Working with Lego might be a dream job for many children, but one they’re unlikely to realize as adults.
Paula Anderson is the exception.
The Red Deer woman has the local franchise for Bricks 4 Kidz — a Lego-based education and activity program with dozens of outlets in the United States and beyond. She started her business about two months ago, after a friend in Calgary obtained the first Bricks 4 Kidz franchise in Canada.
“I thought, ‘That’s so spectacular,’” she said, recalling how her own son — who is now 18 — loved Lego as a child.
“I don’t know many kids who don’t.”
Although most people probably link Lego with play, Anderson said Bricks 4 Kidz is an “enrichment program.” Its motto, she said, is: “We learn, we build, we play.”
For instance, construction of a model tornado would be accompanied with information about the severe weather phenomenon.
Those who associate Lego with square and rectangular blocks only are behind the times. Bricks 4 Kidz utilizes kits with gears, bushings and other elaborate pieces.
Not only are there motorized projects like a dragster, power drill and functional paper crinkler, some are even programmable. Examples of the latter include a baseball batter, inchworm and electric guitar, said Anderson.
She’s already conducting birthday parties, and is preparing for after-school programs, field trips and camps.
The birthday parties involve group builds, games and prizes. The after-school classes focus on more elaborate projects — such as motorized machines — and teach concepts like friction, gravity and torque. Anderson plans to offer after-school programs at four locations in Red Deer, with each running for an hour, one day a week.
The camps will offer even more advanced options, such as stop-motion movie-making, and robotic and remote-controlled models.
Anderson also operates Wicked Green, a shop at No. 119, 5301 43rd St. that focuses on products that are organic, natural and eco-friendly, as well as fairly traded and ethically made.
For information, visit www.bricks4kidz.com/canada-alberta-reddeer.
hrichards@www.reddeeradvocate.com