What is Lego® or brick therapy?

In 2003 Dr Daniel LeGoff, a clinical Neuropsychologist in Philadelphia, USA began experimenting after noticing that many autistic children are drawn to Lego® and brick building. ​ Today Lego therapy/brick building therapy is used across the globe by Play therapists, Phychologists, Occupational therapists and Education specialists to help children with ASD develop communication and social skills. 

Aims of Lego®/Brick therapy

The main targets for Lego®/Brick therapy are to:​

• To improve motivation to initiate and interact with peers. ​

• To interact with peers for a period of time. ​

• To developed flexibility of thought and problem solving skills. ​

Many children find Lego® highly motivational. Lego® is in itself calming which offers a de-escalation tool or distraction tool when needed.

Who is Lego®/Brick therapy for?

Lego®/Brick therapy has proved effective for:​

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• Children and adults with ASD and other social communication difficulties. ​

• Individuals with anxiety disorders and/or depression.

Why does it work?

Lego®/Brick therapy works well for children with ASD because it is:​

• Highly structured​

• Systematic​

• Predictable by nature​

• Has clear rules​

• Uses visual cues​

• Has a finished product

Lego®/Brick building sessions

• Can be done in pairs or groups of three. ​
• Introduce or recap the Lego®/ Brick building rules. ​
• Choose roles. ​
• Choose a kit. ​
• Kits do not have to be completed in one session. 

Roles

Building in pairs:​

• Engineer: Has all of the bricks needed, and uses the instructions to guide the builder in constructing the model by passing the correct bricks needed for each stage of the build. ​
• Builder: Listens to the instructions of the engineer and puts the bricks together to create the model. 

Building in a group of three​​

• Engineer: follows the visuals and gives instructions to the supplier of which bricks are needed and then instructs the builder how to place the bricks to construct the model at each stage.​

• Supplier: has all the bricks needed to build the model. The supplier has to listen to the engineer to give the builder the required bricks at each stage. ​

• Builder: Listens to the instructions of the engineer to place the bricks given by the supplier to create the model.

Role of the adult

• Adults should act as facilitators and mediators. ​

• Implement principles of Lego®/Brick building therapy. ​

• Implement the rules. ​

• Intervene and support interaction. ​

• Provide prompts to keep children on task. ​

• Suggest compromises and facilitate negotiations. ​

• Should encourage children to use their preferred communication.

Lego®/Brick building rules

• Allow ownership by letting the children devise their own rules. ​

• Adults facilitate by offering ideas. ​

• Some rules previously used:​

• We work together as a team. ​

• No snatching, ask if you want it or need it. ​

• Be kind to each other. ​

• If you break it, you fix it. If you can’t fix it, ask for help. ​

• Everybody helps to tidy up​

• We all take turns.