Lessons learnt about implementing LEGO based therapy (Play Brick Therapy) based on fidelity data and experience from a large school-based randomised controlled trial

LEGO® based therapy was delivered with high fidelity in a large school trial, but there were areas for improvement, such as facilitator training and focus on social interaction for and between children. The authors suggest that facilitators may have been more focused on completing LEGO® builds than on facilitating meaningful social interaction and play between children. Three hours of training may not have been enough to prepare facilitators for their role. The study also did not capture young people's experience of the program, which is important for understanding its effectiveness and impact. Future research should explore how to better measure these aspects and develop a stronger theory of how LEGO® based therapy works.

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Publication Details

Journal
PLoS ONE
Published
2026-02-04
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336952
Primary Topic
Child Therapy and Development
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Lessons learnt about implementing LEGO based therapy (Play Brick Therapy) based on fidelity data and experience from a large school-based randomised controlled trial

Elizabeth Coates, Fergus Murray, Gina Gómez de la Cuesta, Margaret Laurie et al.
PLoS ONE
Child Therapy and Development
article

Lessons learnt about implementing LEGO based therapy (Play Brick Therapy) based on fidelity data and experience from a large school-based randomised controlled trial

Elizabeth Coates, Fergus Murray, Gina Gómez de la Cuesta, Margaret Laurie, Amy Barr, Katie Biggs, Matt Bursnall, Jean McPherson, Ellen Kingsley
article en

Abstract

LEGO® based therapy was delivered with high fidelity in a large school trial, but there were areas for improvement, such as facilitator training and focus on social interaction for and between children. The authors suggest that facilitators may have been more focused on completing LEGO® builds than on facilitating meaningful social interaction and play between children. Three hours of training may not have been enough to prepare facilitators for their role. The study also did not capture young people's experience of the program, which is important for understanding its effectiveness and impact. Future research should explore how to better measure these aspects and develop a stronger theory of how LEGO® based therapy works.

PLoS ONEVol. 21(2)
Royal Society of Edinburgh (GB), University of Cambridge (GB), Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (GB), The National Autistic Society (GB), Cambridge Mechatronics (United Kingdom) (GB), University of Sheffield (GB)
Quality Education
Openalex Percentile: Top 68%
Child Therapy and Development
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