Lego and our future engineers

[edit] Earliest possible stages of engineering

Engineering is now the second most sought-after career among children aged 13-16, according to the BBC Bitesize Careers survey. Other research Engineering Council by the has found that 78% of young people whose parents regularly take part in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) activities with them express an interest in pursuing a career in engineering.

Taken together, these findings point to a connection between early experiences at home and the careers children go on to consider. With this in mind, the engineering and construction experts at Accu believe that LEGO can play a powerful role in inspiring the engineers of tomorrow. They’ve created a guide on how children can use LEGO to mirror real engineering processes, using their creativity to develop highly practical and problem-solving skills in engineering and STEM careers.

[edit] Low-fidelity prototyping

By using LEGO for prototyping, engineers and designers can quickly create and adjust models, making it ideal for initial concepts. Patrick Faulkner, Lead Engineer for provider of engineering and precision components Accu, explains how LEGO can be a simple yet effective prototyping tool:

“Lego stands out as a low-fidelity prototyping tool because of its versatility, accessibility in education environments and ease of modification. Lego engineering sets come with modular pieces that snap together seamlessly, letting designers experiment with structural layouts and simple design ideas, including mechanical functions, at minimal cost. When something doesn’t work, you can quickly disassemble and rebuild it, making iterations both fast and intuitive. This hands-on approach also helps you to spot potential design challenges early, well before moving on to more complex stages of product design and development. Lego also has more advanced modules such as gears, hubs, axels, motors and even sensors. These can allow an even greater level of prototyping, allowing both physical and motion prototyping.”

See also Products and components in construction: Knowledge hub

[edit] Examples of LEGO prototyping

Create a small robotic arm to observe how pivot points and linkages might behave under motion. Assemble a basic gear train from a LEGO engineering kit to see if the gear ratios function as intended

“Even the smallest components can make the biggest impact” Accu

[edit] How can children use LEGO to develop engineering skills?

This guide mirrors how engineers use LEGO for prototyping, allowing children to explore the ideation and practical stages of engineering and building through play.

[edit] Start with a question

Begin by giving your child a simple challenge or question to guide their build. This helps them build with intention rather than just stacking bricks.

Examples might include:

• “Can you build something that moves?”
• “Can you make a bridge strong enough for your toy car?”

This helps children:

• Think with purpose
• Test ideas

[edit] Add rules to the build (these are called design constraints)

Introduce a few gentle rules to shape the challenge. Engineers always work within limits, and children can learn to do the same through play.

For example:

• “It has to fit on this table.”
• “It must lift something small.”

This helps children:

• Plan ahead
• Understand real-world problem solving

[edit] Choose a LEGO set that encourages engineering skills

Being intentional with the LEGO set you choose can make a big difference. Sets that include gears, wheels, axles, and beams encourage children to think about movement, mechanics, and structure rather than just appearance.

This helps children explore:

• How parts connect
• How movement is created
• Cause and effect

[edit] Sort pieces together before building

Before building begins, encourage your child to group similar pieces together and lay them out so they can clearly see what’s available. This small step makes it easier to build, test, and adapt ideas.

This helps children:

• Learn organisational skills
• Develop independent thinking

[edit] Start by building a strong base

Encourage your child to create a sturdy base or frame before adding any moving parts. A strong foundation helps everything else work more smoothly.

This helps children explore:

• Structural thinking
• Why things fall over

[edit] Add one piece at a time and test often

Encourage your child to add just one gear, lever, or wheel at a time rather than all at once, and test it before moving on. This mirrors how real engineers check each part of a design as they build.

This helps children develop:

• Patience
• Logical thinking

[edit] Encourage rebuilding and trying again

When something doesn’t work as expected, encourage your child to take apart only the most recent section and try a different approach. LEGO makes it easy to experiment without fear of getting it wrong.

This helps children explore:

• Problem solving
• Failure as a part of learning
• Iteration

[edit] Test the strength and stability of the structure

Once the build is complete, gently test it. Press lightly on the structure or place a small toy on top and observe what wobbles or stays firm.

This helps children understand:

• Weight
• Balance
• Support

Why engineers test designs before using them!

[edit] LEGO develops health and safety awareness in children

Ben Massey, MEng and customer success coordinator at health and safety software provider innDex, explains how playing with LEGO also helps develop health and safety awareness:

“Using LEGO as a building tool taught me as a budding engineer about incidents and near misses in a controlled and playful environment. A collapsing LEGO tower becomes a physical metaphor for structural failure without any real danger, and it teaches you as a child to test different builds and be cautious of failure in the future. After all, health and safety is a number one priority in our industry.

“LEGO also makes it easier to see how infrastructure interacts with human behaviour. As a child, LEGO can be built as a group, encouraging teamwork and collaboration.”

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Basement and sewerage LEGO set.
• Bridge Engineering exhibition.
• Caithness Broch Project.
• Cast metal components.
• Craft your Future.
• Data-centric business model.
• Durham Cathedral's Open Treasure project.
• How to rebuild using the debris from disasters.
• ICE articles.
• Inspiration Series for 16 to 18 year olds launched.
• Inspiring young civil engineers.
• Interface between components.
• International LEGO day 2021.
• Leadenhall building opening ceremony.
• Parents are pivotal in reaching future engineers.
• Plug-In to Housing.
• Pre-manufacturing components (non-systemised primary structure).
• Safe room.
• Systemic view on reuse potential of building elements, components and systems.
• The Institution of Civil Engineers.

[edit] References

• Patrick Faulkner. Lego, Engineering & Low Fidelity Prototyping. https://www.accu.co.uk/shop/precision-components
• Ben Massey, MEng https://www.inndex.co.uk/
• BBC Bitesize | Revealed: New entry in top 10 jobs teenagers want
• Engineering Council | New report uncovers parents’ influence on young people on attitudes to engineering