How Can Legos Help Children On The Autism Spectrum?
A group of five children sat at the table playing a board game, but not Little Billy. He sat on the floor, covered his ears, and loudly hummed. Sensory input can be overwhelming for a child diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Billy was able to play with one person at a time, but when he was around a group of children he withdrew or became aggressive. Billy’s mother wanted her son to have friends. She wondered how she could get Billy to play with other children.
Some parents enroll their children in social-skills building classes. The children ask each other questions, talk to each other, and use role-play to practice good manners. The curriculum seems to teach children how to act like mini-adults, instead of how to interact with other children. Billy’s mom wanted a group that helped children work together under the guidance of someone who understood children and how they play.
Some play therapists are utilizing Lego Therapy for children on the autism spectrum. The groups have a small adult/child ratio, so the children are not overwhelmed and they receive individual attention. At first, the children learn the rules of the group. One rule might be that each person must do his or her job. Next, children are assigned roles that force them to work together. For example, the supplier must work with the builder to put the project together. As problems occur, the therapist helps the children talk about the best way to solve it so the Lego building process can continue. After the design is built, the children work together to design a scene. They could take pictures of the legos in different positions, work together on the order of the pictures and create a comic strip or short story. In this group, all the children are creatively working toward a common goal while having fun and learning social skills in a natural setting.
The group was developed about 15 years ago, when Dr Dan Legoff noticed that his autistic clients were attracted to Legos. Children in his waiting room were discussing and sharing their Lego creations. These same children who didn’t have friends in school were effectively interacting. Their common interest in Legos seemed to create a certain bond. Dr. Legoff combined Lego building with play therapy and came up with the Lego Club.
The gains that can be made in social development through Lego Building are currently being researched. Self-initiated contact, duration of social interaction, and reduction in “Stereotypical behaviors” seem to improve. One parent of an eight-year old boy in Dr. Legoff’s group stated, “I feel bringing Lewis here has brought him out of his shell.” Another parent stated, “I wouldn’t say he’s dramatically changed, but I have seen growth.”
If you would like your child to attend a Lego Group or Lego Club, look for play therapists in your area that are facilitating groups. You can find play therapists at www.a4pt.org. If you live in Pompano Beach, Florida, Donna Bivona is starting a Lego Group for children with ASD’s.
For more articles on this topic read:
LeGoff DB: Use of LEGO® as a therapeutic medium for improving social competence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disabilities 2004;34:557-571.