Invented in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, Lincoln Logs have become a popular children's toy for generations. Sold in sets comprised of small wooden logs with notches carved in, they are an excellent entry into the world of building for creative young minds. Fashioned to have an identical appearance to historic American wood cabins, they provide an ideal lesson in American history.
Building Kits
Each Lincoln Log building kit includes the necessary building components such as the logs, roofs and fence pieces. In some sets, figurines, such as farmers or animals, may also be included. Also, each set comes with a tin to store the logs in after use. Collectible sets will include a display case as well for a finished product. Similar to a puzzle, Lincoln Logs do not include written instructions, but simply a large picture.
Free Hand
Lincoln Logs are an ideal toy for inspiring a child's ingenuity and creativity. Lincoln Logs have an age of 3+ on the box, which encourages children to begin playing with them at a young age. Keeping this in mind, Lincoln Logs do not contain written instructions but encourages children to copy a picture to create their building. This traditional learning strategy is rarely utilized by modern toy makers and has caused many parents and children alike to seek out written assistance for building with these sets.
Instruction Books
Instruction books for Lincoln Logs can be purchased online or in brick-and-mortar stores. The books include step-by-step instructions specific to a particular kit purchased. The manuals include both written and pictorial instructions to make building with the sets easy for any child. Manuals also include additional building ideas for those children who quickly finish the original structure and want some other creative building ideas.
Alternative Sources
If a child only needs a small push toward completing the project, many public libraries have Lincoln Log Manuals to check out. Also, some children's blogs on the Internet encourage kids to post pictures of their projects for fellow kids to try.