Building Connections: Exploring Lego Therapy

• New lesson editor
• Health & Social Care
• Primary Education

Building Connections: Exploring Lego Therapy

Session Objective

At the end of the Session you will understand the concept of Lego Therapy, the roles involved, and examples of models used and feel more prepared in establishing your own Lego Therapy interventions/Groups/Programmes.

What do you already know about Lego Therapy?

What is Lego Therapy?

Lego Therapy is a therapeutic approach using Lego bricks to improve social skills, communication, and teamwork in children.

Key Roles in Lego Therapy

There are three main roles: the Engineer, the Supplier, and the Builder. Each has specific tasks to encourage collaboration.

The Supplier

Interprets descriptions of pieces from the architect and provides the bricks needed to the builder

The Architect

The architect is the only person who can see the plans, and gives instructions to the supplier and the builder

The Builder

The builder takes instruction from the architect and is the only person who can connect bricks

Adaptions at Iffley Academy

With high functioning students, the role of supplier led to a noticeable loss of interest in the activity, as it involved a sustained period of time of watching the builder and supplier interact. 

The role of supplier was absorbed into the remit of the builder or the architect. The architect would either hand over the needed pieces, or describe them to the builder. 

This adaptation led to a measurable increase in student participation

Adaptions at Iffley Academy

Some students, mostly higher ability, were able to follow the instructions printed with the Lego kits, although this could be problematic. Lego kits often place several pieces in one go. They are also abstract images, often being cartoon replications. 

Instead, bespoke maps are create using images of the physical pieces.

Adaptions at Iffley Academy

Students were finding it difficult to communicate the pieces needed. One EAL child in particular found it incredibly difficult. 

Colourful Symantic resources were adapted and reformatted to include the vocabulary needed to frame, review and verbalize requests using key elements of a symbol exchange program.

Benefits of Lego Therapy

• To Inspire students to initiate interactions with peers

• Work collaboratively with students 

• Developing intrapersonal and interpersonal communication

• Alleviate the pressure caused by some typical SEN traits, especially those with Communication and Interaction (CI) Cognition and Learning (CL) and Social, Emotional Mental Health (SEMH)

• Develop problem solving skills 

Write down 2 things you want to know more about.

Ask 1 question about something you haven't quite understood yet.