Getting creative with Legos at the library

Tuesdays this July at the Wantagh Library, children in grades K-6 have enjoyed building with Legos and learning basic architecture with the program Bricks 4 Kidz. The program was founded by Josephine Giardina who was a kindergarten teacher for several years before starting Bricks 4 Kidz. “I wanted to do something that was still educational, but also fun,” she said.

This program runs at libraries and schools, and has its own summer camp at St. Frances church in Wantagh. Every time this program is run it follows a different theme. At Wantagh Library, the theme was transportation. Children started with a helicopter the first week, followed by a train, airplane and a dragster last week. While the program is split in sections between grades K-2 and 3-6, both groups follow the same theme. However, for the older kids, the product is made harder to build.

The program at the library is divided into two parts: a creative build where the children could freely make whatever they want and a structured build that follows the theme and involves making a motorized final product. Some of the kids preferred the structured build, while others would rather build creatively with no set goal in mind. “I have four tables filled with Legos at my house,” said Brian, one of the participants at the program. “I love seeing what I could make with them.”

During the section for younger kids, children ran about with their Legos and made creations they proudly showed their parents. The section for older kids involved more innovations with the Legos as some kids used certain pieces for more than one use, seeing what they could do with the pieces that could be out of the ordinary. “The older kids are just as enthusiastic as the little ones,” said Giardina. “They just show it differently. They are definitely more contained and less chaotic.”

Giardina runs the program with her son, Steven, who is going to study engineering at Rochester Institute of Technology in the fall.

“I come out to help her own these programs,” said Steven. “She’s starting her own business.”

Giardina also runs similar programs with Brickz 4 Kids at Island Trees Library, along with after school programs at East Meadow for first- and second-grade classes and birthday parties.