Zelienople Lego Club builds creativity
ZELIENOPLE — Across the United States, the COVID-19 pandemic left a massive void in educational and recreational opportunities for the nation’s youth.
To help plug this hole, the Zelienople Area Public Library has reintroduced its Lego Club after a multiyear absence.
According to children’s librarian Alyssa Smith, the club was one of many children’s activities at the library that was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic and has only recently returned.
“We had Lego Club in the past, but it was a long time ago,” Smith said. “It’s one thing we hadn’t gotten to bring back yet, and there have been a lot more kids who’ve moved into the area since then.”
The Lego Club returned this summer thanks to a grant from the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania’s Welcome Back Summer program, which allowed the library to purchase the Lego bricks.
At the start of each session, each of the youngsters is paired with a partner and tasked with working together to build something. During Tuesday’s session, the children were challenged to make miniature environments out of bricks.
“We want them to both build their Lego skills and their problem-solving skills,” Smith said. “But we also want to have them work with partners in pairs, because there's a lot of things that they've missed out on like that in the last few years.”
During prior sessions, children in Lego Club were challenged to create miniature boats that floated, as well as create imaginary animals and vehicles.
“They had to create an animal that didn’t exist ... so create a whole new species and be inventive with what a whole new animal would look like,” Smith said. “They had to build a vehicle that was powered by something other than a motor and wheels.”
Tuesday’s session at the Zelienople library was the last session of the summer before the club goes on a short break, along with all other children’s programs at the library.
The programs will return starting Sept. 5.
