Here, we must also point out the great importance of another misunderstood and marginalized (from education and not only) function:

This of the game.

The game is a key element for both the child and the scientist. Thus, the child plays by making different things with his Legos and the scientist, also, “plays” by mixing different materials to make a new one. The fact that the adult has some other materials in his “game” apart from the child’s Legos, makes little difference in the nature per se of the “game”.