Hobbies And Interests
History
Lincoln Logs, named for President Lincoln and his log cabin beginnings, were first invented in 1916 by John Lloyd Wright, the son of the esteemed American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. The original Lincoln Logs were made entirely from wood and were marketed by the Red Square Toy Company. Lincoln Logs initially came with instructions to build two different structures, Abraham Lincoln's log cabin and Uncle Tom's Cabin.
Lincoln Logs are now marketed by the Hasbro Network and sold in a variety of building sets.
Types
Hasbro offers Lincoln Logs in three different categories: nostalgia sets, classic sets and newly released sets. Nostalgia Lincoln Logs sets are made from all wood pieces and include some of the more traditional building designs, while the classic Lincoln Logs sets are made from real wood logs but typically have plastic accessories and figures. Newly released Lincoln Logs sets are usually just new designs that, depending on how they sell, will become classic sets in the future.
Features
The basis for all sets of Lincoln Logs are the small, interlocking notched logs that come in a standard width but vary in length according to the structure they are intended to build. Lincoln Logs normally come with instructions to help children understand how to use the logs to build the structure, which explain how to leave spaces for windows and doors and how to make the roof on the nostalgic sets. Classic Lincoln Logs sets normally come with plastic roofs that just have to be attached to the structure and plastic window and door frames.
Lincoln Logs are recommended for ages three and up and come in a wide range of prices depending on the size of the set and the material it is constructed from. Nostalgia sets of Lincoln Logs, like the Big Sky Corral, Collectors Edition, Fort Redwood and Log Cabin Bicentennial Edition all cost between $30 and $100 primarily because they are made entirely from real wood. Classic and newly released sets of Lincoln Logs, like the Conestoga Homestead, Fort Hudson, Frontier Farm and Rocky Mountain Ranch range in price between $13 and $31. These Lincoln Logs sets are just as much fun to play with as the nostalgia sets but are not made entirely of real wood, and thus cost less.
Benefits
In modern times many parents enjoy the simple, yet creative play offered by Lincoln Logs. So many toys today are electronic and replete with all sorts of bells and whistles, but do not really stimulate a child's imagination. Lincoln Logs have sparked children's creativity for generations and allow children to think constructively and have fun at the same time.
Considerations
While Lincoln Logs are intended for ages three and up, younger children will need considerable assistance in building the exact structure the set is designed to construct. Parents will need to help their young children follow the instructions and interlock the Lincoln Logs to create the assorted cabins, forts and ranches offered by Hasbro. However, Lincoln Logs do not have to only be used to build the intended structure. Many young children enjoy simply interlocking the pieces and putting the set together however they please.