Little Bricks Of Insight
Welcome to the blog for Bright Minds, Calm Hearts, Mindful Learning, a space where connection, curiosity, and compassion meet. Here you’ll find insights, strategies, and reflections on child development, emotional regulation, and inclusive therapeutic approaches like LEGO® Brick Play Therapy.
Whether you’re a parent, teacher, SENCO, or practitioner, this space is for you. Our aim is to gently support the grown-ups who care for children navigating big feelings, unique learning journeys, and the complexities of neurodivergence. We share resources that honour the child’s nervous system, champion trauma-informed care, and promote playful, mindful learning.
Let build understanding one brick, one breath, one moment at a time.
How Schools Can Integrate Lego® Therapy Into Their SEN Offer
Unlocking Connection, Communication, and Confidence through Play.
In today’s educational climate, schools are searching for evidence-informed, engaging, and inclusive interventions that meet the complex needs of children with SEND. One quietly powerful tool is LEGO® Brick Play Therapy, a structured, playful approach that offers far more than fun and creativity.
Supporting children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) requires creativity, flexibility, and approaches that truly engage young minds. One method gaining momentum in both therapeutic and educational settings is LEGO®-based Play Therapy. More than just building bricks, LEGO® can become a powerful tool for communication, emotional regulation, and social development. For schools, integrating LEGO® therapy into their SEN offer can enrich the support available to pupils and complement existing provision.
What is LEGO® Play Therapy?
LEGO® Play Therapy is a structured intervention that uses LEGO® bricks to support children in developing skills such as:
• Communication – through turn-taking, giving and following instructions, and collaborative problem-solving.
• Emotional regulation – by providing a calming, creative outlet for expression.
• Social interaction – encouraging teamwork, role allocation, and shared success.
• Cognitive skills – such as sequencing, planning, and attention to detail.
It is especially beneficial for children with autism, ADHD, SEMH (social, emotional and mental health needs), speech and language difficulties, and anxiety, though many children thrive through this approach.
Why Schools Should Consider LEGO® Play Therapy
Schools are increasingly tasked with providing inclusive, engaging interventions within their SEN provision. LEGO® therapy is:
• Evidence-based: Research shows it improves social competence and communication skills.
• Accessible: Children of varying abilities can engage, regardless of literacy or language level.
• Engaging: LEGO® is familiar, non-threatening, and fun, lowering barriers to participation.
• Scalable: Sessions can be delivered in small groups, making it cost-effective for schools.
Practical Steps for Schools to Integrate LEGO® Play Therapy
1. Creating Safe Spaces
Designate a calm and quiet environment for sessions, away from the busy classroom. This helps children feel secure and able to focus.
2. Embedding Into SEN Plans
LEGO® Play Therapy can be linked to EHCP targets or SEN Support outcomes. For example, if a child’s target is to improve turn-taking, or expressive language, LEGO® sessions can directly evidence progress.
3. Offering Group Sessions
Run small groups (ideally 3–4 children) where each child takes a role, such as Builder, Supplier, and Engineer. This promotes turn-taking, team work building, emotional regulation and interdependence.
4. Measuring Progress
Schools can monitor outcomes through observation, teacher feedback, and pupil self-reflection. Progress can be mapped against social, emotional, and communication targets.
5. Integrating With Wider Provision
LEGO® sessions can complement:
• Speech and Language therapy
• Social skills groups
• Nurture provision
• SEMH interventions
Case Example
A primary school introducing LEGO® Play Therapy for a group of children with autism and social communication needs found that:
• Children began using more eye contact and reciprocal language.
• Teachers observed improved teamwork in the classroom.
• Parents reported their children were more confident in play and peer interactions outside of school.
Final Thoughts
Integrating LEGO® Play Therapy into a school’s SEN offer is more than a creative add-on—it can be a transformative, child-centred approach. By combining fun with therapeutic structure, schools can help children build not only models, but also confidence, resilience, and relationships.
For schools, LEGO® Play Therapy provides a powerful, playful pathway to inclusion and resilience building.
Creating Supportive Creative Environments
Guidance for teachers to adopt practical, sensitive strategies.
At BrightMindsCalmHeartsMindfulLearning, we believe in creating supportive environments for all children, recognising the impact of trauma on learning and behaviour. Learn how to implement trauma-informed practices in your classroom.
Creating Supportive Creative Environments.
At Bright Minds, Calm Hearts, Mindful Learning, we believe every child deserves a supportive, nurturing environment where they feel safe, valued, and able to thrive. Many children come into school carrying the invisible weight of trauma or adversity, and without understanding its impact, their behaviour and learning can easily be misunderstood.
By embedding trauma-informed practices into the classroom, teachers can help create environments where children feel secure enough to learn, explore, and succeed.
Understanding the Impact of Trauma on Learning
Trauma affects the brain and body in ways that can make learning and relationships more challenging. Children who have experienced trauma may:
• Find it hard to regulate emotions and behaviour.
• Struggle with focus, memory, or problem-solving.
• Appear withdrawn, anxious, or easily triggered.
• Display behaviour that looks “defiant” but is actually a stress response.
A trauma-informed approach recognises these responses not as defiance, but as signals that a child’s nervous system is in survival mode.
Practical Trauma-Informed Strategies for the Classroom
1. Prioritise Safety and Predictability
• Establish consistent routines and clear boundaries.
• Use visual timetables, gentle transitions, and advance warnings for changes.
• Ensure the classroom is physically calm, with quiet zones or sensory corners available.
2. Build Relationships Before Learning
• Greet each child by name each morning to foster belonging.
• Notice and acknowledge positive behaviours, no matter how small.
• Show genuine curiosity and empathy—relationships are the foundation of resilience.
3. Shift the Lens From “What’s Wrong?” to “What’s Happened?”
• When behaviour challenges arise, pause and reflect: is this a trauma response?
• Offer regulation strategies (deep breathing, movement breaks) rather than immediate consequences.
• Maintain connection even when setting boundaries: “I can see you’re upset. I’m here to help you.”
4. Integrate Creative, Regulating Activities
• Use play, music, art, and storytelling to help children express emotions safely.
• Incorporate mindfulness, yoga stretches, or short calming rituals into the day.
• Offer sensory tools—stress balls, fidget toys, or quiet crafts—to support regulation.
5. Collaborate With Parents and Support Staff
• Share trauma-sensitive strategies across staff for consistency.
• Communicate openly with families, building trust and mutual understanding.
• Work with SENCOs, therapists, and pastoral teams to ensure a joined-up approach.
The Role of the Teacher as a Co-Regulator
Children often need an adult’s calm presence to regulate their own nervous system. By modelling patience, empathy, and emotional regulation, teachers become powerful guides. This doesn’t mean being perfect—it means being consistent, compassionate, and reflective.
Final Thoughts
Creating a supportive, creative environment is not an “extra”, it’s a foundation for learning. Trauma-informed practice helps teachers move beyond behaviour management towards understanding, healing, and growth.
At Bright Minds, Calm Hearts, Mindful Learning, we believe that when teachers adopt practical, sensitive strategies, they don’t just improve classroom behaviour they help children reclaim their sense of safety, curiosity, and joy in learning.
Mindful Practices for the Classroom and Home
1. Breathing Exercises
• Balloon Breath: Ask the child to imagine blowing up a balloon in their tummy as they inhale, and slowly let the air out as they exhale.
• Five Finger Breathing: Trace each finger while breathing in and out—helpful as a portable, calming tool.
2. Movement and Mind-Body Connection
• Short stretches or yoga poses between tasks help children regulate energy.
• “Shake it out” breaks allow children with ADHD to release restlessness before re-focusing.
3. Sensory Grounding
• Use the “5-4-3-2-1” strategy: name five things you see, four you feel, three you hear, two you smell, one you taste.
• Sensory tools (fidget toys, stress balls, putty) can channel energy and provide comfort.
4. Mindful Moments in Learning
• Begin the day with one minute of quiet breathing or gentle music.
• Invite children to notice colours, textures, or sounds during art, nature walks, or reading time.
5. Gratitude and Reflection
• A simple daily practice, such as writing or drawing one thing they are grateful for, shifts focus from anxiety to positivity.
• Reflection journals help children notice patterns in their emotions and successes.
Practical Routines That Support Success
Consistency is key. Mindful practices work best when embedded into daily routines rather than treated as one-off activities. Examples include:
• Morning “check-in” circles to set a calm tone for the day.
• Midday “reset breaks” for breathing or movement.
• Evening reflection time to let go of the day and prepare for restful sleep.
The Bigger Picture
Mindfulness does not replace therapeutic or medical support for children with anxiety or ADHD, but it can be a powerful complement. When children learn to pause, notice, and respond rather than react, they begin to feel more in control of their experiences.
Teachers and parents who adopt mindful practices also benefit, creating calmer, more compassionate environments where children and young people feel understood and supported.
Final Thoughts
Mindful practices are simple, flexible, and child-friendly. For children living with anxiety or ADHD, they are more than calming techniques, they are lifelong tools for resilience, focus, and emotional wellbeing.
At Bright Minds, Calm Hearts, Mindful Learning, we integrate mindfulness into our therapeutic work because we believe every child can learn to find stillness and strength within themselves. By nurturing these skills early, we empower children to flourish both in school and in life.
Discover how mindful practices can significantly benefit children experiencing anxiety or ADHD. We offer practical tools and routines that complement our therapeutic work, empowering children to manage their emotions and improve focus. Explore our insights and guidance.
Discover lego® brick play therapy
Explore the unique approach of LEGO® Brick Play Therapy at BrightMindsCalmHeartsMindfulLearning. Contact us to learn how this innovative therapy can help children unlock their potential, improve social skills, and build confidence through playful learning.