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 Serial sexual offender linked to unsolved 1970s homicides of four Calgary girls, women
An investigation into unsolved historical homicides from the 1970s has linked the deaths of two girls and two young women in and around Calgary to a now-deceased serial offender.
Woman with liver failure rejected for a transplant after medical review highlights alcohol use
For nearly three months, Amanda Huska has been in an Ontario hospital, part of it on life support, because of severe liver failure. Her history of alcohol use is getting in the way of her only potential treatment: a liver transplant.
Video appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs beating singer Cassie in hotel hallway in 2016
Security video aired by CNN appears to show Sean 'Diddy' Combs physically assaulting singer Cassie in a Los Angeles hotel hallway in 2016.
Scottie Scheffler isn't the first pro golfer to be arrested during a tournament
Scottie Scheffler's arrest hours before his second-round tee time at the PGA Championship in Louisville, Kentucky, will go down as one of the most shocking in professional golf history. It certainly wasn't the first, though.
B.C. man 'attacked suddenly' by adult grizzly near Alberta border: RCMP
A B.C. man is recovering from multiple injuries after he was "attacked suddenly" by an adult grizzly bear near Elkford Thursday afternoon.
Anglers reel in 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off coast of Florida: 'She found my bait'
A group of fishers said it took roughly 20 minutes to reel in this 3.5-metre-long tiger shark off the coast of Florida.
Canadian convicted of attacking Nancy Pelosi's husband with a hammer sentenced to 30 years
The man convicted of attempting to kidnap then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and attacking her husband with a hammer was sentenced Friday to 30 years in prison.
NEW What a wildfire survivor says she regrets not grabbing before leaving home
Carol Christian had 15 minutes to evacuate her home during the Fort McMurray wildfires in 2016. She ended up losing the house and everything inside. Now, she wants to share the lessons she learned.
World No. 1 golfer charged with police officer assault before PGA Championship second round
World number one golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and charged with the assault of a police officer in what he called a 'chaotic situation' before being released in time to start his second round at the PGA Championship on Friday.