Smash a LEGO® build to free your bricks for a new invention

I don't have a towel, muffin tin, or small bowls — what can I use instead?

Use a folded clean blanket or bath towel on the flat table in place of the towel/soft mat, and repurpose an egg carton, ice cube tray, or small cups to sort the separated bricks instead of the muffin tin or small bowls.

Some bricks are stuck when I try to 'carefully remove the top pieces first using your fingers' — how do I get them apart without breaking anything?

Use a LEGO brick separator or gently twist and pry with your fingernail while following the step to remove top pieces first so you can continue taking the build apart piece by piece without forcing connections.

How can I change this activity for a 3‑year‑old, a 7‑year‑old, or a 12‑year‑old?

For a 3‑year‑old, pre-sort the pile into bowls and let them attach large base parts with adult help; for a 7‑year‑old, have them sketch a quick plan on paper, choose base parts, and test stability by gently pressing parts; for a 12‑year‑old, challenge them to design a complex invention, organize special parts like wheels or minifigs into the small box, and strengthen connections by removing and replacing loose pieces.

How can we make the new invention more creative or display-worthy beyond the instructions?

Enhance the build by moving special parts like wheels or minifigs into the small box to plan features, add finishing details from the bowls, create a themed scene on the baseplate, and share a styled photo with a short description on DIY.org.