"Learning the Real Value of Building"

Jack McSweeny, age 8, of San Diego, California, has been a LEGO builder for most of his childhood. An all-around athlete, whiz kid and just genuinely terrific third grader, Jack builds and builds. At school, he daydreams about what to build next, and patiently waits through his after-school program to get home and build.

Jack told his after school friends about his LEGO creations, but they didn't believe he could really build cool things, so one day, he took one of his creations with him. Everyone gathered around to admire it, and one child admitted he had never played with LEGO bricks - giving Jack an idea. He asked his mom and dad if he could donate his LEGO collection to the after school program, because "It's even MORE fun to play with LEGOs together." Jack's school now has a LEGO day for after school students.

When asked the best thing he has ever created, Jack says "I've made a lot of cool stuff, but the best thing is that I've created a place where kids can have fun together - being creative and using their imaginations. I like that the most."

Jack's mom said, "From dexterity to special reasoning, we've always know the value of LEGO building in developing young minds and building a foundation for creative innovation. But it took an 8 year old to teach us their greatest value."