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Over the past few years, more and more people have been using LEGO® building to help them practice mindfulness. In 2019, we even teamed up with DK Publishing and the author Abbie Hendon to publish a self-help book entitled ‘Build Yourself Happy’, which contains more than 50 mindful LEGO building activities and tips. (We’ve featured some of our favorites below!) Yet despite the growing popularity of mindfulness, there remains some confusion surrounding it. Mindfulness isn’t just some pseudo-scientific popular fad, but can actually physically alter the brain of depressed patients for the better, as an increasing number of scientific studies are showing. So we thought it would be a good idea to explain a little bit more about mindfulness and see why psychologists are recommending LEGO building to achieve it. We’ve even created our own step-by-step guide on how to practice mindfulness through LEGO building!
Mindfulness is a therapeutic practice designed to help people who are struggling with varying levels of anxiety, stress and depression manage those feelings. It is not, as some people think, a fix-all cure. However, there are a growing number of people speaking to its benefits.
Mindfulness is essentially a form of meditation that emphasizes being aware (or mindful) on what is happening to the individual at a particular moment, in terms of their surroundings, body and mind. It asks you to notice and acknowledge all the feelings and sensations in the body, without judging them.
This concept of no judgement is important. We all have internal chatter in our brains, an internal dialogue. Unlike what some people think, mindfulness (and more generally, meditation) isn’t about stepping in and stopping those thoughts. It’s about stepping back.
Who is ready for a good metaphor? I know we are.
Imagine you are sitting on the bank of a river, watching the flow of the water. Any objects that are carried by the water’s current – wood, leaves, even boats – represent your thoughts and feelings. Mindfulness encourages you to sit on the bank of the river, and simply watch all of it float by. Sounds easy, right? But in reality, it’s actually quite difficult. Especially if there is something floating in the river that you don’t like. So, because we are humans, we try and jump in, trying to fish some objects out, or try to stop the flow, or swim after the debris. And we forget that all we were trying to do was sit on that river bank and watch everything drift by.
This is why mindfulness isn’t a cure for bad feelings or thoughts. It’s instead all about handling them in a more positive, constructive way than we often tend to. And if your thoughts ever become too difficult to address through mindfulness, you should, of course, try to seek advice from a professional.
Here are a couple of tips to help you get started.
Mindfulness techniques often ask us to concentrate on our breath. The breath is useful because it is continual, giving us not only something to focus on initially, but something to return our attention to after our mind has wandered. And the mind will wander. It’s not a problem. That’s just what it does. All you have to do is note it and guide the mind back. Your focus, however, doesn’t necessarily have to be on the breath. You don’t have to, for example, breathe in a particular way (beyond keeping it steady and calm). That focus can therefore be replaced by any repetitive activity. From sewing, to sweeping or... you guessed it... building LEGO® sets. (And it’s not just us who are saying that, by the way. Interacting with LEGO bricks is regularly brought up by academic researchers on mindfulness, as a perfect example of a relaxing activity which nonetheless requires a level of mental engagement.) But whatever the focus, the most important thing to do is to consciously pay attention to it. If it’s breathing, think about the sensation of your chest rising and falling. If it’s sweeping, note the sound of the brush against the floor. If you are using LEGO bricks, you can focus on how they connect with each other, the sound when they do, and the feel of the material against your fingers. Don’t worry about the end result. At least to start with, your aim isn’t to produce something ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but rather on producing an... output… simply an output. For this reason, it’s best to avoid building from a LEGO manual. The focus should instead be on the process of building, which can be the thing to return to whenever you notice that the mind wanders. Besides, there is value to be had in not worrying about an end-product. As Abbie Headon writes in ‘Build Yourself Happy’, “it can be a lot of fun to live without a plan sometimes.” Try throwing all your cautious planning instinct to the wind and allow yourself to choose and connect bricks without thinking about where you’re going. You’ll be surprised at what you can create – and your internal planner/worrier/killjoy may realize that it can let go more often as a result. “When you turn off your inner critic’s running commentary, you can enjoy the sheer pleasure of creation, just like the kid you used to be”
For those of you new to mindfulness, (or, at least, to LEGO mindfulness), we’ve created a step-by-step guide to help get you started.
Finally, if you’d like to read more tips on LEGO mindfulness, then the entire ‘Build Yourself Happy’ book is available as an eBook.
FAQs
Is Lego good for mindfulness? ›
Interacting with LEGO bricks is regularly brought up by academic researchers on mindfulness, as a perfect example of a relaxing activity which nonetheless requires a level of mental engagement.)
What are the benefits of Lego therapy for adults? ›What are the benefits of LEGO-Based Therapy? Playing with LEGO in a therapy setting promotes social interaction, turn-taking skills, sharing, collaborative problem-solving and the learning of concepts. It can be used to target goals around social skills, language and motor skills.
Is Lego therapy therapeutic for adults? ›According to Lego Group's Play Well Report 2022, 93% of adults regularly feel stressed, while 86% of adults claimed that play helps them to unwind, and, as a Lego fan myself, I can certainly vouch for this.
How does Lego help with mental health? ›LEGO construction blocks have been credited for supporting adult mental health. In addition, 88 per cent of adults thought playing with the construction blocks supported their confidence, 79 per cent said it helped develop their emotional intelligence, and 74 per cent claimed it supported their listening skills.
Is Lego therapy just for autism? ›It can be used with children aged 5-17 years – the difficulty of the lego build should be adapted based on the age and abilities of the children. Lego therapy was originally created for children with social difficulties associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Asperger's, and even Anxiety or Adjustment Disorders.
Are Lego sets good for ADHD? ›LEGOS and building blocks are hands-on toys that are simple to use and have only a few pieces so children can create a single structure in a relatively short period of time, which may help build their confidence.
How long should a Lego therapy session last? ›What does Lego therapy involve? Trained facilitators run Lego therapy group sessions. The sessions usually run once a week for 1-2 hours, often in schools or other everyday settings. In each session, children work together to build a model following instructions.
What are the three roles in Lego therapy? ›Originally proposed by LeGoff (2004) this intervention employs the use of three key roles 'Engineer' 'Builder' and 'Supplier' to build a model together using LEGO® bricks. This is facilitated by a trained adult, although child led, to allow the children a means of developing their social communication skills.
How long should Lego therapy sessions be? ›The Lego-Based Therapy project ran for a year, with weekly sessions for one hour which included: a settling-in activity (a song or dance) a game to develop Lego specific language.
Why are adults obsessed with Lego? ›"Building with Lego bricks reduces stress and improves your well-being. It's zen, in the shape of a brick." Mindfulness is a meditative practice rooted in ancient Buddhism and Hinduism that focuses on the present without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
What are alternatives to Lego therapy? ›
Alternatives to using Lego could include marble run, cooking or building anything with instructions. support of an adult. their login details. If they are not registered with school, you can sign up for free.
What does Lego do to your brain? ›Attention Span. One of the reasons why Lego is so good for the brain is that it builds concentration span. What is this? The more a child is immersed and “lost” in an activity, the more their ability to focus develops.
How Legos can be a cognitive therapy tool? ›By unlocking the inner architect who craves creativity, flexibility, and transformation, LEGO® (and similar building bricks) can be used as a therapeutic tool in play therapy and counseling to help strengthen relationships, provide sensory stimulation, improve social skills, and build resilience.
How does Lego help with emotional development? ›Creating a LEGO® creation – whether that be through following instructions, or from an idea in their own mind – allows children to achieve a sense of accomplishment, pride and build on their self-confidence and self-belief; driving children to try out more complex tasks when they feel ready.
What are the limitations of Lego therapy? ›Limitations included lack of full randomization. By using matched comparisons one can only assume extraneous variables are accounted for. A miscellaneous nuisance variable found within this study is the use of different therapists. One cannot be sure change was due to treatment or therapist characteristics.
Do you need training for Lego therapy? ›Lego-based Therapy training is delivered online via TEAMS or Zoom, depending on the size of the group. It gives you the key knowledge, skills, structure, and resources to effectively run Lego-based therapy sessions with young people.
Can Lego help with depression? ›According to LEGO Group's 2022 Well Report that surveyed 32,781 parents and adults, 78 percent of adults claimed LEGO play helped with their own wellbeing, while 76 percent said it was fundamental to their happiness.
Does Lego improve IQ? ›Numerous studies have shown that kids show improvement on spatial reasoning tests after spending time with LEGO Bricks and other kinds of construction play.
What is the best toy for ADHD? ›- Fidget Spinners. Fidget spinners are small toys that come in a variety of hues and silhouettes. ...
- Rubik's Cube. With its bright colors and perfectly hand-sized design, the classic Rubik's Cube is an excellent toy for ADHD. ...
- Tangle Toys. ...
- Shape-Shifting Boxes. ...
- Stress Ball. ...
- Magnet Balls. ...
- Putty or Play Dough. ...
- Liquid Motion Sandscape.
Lego Duplo Creative Play
Lego and Duplo are good toys for kids with ADHD. Children love to create, and the methodical building of bricks is very therapeutic. It helps them focus and achieve, and they can create objects in a short space of time, which keeps them engaged.
Is walking on LEGO painful? ›
The bottom of each foot has up to 200,000 sensory receptors, which are all screaming in agony the instant they touch that LEGO. It actually hurts less to step on multiple bricks at once because then the impact is spread across the foot rather than one single painful point of contact.
How many times a week should you go to therapy? ›Therapy has been found to be most productive when incorporated into a client's lifestyle for approximately 12-16 sessions, most typically delivered in once weekly sessions for 45 minutes each. For most folks that turns out to be about 3-4 months of once weekly sessions.
Does LEGO help with anxiety? ›Interacting with LEGO bricks is regularly brought up by academic researchers on mindfulness, as a perfect example of a relaxing activity which nonetheless requires a level of mental engagement.)
Is Lego Therapy effective? ›Research has shown that Lego Therapy often taps into the natural interests and motivations of children with ASD, making it a highly effective form of therapy. In particular, it's suggested that children with ASD are drawn to activities that involve systemizing and pattern prediction (Baron-Cohen, 2008).
What are adults who like Lego called? ›I set out to become a better AFOL—the official term for an Adult Fan of Lego—and along the way I discovered many more acronyms, like-minded communities, buying hacks, storage and resale tips, and even free software for virtual building. None of the info I dug up will be new to an experienced AFOL.
Is it OK for adults to buy Legos? ›If you've been out of the Lego loop for the last few decades—growing up will do that—you might be surprised to learn that Lego makes sets specifically for adults, because even with age, the act of creating with small pieces still delights. These sets are less whimsical and more mechanical.
What is the average age of Lego users? ›The Lego target audience age is from 1 to 15, with children aged 9 or 10 being their ideal market. To succeed in their advertising, they are carefully focused on marketing campaigns that speak to that age range. Lego also produces a different complexity of toys to suit different age ranges.
What is the LEGO exercise? ›The Lego Challenge is the most common name for the Lego team-building exercise designed to improve communication and build better teams. The goal of the Lego Challenge is to build a model as close to a provided diagram as possible, with the exciting twist that only one member of the team has seen the diagram.
Why are Legos so relaxing? ›“Building with Lego bricks reduces stress and improves your well-being. It's zen, in the shape of a brick.” Mindfulness is a meditative practice rooted in ancient Buddhism and Hinduism that focuses on the present without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
What skills do Legos teach? ›- Improved eye/hand coordination.
- The development of spatial skills.
- Persistence and patience.
- Enhanced fine motor skills.
- Problem solving skills.
- Achieving a sense of accomplishment.
- Learning how to plan.
- Teamwork when playing with others.
Do Legos help with anxiety? ›
Lego Therapy has been effective at reducing anxiety in populations of children with ASD.
What skills do Legos help with? ›- Improved eye/hand coordination.
- The development of spatial skills.
- Persistence and patience.
- Enhanced fine motor skills.
- Problem solving skills.
- Achieving a sense of accomplishment.
- Learning how to plan.
- Teamwork when playing with others.
One thing we've noticed in recent years is how many adults have turned to LEGO sets as a way to relax and unwind from the stresses and strains of life. Being fully immersed in something, like building with LEGO bricks, can help you get into a flow state and be fully present in the moment.
How often should you do Lego therapy? ›The sessions usually run once a week for 1-2 hours, often in schools or other everyday settings. In each session, children work together to build a model following instructions.
What is Lego play therapy? ›Lego-based therapy (LeGoff et al 2014) is an evidence based approach that aims to develop social communication skills in autistic children, such as sharing, turn-taking, following rules, using names and problem-solving.
Is LEGO good for cognitive development? ›These favorite toys are helping your kid achieve in school and beyond. "When kids are building with blocks and Legos, they're using spatial reasoning skills," says Amy Shelton, a cognitive psychologist and director of research at the Johns Hopkins Center for Talented Youth.
Why are Legos calming? ›“Building with Lego bricks reduces stress and improves your well-being. It's zen, in the shape of a brick.” Mindfulness is a meditative practice rooted in ancient Buddhism and Hinduism that focuses on the present without dwelling on the past or worrying about the future.
Who does Lego therapy benefit? ›LEGO® Therapy is an intervention that has started to emerge in schools to help children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in their social communication difficulties.
What is the educational value of Legos? ›Lego education gives an experience of learning through concrete objects. Children pick the blocks, place them together, push them tightly not to come out, and do various other things. All of this develops better functions of movement and muscles and increases motor activity.
Is LEGO good for adults? ›Are LEGO® sets for adults? You bet… Spend quality time with premium LEGO® sets designed specifically for adults. From wonders of the world to movie magic, intrepid space exploration to pop culture icons, luxury cars to architectural masterpieces, there's a LEGO set waiting for you.
Does building Legos stimulate your brain? ›
As researchers have discovered, construction block play, including with LEGO Bricks, offers a full spectrum of benefits to the budding mind. Some of these benefits are found in the usual areas, such as math, spatial activities and early engineering skills. Others are more surprising, especially social skills.