What is a Lego®-based therapy?
Originally, Lego® based Therapy was a social development program designed for children with social communication difficulties, particularly those with autism.
It involves using Lego® bricks for facilitated, collaborative, and structured play to help children learn and practice social skills.
It can be implemented in various settings by professionals such as teachers, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, clinical psychologists, and parents of children with autism.
NOW, There are many different ways of delivering Lego® based Therapy and various programmes that target different skills, areas of development and groups.
This extraordinary intervention is used across schools and settings with all children. Professionals or parents target children and young people's communication, social skills, and well-being.
The main benefits of Lego®-based Therapy.
Communication
Social Skills
Well-being
Lego@-based Therapy Programmes can help with positive communication and language.
Lego®-based Therapy Programmes can improve social skills.
Lego®-based Therapy Programmes can improve well-being.
Who can benefit from Lego® – based Therapy?
Children and Young People
Develop communication, social skills, and well-being. Decrease their anxiety and increase their self-esteem and self-control. Help them to make friends, express themselves and help them with self-awareness, etc.
Headteachers
They can improve school provision, empower staff, help in staff's continuous development, improve communication, social skills and behaviour, support personalized learning, improve student engagement, improve well-being, etc.
SENCOs
Can promote Inclusion and Engagement, Develop Social Skills and Communication, enhance fine motor skills and spatial awareness, individualized learning and progress monitoring, enhance special needs provision offer, support staff, etc.
Teachers and Teaching Assisitants/LSA
Saves time and gives ready-to-follow planning, resources, games and activities, addresses specific learning objectives or therapeutic goals, supports effective classroom management, harnesses the power of peer learning and reduces the need for constant individual support, etc.
NHS Professionals
Enhance engagement and motivation, making therapy sessions more effective and impactful. Facilitates Communication and Expression. Promotes Collaboration and Social Skills. Supports Cognitive Development. Versatile and Adaptable Intervention. Integrates Well with Multidisciplinary Approaches, etc.
Parents/Carers
Empower your child to reach their full potential, spend quality family time away from computers, and enhance your child's communication, social interactions and self-confidence. This can help your relationship to blossom.
Let me tell you
There is perhaps no more straightforward toy than a single and humble Lego® brick. Yet, this genius invention inspires millions of children and adults worldwide.
I love Lego®! Who doesn't? Right? In my career as the Lego® – based Therapy Facilitator, I had only two children that didn't like playing with Lego®. Still, I converted them through their vital interests in Minecraft games and superheroes!
Dr Daniel LeGoff coincidentally discovered this extremely engaging Therapy, and I'll not bore you with all the history. Still, I would like to say how grateful I am for this discovery. If you would like to learn about the origins of Lego® based Therapy, then read the Lego® based Therapy Book by Dr Daniel LeGoff, Georgina Gomez De La Cuesta, GW Krauss, and Simon Baron-Cohen – it's a MUST READ – literacy position, especially when you are planning this excellent play therapy in your setting.
Of course, over the years, other people, such as speech and language therapists, psychologists, teachers, etc., wrote other fantastic books about the use of Lego® – based Therapy. I favour the eclectic and holistic way of working with children. I suggest studying them all to incorporate this simple idea's full potential.
