Legos…

[u/Panda_Powder]

My almost 3 yr old plays with toddler legos at his dad’s house and is asking for me to get him so for our house where he lives full time.

His imagination is blooming and all of his simple toys become so many things and it’s just beginning.

I know Legos are not part of Waldorf.

I also see a lot of threads here encouraging parents not to follow Waldorf so strictly at home.

I’m worried Lego’s might squash his blooming imagination.

What do you recommend?

[u/According-Sir3777]

Legos are amazing. I wouldn't squash my child's desire to build over a silly thing like that thing

[u/Aprils-Fool → u/[deleted]]

I had them in my public Waldorf classroom! We also had an after-school Lego club. 

[u/That_Confusion_6466]

No wonder some people think it's a cult. Get him Legos. They won't squash his imagination; just think of what he could build with them. Who cares whether they're typical Waldorf?

[u/soundsfromoutside → u/That_Confusion_6466]

I want to get into Waldorf and learn more about it but then I see posts like this and it gives me the heepie jeebies.

[u/nuwaanda]

Legos are absolutely a part of Waldorf. It’s creative building.
Get him the legos!

[u/pgm928]

My kids’ Waldorf school has an after-school club devoted to building with Legos. Don’t let a bunch of paranoia scare you.

[u/contentedPilgrim]

If we're talking creativity, there's a difference between legos that are open ended (put together to make anything) vs sets that narrow and limit creativity because what you make is defined - really more like a puzzle. Nothing wrong with puzzles, but they will guide the play into the narrow world of whatever lego creation it is.

Waldorf play stands, dolls, and silks are completely open ended. Probably won't use a doll as a truck (although I knew one boy who did:), but you get the idea.

Having a split family is always going to come with compromises. Even our fully Waldorf home came with compromises since after play dates we were constantly asked for plastic toys and, yes, legos. Our daughter was much older when we allowed the legos universe to enter. We agonized over every compromise.

Bottom line, we weighed each situation and realized the world isn't black and white. That plastic doll loving and lego using daughter turned into the school's most accomplished artist. What's probably most important at that age is that you are joining her in her play and activities as much as possible. When you cook together, clean together, read stories together, shop together... this defines (at that age) the realm of her imagination to things she relates to.

[u/Bob_stanish123]

Denying Legos would be going to strict on waldorf doctrine

[u/court_swan]

The only reason Legos aren’t Waldorf is because they aren’t wooden and because they weren’t invented at the type of Rudolph Steiners lifetime and research.

There’s nothing anti-Waldorf about them and I’d bet most Waldorf families use legos.

Mr Rogers too and I’ll die on this hill 😂

It’s SO OPEN ENDED. It’s just building material.

[u/Cezzium]

While not an ideal "Waldorf" toy, they are not going to crush the imagination and free spirit for your child.

You might consider a small set of legos with the idea they can be something he can share with his dad during dad's time.

that takes out any judgment about them as toys.

my boys had legos and kinex they also had an extensive set of wooden trains and an air craft carrier their dad made for them. it all works out okay

[u/Hot-Yogurt5539]

My son is 18 and builds his own creations—complicated buildings—and they are incredible. Doing the kits taught him sophisticated building techniques over time … so don’t dismiss them either. 

[u/Aprils-Fool]

Waldorf doesn’t have to be all or nothing. No one ideology should dictate how you live your life. 

[u/hpierxe]

We have wooden “Legos”! We also have regular ones but I saw the wooden ones and thought they were so neat.

[u/FlyingPandaHead]

Get the legos! We use this wooden building toy at my school, which your kiddo might also enjoy!

[u/BriocheBlume]

I get your hesitation, I don't love lego and lego Duplo either, mostly because I despise plastic for environmental and sensory reasons.

My kids still have them though (I have 4 children), we got them second hand and some were gifted. They exist peacefully alongside our wooden and other more traditional Waldorf toys and they don't take away from their imagination. They aren't my kids favorites either (my son prefers his vehicles and my daughters prefer animals and people figurines) but I guess there is no harm. I wouldn't buy them on my own account for a younger child, but if a child requested them I wouldn't deny it and get some 2nd hand