Iconic construction toy company LEGO has made a bold claim linking the use of its novelty blocks to positive mental health outcomes for Australians.
The Denmark-based brand has described its product as being just as, if not more, beneficial for adults than children in a statement issued ahead of UK OK? Day.
According to the LEGO Group Well Report 2022, which surveyed 32,781 parents and adults, 78% of adults said that playing with LEGO helped their own well-being, while 76% said it was essential to their happiness.
Nearly 90 percent of those surveyed said that playing with LEGO strengthened their relationship with their children or partner, according to the report.
Additionally, 88 percent of adults thought playing with the building blocks supported their confidence, with 79 percent saying it helped develop their emotional intelligence and 74 percent saying it supported their listening skills.
The LEGO Group has used its blocks as a key helpers in support users to practice mindfulness, having partnered with self-help expert Abbie Hendon to develop helpful practices.
His advice, detailed in his book Build Yourself Happy, encourages users not to use the LEGO manual when they indulge in Mindfulness LEGO set.
“Don’t worry about the end result. At least to begin with, its goal is not to produce something ‘good’ or ‘bad’, but rather to produce a… result… just a result. For this reason, it is best to avoid building from a LEGO manual,” LEGO said in its article on mindfulness.
“Instead, the focus should be on the building process, which can be something to return to whenever you notice your mind wandering.”
Headon said that “sometimes it can be a lot of fun to live without a plan.”
“When you turn off the non-stop feedback from your inner critic, you can enjoy the sheer joy of creation, like the kid you used to be,” he writes.
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