Special Presentation Workshop:
Stacking, Structures, and Storying:
Building play skills using LEGO® Bricks, Blocks & Ordinary Materials in Play Therapy
Presenters: Dr. MaryAnne Peabody, Ed.D., LCSW, RPT-S and Dr. Karen Stagnitti, PdD.
Date: Friday October 23rd 2026, 9am – 4:30 pm
Location: Canmore Nordic Centre OR Live Online
This workshop builds on children’s natural love for construction by focusing on the therapeutic benefits of building with materials like LEGO® bricks, blocks, and everyday ordinary items. Through stacking, building structures, and storytelling, children ignite their creativity and expand their therapeutic experience
- hands-on experiences in using different materials
to construct, create, and deconstruct structures, blending cognitive, physical, and emotional processes as we bring these concepts to life. - explore essential skills developed in construction play: planning, mastery, frustration tolerance, perseverance, convergent and divergent problem-solving, impulse control, and self-confidence.
- reflect on applying these materials and concepts to their professional growth in play therapy and ongoing self-improvement.
Learning objectives: Following the one-day workshop, participants will be able to:
- List the components of the play skills framework/typology.
- Name three therapeutic powers of play that construction play can activate.
- List three skills that 3 different materials (LEGO bricks, blocks, and ordinary materials) all have in common that promote positive growth during play therapy.
- List two differences, limitations, or sensitivities that a practitioner needs to consider in choosing construction materials as a playroom choice.
- Describe an example of how building materials can support symbolic/metaphoric expression through storytelling.
- Describe two examples of how children might communicate themes, emotions, or relational patterns during constructive play.
- List one area of professional awareness to explore in your own play therapy educational journey.
Mary Anne Peabody
Mary Anne Peabody, Ed.D., LCSW, RPT-S™, is a Professor at the University of Southern Maine, USA. She teaches undergraduate courses on play and child development, as well as graduate courses in play therapy. She has a clinical career conducting play therapy in a variety of settings, including private practice, elementary schools, pediatric hospitals, and non-profits. Dr. Peabody has been actively involved with the Association for Play Therapy across her entire career, serving as a past Director of the Board, on numerous committees, and receiving the 2019 APT award for Outstanding Service. She currently chairs the APT Foundation Board and is on her second term on the editorial advisory board for the International Journal of Play Therapy. She is also a member of the International Consortium of Play Therapy Associations. She presents internationally on topics such as play pedagogy in higher education, play therapy supervision, and Seriously Therapeutic Play (STP) using LEGO®. Dr. Peabody has authored or co-authored numerous book chapters and journal articles on play therapy and play therapy supervision. Most recently, Dr. Peabody co-authored the book “Serious Therapeutic Play with LEGO®” with Kristen Klassen and Alec Hamilton, and she is working on a new book, “Playfulness in Play Therapy,” scheduled for release in the upcoming year. She enjoys incorporating play into her teaching practices and educating, training, and supervising others to promote high-quality play therapists.
Karen Stagnitti
Dr. Karen Stagnitti, PdD is an Emeritus Professor in the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University, Australia. Her previous position was Professor, Personal Chair at the School of Health and Social Development at Deakin University, Victoria, Australia. Her area of research is children’s play. She graduated with a Bachelor degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland. In 2003 she was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy from LaTrobe University, Australia. For 25 years she worked in early childhood intervention programs in community-based or specialist settings as part of a specialist paediatric multidisciplinary team. For 26 years she has worked in universities as a researcher and teaching academic. At Deakin University she also ran a research lab on Learn to Play Therapy seeing families and children.
Karen has over 120 national and international papers published as well as 36 book chapters, 9 books, and 4 play assessments. Her norm referenced standardized play assessment, the Child-Initiated Pretend Play Assessment was revised in 2024. Throughout the year, she is invited to present her work on the play ability of children nationally and internationally.
Register for this one day workshop, Friday, October 23, 2026
$395. CAD + GST