Friends of the Anza Community Library have announced that they will be hosting a Lego drive to collect the toys so children can use them to learn colors, problem solving and more at the Anza Community Library.
The project follows the example of many other regional libraries in making Legos available as a teaching tool to encourage youngsters to learn and have fun at the same time.
“Our local library needs your gently used or even brand new Lego sets and unique pieces for the children and community to use while at the library,” Friends of the Anza Community Library organizer Jill Kemerer-Roberts said. “The Anza Library currently borrows a small set of Legos from another library but would like its own set. You can bring Legos to the library, new or gently used are greatly appreciated.”
According to Kemerer-Roberts, playing with Legos promotes five major skills in children.
Sensory Skills: In the early ages of life, most learning happens through the senses. A child observes the surroundings, reacts to voices and smells and adopts the basic understanding of object permanence and other concepts. Legos stimulate the sense of sight and touch.
Motor Skills: After the sensory skills, motor skills are the most important thing. A child learns how to hold, grasp and attach materials. Legos give an experience of learning through concrete objects while developing better functions of movement and increasing motor activity.
Cognitive Skills: Along with the ability to do physical work, a person needs to think correctly and smartly. Interacting with Legos stimulates creativity, the functions of creating new models and aligning pieces in multiple shapes and structures. Legos also help a child understand how everything begins from the basics and progresses over time.
Problem-solving: Another significant skill set an individual needs is the ability to solve problems. While playing with Legos, a child faces minor challenges, like having two pieces that do not go together. Upon practicing, a child gets better at merging the structures and finding the right connections. This ability intrigues the insights and expands the solution circles of the mind.
Organization and Uniformity: Children learn color names with Legos while placing things in the correct spots and sorting colors that go together.
To donate new or previously loved Lego sets, please drop them off at the Anza Community Library at 57430 Mitchell Road in Anza. The library has its own separate entrance on the east side of the main Hamilton High School building.
The Anza Valley Community Library is a joint-use public library, located inside Hamilton High School, but a completely separate entity. It is part of the Riverside County Library System.
The library’s hours are Thursday and Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m. Staff may be reached by calling 951-763-4216.
Please join the Friends of the Anza Valley Community Library at www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofanzapubliclibrary.
To learn more about the Anza Valley Community Library, please visit www.facebook.com/AnzaLibrary.
Don’t have a library card? Go to www.rivlib.net to sign up online for free.
Diane Sieker can be reached by email at dsieker@reedermedia.com.
