Building Instructions for LEGO Duplos

Learn the names of the various components to your standard Duplo brick. The round cylinders atop the brick are called "studs," and the holes located on the base are called "tunnels." By pressing the tunnels atop studs, you can adhere two bricks together. The grip is strong enough to keep the blocks together, but weak enough to allow for easy disassembly.

Familiarize yourself with the different types of Duplo pieces. Strips are half as thin as bricks, which means that stacking two identical strips atop each other resembles a normal-sized brick. Duplo sets often feature large, flat panels that are building bases for complex structures and designs. Sets also feature curved pieces that are useful for arches or doorways in Duplo buildings.

Experiment with your bricks and strips to create any object. Start by placing a large panel piece on a flat working surface and build the foundation of your buildings first. Try to overlap bricks with the layer below for a more solid structure.

Refrain from adding bricks in specific areas for three or four layers to create windows or doors. Run long strips across the top of your structures to create a roof. Extend strips away from a roof toward another structure to create catwalks or elevated tunnels.

Consult LEGO-brand instruction booklets for step-by-step directions for pre-configured structures and designs. LEGO is well known for easy-to-follow instructions, and you can find free PDF-quality designs at the link provided in the References section.