How to develop a growing interest in building / engineering / architecture in a 12 year old?

Question

My 12 year old son is constantly making different buildings and structures using magnet tiles, blocks, and marble run pieces. Less into Lego, he's very interested in building structures in different patterns every time he builds.

He's extremely perceptive and notices very nuanced details in everyday life. He has mentioned a possible career in architecture but I think it would be helpful to understand what careers involve his love of structures and building things.

Does anyone have any advice or ideas on how we can steer him in the right direction to explore what he can develop his love of building as a profession? I imagine having him speak to someone already doing this kind of work would be incredibly helpful and showing him what can be done with one's imagination, creativity, and passion for structures and how they are built.

Answer 1

Hi Ginhee,

Believe it or not I still play with my Legos, and I'm an architect!

I would steer him into the right direction with weekend field trips so he can see iconic buildings that are in the area. Depending on where you live, the best place to go would be downtown. There he can see how imagination, creativity and passion can develop into great design.

Let me know if you want some concrete (no pun intended) locales of iconic buildings!