LEGO®-Based Therapy

Fiona Goodall • January 17, 2023

Making ConneXions Groups

What is LEGO-BASED THERAPY?

In short, LEGO-Based Therapy is designed to teach, coach, and promote social communication and social interaction skills in children who may have trouble with friendships or difficulties socialising with same-aged peers. We run two LEGO-Based Therapy groups, one for children Grades 2 to 4 and another for children/tweens Grades 5 to 7


LEGO-Based Therapy is often used with children on the autism spectrum as LEGO is a highly organised, systematic and predictable toy. Using LEGO as a therapy medium is about using the children’s common interest of LEGO as a conduit to having the confidence to develop skills they find harder, such as social communication and social imagination. This type of social skills programming can be motivating for children on the autism spectrum as it removes the unpredictable and ever-changing concepts that can occur during free play. Consequently, the predictability offered during LEGO-Based Therapy can help many children feel calmer, more regulated and more engaged during play.


LEGO-Based Therapy is referred to as a ‘play-based’ therapy method because the therapeutic benefits of play build on the natural way children learn about themselves and the social world around them. Through play-based therapy, children learn to communicate with others and express their feelings, learn a variety of ways of relating to others, modify their behaviour and develop social problem-solving skills.


Benefits of LEGO-BASED THERAPY

Research has found that facilitated group projects using LEGO can help develop and reinforce language, play, and social skills. Improved social competencies may include: use and understanding of non-verbal communication such as eye contact, facial expression, body posture and proximity; functional skills such as requesting help and clarification; joint attention; perseverance on a task, social initiation and response; sharing and turn-taking as well as collaborative problem solving, improved negotiation and compromise.


What does a session look like?

LEGO-Based Therapy is delivered in a small group context (3-6 children). The session follows a routine structure which includes:


Arrival & Welcome: Reminding children of the group rules, talking about our week, learning to listen and respond to one another, going through the session routine (visually displayed on the board).


Structured Play: The Facilitator allocates ‘jobs’ to each child. These specific roles & responsibilities are rotated during the group, every session. The ‘jobs’ are:

a. Engineer – reads from instruction booklet

b. Supplier – finds the right bricks

c. Builder – puts the bricks together

d. Director – makes sure that the team is working together and communicating


The children work together to build a model. When the sessions begin, children typically rely on the therapist to model and prompt them through the process. As children grow comfortable and become better at sharing and negotiating, the group runs with reduced adult prompting. Of course, when emotions run high, the therapist supports positive interactions and coaches strategies to help with compromise and regulation, and skills to be a good sport and a friend.


Unstructured Play: After working together to build a model, children have some time to engage in calming free LEGO play. Sometimes the facilitator will provide ideas and challenges, particularly at the beginning. Regardless of the activity, the therapist will always be playing alongside the group to provide modelling and prompts and to capitalise on in-situ social coaching opportunities.


Parent involvement: Parents or caregivers do not attend the session. However, we provide a summary report each term and are happy to speak with you about your child's progress. Parents are also welcome to pop in and have a look at what the group has been working on, after the session concludes.



Research

Andras, M. (2012). The value of LEGO® Therapy in promoting social interaction in primary-aged children with autism. Retrieved from https://hacerlobien.net/lego/Ter-010-Social-Interaction-Autism.pdf

 

LeGoff, D. B. (2004). Use of Lego as a therapeutic medium for improving social competence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34(5), 557–571. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-004-2550-0

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-004-2550-0


Legoff, D. B., & Sherman, M. (2006). Long-term outcome of social skills intervention based on interactive LEGO© play. Autism, 10(4), 317–329. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361306064403 https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16908476/


Lindsay, S., Hounsell, K. G., & Cassiani, C. (2017). A scoping review of the role of Lego ® therapy for improving inclusion and social skills among children and youth with autism. Disability and Health Journal, 10(2), 173–182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.10.010 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1936657416301728


Owens, G., Granader, Y., Humphrey, A., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2008). LEGO ® therapy and the Social Use of language programme: An evaluation of two social skills interventions for children with high functioning autism and asperger syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(10), 1944–1957. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-008-0590-6

https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10803-008-0590-6


Disclaimer: LEGO®, SERIOUS PLAY®, IMAGINOPEDIATM, the Minifigure and the Brick and Knob configurations are trademarks of the LEGO® group, which does not sponsor, authorise or endorse therapy and/or website.

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This Privacy Policy explains how Making Connections Toowoomba collects, uses, discloses, and protects your personal information when you use our website at www.makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au . We are committed to safeguarding your privacy and complying with the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs) outlined in the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth). 1. What Personal Information We Collect We may collect personal information such as: Your name Email address Phone number Background information about our clients (if you choose to share it) NDIS or funding information (if you choose to share it) Details about services you enquire about or participate in Feedback, comments, or communications Any other information you voluntarily provide (e.g. via forms, emails, or phone) We may also collect non-identifiable data such as browser type, IP address, and usage statistics. 2. How We Collect Your Information We collect personal information directly from you when you: Submit an enquiry or intake form via our website Contact us by phone or email Sign up for programs, events, or services Join our mailing list or respond to a survey Engage with us on social media Our website may also use cookies and analytics tools to gather basic visitor data. 3. Why We Collect Your Information We collect and use your personal information to: Provide you with our services, programs, and supports Communicate with you regarding bookings, enquiries, or updates Manage billing, invoicing, and funding processes (including NDIS-related information) Improve our services and understand community needs Share program information, newsletters, or updates you (you can opt out at any time) 4. Disclosure of Personal Information We only disclose your information: To team members or contractors involved in delivering our services (on a need-to-know basis and according to our MCT Team Confidentiality Policy) To third-party service providers such as payment processors or email platforms Where you have consented When required or authorised by law We do not sell or rent your personal information to anyone. 5. Data Storage and Security We take all reasonable steps to protect your personal information. This includes: Secure digital storage with password protection and encryption Limiting access to authorised personnel only Regularly reviewing our security practices Please note that no method of electronic transmission is 100% secure, but we do our best to maintain a safe digital environment. 6. Access and Correction You have the right to request access to your personal information or request corrections if it is inaccurate or out of date. To do so, please contact us using the details at the bottom of this page. We will respond to your request within a reasonable timeframe, typically within 30 days. 7. Cookies and Analytics Our website may use cookies to improve functionality and gather visitor statistics through tools like Google Analytics . You can manage or disable cookies via your browser settings. 8. Third-Party Services and Links Our site may contain links to external websites. Please note that we are not responsible for the privacy practices or content of those third-party sites. We also use third-party platforms such as (but not limited to): Mailchimp – for newsletters and email communication Xero – for invoicing and payment processing Google Analytics – for web performance and traffic data Where these services operate outside Australia, we take steps to ensure your data is handled in accordance with Australian privacy standards. 9. Complaints and Enquiries If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, or believe we have breached your privacy, please contact us directly. We take all concerns seriously and aim to resolve them promptly. If you are not satisfied with our response, you may contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) via www.oaic.gov.au . 10. Contact Us Making Connections Toowoomba Website: www.makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au Email: fiona@makingconnectionstoowoomba.com.au Phone: 0492 954 085 11. Updates to This Policy We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time. The most recent version will always be available on our website, with the effective date listed at the top.
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