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
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey
Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.