The Power of Lego Therapy
Building Social Skills Brick by Brick
In today’s rapidly evolving world, the importance of strong social skills cannot be understated.
For some children with neurodiversity conditions or social difficulties, these skills may pose a significant challenge. Lego Therapy is an innovative and engaging therapy approach that aims to tackle these obstacles head-on.
Building Peer Interaction and Social Skills
Lego therapy groups provide a nurturing environment where children can grow and develop important social skills. Lego Therapy uses the universally beloved Lego bricks as a medium to create group opportunities for children to engage in meaningful interactions and build valuable relationships.
The sessions are carefully designed to support the development of various skills that may be challenging for some individuals.
Skills Learned in Lego Therapy
Turn Taking: Lego therapy encourages children to take turns when building with Lego bricks, fostering patience, and respect for others.
Eye Contact: Through collaborative building activities, participants are encouraged to make eye contact, improving their ability to connect and communicate effectively.
Sharing: Lego therapy promotes the practice of sharing materials, ideas, and responsibilities, teaching children the importance of cooperation and empathy.
Waiting: Waiting for a turn or patiently observing others’ actions is an integral part of Lego therapy, enhancing children’s self-control and emotional regulation.
Problem Solving: Collaborative building tasks require participants to work together to overcome challenges, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
Listening: Active listening is nurtured in Lego therapy sessions, as children need to understand and interpret others’ ideas and instructions.
Giving and Following Instructions: By providing and following clear instructions, children develop their ability to communicate effectively and understand expectations.
Checking for Understanding: Lego therapy encourages participants to ask clarifying questions and check for understanding, promoting effective communication and comprehension.
Peer Interaction: Engaging with peers in Lego therapy allows children to develop social bonds, build friendships, and practice appropriate social behaviors.
Teamwork: Collaborative Lego building activities emphasize the importance of teamwork, fostering cooperation, collaboration, and collective problem-solving.
Asking for Help: Lego therapy creates a safe space where children can practice asking for help when faced with challenges, boosting their self-advocacy skills.
Developing Verbal and Non-Verbal Language: Lego therapy provides opportunities for children to express themselves verbally and non-verbally, enhancing communication skills.
Benefits of Lego Therapy
Lego therapy has proven to be highly effective in supporting the development of social skills for children with neurodiversity conditions or social difficulties.
Benefits include:
Enhanced Social Interaction: Through engaging group activities, children learn how to initiate and maintain interactions, fostering social connections.
Improved Communication Skills: Lego therapy encourages verbal and non-verbal communication, aiding in the development of expressive and receptive language abilities.
Increased Self-Confidence: As children accomplish tasks and collaborate successfully, they gain confidence in their abilities and feel a sense of achievement.
Strengthened Problem-Solving Abilities: Collaborative problem-solving tasks in Lego therapy improve critical thinking and decision-making skills.
Empathy and Understanding: By working together, children develop empathy and understanding towards their peers, promoting a more inclusive and empathetic mindset. As children engage in collaborative Lego building activities, they not only focus on building models but also on building relationships with their peers.