What is the Build-Build Club?
The Build-Build club is a social skills club where children participate in LEGO-Based Therapy. It is a social skills program based on building Lego models in groups. This approach was first developed by Dr. Dan LeGoff, a clinical neuropsychologist in Philedephia, USA. The main aim of the group is to develop children's social interaction skills in a friendly and fun environment.
What do children do in the Building Club?
Building Club sessions last approximately 1 hour. During the sessions, children build Lego models in groups of 2 or 3 under adult supervision. One of the children finds the materials needed (the builder), another determines where to put the pieces (the engineer) and the third child puts the pieces together (the builder).
The children all take these roles in turn. The expert leading the group helps the children with instructions to solve any social problems that arise.
If a problem arises (taking material without permission), everyone stops the game at that moment, tries to solve the problem together and continues working on it by coming up with an alternative strategy (taking material without permission).
Which skills are practiced in the Building-Construction Club?
Skills such as taking turns, waiting, cooperation, social problem solving, joint attention, communication, and developing language skills are practiced.
Is there any research on Lego-Based Therapy?
Research has shown that Lego-Based Therapy increases social skills especially in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 6-16.
References
LeGoff, D.B., Gomez de la Cuesta, G., Krauss, G. & Baron-Cohen, S. (2014). LEGO®- Based Therapy: How to build social competence through LEGO®Ⓡ-based clubs for children with autism and related conditions. London: Jessica Kingsley.
LeGoff, D. B. (2004). Use of LEGO as a Therapeutic Medium for Improving Social Competence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 34 (5), 557-571.
LeGoff, D. B., & Sherman, M. (2006). Long-term outcome of social skills intervention based on interactive LEGOⒸ play Autism, 10(4), 317-329 Owens, G., Granader, Y., Humphrey, A., & Baron-Cohen, S. (2008). LEGO therapy and the social use of language program: an evaluation of two social skills interventions for children with high functioning autism and Asperger Syndrome. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(10), 1944-1957
