Today, he still builds LEGO sets, but now he puts them together with his own kids – for one of whom, LEGO building has been a genuinely life-changing experience.


LEGO Club: Thanks for talking to us, Joe! Do you still remember how you got started building LEGO sets?

Joe: My older brother Tony and I both collected and built LEGO sets growing up. I believe we first received them as a gift, and from there it was non-stop building. My favorites growing up were the Exxon Gas Station and the NASA space ship. We were also really into all the City models (Police, Fire, Boat). My mom and dad still have all my old LEGO sets (with the directions) for when the kids come over to their house. We put the old LEGO city back together recently.


LEGO Club: Tell us about your memories of being a member of the LEGO Club when it was brand new!

Joe: My parents signed me up for the LEGO Club, and I remember getting the first issue of Brick Kicks. I was older then (13), but was still into LEGO building. I kept all the sets together in the back of our closet so they wouldn’t get broken. I remember my experiences with the magazine as similar to those of my kids – I loved getting it in the mail, reading it cover-to-cover, taking it with me to school, etc.


LEGO Club: How did your own kids start building?

Joe: My wife Pam and I have two sons. Joshua is seven and Adam is five. Joshua started using DUPLO bricks as young as I can remember. We were really into DUPLO Thomas, and then made the nice transition to regular LEGO bricks. His first set was the EXO-FORCE Stealth Hunter when he was four years old. Shortly thereafter, he received the Star Wars Y-wing, and it was LEGO madness from that point on.


LEGO Club: What have your sons’ building experiences been like?

Joe: Both Joshua and Adam switch LEGO focus about every two weeks. For example, right now Joshua is big into EXO-FORCE, but the week before, he put all his BIONICLE sets back together. Adam loves the minifigures, specifically Batman. He has a bucket of “LEGO guys” – some the right ones, others made up – that he carries around with him. Right now he takes LEGO Robin around with him pretty much everywhere. The boys recently received 10 dollars each from their Grandma. They pooled their money together and purchased BIONICLE Tuma, and everyone was happy.


LEGO Club: We hear that Joshua’s life has been especially affected by LEGO building. Can you tell us more about that, please?

Joe: Joshua was diagnosed with Autism when he was two years old. He couldn’t put more than two words together until he was over three. LEGO building was extremely important for him developing into who he is today. At seven, he is now in regular first grade (which to Mom and Dad is a miracle). He is a happy and funny kid, and we couldn’t be more proud.

LEGO building was huge for his fine motor skills (which he had problems with) and building strength in his hands. It was also good as we worked with him to identify colors and created a language just for bricks (a “two-er” is a thick two-piece; a thin “two-er” would be a flat piece).

When Joshua was having trouble sleeping through the night, we used a LEGO sticker chart to help. When he slept in bed for 20 nights, he got to pick a LEGO set of his choice.


LEGO Club: Are your sons members of the LEGO Club?

Joe: Yes, both are and receive BrickMaster Magazine. Their favorite parts of the Club magazine are the building steps and club codes. BIONICLE, Power Miners and EXO-FORCE are on the top of the list at this point on the website. Joshua also likes to see what other kids are building in the magazine.

They both know the website inside and out. We have even downloaded the BIONICLE songs to my iPod, and we made a special CD with all the BIONICLE music so that we can listen to it in the car.

Joshua uses the website to build new combinations, most recently for Agents, but always for BIONICLE. There was a new Agents base combination that we built from the Agents truck, with an addition on the website, so we did the entire thing.

LEGO Club: How did you start building together as a family?

Joe: It just happened. Whenever they received a new LEGO set, we would sit on the living room floor and put it together. My wife and I usually took turns helping the kids build. Joshua always puts it together, while Adam wants the guys as soon as possible. The kids can’t take that the set isn’t together, so we all work as hard as we can to build it. Building it halfway and then coming back later is not an option for the kids. Once we start, we need to finish it.

Check back next week for Part 2 of this story!