If you’re brainstorming about party ideas for kids (or even creative party ideas for grownups), you’ll want to hear about the Bricksburgh mobile party service, which brings LEGO building parties right to people’s homes. They also bring LEGO fun to schools and other organizations throughout the Pittsburgh area.
When Daniel Jenkins talks about launching this unique, family-run business, he’s quick to point out that his wife Jessica is the brains behind the project. Jessica Jenkins has been a math teacher for more than 15 years. She also serves as the company’s chief creative officer. Her focus is on bringing STEM learning to partygoers, while ensuring that everyone has a lot of fun playing. Daniel, meanwhile, handles the day-to-day managing of Bricksburgh.
The couple started the business because they both love building with LEGOs and have seen first-hand how happy it makes people of all ages.
Amid all the fun, they’ve also discovered how much learning — including everything from math and engineering principles to problem-solving and collaboration skills, plus plenty of creative self-expression — can happen when people of any age have a pile of LEGO bricks at their disposal.
One bonus for families: Along with being fun, LEGO building can also be quite calming. Kids get absorbed in building and tend to settle down in ways they might not at a different kind of birthday party.
Photos courtesy of VisitBricksburgh.com.
Parents often tell Daniel and Jessica that at most parties for young kids, they expect they’ll need to stay nearby to help their children with crafts or games. “That’s not the case with a LEGO party,” Daniels says. Bricksburgh sends at least two adults to manage each party and kids very quickly begin to focus on the things they’re building.
That means parents can socialize with one another or just relax.
“Parents say, ‘I didn’t have to hover. I could sit back, because the kids are into it,’” Daniel says. “They’re having fun. There’s not a need for mom or dad to help them with whatever they’re doing. They can do it on their own, and it allows their creativity to come out.”
Though Bricksburgh mainly creates custom parties for kids, they also offer LEGO building parties for the many adults who haven’t lost their love of LEGO building. They’ve even hosted LEGO bridal showers and bachelorette parties.
Daniel and Jessica enjoy offering LEGO fun to AFL folks (that’s the official term for “adult fans of LEGO”). And they’re also glad to be sharing this experience with kids and families who may not have the resources to buy LEGO sets and loose bricks of their own.
Right now, Bricksburgh is entirely mobile. Eventually, though, their goal is to open a brick-and-mortar location for LEGO fun, perhaps with a coffee bar inside. “That is probably two to three years down the road,” Daniel says, “if we hit our goals.”
(Do keep in mind, there is a “Bricksburgh” exhibit at the Kamin Science Center that is unrelated to the Bricksburgh business run by the Jenkins family.)