PUPILS at an after school club in Limerick now have LEGO for homework, funded by Limerick City and County Council’s Regeneration Project.
by William Cahir Whelan
Southill Afterschool has developed a novel approach to homework with their own Lego BRICKX club.
Twelve adult leaders undertook two days training to become LEGO play leaders, which includes learning how to develop LEGO play and LEGO building competitions among staff and children.
Leaders have also learned about activities focused on special needs including play for children with autism.
BRICKX clubs help children explore creativity, problem-solving and mathematical thinking. Group leaders were also interested in how much co-operative play the children got involved in.
LEGO for play and creativity is a great way to introduce team building to the children with tower building contests where they need to work as a group.
It is also a great way to encourage and develop fine motor skills in the younger children, while the group for smaller children now has new Duplo sets to develop their skills.
Childcare Worker Niamh Galligan explained that some of the leaders are undertaking training as part of their community employment schemes and this is an important step in developing employment skills for the childcare sector.
“As we are the first BRICKX Club in Limerick, it will give them a unique selling point on their CVs,” she added.
Maria Donoghue, Programme Manager for the Regeneration project with Limerick City and County Council said that the BRICKX Club is an ideal example of how regeneration funding can support the local community.
“It develops people’s skills, which in turn are used to help the youngest groups in the community. Education is a crucial element to improve standards of living and ability to access opportunities. I’m very happy that Regeneration is helping young children as they begin their education journey and those who are older to upskill. And it’s fun!”
