Determining the Category of a Toy
9. There are many building and construction toys for children that are good for their healthy development. However, the poskim discuss the permissibility of playing with them on Shabbos. The main discussion is whether their assembly is considered tight [מהודק], which is sometimes assur d’rabanan in some forms (3), or loose [רפוי], which is mutar l’chatchila (4). We will now go through several kinds of common toys.
Assembling a 3D Structure
10. There are toys with parts made of wood, plastic, or stone that are arranged with assembly instructions to produce a known structure, e.g., a model Beis HaMikdash, or the form of something like a car, plane, or the like. The child is meant to build the structure, usually with glue. Although it is sometimes possible to take it apart and rebuild it, it is usually meant to stay built. If it is built with glue, it is considered insertion [תקיעה ], which is assur according to halacha (2). If there is no glue, it is usually considered a tight attachment, meaning there would be an issur of binyan b’keilim, at least d’rabanan. Thus, these should not be assembled on Shabbos.
11. 3D puzzle. A 3D puzzle has various puzzle pieces, and one must find the proper pieces to assemble a particular object, e.g., a car. If the pieces fit together tightly, one should not play with it on Shabbos. However, if the pieces merely rest on each other but are not tightly connected, it is considered loose and may be played with on Shabbos.
Types of Lego
12. Small Lego. The poskim discuss assembling Lego on Shabbos. It would seem that the assembly of Lego is considered tight [מהודק ], not via insertion [תקיעה ], as they are not totally attached with glue. They are not loose [רפוי ], as if they are not taken apart, they can remain that way for many days. Also, it takes a bit of force, skill, and occasionally the aid of a tool, to take them apart. The status of something tightly attached is that it is assur d’rabanan (3).
13. Thus, the angle of heter is to determine whether they are built temporarily or meant to remain that way. Since people usually intend for their creations made of small Lego to remain built, at least for several days, one should be machmir not to use them on Shabbos. Strictly speaking, the poskim are meikel if one intends to take apart what he built on the same day based on the above heter (5) that they are regularly taken apart (הגרשז''א ) and that having them stuck together ruins them. Thus, it is mutar to play with Lego that are tightly attached (see above, 6).
14. People over bar/bas mitzva should not play with them, as their construction very closely resembles binyan. However, one should not stop a child who is building with them on his own initiative (הגרשז''א, שלחן שלמה סי' שי''ד הע' א').
15. Medium Lego – Duplo. Medium-sized Lego bricks meant for children around four are easily taken apart and their attachment level is closer to loose. These may be played with l’chatchila, but one should make sure to take apart the structure by the end of the day (above, 13).
16. Large lego – Mega Bloks. Large lego bricks meant for a young age, e.g., two and up, may be played with l’chatchila, as they are certainly considered loose. There is no need whatsoever to refrain from using them. Also, there is no need to make sure the structures last for less than a day, as these children are not at any sort of chinuch age.
Please do not read during davening or Krias HaTorah
Clics
17. Clics are considered to be tightly attached, as it is not so easy to detach them. Thus, one should not attach them and play with them if he wants to keep his creation for more than a day. It is mutar to assemble them and take them apart on the same day (above, 13). [Thus, if a child wants to make a creation on Shabbos and take a picture with it later to send to a children’s magazine so that others can enjoy his creation... he should take the picture on Motzei Shabbos so that no more than one day will pass from when it was built.] A gadol should not play with Clics on Shabbos or help a child assemble them or take them apart.
Magna-Tiles
18. Magna-Tiles are square or triangular pieces that connect to each other via built-in magnets on their edges. Since their attachment is very weak, they are considered loose and may be played with l’chatchila on Shabbos.
Kapla
19. Kapla blocks are identical-sized rectangular blocks that various structures can be built with, but the blocks are not connected to each other; they just sit on top of each other. Thus, they may be played with on Shabbos. The same is true for different types of building blocks.
