I actually did not play with Lego when I was a kid. I had lincoln logs and a moderate erector set. I liked it because it came with a small DC motor and cables and winches, etc.

I went from those things to playing outside- building forts & tree houses with scavenged lumber, even digging elaborate earthworks and tunnels. By nine or so, we were building bicycles from scavenged parts and making Evel Knievel type ramps. (A favorite was to talk the fat retarded girl into lying on the ground and letting us jump her).

Very little time was spent inside, much less playing with Lego.