The dust motes danced in the late afternoon sun, catching the light as if applauding. They were, of course, entirely unimpressed by the architectural marvel unfolding on my living room floor. My grandson, Leo, meticulously placed a roof tile, a vibrant azure 2x4, on a structure that, at first glance, resembled a clumsy, technicolor barn. He’d declared it a spaceship. He’s six.

This whole LEGO endeavor began because, frankly, his pre-fab toys were becoming monotonous. The repetitive click-and-snap of pre-designed sets felt…lacking. I wanted him to think. That’s where the LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 comes in.

Forget the fancy themed sets for a minute. The true heart of LEGO is, and always will be, the bricks. And this box? It’s a goldmine. The 33 colors are key. You’ve got the primary colors, of course, the ever-so-useful gray and black for foundations, plus some delightful outliers like lavender and bright orange for, well, whatever the little builder’s imagination conjures. The assortment of shapes and sizes is spot-on. You’ll find standard 2x4 bricks, the workhorse of most builds, along with enough 1x1 bricks, windows, wheels, and plates to keep a kid happily occupied for hours.

Compared to a similar, cheaper knock-off brand, the difference is night and day. The clutch power – that’s how firmly the bricks stick together – on the genuine LEGO pieces is simply unmatched. You can build something sturdy enough to withstand a minor earthquake (or, you know, a toddler’s enthusiastic demolition attempts). No wobbly walls here! And the plastic? It’s durable. Trust me; I’ve seen some things.

My only minor quibble is the lack of a proper storage solution. The box itself is fine, but it’s not designed for compartmentalization. It’s a brick free-for-all. A solution? A few clear plastic bins from the dollar store, perhaps labelled by color or size. It teaches organization! Win-win.

Building Leo’s spaceship, I noticed the way his face lit up when he realized he could, for example, add a cone-shaped “rocket booster” just because he wanted to. It wasn’t about following instructions; it was about imagining. He wasn’t just assembling; he was creating.

So, if you’re looking to ignite your child’s creativity and introduce them to the joy of building, the LEGO Classic Large Creative Brick Box 10698 is a winner. Seriously, just get it. It’s the perfect gift for the young architect, engineer, or… space explorer in your life.