Ideas to Celebrate International LEGO Day
LEGO bricks and sets allow children to build an entire universe of imagination. These toys have been loved by children and parents alike (at least when we’re not stepping on them!). Why do we love these little bricks so much? Here are just a few of the reasons: they come with visual directions most kids can understand, open the door to creativity, teach kids problem-solving skills and persistence, develop fine motor skills, and can be enjoyed by all ages!
History of LEGO Day
International LEGO Day marks the same day that Godtfred Kirk Christiansen, a Danish carpenter, first submitted his patent for the original LEGO brick in 1958. Like no other brick that had come before this toy brick would have a sophisticated interlocking brick system, making it strong, versatile, and less likely to fall apart when simply knocked over. Although this day is often seen as the birthplace of LEGO as we know it, the company itself was in fact founded by Godtfred in 1932, creating a variety of wooden toys, and taking the name LEGO from the Danish words “LEg GOdt” which translate to “play well”. (International Lego Day (January 28th)
Using LEGO to Support Therapy Goals
Feeding Therapy
In feeding treatment, we take inspiration from LEGO and use brick-shaped foods like carrot sticks, graham crackers, or bread squares to build whatever strikes the imagination. This helps children who have difficulty with the skills needed for feeding to advance to touching and sometimes even smelling new foods.
Speech Therapy
LEGO bricks are excellent for practicing following directions with and without visuals. They help our rigid thinkers improve their flexible thinking and/or problem-solving skills when a needed piece is missing. They also provide a fun reinforcer for articulation (the formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech) practice.
Using LEGO bricks to build with others and create new stories and possibilities helps children engage in dramatic play and build their social skills. When collaboratively building, children can practice effectively communicating with others, further reinforcing speech and language.
Occupational Therapy
LEGO bricks are the perfect toy for fine motor skills! “Playing with LEGO is known to have amazing benefits for the development of fine motor skills, developing dexterity and strength in the fingers. The different amounts of pressure used to assemble the LEGO pieces, is a wonderful exercise for small fingers, supporting children in being able to hold a pencil and control the pressure applied when writing.” (10 Incredible Benefits of Playing with Lego®) In a society where many children are often experts at swiping on screens, having the opportunity to develop those fine motor skills is hugely important.
Ten Fun Ideas To Try At Home
10 Lego Crafts and Activities for International Lego Day - Artsy Craftsy Mom
Block Patterning with Legos for Preschoolers - Hands On As We Grow®
Sort Colors & Get Moving With a Play Tunnel - Hands On As We Grow®
20 Simple Projects for Beginning LEGO Builders - Frugal Fun For Boys and Girls
For more fun information about the modern history of LEGO, check out this article: Lego Is the Perfect Toy -- Science of Us.
