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Try to copy me!

Having fun building and copying.

Download a fully illustrated pdf, or print this webpage.

You will need

  • 6-8 matching bricks x 2.

  • Use DUPLO or LEGO.

Skills we will be engaging

  • SOCIAL - working together, copying.

  • EMOTIONAL - being patient, resilience, celebrating.

  • COGNITIVE - sequences, checking, interpreting shapes.

  • CREATIVE - using bricks in different ways.

  • PHYSICAL - connecting bricks.

How to play

  1. Lay out the bricks in front of your child.

  2. Ask your child “build something for me to try to copy?”

  3. Put the models next to each other. Ask “do they look the same?”

  4. If they look different ask “how can we make them look the same?”

  5. When they match, celebrate!

  6. Now ask your child if you can build something for them to copy.

Talk while you play

Take a few moments to watch what your child is doing. Notice and comment on what is happening and give some encouragement, e.g. " Look they are both green!"

You might like to ask your child some questions while you play, e.g. " Does my model look the same as yours?"

Adapt the activity

Feel free to adapt the activity to meet your child's individual needs. The important thing is that everyone is relaxed and having fun, don't worry if you don't follow the instructions perfectly.

Make it easier

  • Start with 2 or 3 bricks.

  • Pre-build a model and work with your child to help them copy it.

Let’s do a challenge

  • Hide the model behind a barrier and describe how to put it together.

  • Stand or sit back-to-back. 1 person builds something and then describes how to build it to the other.

Including others

  • Challenge, Parents vs children to see if the adults can copy the children.

  • Ask a friend or sibling to copy the build and then swap.