My first impression: I had expected a larger play area, with many activities and space to jump and bounce, like so many of the other play spaces on Staten Island. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm, cozy feel of Bricks 4 Kidz. It had three tables in the center of the room and a small waiting area for parents.

We visited during an after-school session that had about six five- to six-year-olds in attendance. Each child was given a kit with instructions on how to build the Lego model, which the teacher walked them through. However, I did notice that the children got restless about 20 minutes into the class and ran around until the teacher redirected their energy by starting another building activity.

In addition to Lego building, kids can also play games and watch age-appropriate movies. Another plus: the staff members at Bricks 4 Kidz are really stellar, in that they take the time to prepare themes specific to the different age groups. For older children, the Minecraft theme is popular. Other activities that really excited my 10-year-old included stop-motion animation with robotic models and the use of Lego blocks to create spin art. I had never seen Lego mosaics until my visit to Bricks 4 Kidz. It seems that the ideas are endless at this wonderful creative space for children.

However, Bricks 4 Kids is much more than a creative play space. Teachers here have a full curriculum and do school visits as well. The hope is to inspire and educate students in architecture, engineering and physics through the use of Lego bricks. Visit the website for more information on programming, prices and hours of operation as the schedule changes. Bricks 4 Kids is located at 72 Sharrott Avenue on Staten Island.