My husband has brought both of our children to Lego Club. My daughter spends the time building Lego creations. My son spends his time:
1. Out in the audio-visual section of the Children's Department. One of his favorite library activities is visiting the Thomas the Tank Engine videos (no, not DVD's). The visit begins with the R.A. breaking free from whatever adult (usually my husband) has accompanied him to the library. He then bombs over to the AV section. After locating the videos the R.A. then excitedly jumps up and down in front of them while flashing his gang signals (stimming his hands). Once the niceties are out of the way he then removes the videos from the shelves, sometimes creating patterns on the floor a la Dum Dums, sometimes using them as one would building blocks. Always screeching when the accompanying adult attempts to remove the videos or the R.A.
2. In my office "coloring" on any piece of paper he can get his hands on, regardless if it's something I actually need for work. I used to have a bag of Dum Dums in my office (used to bribe middle schoolers into answering questions while on library tours). Although that was last year the R.A. still enters my office searching, demanding, and keening for the Dum Dums.
Toward the end of Lego Club, my husband and the R.A. will venture back into the meeting room. As the R.A. is so quiet and retiring he never likes to call attention to himself. Therefore he usually tears around the room at a frantic pace, cater walling. He sort of looks like a slightly bigger than average chihuahua on smack. The R.A. does have a strong aesthetic sense and will occasionally pause to check out some of the creations. He will demonstrate his approval for a piece of work by leaving a half eaten lolly next to it on the table.
The R.A. also takes time to mingle with the other kids. A loud cater wall call will alert some unsuspecting child that something is happening. The child will then look up from his Legos to see the R.A. racing toward him at full speed. The R.A. comes to a screeching halt just prior to perceived impact. What the unsuspecting (yet now a little freaked out) child sees is a small boy with more than his fair share of cowlicks, probably with a Dum Dum stuck somewhere to him, screeching and wildly flailing his arms. In the R.A.'s mind what is actually happening is, "Oh, hey! I really love your work! Let's be friends!"
Obviously, since it is Lego Club and the purpose of the activity is to build with Legos, the R.A. does not go near a Lego. Occasionally he will make a move to take a Lego from his sister but that isn't interest so much as an opportunity to torment.
But then, suddenly, the R.A. noticed the Legos. It was like, "Wait a minute! Are you making stuff out of those little plastic things? They connect??!! All this stuff is made out of those little plastic things? Is that why you guys come here? So everyone is making stuff? Let me try!" Once that light bulb went off the R.A. grabbed some Legos and tried to connect them. He became so enthusiastic he not only tried to take from other kids' Lego piles but attempted to break down their creations to get at the Legos.
Unfortunately the R.A. finally copped on to the whole concept of Legos at the last meeting he could attend because he started a new school and it was a schedule conflict for him. I guess this is one of those "better late than never" deals.
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