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LEGO Play Therapy Benefits Children with Autism
Practitioners and parents have discovered that the use of LEGO during play
therapy groups for children with autism leads to improved social skills and play
skills. Research confirms that this is the case. LEGO brand toy building blocks
offer a highly routine, repetitive, structured form of play that many children
with autism find appealing.
Activities using LEGO can be graded from simple step by step instructions to
free building that allows for creativity. During play therapy, however, group
activities can be designed around the use of LEGOs to help children gain skills
in both verbal and non-verbal communication, sharing, turn taking,
collaboration, and other social skills.
Research on LEGO play therapy was recently conducted at the University of
Cambridge. This study focused on children with both autism and Asperger
Disorder, and found that children who participated in LEGO therapy showed
improvement in social skills. Research into the value of using LEGO as a part of
play therapy are well documented.
Another study conducted in 2008 evaluated social skills interventions for 6-11
year olds, including LEGO therapy. Children with autism were randomly assigned
to intervention groups and therapy was provided for 1 hour per week over 18
weeks. Researchers found that the LEGO therapy group displayed more improvement
than the other groups on autism-related social interaction scores.
A report published in Autism in 2006 studied the long term outcomes of LEGO
therapy for children with autism. Children with autism who participated in LEGO
therapy were compared to children with autism who participated in another form
of therapy. The children who received LEGO therapy showed significantly more
improvement on outcomes measures than the non-LEGO group.
During LEGO therapy groups, participants agree on a project that is not too easy
or too difficult for group members. Each participant is assigned a job to do,
such as putting the bricks together, sorting and obtaining the bricks, designing
the project, etc., and these roles are rotated as the project progresses so that
each participant gets a turn at each role. The principles of play therapy are
followed during LEGO therapy sessions. Groups are held at regular scheduled
times and places. An adult facilitator assists participants with problem
solving, on task behavior, and providing positive reinforcement of appropriate
social interactions.
LEGO therapy groups encourage collaboration, pretending, and non-verbal
communication. These groups can also provide participants with a system of
rewards and praise when changes to the building project are completed, allowing
a child to successfully break from routine, repetitive patterns. This process
helps children with autism develop creative responses and improved coping
patterns when faced with changes in routine.
LEGO therapy groups range from simple, step by step projects to highly creative
endeavors. At the Center for Neurological and Neurodevelopmental Health in
Voorhees, New Jersey, participants who gain advanced skills use group time to
film stop action videos using their LEGO creations. Some LEGO therapy groups
also utilize LEGO computer programs.
AutismDailyNewscast.com
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