Yes, LEGO® Serious Play® is utilized for serious purposes with children, specifically as an inclusive and diverse approach.
While the LEGO® Serious Play® methodology was originally developed primarily for adults in organizational settings, it is (re)framed for children to achieve important educational and emotional outcomes. This adaptation allows educators and facilitators to engage with children on serious topics in a constructive, play-based manner.
How LEGO Serious Play is Reframed for Kids
The core idea when using LEGO Serious Play with children is to create a safe and expressive environment. This reframing turns the building process and storytelling into a powerful tool for communication and understanding.
Key aspects of this reframed approach include:
- Inclusive and Diverse: It provides a method accessible to children with varying communication styles or comfort levels with verbal expression.
- Addressing Anxiety: The methodology is used to help educators better understand issues that cause pupils anxiety. Building models can help children express feelings or situations they might find difficult to articulate purely with words.
- Bottom-Up Approach: A bottom-up approach is adopted to uncover the 'authentic voice' of the children. This means the process focuses on allowing children to share their own perspectives and experiences through their LEGO creations, rather than imposing adult interpretations.
The Purpose of Using LEGO Serious Play with Children
Using LEGO Serious Play with children isn't just about building; it's about facilitating communication and gaining insights into their world.
Some practical outcomes and insights gained from this approach include:
- Visualizing feelings and challenges through tangible models.
- Sharing personal stories in a non-threatening way.
- Developing problem-solving skills by building solutions or scenarios.
- Improving communication between children and educators/parents.
Through this facilitated play, children can explore complex emotions, discuss difficult situations, and express their opinions, allowing adults to gain a deeper understanding of their needs and concerns. This makes it a truly serious form of play with significant educational and emotional benefits for children.
