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2 years, 10 months ago

What do I do with a child that is always building something?

My daughter is 8 going to be 9 and she is always building things. She loves art and drawing or inventing things. She always take my boxes makes 3 D buildings or things. That is all she thinks about. After a while I don't know where to put it all. Anyone have a suggestion or idea that might help us?
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demanda's Avatar
demanda | 2 years, 10 months ago
7
To keep your daughter's curiosity for building alive and to save space in your home, I'd suggest getting some type of building toy that can be taken apart and reconstructed over and over.

Probably the best toy in this category is K'NEX, which are connectable pieces that you can use to make various objects. A typical Kid K'Nex set looks like this:
http://www.sciencelabs.com/images/products/Knex/78690.jpg

Also, on their website, they have project ideas for parents and lots of other neat resources. You can also purchase them on the site (as well as in most toy stores).
http://www.knex.com/Kid_KNEX/

If you think she's ready for something a little more advanced, you can also use regular K'NEX to build things like this:
http://www.kidestore.co.uk/images/knex_ferriswheel08.jpg

http://www.kidestore.co.uk/images/knex_dropnswing.jpg

Or you may want to start with something more basic like legos, which are always fun!
http://www.lego.com/en-US/default.aspx

Hope that helps!

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brandy76's Avatar
brandy76 | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
I would continue to encourage her to make things out of boxes and other materials, I wouldn't want to stifle her creativity. But I would also buy her some different types of building blocks. Both lego and megablocks have sets to build things (not just buildings). You could also buy her wood blocks which she can put away when she is done. I understand that they take up a lot of space, so I would encourage her to build using other blocks as well so you are not overrun with structures to store.

Do you think she would be interested in making sand castles/structures. You could get her some play sand for the backyard, or take her to the beach.
http://www.daviddureault.com/sand2.jpg

Here's a link to lots of sand sculptures.
http://photovault.com/Link/People/Caricature/tSandSculptures/PCTVolume01.html

I know building sand structures is not quite the same as building with blocks and boxes, but it would save you some room in your house.

Cranium also makes fort building sets. If she would be interested in making forts, she could put the pieces away when she done using them to free up some space. The kits have a variety of pieces to make different sizes and shapes of forts.
http://z.about.com/d/grandparents/1/G/6/-/-/-/MegaFort.jpg

As for storing her masterpieces, you could start taking pictures and display the pictures in a collage photo frame, or put them in a scrapbook/photo album. You could also buy some cheap shelving to put up in her room to display her creations. You can get white melamine shelves and brackets at Home Depot, Lowes, etc.. that are fairly inexpensive. Ikea also has a variety of shelving units to display her work.

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blitzkrieg's Avatar
blitzkrieg | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
Give her lego blocks and encourage her to express her creativity. You may have an artist in the house! It is much better than having a child watching television all day long, so don't discourage her.

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kerryk's Avatar
kerryk | 2 years, 10 months ago
17
I can see the dilemma of finding places to put everything she makes, but certainly do not discourage her from what appears to be a talent and joy she has. Find out what types of projects she wants to do next and maybe what she makes can be sent out as gifts to family and friends.

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awesome222 | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
Have you discussed this with your daughter? While she may love to build things specifically like model cars and 3d puzzles, has she ventured into any other crafts? Maybe she just feels limited to a specific area of creativity. Maybe you could have her try pottery, jewelry making, sewing.. etc.. There are many things she can make. Try looking at craftster and see if there are any ideas which may click. Also, instead of saving up everytime she makes, you could take a picture of it for memory sake, but sell the items on a site like etsy.com or something. She could moake a little pocket change or you can use it to start saving up for a college fund if she later decides to go to art school..

I think she's very lucky to have such a supportive parent. It will help her go very far in life :)

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don5601's Avatar
don5601 | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
I just wanted to say that is great what she is doing .
Try to help here have the things she needs to build.
Because she is going to have a good business one
day building for the world . Stand by here in all she
does because she is going to win i can feel it in my
hart in a contest and much more. Some kids have
gifts and god blessed them with it. You never know
where all this is going to take her. Soon in time she
will know . I wish here the best and you for being a
good loveing mom to your baby girl .

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sunshine09 | 2 years, 10 months ago
9
I think it is wonderful that your daughter at the age of 9 has such an imaginative mind. I would encourage her to make different things this is wonderful for stimulating the brain and teaching new skills. Also maybe her makings could be of something useful that she could donate to classrooms or churches for storing small items. This is a great way of showing her that her makings are useful and keeps her courage up to go beyond her building skill right now. I found this site and it has may bugger items that she can make and they look like fun. I love the puppet show theater. What fun she could have with making one of these. http://www.nickjr.com/parenting/ages_and_stages/6/pretend_play/back-knights-puppet-theater.jhtml.
I found this site to be very encouraging and wonderful for your daughter also many things and activities for her to do. http://www.kiddlywinks.com/IBS/SimpleCat/Shelf/ASP/Hierarchy/0C.html. Keep encouraging her, she sounds like she is a very gifted child.

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robison_diana | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
I would encourage her to spread her wings... assist her when you can... when you run out of space to store her projects talk to her about haveing a garage sale... for a child to have such an interest in biulding is a great place to start looking into various careers that could become not a job but lifelong passion and also an excellent source of income.

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navyring's Avatar
navyring | 2 years, 1 month ago
2
Forget all that expensive stuff. Get your recylables out and some masking tape and kids can build the coolest things. From robots to skyscrapers to basketball hoops. The sky is the limit. Instead of throwing it away, clean it and let her go to town. When the sculpture is getting old you dismantle it and put it back into the recycle bin.
Make sure she understands when she is making it the joy in "unbuilding" things and that her creations have an expiration date PRIOR to her creating.

There is no end to the imagination with this technique and she will be able to create things that no one else on the block has. Not only that but you get to keep the money you would spend on all that expensive useless toys and go out to dinner with the family.

She'll enjoy making new things over and over again! I promise.

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shuadog's Avatar
shuadog | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
Buy lots of Lego. A child who wants to build is a beautiful thing and it should be encouraged. But, look out, those that like to built may also want to take things apart as they get older.
source(s):
Personal experience.

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krysstel's Avatar
krysstel | 2 years, 10 months ago
4
how wonderful. get some puzzles, clay, lego or building sets that can be taken apart and stored in boxes. Also, once a month, decide to keep 1 that she and / or you choose, and get rid of the rest. You can engage her in other activities, such as playing outside, running, jumping, swinging, sandbox. Or painting. Get a notebook full of pages, bound. Keep all paintings in books. good luck !

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jduvall's Avatar
jduvall | 2 years, 10 months ago
9
Just keep supplying the tools and let her imagination run wild. She could become a great inventor one day!

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pellrider's Avatar
pellrider | 2 years, 10 months ago
9
If the things she made are good to give as presents, think of giving some to grandparents and other family members who will cherish them.
Also try Legos and mega blocks. Once she made items, you can take the pictures and she can undo them.

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sree007's Avatar
sree007 | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
I think she would in the future become an architect or more.

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roma's Avatar
roma | 2 years, 10 months ago
8
Every time she makes something, ask her who is she making it for? Find a reason to improve on how to make something for someone, and then present it as a gift, this will be rewarding to her and to you. It can be something she has to explore on that particular person. Make it a project, as this will be interesting & will build more imagination. Good Luck

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trinifigueroa | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
A child that is always building something needs someone who can build something with him. You can be that person.

In addition to that, you can get him books that can show him how to improve. Depends on the child's age.

Last thing encourage him.

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placebofan | 2 years, 10 months ago
4
#1 make preparations to send her to a performing arts high school-she will thank you later.
#2 call any local theatre groups and see if they need some help building sets or designing props. I'm sure they would like the free labor in exchange for apprenticeship. She builds all kinds of things while there, and doesn't take them home where you will be tripping on them.
#3 if she really enjoys arts and crafts, maybe you can help her sell some of what she makes on www.etsy.com. It's like ebay, only they don't charge fees for listing and it's a site for people who make things.

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mekittylove0110 | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
You should be grateful that god gave that child a wonderful gift! he/she will be a wonderful builder!

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aaeeiioouu13 | 2 years, 10 months ago
3
Ask her what materials she needs to build an addition onto your house.

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krysstel's Avatar
krysstel | 2 years, 10 months ago Report

some day, she may! :)

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