Every responsible parent understands that toys are not purchased just for fun. The child’s free time should be spent usefully, subconsciously develop, and expand knowledge about the outside world. The designer copes with this task better than other toys. It teaches its little owner the basics of modeling and design, actively develops imagination, and fosters perseverance and determination. It will be interesting for adults to keep the child company and spend quality time for the whole family. It is clear that Lego remains the most popular manufacturer, but there are also high-quality analogues of its type for children's development.

High-quality and not-so-high-quality analogues of children's Lego construction sets (Lego)

The popular Danish company has become a pioneer in the world of children's construction sets. Sets of small cubes with pimples for boys were appreciated and quickly spread throughout the world.

This happened thanks to the consistently high quality of products and ease of assembly of both small and giant figures. Unfortunately, the price of Lego construction sets remains consistently high. That is why a number of cheap analogues have appeared that seek to replace the well-known brand. Constructions similar to Lego are produced - they are similar in type of assembly, quality of parts, colors and even assembly models. But still there are no direct competitors only for those distinguished by unique technological and creative capabilities.

LEGO Mindstorms – programmable robot

It is better to choose a set in the store together with your child. He will be able to determine exactly what elements in the game he is missing and what is high time to replenish the set.

European replacement like Lego

It is not always possible to determine the quality of a designer at first glance. In the store, toys are tightly sealed, making it almost impossible to see anything through the packaging. How not to make a mistake with a purchase and not upset your child with an unsuccessful purchase?

To do this, it is enough to trust one of the trusted manufacturers represented on the Russian market:

• Cobi. High-quality construction kits from a Polish manufacturer. Very durable and reliable material is used, absolutely safe for children. There are many exciting series, including for girls. All parts are well attached to each other, without becoming loose over time. The sets can be combined with LEGO, thereby expanding the existing range of parts. Unfortunately, recently this brand has begun to disappear from the shelves, and getting the desired construction set has become problematic.
• Unico. Italian brand, distinguished by high quality plastic. The products comply with European safety requirements. Such a toy simply cannot do any harm. The assortment includes unique sets, as well as cute construction toys for girls. Well suited for kids as they do not contain small parts. Can be combined with other existing construction sets, including LEGO.
• Big with the Peppa Pig series. Charming sets with many parts. The quality is also Italian, which speaks for itself. The sets were created based on the famous cartoon and are perfectly combined with sets from other popular manufacturers. The parts attach well and do not deteriorate or deform over time. The colors are bright, the construction set is great for both boys and girls.

European manufacturers monitor product quality, so such a purchase would be preferable. But you should carefully study the packaging to avoid fakes.

For people who are biased towards plastic, it is better to consider construction kits with logs. You can find out everything about wooden construction sets.

Big Peppa Pig “Amusement Park”

European quality from Cobi

Unico Plus – for children from 1.5 to 5 years old

Chinese manufacturers

You will have to look for European manufacturers, but Chinese brands are publicly available and very common. Product quality is significantly lower. But the material used to make the parts is safe for health.

Such brands attract their customers with affordable prices and a huge range of products. The sets are presented for every taste, many of them will be interesting for adults as well. The weak point of Chinese designers is their fragility; most characters have parts that deteriorate over time. You need to be prepared for this.

• Sluban. The obvious disadvantages of designers include tight parts. A child will hardly be able to develop them on his own. And even an adult can put tires on wheels with great difficulty. In addition, in the new sets there are little men with loose hands, which is especially frustrating. The presence of a large number of small parts does not allow you to leave the set with your child unattended.
• Brick. The construction set is not suitable for children. There are many military series and no children's figures. Often there are burrs on parts, which are very easy to injure. Time is not in this manufacturer’s favor: the faces on the figures are completely erased, and the wheel mounts become loose. But on the other hand, such construction sets fit well with LEGO and have spare parts in the set.
• 1 TOY. A popular Chinese manufacturer that is quickly conquering the domestic market. It is he who produces the Russian series that our customers are so attracted to. And the prices are considered quite acceptable for many parents. Among the disadvantages is poor compatibility with other construction sets, since the parts differ in height. And the quality is noticeably lower, this can be noted from the first touch.
• .City of masters Despite the Russian name, the manufacturer is still China. This significantly affects the quality of the product. Parts often have sharp burrs. That is why the product must be carefully checked, and only then given to the child. The material even differs in appearance from its expensive counterparts. But on the other hand, the product is Russified, there are sets of domestic themes.

Don't rush to give the box to your child. First, you need to carefully check the game for small parts, sharp objects and foreign odors.

1 TOY series for girls “Little Princess”

Brick – low price and quality

Construction set Tram from the brand “City of Masters”

Russian companies

Unfortunately for many consumers, only a few domestic companies are engaged in the production of Lego replacements.

Designers are distinguished by the presence of many parts. They should be kept in a separate box. So all the components will be together, and order in the room will remain.

Russian brands are distinguished by good quality and a high level of reliability. Absolutely safe materials are used and interesting series are developed. We can only hope that in the future there will be much more of our brands in this segment of the children's goods market.

Fascinating, requiring more complex assembly, suitable for children aged 6-7 years and older. It is better for children aged 8-10 years to choose ones that can explain the basics of electromechanics in an accessible form.

Wooden assembly kit “Lesovichok”

Among Russian Lego manufacturers, the most popular are the following:

• Baby. There are large and small sets available for sale. There are almost no small parts, so even kids can use the construction set. Bright, saturated colors were selected. All elements are attached well and do not loosen even after a long time of use. Popular series include “The Fixies,” “The Big Mill,” and “The Railroad.”
• Polesie. The manufacturer is Belarus, which is still close for a Russian person. In the domestic space, the assortment is widely represented. Products are high quality and affordable. There are very large sets, and there are sets with large parts for kids. The plastic is pleasant to the touch, without burrs or sharp corners. Most construction sets are sold in bags, but there are options in convenient boxes.
• Lesovichok. These are not exactly cubes with pimples, but there are a lot of connecting parts here. They are assembled without glue, the products are strong and stable. The material used is natural sanded wood without varnish or paint, which makes the game completely safe for children. Among the sets, the fortresses and farms are especially impressive. All series are compatible with each other, parts can be easily combined.

You should not distract your child if he is enthusiastically assembling the construction set. At the moment he is learning to concentrate and developing logical thinking.

Baby - an economical analogue of LEGO DUPLO

Each analogue of LEGO (Lego) has its pros and cons. European manufacturers offer high quality products, but a small range. Chinese kits have problems with the safety of parts, but they are widely available for sale.

But Russian designers are available, but they are not popular and are practically incompatible with other analogues. You will have to clearly define your priorities, then the purchase will be considered successful.

What construction toys will be interesting and useful for children aged 2 to 4 years?

At the request of Gazeta.Ru, the editor-in-chief of the Internet project for modern parents “Letidor” and the father of three children, Lekha Andreev, found eight LEGO analogue constructors and tried to find out how these alternatives could be useful for the development of the child.

Once, as the editor-in-chief of a fun IT publication, I ran into the cult toy of many IT specialists. The main idea of ​​the article “Lego Religion” (its text can be found) was that this popular construction set is based on one single movement - the primitive “brick protocol”, which a child can easily master at 1.5 years old. And then this movement is repeated endlessly and only increases the mass. Neither the complexity of the design nor its functionality increases: a large Lego airplane differs from a small one only in size, neither of them flies.

Where is the development here? What can you learn here?

After this encounter, I was asked more than once what alternatives I could offer. That's what I'll do, but first I'll go back to LEGO for a minute. In response to my article, many readers noticed that LEGO also has more advanced designers - LEGO Technic prefabricated cars, as well as Mindstorms robots. Yes, there is such a thing, but these are construction kits for older people (when, in principle, you can already work with technology without construction kits). In my article we were talking about classic sets for 2-4 year old children. It is in this age niche that the primitive Lenovo Duplo occupies an almost monopoly position: in most of our stores you will not find any other construction sets for this age, although it is at 2-4 years old that it is very important for children to develop fine motor skills, studying different movements, different shapes and materials. So let's get into the alternatives.

Cubes

Cubes are one of the first construction toys that young children encounter. Typically, such sets contain other figures, not just cubes, so the Western name "building blocks" is more correct. How to say this in Russian? Construction kit? A bit long. In general, let's better leave the word "cubes" - we'll just mean constructors in which there are no connecting elements. Everything is supported only by gravity. It turns out that even such a simple principle gives rise to many possibilities that children can be introduced to.

Adults often think that blocks are the simplest toys. And it’s true, what could be simpler: put one cube on top of another, and put a third on top - that’s the tower. But for children this “tower game” is not at all obvious. At 6-8 months, when they begin to actively explore the apartment, they become interested in opening and closing various containers (boxes, pans). This is where the interest in putting things into these containers arises. One fine day you discover that the ball is tightly packed into a glass, and the rest of the toys are stuffed into the washing machine. A one-year-old child can put rings on a pyramid and unscrew bottle caps. As he approaches two years of age, he may amaze you by turning on the TV using the remote control. And he can demonstrate many more “design” skills at this age.

At the same time, he is still not interested in placing cubes on top of each other!

And this is logical, after all, he copies you: he watches how you open cabinet drawers, how you turn the key in the lock or use the TV remote control... But you are not a builder, right? You don't build anything special by stacking things on top of each other. So why should a child do this? Obviously, there was much more construction in the lives of our ancestors. People built their own houses, and because of this, “cubes” became entrenched in culture. Do they make sense now - or are they just one of the many unnecessary toys the industry is selling us?

It seems to me that even without day-to-day construction, such constructors can play a useful role. I would call it “physical mathematics” - the study of the geometric properties of objects through the idea of ​​their weight, stability, and compatibility with each other. Why does a cube stand on another cube, but the ball rolls off? At what angle should the prisms be placed to each other so that they do not fall? Then, at school, all this will turn into abstract formulas, but it is much easier to teach a child all these things in practice. On cubes.

Concave polyhedra. Typically, cube sets consist only of convex polyhedra and prisms. But polyhedra are not only convex, and with such polyhedra the construction becomes much more interesting. Here, for example, is the “Balancer” constructor. An interesting feature: usually construction sets for kids are made in different colors, and there are many clever theories about this - they say, children need bright colors. But now the fashion for natural and wooden things is sweeping across the country in a wide wave. And here the emphasized absence of color is like a special chic. However, in Ukraine the same “Balancer” was seen in color.

The development of the idea of ​​“not only convex” polyhedra can be observed in the Diamond, Naef spiel-mini and Cella construction sets from the Swiss company Naef. The video is an excellent example of how the construction set may seem unattractive at first glance, but if you show it correctly, it turns out to be real magic.

Irregular polyhedra. Another well-known stereotype is that all figures in children's sets should be as symmetrical as possible. But there is nothing like that in nature - well, except for crystals grown under ideal conditions.

The idea of ​​irregular polyhedra is beautifully developed in a set by the design company FortStandard.

And the famous toy brand Grimms offers Waldorf blocks. And, by the way, not only colored, but also super-modern and fashionable, that is, made from logs with bark! A great opportunity to spend some decent money and buy online what the village children got for free after chopping wood.

Arches and rings. With whole bamboo rings - this is a set from Hape Toys.

But many companies produce these with halves. They are usually called "Rainbow" (or Rainbow, or Arcobaleno). You can build not only arches, but also track roads along which balls roll.

Here's another unusual thing - a Grimms kit for building the arches themselves from separate blocks. One might say, a forgotten art of the Middle Ages - bricks stay in the arch and don’t fall! And again, an interesting physical model, which will later appear at school.

Construction kits. It is strange that the fashion for wooden folk items has not yet led Russian game makers to sets like “a church without a single nail.” Paper models of this kind are already available, but I haven’t seen good wooden ones yet. However, there are movements in this direction - for example, the nice Varis construction sets and larger building sets from Pelsi and Mavlata. These natural logs and the assembly patterns of the huts completely replicate what can be seen in the village. At our house we have a similar construction set from another company - "Segment". There are not single models, but a large universal set from which you can build huts of your own design.

Since we're talking about construction, I can't help but mention BrikNik. Yes, yes, at the beginning I said that cubes are a construction set without connecting devices. But here the symbolism of the cubes is as close to reality as possible - these are real clay bricks. They are held together with almost real cement based on sand and starch. Then you can dissolve it. When my eldest began the “building boom” at the age of three, this set was the biggest hit. True, there is one drawback: after such a game, your child, like mine, may torment you with the question of why you still live in a city apartment, instead of building a large house of your own - it’s so simple.

And finally, a few words about materials.

The example with clay bricks shows that cubes are not only made of wood and plastic. But since this is the “first construction set” for the little ones, safety considerations greatly reduce the options for other materials. For example, now there are a lot of soft cubes, but they, as a rule, do not hold their shape and get dirty easily.

Or here is a very beautiful and probably pleasant to the touch Japanese designer set of Tono cork cubes. It's admired on many hipster blogs, but I wouldn't give my youngest cork cubes: he'll just eat them.

Another thing is that even wooden and plastic cubes are different in composition. Let's say they can be transparent or mirrored. This means that in addition to the physics of weights and loads, you can show your child the first lessons in optics.

Tubes

On the original Italian designer box Saxoflute It was written in six languages ​​- "from 2 years". On top there was a Russian sticker with a price, and there it was written in Russian - “from 4 years”. Probably someone decided that ours are developing twice as slow. This did not bother me, and my eldest happily began to assemble these tube structures in a year and three months. And the youngest started at one year old.

The main feature of Saxoflute is its versatility.

Firstly, this is a musical instrument constructor, and the kids immediately start having fun blowing the assembled pipes. Secondly, you can have a lot of fun playing in the bathroom by constructing your own water pipe (by accident or on purpose, but the diameter of the pipes is such that they fit exactly on the water tap). Thirdly, the transparent design allows you to follow the movements inside: my eldest and I played worms that eat acorns and clearly demonstrate the work of their digestive tract.

And the last property of Saxoflute was discovered by my daughter: if you blow this thing while lowering the other end into water, you get very cosmic melodies: the tone changes depending on the amount of water inside.

Pipe Builders. One of the favorite entertainments for children in the warm season is streams and dams. As children, we managed to adapt pipe cuttings from construction sites for such games. But now construction sites are better guarded, and “adult” pipes are not a very convenient toy for kids. For this situation, there are Pipe Builders from Lakeshore. And not only small ones, but also large ones (as in the last photo), so you can build a fully functioning water supply system - say, for watering a dacha.

If the passion for tubular fun drags on, you can move on to a more sophisticated construction set like the Hydrodynamic Deluxe Set. They say that even an ice cream factory can be simulated using it. But in general, it seems to me that this is the case when you can do without a separate expensive designer. After all, every home has... well, for example, a refrigerator.

We're chasing balls. For neat kids, there is another line of tube construction sets like Marbutopia, which allow you to assemble a variety of tracks and launch balls along them. Many companies produce them. In addition to the tubes themselves, “whirlpools”, “mills” and “springboards” can be placed in the path of the balls. There is an option with a music box that plays different melodies when the ball has safely reached the end of the maze.

Another example in the same genre is the Q-BA-MAZE construction kit, which, perhaps, best illustrates my dissatisfaction with Leg's "Duplo". On the one hand, this construction set consists of almost the same bricks as LEGO. But on the other hand, they have a wonderful additional functionality that is created... by the emptiness inside the cubes. In some cubes the ball simply rolls down, in others it rolls out through one side exit, in others there are two side exits. The result is not a homogeneous, static structure, but a fun game of maze building.

And finally, a few words about what these designers are developing, otherwise the idea of ​​chasing water or balls through tubes may seem pointless to some.

For my eldest's sixth birthday, I gave him an electronic construction set called "Connoisseur". It consists of a large board on which parts can be attached using terminals and various electronic devices can be assembled - from light alarms to radios. On the first day, my son and I put together a couple of simple circuits, and then he asked to let him build his own circuits. I, of course, did not count on such a turn - a six-year-old connecting parts in random order would probably burn half of them. Therefore, to begin with, I began to explain to him the operation of electrical circuits. Horrified in advance at how boring and difficult it would be. But it turned out that this is quite easy to explain using the example of water flowing in pipes - almost all radio components have understandable “water analogues”.

Well, the next day, despite my warning, my son began to assemble the circuits himself. And he didn’t burn anything. But I was very proud when it turned out something squealing, with a flashing light. But all that matters is: three years before this, have a good play with streams, dams and pipes.

Split constructors

I’m not an expert on toy history, but I can assume that the first construction sets (not games in general, but specially made sets) were flat and made of paper. But I want to make three-dimensional figures! How? The first way is to crumple or fold the sheet (origami). Another way: fasten individual sheets at an angle. You can fasten it with glue or some kind of paper clips. But these are additional materials that complicate the process (especially with children). So we fasten it easier: we make cuts on the paper and insert the parts into each other.

This is how split constructors are made. They are easy to produce, hence the prosperity in plastic. The Russian “Geometric Construction Set” (pictured) has become a favorite among my children, who build space stations from it.

There is also a construction set with similar, but larger pieces, Giant Slot & Build Shapes.

By the way, the Internet gives a second wind to the simplest, paper versions: they can be printed and made at home, as Joel Henrichs suggests:

In addition, paper and cardboard are falling into the general environmental fashion.

Lattice and gear constructors

Then the evolutionary tree begins to branch. Details become voluminous, cuts turn into teeth. Such constructors are also called lattice constructors. But in this case, it's literally jagged (note the photo is the original design left behind by my youngest's teeth).

This construction set is also good because you can play with foam parts in the bathroom by sticking them on the wall. Well, learn to count: the number of holes on parts is from one to six.

They can become thicker at the ends so that the fastened parts do not fall apart. It turns out to be a constructor of the "Tiko" type.

But this is a boring geometry. More spectacular things are the “Sobirayka” and “Samotsvetiki” construction sets from the St. Petersburg company “Biplant”. However, it is difficult to say who the original inventor is. The details of the “gems” will seem familiar to many: girls played with construction sets like these 30 years ago.

Or the cloves can evolve in the other direction: become small, but in large numbers. Such a “brush” increases friction when fastening parts together. The result is an Interstar brush construction set.

Clothespins and fasteners

The mutations of connections in construction sets described above follow the evolution of clothing fasteners. A cog construction set is a prototype of a “lightning bolt”. And the brush constructor is a prototype of Velcro. And LEGO, which I have repeatedly cursed, is a banal button clasp.

What else happens in the world of fasteners?

When we were kids, boys wore school pants with suspenders. And the suspenders have clothespins at the ends. They say that the first iQlip clothespin construction set was invented by the Japanese, but this did not prevent the appearance of a Chinese clone called “Funny Clothespin”.

And now an item from the girls' wardrobe - a hair clasp. Essentially the same button, but with a flexible loop. The corresponding construction set is called “Brix”; it literally consists of flexible loops with buttons.

Nowadays, magnetic clasps are increasingly used on handbags. Small children should not be given construction sets with small magnets - this quite dangerous, but there are kits where the magnet is tightly hidden inside larger plastic parts. For example, The Ball of Whacks or Magformers.

From button to hinge

I set aside the most popular fastener - the button - separately, since it leads to a special type of fastening: in which the parts can rotate relative to each other.

Zoob is famous for its knuckle-like joints.

In our house, such a construction set became the subject of an exciting evolutionary game. Parents with several children know how difficult it is to come up with an activity that would simultaneously captivate children of different ages, because what a seven-year-old likes, a three-year-old cannot yet do. And what he can do will be boring for a seven-year-old. But there is a way out - to come up with a game with very different roles. For example, like this: the older one collects fantastic creatures from the Zoob constructor, and the younger one works as a “selection factor” and tests the models for survival, that is, throws them on the floor and tries to break them.

After the first hour of this game, we got several very interesting “stable” forms. Need I say how similar they were to something familiar from living nature? And the mobility of the “joint” joints is a clear adaptive advantage: such models have better shock absorption than static ones. However, it must be admitted that after a year of similar evolutionary games, teeth still began to fall off from the parts of Zoob.

More complex designs with hinged joints are provided by the Struxx designer. Some of his kits even allow you to “revive” built creatures, turning them into robots.

The Birth of Complexity: Morphogenesis

I got a little ahead of myself with the Struxx example. But I had to stop and notice this: all previous designers consisted of fairly similar, universal parts. These are "single-celled organisms". And the structures created from them sometimes resemble colonies of unicellular organisms: stromatolites, dendrites, fruiting bodies of bacteria, etc. Then there are constructors in which an increase in complexity leads to heterogeneous, specialized elements. Here you can find many biological analogues: multicellular creatures with different types of tissues, symbiotic organisms... But I will not let my imagination run wild and in the end I will mention only one type of “social division”, the most popular. These are details of "different genders". Here I don’t even need to fantasize, since techies long ago came up with the idea of ​​calling such connections “male-female” (or male-female connection).

In the Taikon construction set, the role of the female element is played by hollow flexible tubes, and the connecting elements between them are male.

In Knex construction sets, there are rods with a distinctly masculine origin, and the connectors between them are of a feminine type.

Screw constructors

In my childhood, the screw construction set looked absolutely clear: not for three-year-olds. It was a set of metal plates and corners with holes, and with them a scattering of screws and nuts. But such small screws are too small for a small child to handle, and it’s actually dangerous—they might put them in their mouth. So entertainment was available only to those over six. Now such sets are also on sale, causing nostalgic feelings among former Soviet children who have already become parents.

But let's return to small children. They are also very interested in playing with different things. These things just need to be large enough and light - like the caps on plastic bottles. The first such designer that my son became interested in was called... IKEA furniture. I myself was amazed to observe with what pleasure and ease a two-year-old child hammered half of the plastic “nails” when assembling the bed. The metal screws in the stools were more difficult for him, but it was also clear that he was about to cope with them. But will you really have to wait up to six years to own a screw construction set?

But no. In the same Ikea we found a construction set called Bygga.

In addition to the large parts, it is also interesting because three different materials are used - wooden blocks, plastic screws and axles, rubber wheels and connecting pins. All this is connected in a variety of combinations, and although there are diagrams for assembling four models (motorcycle, excavator, helicopter and airplane), Bygga’s capabilities are not limited to this.

I gave it to my eldest for his third birthday. When Keith built his own tank, I noticed that the wheels were not attached to axles with screws, but to rubber bushings, which was not shown in any of the diagrams. I started to say: “What you did was strange, they won’t spin...” And I stopped. Because the wheels turned perfectly.

Alas, now the Russian branch of Ikea no longer has this designer. And not in American. Available only in Kuwait. Why they stopped releasing it, I don’t know. Judging by the announcements on the forums, it has already become something of a rarity, and it has quite a lot of fans - for example, a group on Flickr, where they collect photographs of homemade products from this construction set.

Now three-year-old Eva is playing with our rare construction set. And since one-year-old Leo also shows serious interest in screws and axles (and more in axles), I decided to look for what else there is in this area. The photo shows parts and tools of one of the most iconic construction sets of this type, Brio Mec. Nowadays you can’t find it anywhere except flea markets. Apparently, this was the first case of a technical designer for the little ones.

However, enough about rarities. The same Brio company still has other screw construction sets for older children - for example, Brio Construction Vehicles. True, it is sold in England.

But here is a Plantoys construction set with large wooden screws and nuts, which is quite affordable in Russia. The set includes a wooden screwdriver and a key. True, I don’t yet know how well the wooden nuts can be turned in this construction set, I’ll have to try it live. There is a suspicion that wood is not the best material for a screw.

The German company Baufix makes very nice construction sets. They have a lot of different kits, but I found the ones that were particularly interesting to have flexible rubber flaps used as "fenders" and "hoods". Still, there are a lot of screw constructors, but they all create bare skeletal structures, and here there is an opportunity to show how the “covering” is made.

However, every dad finds something of his own in such a constructor. For example, here’s an excellent dad’s review with many models from the Baufix construction set. It ends with how dad taught his child to put screws in separate drawers in order to search faster.

And finally, to complete the picture, it’s worth mentioning another screw designer - Gigo Junior Engineer. It is completely plastic, which, of course, is not so stylish, but it can be bought in Russian stores.

By the way, if you suddenly choose “Young Engineer”, note that in this series there is a more advanced set Junior Engineer 2 - Magic Gears. It differs in that in addition to screws, it includes gears.

Constructors with gears

In our childhood, the situation with gears was even worse than with screws. These geared things in watches and other mechanisms always attracted attention, but it was rare that I managed to do anything with them myself. I remember when I was about ten years old, at a technical creativity club, I assembled a tower machine. All the parts were cut and glued, even an electric motor was found, but it turned out that it “does not pull” my tower. I tried to make a gearbox out of gears from a broken alarm clock. Nothing came of it, and all the work went down the drain.

My children were luckier: they mastered gear transmission without waiting until they were three years old. As in the case of screw constructors, it was only necessary to make the gears large and light.

This FridgiGears, a set of plastic gears with magnets that mold onto your refrigerator, allowing you to create custom gears. And in the largest gear there is a motor. You press it with your hand and the whole circuit starts spinning.

I bought this construction set for my eldest son Keith when he was two and a half. And he even kept the gift for some time, giving it to him when he was closer to three years old. Apparently, the stereotype that “it’s difficult” worked, and “3+” was written on the box. It turned out that three years is not particularly early. Daughter Eva learned to stick her older brother’s wheels on the refrigerator at 10 months, and at one and a half years old she was already assembling patterns from gears and turning on the engine herself. Now one-year-old Leva is doing the same. There is only one downside to this set - after frequent throwing onto the floor, the magnets come off from the wheels. In this case, we stick them back with ordinary plasticine.

IN Junior Engineer Magic Gears no longer just gears on one plane, but many parts from which different mechanisms can be assembled.

The company produces a series of beautiful gear construction sets Quercetti. In the picture on the left is Georello Basic, in which I am somewhat confused by the decorative plugs: they are too small. The box says "4+", but if you take out these small plugs, I think even two-year-olds can play it. The photo on the right shows a more advanced Georello Tech set. Here, in addition to gears, there is a chain drive, a belt drive, and propellers, and all this can be strengthened at different angles.

Haba Grundpackung Optik

The word "gear", which refers to gears, is actually used in a broader sense, denoting any drive, that is, a mechanism for transmitting motion, including the already mentioned chain-belt drives. Or let's say, one rubber wheel transmits movement to another due to friction - almost like a gear, but without teeth.

Such wheels are available in the Grundpackung Optik kit from Haba. But what is more important: this designer allows you to create devices with a specific purpose. The rest were spinning just for the sake of spinning, but here you can arrange a whole range of optical experiments, including creating your own short cartoons.

For those over seven

If we move further towards the complication of technology, we come to more sophisticated designers, which use other types of drives, as well as electric motors, remote control, programming elements - and in the end, robots are obtained.

Here it is worth remembering KNEX first of all. A variety of moving mechanisms can be built from the KNEX Education Computer Control series kit. Well, in general, since KNEX is based on “pins”, its kits make quite unusual walking cars - and in most other construction sets there are only wheeled cars.

A more popular brand in the niche of technical construction kits is, of course, Lego Technic. True, this is where exactly the problem begins that kept me from reviewing such designers. They put “sets of the same model” in the foreground, that is, in the windows. It’s quite clear why - not even an adult will understand it if you give him a set of parts for free technical creativity. It’s another matter when a person is immediately shown the result (the model that is being built), and even given a step-by-step diagram. Obviously, such visual sets are more readily purchased. But in my opinion, such one-time sketchiness greatly limits the educational potential of the designer.

That's why I don't like that Lego is invading our schools. There, however, we are talking about the Lego Mindstorm set, which is a little more diverse - but the principle of “modular thinking according to the scheme” remains there too.

The same can be said about Fisсhertechnik designers. However, they still have a more educational approach, it seems to me. The Mechanic & Static set allows you to assemble at least three dozen mechanisms with different types of movement, not limited to wheeled cars. Nearby there are kits for assembling Leonardo da Vinci's machines and other unusual technical inventions of the past. And that's before we even get to the robots.

And finally, three simple tips

It needs to be shown, and more than once. Don't expect your child to immediately repeat after you. Most likely, he will build his first structure in about a month, when you will already think that all your examples were in vain.

It is necessary to “revive” the structures. The abstract installation of blocks does not make any sense for a child - the goal is unclear. It's another matter if you are building a house for some character, or a bridge for crossing toys across the "river". For this “revival”, my son and I used a set of small figures. Some were from Kinder surprises, others from souvenir shops. A couple of hippos, a turtle, a frog - we constantly carried them in our pockets and with their help we could start the game anywhere: either build a castle in the sandbox, or dig a cave city in the snow.

Feel free to buy a designer set for yourself. In fact, if you have some imagination, you can get an excellent construction set from ordinary kitchen utensils. Why else buy? And everyone knows this: parents often give their children toys that they themselves would like to play with. So if you have already decided to buy a fancy set, you must honestly admit that you are buying for yourself. So as not to blame it on the child later - like, “I bought it for him, spent money, but he doesn’t play...”. Come on, tell me honestly: I like it myself. So collect it yourself! Construction sets are a very useful meditation for parents. And if you are interested, then the children will soon catch up.

This review is not intended to be comprehensive. But I hope it showed that the world of construction kits is not limited to those boring sets that litter our stores.

For the comprehensive development of a child, a construction set remains an indispensable game for many generations. Today, manufacturers produce the safest kits designed for children literally from birth. One of these new products is Lego Duplo. Large plastic parts of bright colors, made from materials that are as safe as possible for the health of children, cannot fail to attract the attention of the little builder. Undoubtedly, such a designer deserves positive reviews. But consumers note its significant drawback - high cost. Therefore, buyers often leave their choice in favor of cheaper brands. Is there a high-quality analogue of Lego Duplo? Which to choose? Read our article for a review of brands that manufacture construction sets for little ones.

Unico Plus

“Unico” is a construction set similar to “Lego Duplo” from an Italian manufacturer. It is of high quality, but its price is not much lower. The cubes are exactly the same as the original construction plate. The Unico brand offers sets of different themes. Let us note such as the “Construction Set”, consisting of 50 elements of different sizes. Consumers note that this number of parts is not enough for the game, so they have to purchase several sets at once.

Children enjoy building the “Knight’s Castle”, “Maya the Bee’s House”, assembling the “Pirate Ship” and others. The Hello Kitty series has gained particular popularity. It includes “Cafe”, “Supermarket”, “Kitty’s House”, “Kitty’s Castle”, “Safari” and others. Designer sets come complete with different figures, decorations, and equipment. Bright large details and characters from the popular cartoon attract the attention of children under three years old, and the high-quality material from which the cubes are made is safe for the health of children.

A railway is also produced in the same series, but it is not compatible with the original construction set.

This analogue of Lego Duplo has earned positive customer reviews. Parents of children note the high quality of the Unico construction set, the attractiveness of the details, and interesting thematic stories. The kids also appreciated such an entertaining game, preferring the Unico construction set to other analogues of the original set.

The disadvantages include the rather high cost. On average, a set of 42 parts of such a construction set costs in the retail network from 1,500 to 2,500 rubles.

Big Brick by 1 Toy

The Chinese brand produces the Big Brick construction set. The parts are fully compatible with Lego Duplo. The manufacturer offers various themed construction sets for three-year-old children. The most popular are “Builders”, “Fire Brigade” and “Zoo”. The last set is a worthy analogue of Lego Duplo Zoo 5020. There are figures of people, animals, a car with a trailer, and even gardening tools. Of course, such a game will interest the child for a long time. The set consists of 50 bright large parts. You can purchase the “Zoo” construction set from the “Big Brick” series for 1,300 rubles.

Reviews about this analogue of Lego Duplo are mixed. Buyers are attracted by the low cost of the Wig Brick construction set. But the quality, according to consumers, is much lower than that of the original. Parts break easily and are difficult to connect to each other.

Mega Bloks

"Mega Bloks" is an analogue of "Lego Duplo", which can be found in any children's store. But not all sets are compatible with the original designer. For example, an option from the “Dora the Explorer” or “Diego the Explorer” series would be suitable. The cost of such sets is not much lower than that of Lego. But “Mega Bloks” also has enough advantages: it is high quality, safe materials, and the presence of toy characters-designer parts, which are popular among children under three years of age.

SLUBAN

Another analogue of Lego Duplo is the Sluban construction set. Parts are compatible with the original. And the price is several times lower. The manufacturer offers a wide selection of thematic sets, for example, “Farm Frenzy”, “City”, “Pink Dream”, “Space”, “Star Factory”. But, analyzing customer reviews, you can see that this is where the advantages of such a designer end. Consumers note the poor quality of the parts - during construction, individual elements do not fit with each other, and gaps remain. The figures differ significantly from Lego Duplo, not for the better - there are sharp corners, burrs, and uneven coloring of parts.

Nevertheless, despite the shortcomings, the Sluban construction set remains in demand in the toy market due to its affordable price. For example, the “Farm” set costs about 1,300 rubles.

JDLT 3+

The Chinese manufacturer of construction sets JDLT offers a wide range of different sets that are compatible with Lego Duplo. In JDLT the figures are large, bright and varied. Of particular interest to children are such sets as “Family”, “Zoo”, “Railroad”. As a special feature, it can be noted that the sets have thought out small details, for example, interior items in the “Family” series, various “caves” in the “Dinosaurs” series and many others. With the help of such seemingly insignificant details, the game takes on new forms, the plot is enriched - children not only construct something whole from individual parts, but also have the opportunity to organize a role-playing game. This, in turn, contributes to the development of creative thinking and imagination.

JDLT: Railway Series

An interesting and entertaining analogue of Lego Duplo is the JDLT Railway. This set is distinguished by a variety of parts and functions. So, the train itself has sound and light effects, which will certainly not leave the child indifferent. The rails are made of high quality - they are easily connected to each other, made of durable plastic. In addition to the railway and train itself, depending on the type of set and the number of parts in it, the construction set is equipped with cubes for building a farmer's house and a shed for pets (they are also included in the set), a gas station, and a railway carriage. The figures are also pleasing to the eye - there are passengers, carriage drivers, and a driver. Thus, even with one such set, the child will be able to come up with a large number of different game situations.

Dr. Luck

The Chinese analogue of Lego Duplo, which has the lowest cost in our country, is the designer brand Dr. Luck. This manufacturer offers both small sets that can diversify existing Lego sets, and large thematic ones, with a variety of parts and figures.

Parents of children note the high quality of the parts of this construction set and the absence of any foreign chemical odor. The parts are connected to each other securely, without gaps.

Constructor “City of Masters”

A special place among construction sets for three-year-old children is occupied by the Lego Duplo analogue - “City of Masters”. These are sets that contain a small number of parts and have a narrow plot theme (“Tow Truck”, “Ambulance”, “Police Station” and others). The set includes a car (for example, a police car), several people and cubes.

Test of LEGO-compatible construction sets dedicated not only to children, but also to adults who remain children at heart. LEGO construction sets have been known for a long time; more than one generation has grown up with them, but, unfortunately, due to the price, not everyone can afford to buy them. Therefore, the idea was born to conduct a test of designers, comparing LEGO and its analogues, mainly made in China. Six constructors ( LEGO, BRICK, 1 TOY, LIGAO, COBI, City of Masters) have been tested for safety and quality of assembly of their models in accordance with the instructions.

LEGO constructors are a hobby for children of all ages. And parents are happy when the child is busy. One thing is upsetting: LEGO prices are, to put it mildly, steep. At the same time, stores sell similar construction sets from other manufacturers for much cheaper. How big is the difference between them and are they compatible? To understand this “toy” issue, we tested five construction sets similar to LEGO and compared them with the “original”.

Easy construction

Except LEGO We bought three Chinese models in stores ( 1 TOY, Brick, City of Masters) and one Polish ( COBI). Chinese sample LIGAO was purchased at one of the Moscow markets. The designers chose inexpensive ones, consisting of classic cubes and designed for children from 5 to 10 years old. At the same time, we tried to keep the sets close in theme. As a result, three of them, after assembly, were to turn into flight equipment.

The tests took place in two stages. In the laboratory, the samples were tested for the content of harmful substances in accordance with GOST, and the assembly process and the information content of the instructions were assessed by a group of testers.

EVERYONE LINE UP! To compare and evaluate the details of different designers, we put them in one row in the following sequence (from left to right): LEGO, COBI, LIGAO, Brick, 1 TOY, City of Masters. In the photo on the left you can see that all the cubes have pins, and the height of all the cubes is the same, with the exception of the long gray one from the designer 1 TOY. In the photo on the right are the same cubes, only on the reverse side. There is a difference 1 TOY from others - it has no tubes. And the brown cube of the company COBI there is no internal partition. In the bottom photo on the left you can clearly see feature of LEGO bricks: the internal tubes have an imperfectly round shape, and in places of contact with the pins they are additionally reinforced from the inside, which increases the strength of the structure.

Burr problem

On the packaging of all models except LIGAO, it is written that the product is certified and meets the requirements of GOST 25779-90 “Toys. General safety requirements and control methods.” To find out if this was true, the samples were first checked for nicks, burrs, cracks and sharp edges.

Three designers ( COBI, LEGO And LIGAO) there were no problems with the quality of parts. But the other three were found to not meet the standards. U Cities of Masters the percentage of parts with burrs turned out to be small, and Brick quite impressive. U 1 TOY Burrs were found on the helmets of the figurines of the fortress defenders. Sharp edges also form on additional parts (peaks, clubs, etc.) when they are removed from the holding frame. So these parts need to be carefully cut out and under no circumstances broken out.

Harmfulness testing

To assess the safety of the designers, experts tested them in the laboratory for the content of harmful elements - barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, antimony, arsenic and selenium. Fortunately, no crime was found here. There were no complaints about the smell of the products, the level of which was also assessed by specialists.

Additionally, the recently introduced GOST indicator was checked - toxicity index (IT). It testifies that what harm can a toy cause to a child?. The toxicity index is determined as follows.

Live luminescent microorganisms are added to two solutions - an extract from a toy and distilled water, and then the luminescence intensity of the solutions is compared. The smaller it is, the more toxic the solution. In the tested samples, the IT of plastic parts turned out to be normal: 15–19% (the norm is no more than 20%), and for rubber wheels - 12% COBI and 8% for LIGAO.

Playful tests

Now we had to evaluate the complexity of assembling the construction sets, the ease of connecting/disconnecting parts, as well as the strength of the assembled models. A group of testers took up the matter, which consisted not only of adults, but also of teenagers with 10 years of assembly experience LEGO. The results of their work are presented in the descriptions of the models.

Strictly according to instructions

For a child, the assembly diagram for a construction set is the very first instruction in life. And the child’s self-confidence depends on how understandable it is.

When evaluating the instructions, we took into account the quality and clarity of the drawings, the number of parts assembled in one step, and other points. In addition, it was noted whether the color of the actual parts corresponded to those shown in the instructions and on the packaging. Refer to the sample descriptions for more detailed instructions.

Table 1“General data and results of consumer tests of designers”

Trademark	LEGO	BRICK	1 TOY	LIGAO	COBI	City of masters
Model	CREATOR 3 in 1	Military helicopter	Fantasy. Battle of Clans	Hoist trolley	SCORPION anti-tank gun	Air attack
Country of Origin	Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, USA, China	China	China	China	Poland	China
price, rub.	174,9	119	149	271	119	179
Number of parts, pcs.	76 + 3 extras	n/a (144 in fact)	105 + 4 extras	170	51	194
Approximate age of the child, years	6-12	7-13	5+	5+	4-10	5+
Identified deficiencies				The cabin cover did not fit tightly onto the base		The first set was missing 1 piece, and the second one could not be assembled
LEGO compatible	+	+	-	+	+	+

table 2“Final grades”

Trademark	LEGO	BRICK	1 TOY	LIGAO	COBI	City of masters
Model	CREATOR 3 in 1	Military helicopter	Fantasy. Battle of Clans	Hoist trolley	Anti-tank SCORPION gun	Air attack
Safety	5	4,75	4,975	5	5	4,9
content of harmful substances	5	5	5	5	5	5
burrs, cracks, sharp edges	5	4	4,9	5	5	4,6
Assembly 60%	5	4,72	4,65	4,4	4,1	3 *
connection of parts	5	4,8	5	4,3	5	4
detaching parts	5	4	5	4,5	3	4
assembly strength	5	5	5	3,8	5	2,5
rotation of parts/wheels	5	4,8	4	5	3	4 **
figurines	- ***	5	3,5	5	4	4
Design 20%	5	4,5	4	5	4,5	3,7
Instructions 15%	5	4	3,5	3	3,5	3,5
Packaging 5%	5	4	4	3	4	4
Final score 100%	5	4,5	4,3	4,2	4,1	3,3

Test conclusions

None of the tested samples contained any chemical elements harmful to the health of children.

Model LEGO- the undisputed leader of the test.

Brand designers Brick, COBI, LIGAO and 1 TOY have some drawbacks, but can easily replace LEGO.

Designers from four brands compatible with LEGO – Brick, COBI, LIGAO and City of Masters. And here 1 TOY incompatible, since the height of its parts is greater.

Three designers were found to have burrs unacceptable by the standard: Brick, City of Masters and 1 TOY.

Model LIGAO will please car lovers. Peculiarity 1 TOY- successful models for girls. From an expensive designer COBI very strong coupling of parts, sometimes even too strong. And cheap Brick got into the excellent group in consumer tests.

Cheapest test kit City of masters turned out to be the worst in quality. The two tested copies of this designer had serious flaws.

Brief characteristics of the models

LEGO "CREATOR 3 in 1"

Country of Origin: Denmark, Switzerland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Austria, USA, China

Price: 174.9 rub.

Number of details: 76 + 3 additional

Test results: The testers enjoyed the process of assembling the aircraft. The parts are easy to connect and separate, and the assembled model is quite durable. The set includes three additional multi-colored flashers, because such small parts tend to get lost. The colors of the aircraft are bright and rich.

After comparing the assembly diagrams of all the models, the testers were convinced that the LEGO instructions were the best. It is made in the form of a multi-page booklet in postcard format. The drawings are clear and obvious, not many parts are assembled in one step. The instructions present several options for assembling aircraft (see photo on the right and splash photo at the beginning of the article).

BRICK "Military helicopter"

Country of Origin: China

Price: 119 rub.

Number of details: 144

Test results: This model is closer to LEGO in build quality than others. True, when connecting parts you have to put in a little more effort, but the result is a durable structure. Disassembling it as a whole is also not difficult, with the exception of some small parts that are difficult to detach.

The instructions are quite clear and are presented in the form of drawings. Several parts are assembled in one step. But since the bulk of the cubes are khaki and there is no color separation between already assembled and new parts, the assembly process is slow.

COBI "SCORPION Anti-tank gun"

Country of Origin: Poland

Price: 119 rub.

Number of details: 51

Test results: The coupling of the parts is so tight that they are separated with great difficulty. The design of the scorpion on the gun mount was apparently placed upside down by mistake, and the wheels of the mount itself have difficulty turning. The military figure is wearing a protective vest. It blocks the movement of the toy's hand.

The drawings in the instructions are clear, but the instructions themselves are quite complicated. Particularly difficult is the beginning of the assembly. The directional arrows are not obvious; it is not always clear where the part needs to be attached. The back surface of the blocks is depicted as smooth and flat, which is confusing.

LIGAO "Hoist trolley"

Country of Origin: China

Price: 271 rub.

Number of details: 170

Test results: This model would be fine if it weren’t for some of the parts that make assembly/disassembly of the structure difficult. For example, the cabin roof lay unevenly on the base, leaving a gap. The rear panel of the car (bumper) is kept on parole. If you don't touch the crane, it also seems to be holding on, but as soon as you put a little force on it, it falls off. In general, car lovers will get real pleasure by assembling this construction set.

The instructions are in the form of photographs and are not very clear. Too many parts are collected in one step. Moreover, the parts collected at the previous stages are depicted in off-white color. And if the new part also turns out to be white, then confusion arises. Poor photo quality makes the assembly process difficult.

1 TOY "Fantasy. Battle of Clans"

Country of Origin: China

Price: 149 rub.

Number of details: 105 + 4 additional

Test results: The parts of this model are pleasant to hold in your hands - they are even and smooth. Lots of tall elements. The set is assembled and disassembled very well; when assembled, the model is durable. The heads of the figures of the fortress defenders rotate with difficulty, but the legs, on the contrary, are too free. The decoration of the model is a drawbridge on chains, which, however, could not be lifted, since one side of its fastening was constantly disconnected. The picture on the box is different in color from the real thing. The check showed that 1 TOY pieces are not compatible with LEGO as they are different heights. And this is despite the fact that the manufacturer claims that its design is compatible “with products of other brands.”

The drawing of the parts in the instructions is very good, but the instructions themselves are unclear, because the “new” light gray parts merge with the “old” light blue ones, and it is difficult to distinguish the shades. The instructions are impersonal, only the model number is indicated. A lot of parts are assembled in one step.

City of Masters "Air Attack"

Country of Origin: China

Price: 179 rub.

Number of details: 194

Test results: There were some difficulties in assembling this set. For example, in the center of the aircraft wing there are rocket launchers, which kept falling off, since their weight is rather large, and the fastening is absolutely ill-conceived - on 1 pin. The installations themselves are designed to be movable, but it is better not to touch them. Without them, the plane is quite reliable. The propeller, just starting to spin, immediately stops. Almost at the very beginning of the assembly, one part of a non-standard shape was missing. I had to find it in the LEGO “home archive” to continue the assembly.

We specifically bought another City of Masters set (a military vehicle with a rocket launcher) and checked its contents. Everything turned out to be fine here, but no one was able to assemble this additional model. Several parts were attached to the base with great difficulty, but very quickly slipped off it. The rocket launcher on the car steadily crumbled in his hands. True, the rubber wheels rolled very well, but they gave off a very strong chemical smell (unfortunately, this additional model was not tested in the laboratory).

The instructions are in the form of photographs. The colors of the parts in the instructions and in the kit do not match. For clarity, arrows are used. This set is the largest in terms of the number of parts (194 pieces), and the instructions fit on just one A4 sheet, so individual photos can be made out with great difficulty. Obviously, it is almost impossible for a five-year-old child to assemble this model on his own.

LEGO constructors are the standard of quality for many manufacturers. Many companies have come close to their main competitor. Their analogues are practically in no way inferior to the original LEGO sets. These are compatible construction sets, since their quality and size of parts are practically indistinguishable.

Variety of LEGO analogues

The main advantage of original products is high quality. But the brand name also plays an important role: you will have to pay extra for a loud name. But at the same time, a number of other manufacturers offer decent products that also deserve attention. In addition, you can always save a lot on your purchase by purchasing it inexpensively.

Some of the companies have a long history, producing construction sets for more than ten years. Other manufacturers have appeared quite recently, but offer equally high-quality products for boys and girls.

Among the most famous brands offering high-quality analogues, it is worth noting the following:

• Bela. It produces more than a thousand sets of parts, thanks to which children assemble trailers, boats, racing cars, and ships. The pieces are fully LEGO compatible. The manufacturer's assortment includes construction sets for children of all genders.
• Lele. Worthy high quality analogues in a wide range. Among the advantages of Lele are low price, compatibility with the original, high quality of every detail.
• Lepin. New generation Chinese toys. They are distinguished by an affordable price, full compliance with the original and the use of safe ABS plastic.
• Brick. Produced in Shanghai. The company not only copies LEGO products, but also produces its own sets. For example, Century Military is an independently created series.
• Cobi is a Polish manufacturer offering products of decent quality.
• Mega Bloks are Canadian construction toys that are compatible with LEGO.
• City of Masters is a domestic brand offering hundreds of construction sets. Each set contains from 50 to 1200 parts. The City of Masters often copies the plots of popular cartoons and embodies them in its products.

In fact, there are a large number of LEGO analogues that are cheap. In any case, the child will not get bored with this set. Increasingly, original LEGO construction sets are of interest to collectors: not everyone can afford such children's toys. At the same time, you can always please your son or daughter with a compatible analogue that is in no way inferior in quality.

Thousands of LEGO-compatible construction sets in the online store Season of Sales

If you decide to buy a good construction set for your child, then do it in our online store. We offer toys for little ones and for children of primary school age. Thousands of bright sets are available to you on the pages of our catalog.

We offer only high-quality products that meet all strict safety requirements. Impeccable quality and a huge range will definitely delight you. Each children's construction set has a photo, which will allow you to choose a set with your son or daughter. Order LEGO analogues from us and please your child with a useful gift.

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