Creating a Supportive Space for Neurodivergent Children
We often find that children who are Neurodivergent struggle to make meaningful social relationships due to different interests and communication styles. Our Lego groups create a space for children to be comfortable where everyone is welcome to be included and accepted as themselves to share their interests and skills with others while developing the skills to gain and maintain these connections.
What is LEGO®-Based Therapy?
Combining structured learning with the fun of play, LEGO®-Based Therapy is an evidence-based, play-based program designed to help children develop vital social and communication skills in a creative, supportive environment.
The Impact of LEGO Groups at MET Phys
Here at MET Phys, we have been offering LEGO group since 2023. Since this time, we have seen so many children benefit in various ways, including:
- Confidence – Children increase confidence in their thoughts and ideas through sharing LEGO creations.
- Emotional Regulation – Through both structured and unstructured play, children can learn to regulate their emotions. Some building tasks can be challenging but help foster patience, self-control, and regulation of frustrations with support.
- Resilience – LEGO building often involves setbacks, whether a piece does not fit or a structure collapses. These moments teach resilience and perseverance, allowing children to bounce back from challenges.
- Collaboration – Our LEGO program requires children to work together as a team to complete a structure. This develops essential collaboration skills needed for success in all areas of life.
- Creativity – LEGO group creates a space where children can explore their imagination by designing and building anything in their minds.
- Cooperation – Working together on LEGO structures requires cooperation. Children develop skills to listen to others and contribute their own ideas to the group.
- Fine Motor Skills – Manipulating small LEGO bricks strengthens hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, which are crucial for tasks like writing, drawing, and other everyday activities.
- Adaptability – LEGO projects often require adjustments and modifications. Children learn to adapt to changing circumstances, solve unexpected problems, and think flexibly.
- Memory – Following instructions, remembering building steps, and recalling past creations all contribute to improved memory skills.
Building Friendships Through LEGO Therapy
As our groups have grown, we strive to establish groups that foster friendships by connecting individuals who share similar interests and skills. Over time, we have seen the formation of many friendships that thrive both in and out of the therapy space.
We would love to continue expanding our groups and seeing more children grow as they develop their skills.
Please refer to our previous blog post describing the structure of our lego program and what to expect in the session.
Join Us for the Walk for Autism
Our LEGO group is just one of the ways we support the Neurodivergent community. During the month of May, we will be participating in the Walk for Autism, which involves completing 7,000 steps a day for a week, a fortnight, or the entire month to raise funds supporting the Australian Autistic community.
Keep an eye on our socials for updates on our participation!
For more information, visit: Walk for Autism
References
Lindsay, S., Hounsell, K.G. and Cassiani, C. (2017) ‘A scoping review of the role of Lego ® therapy for improving inclusion and social skills among children and youth with autism’, Disability and Health Journal, 10(2), pp. 173–182. doi:10.1016/j.dhjo.2016.10.010.
Legoff, D.B. and Sherman, M. (2006) ‘Long-term outcome of social skills intervention based on interactive lego© play’, Autism, 10(4), pp. 317–329. doi:10.1177/1362361306064403.
Gough, S., & Dutton, N. (2018). The novel use of LEGO®-based therapy to develop communicative competence in children who use augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) systems. The 9th Annual Conference of Association for Simulated Practice in Healthcare, Liverpool, United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjstel-2018-aspihconf.1
Home (2024) Walk for Autism. Available at: https://www.walkforautism.org.au/ (Accessed: 06 March 2025).
