How a tiny 100-resident village in Alicante is using LEGO to fight screen addiction in children

A small village in the interior of Alicante is taking an interesting approach to combating screen addiction in children: Fageca, a mountain village with only 100 residents, recently held a workshop for local children that involved using LEGO building block toys as a therapeutic and social tool.

Building real connections away from screens

The workshop, which took place over the weekend of August 15 and 16, brought together children between the ages of 7 and 12 at the local Casa de Cultura. There, the children participated in talks about the responsible use of technology and a variety of healthy lifestyle habits. Additionally, the children built their own models with LEGO pieces to represent ideas, emotions, and situations.

The science behind physical play and retention

The science lies in the manipulation of physical materials rather than words and images on screens. The children can better solidify concepts in their minds through association with tangible objects, improving both their understanding and their retention of the messages.

The initiative, under the name LEGO Serious Play workshops, was made possible by funding through the Alicante Provincial Council, and it is far from the first LEGO-based event in the province. Earlier this year, in April, the University of Alicante hosted the First LEGO League, another event based around the iconic toys that brought together participants of all ages, but especially children.

Expanding LEGO workshops across the region

Even in a village as small as Fageca, the impact of these mentally stimulating workshops is clear. Larger towns and cities in the province of Alicante could soon implement LEGO-based workshops, particularly for children and the elderly, who can work with the colourful bricks to foster cognitive stimulation, improve fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination, and socialise with other residents.

A small village making a big change

All in all, the workshop in the village of Fageca was a success, turning simple plastic bricks into powerful tools for mental agility and human connection. This 100-resident village has demonstrated how innovation in rural healthcare often lies in thinking outside the box, and offers an inspiring model for local communities across the Costa Blanca, proving that with a little imagination, even the smallest towns can build something truly special.