How to Design Lincoln Logs Toys

The beauty of Lincoln Logs is their simplicity. These little notched wooden logs interlock to build all kinds of toy structures. They even have little doors and windows to complete a miniature log cabin. Lincoln Logs sprang from the imagination of John Lloyd Wright, son of famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright. For parents who remember the fun of their own Lincoln Logs, the little wooden building pieces are a toy of choice for kids because it encourages hand-eye coordination and concentration. You can design a variety of buildings with Lincoln Logs, starting with a standard log cabin and going from there.

Things You'll Need

• Lincoln Logs set
• Flat play area or table

Instructions

1. Interlock four logs in a rectangle. Use two longer logs on the front and back. Use two shorter logs for the sides. It's just a matter of fitting the notched ends together to build anything a little contractor can imagine.

2. Build up from the bottom. While instructions are included, children rarely need direction in building with Lincoln Logs. They need only snap one log end into another. Less creative children may need a picture to look at as a guide for building.

3. Leave room for doors and windows. Do this by using smaller logs in the area where the doors and windows will go. At this point in the design, you will need to decide where you are going to place the windows and how large they will be. Really tall windows may make the walls less stable, while small ones can be less aesthetically pleasing.

4. Construct "rafters" by forming a triangle shape at the top of the structure and snapping logs in place to build the roof line. There are not a lot of design options when it comes to Lincoln Logs roofs, but you can get multiple peaks by building multiple rooms, each with its own roof.

5. Enjoy your creation. There is no right or wrong way to build a Lincoln Logs structure. Skyscrapers, garages, houses and any other kind of structure can be lots of fun to build with Lincoln Logs simply by stacking and locking logs into place.

Tips & Warnings

• Designing a building goes much smoother if you have a lot of room to work and you pre-sort the Lincoln Logs before you get started.

• Children under 3 need to be supervised with these toys because some are small enough to swallow.