Family Fun

Think outside the box: Creativity clicks at the LEGO KidsFest

Pencils. Books. Teachers' dirty looks. Next week, nine months of academic and social awkwardness await our kids. They’re rolling off a water park and sunshine high, so packing up the Avengers backpack and boarding the big yellow bus holds little appeal.

With all this academia, creativity can often be pushed to the side, or ignored completely. Let’s face it: School is structure. Kids are prepping for the TAKS test, but are they expanding their creative muscles? Too many rules, not enough free thinking.

Legos have been a playtime staple for generations. Yet, as far as creativity goes, they’ve become slightly programmed. Most kits focus on building a particular licensed vehicle or play set; just follow the instructions, and boom... instant playtime. That’s what kids seem to know, and for parents, all we seem to have time for.

It’s important for kids — and us — to remember that they can forgo the rules and get wild. Showing them they can build or create by letting go of an instruction booklet is a great life lesson.

A good way to ease them into this mind frame (and a nice back to school treat) is the LEGO KidsFest at the Austin Convention Center, running August 31 to September 2. But don’t let the “KidsFest” name fool you. Adults that used to — or still do — click bricks together will have plenty of fun at this traveling exhibit.

To get your creative juices flowing, here are a few highlights from the LEGO KidsFest show that should be making an appearance at the Austin stop.

The big brick pile

Yes, any parent deals with this on a daily basis. But, judging from photos on the LEGO KidsFest website, this brick pile could fill a home from floor-to ceiling. Kids are invited to dive right in and start building. Best of all, parents don’t have to clean up.

LEGO Master Builders

A select few people get paid to figure out how to build an eight-feet-tall Batman out of Lego bricks. Those are the LEGO Master Builders. For the kid that wants to be a brick builder for a living, a chat with these guys will be all the encouragement they’ll need.

LEGO Challenge Zone

Nothing bonds families better than feverishly working together to build a LEGO skyscraper. Families square off against other families in speed challenges and other cool activities. These challenges could end in tears and hurt feelings, so plan accordingly.

LEGO Model Museum

Check out miniature or life-size models built out of LEGO bricks.

LEGO Master Builder Academy

Here’s the place where your kids can learn skills to become a better builder. LEGO Master Builders will show kids the fundamentals of design, engineering and art through LEGO bricks.

The activities and ideas that can spring from this event can be applied to anything creative, from paints to popsicle stick sculptures. Getting someone to think beyond the printed instructions can work wonders (see IKEA furniture instructions).

A visit to the LEGO KidsFest can inspire kids and adults to create what’s in their heads and think outside of the LEGO box. With school set to get little minds thinking 1-2-3, a trip to this brick-o-rama will give them plenty of imaginative ideas when it’s creative thinking time.

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LEGO KidsFest starts Friday, August 31 and runs through Sunday, September 2. For more information, visit the KidsFest website.

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Self-driving Roller Coaster

More self-driving cars expected to roll out in Austin for 2025

Photo courtesy of Waymo via KVUE

Various brands offering self-driving cars are on-and-off in Austin.

Expect to see more self-driving rideshare vehicles, also known as robotaxis, on Austin roads next year.

Robotaxi company Waymo, which you may have already seen on Austin's roads, is partnering with Uber. At some point next year, customers will be able to use the Uber app to call a self-driving ride.

Austin-based company Avride is in the testing phase and plans to roll out its robotaxis next year.

Currently, Volkswagen ADMT and Amazon's Zoox are in the testing phase in Austin, while Hyundai's Motional is in the mapping phase.

Last year, robotaxi company Cruise paused operations in Austin after the California Department of Motor Vehicles revoked the company's permits to operate driverless vehicles in the state. And last week, General Motors said it would no longer fund the company because of the time and resources needed.

This way of getting around has come with its safety concerns and issues. The city is tracking those concerns. According to the Transportation Department, the problems span from blocking the roads and parking in front of people's homes for weeks with lights beaming through their windows, to actual wrecks.

Since July 2023, robotaxis have been involved in 75 incidents. Only 21 of those incidents happened in 2024. It's important to note that Cruise has not been operating in Austin this year.

Since July 2023, driverless rideshare vehicles have been involved in 22 near collisions, eight collisions and seven instances where driverless taxis ignored directions from the Austin Police Department (APD).

According to the data, at least four of those Austin police incidents happened in recent months. The issues varied from driving through police checkpoints, to malfunctioning and getting stuck at an APD road closure near pedestrians, causing safety concerns.

A Waymo spokesperson said their vehicles have gesture recognition capabilities, which they've been training APD officers on using.

As the report shows, sometimes it does not work and Waymo said it is working to improve that. The spokesperson said that as of just last week, Waymo's First Responder Program has been independently verified by TÜV SÜD, making Waymo the first autonomous vehicle (AV) company to receive third-party validation for our emergency response protocols. They also said the data to date indicates the Waymo Driver is already reducing traffic injuries and fatalities in the places where the company currently operates.

Read the full story and watch the video at KVUE.com.

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