Lego therapy program expands through Yorkton SaskAbilities
Youth in Yorkton can now access a new Lego Therapy program in their community through SaskAbilities.
The new Brick-by-Brick Lego Academy program allows youth between the ages of 6 and 22 to practice collaboration skills in a creative and supportive environment, while also playing with Lego.
“The whole purpose of the Brick-by-Brick Lego Therapy is for individuals to get together,” explained Jamie Neal, mental health supervisor at Partners in Mental Health & Well-Being of SaskAbilities Yorkton Branch.
“We want at least four people working together so there's the teamwork, collaboration, communication skills, and the sharing pieces skills that they’re going to get."
Aside from the program aiming to help youth with their social skills, Neal added it also builds their communicative and problem solving abilities.
“It’s really about following the instructions, being a part of a team, and making friends at the same time,” she added.
Although SaskAbilities Yorkton Branch has been offering Lego therapy for years, they decided to expand their program to a larger audience after having a few facilitators complete the Brick-by-Brick Lego Academy training.
"It (Lego therapy) was originally designed for individuals experiencing autism or diagnosed with autism,” Neal said.
“But they've expanded it because they think there's so much more that it can offer and we want everyone participating."
One young adult, Lexi Hoffman, said the reason she attended SaskAbilities’ open house on Thursday night was because she wanted to try something new.
“This is my first time using (Lego pieces), I wanted to try it out,” she told CTV News.
Hoffman added that playing with the different colored pieces helped her emotional well-being.
“It’s actually really relaxing,” she said smiling.
By using the Lego pieces, Hoffman was able to build a sphinx, explaining it was as fun to destroy as it was to build.
“It reminds me of some of the pictures in Egypt where one of them represents a cat,” Hoffman said, pointing to her new creation.
"Sometimes I personally get angry and I like to make things then break them because it helps with stress."
Although a firm date is not set, the organization plans on starting their Brick-by-Brick group session as soon as they have enough people enrolled.
The cost for the program is $150, which will include six one-hour group sessions for youth.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
WATCH LIVE 'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
World's record-breaking hot temperature streak stretches through April
The world just experienced its hottest April on record, extending an 11-month streak in which every month set a temperature record, the European Union's climate change monitoring service said on Wednesday.