The Best Toy Building Sets

LEGO Classic Building Set

Build Their Collection

This set is interactive, fun, and versatile, featuring a wide variety of pieces and figurines to build.

Best Overall

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Engaging, interactive, and well-suited for children of all ages and genders, the LEGO Classic Building Set allows kids to build a host of figurines, including a train, animals, flowers, cars, a windmill, and more. Best of all, the LEGO bricks come in dozens of different colors, shapes, and sizes, so kids can choose to build a specific figurine or just let their imaginations roam freely. This set is more versatile than most since it accommodates a wide variety of ages. It makes for a great intro to LEGOs or a fun addition to any existing LEGO collection.

Pros:

• The possibilities are endless with hundreds of pieces, including specialty pieces like wheels
• Encourages open-ended building play
• Suitable for kids age 4 and up
• Great introduction to LEGOs

Cons:

• The storage box is a bit big, but it can hold your child’s bricks as their collection grows

IQ Builder Toy Set

From the Ground Up

Kids will love creating all kinds of designs, figurines, and shapes with this awesome set.

Best Construction Set

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The sky’s the limit with the IQ Builder Toy Set. Kids can choose to construct complex models and structures or simple geometric shapes, following where their imagination takes them and learning valuable problem-solving skills as they go. Handily, this set even comes with three online instructional books for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels.

Pros:

• Innovative and flexible design, with many different specialty bricks and connectors
• Options are unlimited in terms of what types of geometric shapes you can build
• Comes with three easy-to-follow online instructional books
• Easy to clean, if necessary

Cons:

• We would appreciate printed booklets in addition to digital ones

Lincoln Logs Kit

An Oldie But a Goodie

These classic logs never go out of style, and that's certainly true of this new and improved set.

Best Classic Set

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This version of the Lincoln Logs that we’ve all known and loved for years is the official 100th Anniversary Tin, and, as such, it’s bound to evoke nostalgia among older generations and pure excitement in younger generations. Exquisitely crafted from durable, top-quality maple wood, each piece has indentations so kids can easily connect them with others. Specialty pieces include a roof, roof façade, walls, chimney, and more, so kids can construct towers, houses, and cabins, opting to follow the guide or mix and match pieces to build their structures.

Pros:

• Inspired by the original Lincoln Logs kit
• Includes over a hundred pieces that are all made from high-quality maple wood
• Helps build a solid foundation in STEM projects
• Collectible tin makes for easy cleanup

Cons:

• On the pricey end, but it’s a significant milestone in the life of this beloved toy

Wondertoys Classic Building Set

Sustainable Creativity

Parents can rest easy knowing that this toy building set is made from all-natural, non-toxic materials.

Best Non-Toxic Materials

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The Wondertoys Classic Building Set is an excellent pick for any parent who wants to avoid buying plastic. This eco-friendly building set is made of natural wood, with no plasticky, chemical-laced materials needed. In addition to being non-toxic, these wood pieces are extremely durable. With this kit, kids ages 3 and older are set up to build their own log cabins, cottages, general stores, fences, and more.

Pros:

• Made with all-natural wood with no toxic materials included
• Pieces are very sturdy and durable
• Each piece has indentations that allow you to connect it to others
• Suitable for kids ages 3 and up, a wider range than most
• Clear, detailed instructional booklet

Cons:

• Isn’t compatible with other brands of wooden log-building sets

Klutz LEGO Stem Activity Kit

Building Their Future

Encourage and support your child's interest in engineering and design with this STEM-approved set.

Best STEM Set

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The Klutz LEGO Stem Activity Kit is made to help kids develop their engineering, technology, and design skills. This set includes dozens of LEGO elements, including plates, pegs, gear wheels, and cross axles, so little engineers have everything they need to build 11 different machines. The manual contains excellently-written, step-by-step instructions and brightly colored images, plus open-ended prompts and information about how each device is used in real life. This kit makes the design process fun, stimulating, and just the right amount of challenging.

Pros:

• Helps build STEM skills
• Encourages creativity with open-ended prompts
• Kids can take their pick from 11 different machines or experiment with their own designs
• “Behind the Gadget” pages in the instruction guide teach how each machine is used in real life

Cons:

• Not really appropriate for younger children or kids who’ve never played with LEGO-type toys before

Frequently Asked Questions

Are LEGOS and other toy building sets suitable for kids of all ages?

There’s no single toy building set that’s universally suitable for kids of all ages, so you’ll want to pay close attention to the age recommendations for each set. While all kids are different, age 4 is typically the youngest age at which most kids are ready to build with LEGOs or other similar toys.

If my child already has a LEGO set, what type of building set should I get for them next?

For kids who’ve already developed LEGO-building skills, the next step is to get them something that allows for more open-ended, advanced play. Many STEM-approved sets come with hundreds of pieces and instruction booklets with dozens of intricate designs to build larger-scale projects.