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I recently introduced the Lego Mobile Police Dog Training to my Lego table in my office. It retails for $29.99, has 197 pieces, and is for ages 5+. The set comes with two minifigures, a full-size German shepherd, and a German shepherd puppy (several kids have oohed and aahed already).
I like to give kids the opportunity to build the set. It exercises patience and organization since I assume that they want to separate the pieces by color. Although there aren’t many that want to take the time to do that, it is recommended in the instruction book. I choose to ignore the impatience and impulsiveness and give attention to the moments where the child helps in any way. Take note though, if you try to do this with larger sets you will be frustrated.
While building, there are always times to comment on moments when the builder figures out problems and remains persistent. Two key behaviors to capitalize on are correcting mistakes and picking up dropped pieces.
Anytime a child figures out that they’ve missed something in the instructions it’s frustrating. When you praise them for making a correction, they’ll get a boost of good feelings to negate the frustration. That helps them to handle it better which, little by little, builds up their belief in themselves to be able to handle life’s frustrations.
Anytime you are with a young child and they pick something off the floor, praise it! A simple, “Thanks for picking that up.”, will build an attitude in them that getting things off the floor isn’t so hard. If they believe they can pick up, they are more likely to pick up.
This particular set has lent itself to lots of care in play. Many kids have enjoyed taking care of the dogs in the set, especially the puppy. It’s a lot easier than taking care of the real thing even though there is a small piece of Lego poop to be cleaned up. Whether you’re cheering them on or just describing what they’re doing, it will go a long way towards developing a child that takes care of pets and people.
I’ve also witnessed many kids setting up scenarios to catch the bad guy or make sure citizens are safe. Although some might see it as aggressive, I believe this is a healthy expression of care and power. Also, it helps to develop a sense of morality and consequences.
All in all, it’s a fun set that I plan on keeping on the table for some time. If you need a gift for a birthday party or your favorite little one, this is a great choice.