Lego therapy can be viewed as a play-based or social development program that utilizes LEGO building tasks to help adults and children, particularly those with autism, social communication difficulties, or similar conditions. You will likely agree with me that connecting with others is more than just a pleasure; it's a fundamental human necessity.
Dated back in the mid-90s, LEGO was founded by a US paediatric neuropsychologist, Daniel LeGoff, who got about 90% of his inspiration by watching two of his clients diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder play with LEGO while in his waiting room. There's more, even though they are developed for autistic children, Lego-based therapy has since been found to assist kids with a variety of communication skills, like;
I - Difficulties with conversation
ii - Expressive language disorder
iii - Developmental delay
IV - Enhancing non-verbal communication, etc.
It will interest you to know that playing and constructing with Lego in a therapy environment fosters social interaction, mutual respect, turn-taking skills, problem-solving, and cognitive learning. That's not all; this exercise can also be used to target goals surrounding interpersonal skills, motor skills, and communication skills. By way of using an adored tool like LEGO, it leverages its existing motivation and bolsters self-esteem by allowing the participants to demonstrate or display their skills in a social setting. The image below portrays a Lego-based therapy session of teenagers playing with Lego while being supported by their instructor.
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Types Of Lego-based Therapy Sets
1. Lego A-Frame cabin 21338
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The Lego A-frame cabin 21338 is a fun, multisensory Lego play activity that can help your child develop social skills and language.
- Buy Lego set HERE for $179.99
2. LEGO Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 42093
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Building a LEGO Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 42093 from scratch provides opportunities to practise and improve "Ejection Fraction", such as attention, working memory, and self-regulation.
Buy LEGO set on Amazon for $78.99
3. LEGO The Insect Collection 21342
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Your kids can spend quality time creating stunningly detailed, life-size, posable, buildable patterns of 3 distinctive insects from around the world.
Buy a Lego set Here for $79.99
Summary:
Undoubtedly, the therapeutic benefits of LEGO are manifold and can pander to a diverse audience ranging from individuals seeking personal growth to stressed professionals, kids, and young adults seeking emotional guidance.
However, while LEGO-Based Therapy is considered a valuable supplementary tool for many, it shouldn’t replace traditional therapy methods for more serious concerns.
Until next time.
With Love, Build-it