LEGO Without Instructions? Yes, and Here’s Why It’s Awesome.
Lego bricks are an excellent way to encourage creativity in our kids. You can purchase Lego bricks and pieces by themselves. Or you can purchase complete sets with specific instructions that have a main build in mind. What are the benefits of LEGO? What are some of the best LEGO sets to encourage creativity? Where can I find free LEGO instructions or LEGO without instructions? We’re going to answer all of that and more!
What I love about LEGO is that they haven’t changed in years. Of course I don’t remember any LEGO sets coming with instructions when I was a kid. We always built LEGO without instructions. And, if never occurred to me to question what to do with completed LEGO sets. Of course we took them apart and made something new.
But, I just purchased the new Sesame Street LEGO set and now I am wondering…what to do with this LEGO set after it is built? It’s huge and a lot of work (we’re huge Sesame Street fans!) and I want to keep it.
History of LEGO
Let’s rewind a bit. LEGO has been sparking imaginations since the 1930s, but the LEGO brick as we know it was patented in 1958. Fun fact: “LEGO” comes from the Danish phrase leg godt, which means “play well.” And honestly, could there be a better motto?
In the early days, LEGO sets were simple. You built what was on the box, sure—but then you were expected to tear it apart and make something new. Fast forward to today, and many LEGO sets—especially the licensed ones—feel more like mini statues. Build once, put on shelf, done. Whomp whomp.
But what if your kid built LEGO sets without instructions?
Why Ditch the Directions?
Building LEGO without instructions isn’t just fun—it’s where the magic happens. Yes, instructions are useful. (Especially if you’ve ever tried to build the LEGO Millennium Falcon while sleep-deprived.) But once your child has built the set, that shouldn’t be the end of the journey.
Think of the instructions as training wheels. Once your child is done with the “official” build, take those wheels off and let creativity take over.
Creative LEGO Ideas Without the Manual
Some LEGO sets still encourage this, like the 3-in-1 Creator series. These offer multiple builds in one box—love that! But if you really want to grow your child’s creative muscles, go off-script.
And don’t worry if your child says “I don’t know what to build.” That’s totally normal. Here’s how you can ease them in:
- “What if we made the roof sloped instead of flat?”
- “What if this was a boat instead of a house?”
- “Could we build something to help the mini-figures escape a volcano?”
You’re building creativity, one question at a time.
Using LEGO Sets Without Instructions
Even LEGO knows that kids want to make their own thing. (See: LEGO Ideas, where fans submit original creations that might become official sets.) But until your child makes it big on the LEGO design team, encourage them to take apart their old sets and try something new.
Don’t just buy sets—buy bricks. The big buckets of random LEGO bricks are where the real inventors come out to play. Bonus: they usually come with a few starter ideas to help get the gears turning.
Books and Pinterest are gold mines for this too. Even though the Building Bigger Thinking sets and book are discontinued, you can often find them secondhand on eBay or at yard sales.
Social and Emotional Wins from LEGO Builds
Let’s be real: if your child struggles socially, LEGO can be the great equalizer. LEGO clubs at libraries or community centers offer a chance to connect—even if it starts as parallel play. That’s still a win.
8 Benefits of Building LEGO Without Instructions
- Encourages creative thinking and problem-solving
- Develops fine motor skills
- Boosts hand-eye coordination
- Fosters independence and self-confidence
- Supports language development (hello, storytelling!)
- Promotes early math skills (counting, sorting, patterns)
- Helps anxious kids focus and calm down
- Encourages perseverance through trial and error
Even those “one-style-only” sets usually have cool play features. But open-ended building? That’s where your child’s ideas take flight.
What to Do with All Those LEGOs After the Build
We know—LEGOs aren’t cheap. So what happens after your child finishes building (or deconstructing) them?
You’ve got options:
- Store favorite sets in dry bins and save them for later. (Yes, teens and adults still love LEGO.)
- Resell them—LEGO holds resale value surprisingly well.
- Donate them to LEGO clubs or preschools.
Just don’t feel like you have to keep every brick forever. (Unless, of course, you step on one. Then you will remember it forever.)
