrene butadiene styrene (SBS).
 
 When it comes to the pain experienced when you tread on a piece of Lego, ABS is to blame. Lego test pieces during the manufacturing process as part of Lego’s quality control measures. Tests include compression between discs with a force of 15 kilograms, and dropping objects on bricks to ensure they don’t break on impact. One test even simulates a 50-kilogram child stepping on a Lego piece to ensure it inflicts maximum pain doesn’t break or splinter. The average force a 2×2 Lego piece can withstand is 4,240 Newtons – equivalent to being stood on by someone weighing around 430 kilograms. In short, Lego bricks are essentially designed to be painful to tread on.
 
 Lego has other risks as well as being a stepping-hazard. Older Lego bricks from the 1970s and 80s contained cadmium to help the colouring of red and yellow bricks. Those with some chemistry knowledge will know that cadmium and its compounds are poisonous and can have toxic effects. Research has shown that cadmium levels in these older bricks are above the current EU limits. It’s important to put this in context of the amounts, which are at microgram levels. Handling these old bricks poses a minimal exposure risk, but you might want to refrain from putting them in your mouth! Lego phased out cadmium as its toxic nature became apparent, and newer Lego bricks do not contain it.
 
 There’s one other issue with all Lego pieces: they’re made from oil-derived plastics. Oil is a finite resource, and making Lego from oil has a significant environmental impact. In 2012, the Lego group set itself a target of finding and using more sustainable raw materials for its products by 2030. They took a small step towards this goal earlier this year, announcing that from this year onwards the green leaves, bushes, and trees in their products will be made from polyethene derived from sustainable sugar cane sources. This polyethene is nowhere near strong or durable enough to replace ABS, however, so the search for its replacement continues.

For News & Discounts, join our Mailing List
* indicates required

Photo Gallery

This message is only visible to admins:
Unable to display Facebook posts

Error: (#100) Object does not exist, cannot be loaded due to missing permission or reviewable feature, or does not support this operation. This endpoint requires the 'pages_read_engagement' permission or the 'Page Public Content Access' feature or the 'Page Public Metadata Access' feature. Refer to https://developers.facebook.com/docs/apps/review/login-permissions#manage-pages, https://developers.facebook.com/docs/apps/review/feature#reference-PAGES_ACCESS and https://developers.facebook.com/docs/apps/review/feature#page-public-metadata-access for details.
Type: OAuthException
Code: 100
Click here to Troubleshoot.
View Full Facebook Gallery

Copyright © 2019 Bricks 4 Kidz. All rights reserved. PRIVACY POLICY | CORPORATE CONTACT

LEGO® and DUPLO® are registered trademarks of the LEGO® Group of companies which does not sponsor, authorize or endorse these programs or this web site.