Lego (R) Therapy

Lego (R) Therapy is quite possibly the best thing I have come across in over twenty years in education.  The basic premise is to take a Lego (R) kit you can buy in any supermarket or toy shop and instead of just one person making it, the instructions are seperated from the pieces with one person using the instructions to explain to the other how to make the model.  At a given point, the roles are reversed so different skills are worked on.

So what you may ask?  Well over ten years of evidence-based research and my own observations of using the technique extensively over the last five years have shown the following benefits:-

1.  Joint task focus.  Children who find it hard to share an activity take to this with enthusiasm as there is the focus of the `reward' of completing the model.  Instead of a vague `play together nicely', there is a structure which makes roles clear.  Thus children learn to share, take turns, encourage each other, deal with frustration (believe me - try explaining to someone else how to make a fire engine designed for and 8-year old!!) in a positive and supportive fashion.

2.  Language of communication.  There is the specific vocabulary of the Lego (R); the colours, shapes and positional language, but also the softer vocabulary of instruction and co-operation which is greatly enhanced by this therapy.

3.  Generalisation of skills.  Studies have shown that the vocabulary of co-operation and sharing has been generalised into non-therapy session situations.

4.  Enjoyment.  Many children enjoy building with Lego (R).  There is a multitude of `Social Use of Language' programmes available, but none that have come close in terms of motivation, enjoyment and making progress as Lego (R) Therapy.

More information on the therapy is available here - http://asdaid.org/lego-and-asd/lego-therapy

A course of Lego (R) Therapy included an initial consultation and assessment, eight therapy sessions and then an end of therapy assessment, so ten sessions in total.  It costs £250 for one child on the programme, £400 for two children and £500 for three children, including all assessments.

johnbroom@aol.com