Benefits of Loose Parts Play

What’s loose parts play and why will it benefit my child?

Have you heard educators talking about loose parts play recently? It seems to be having a moment in the early childhood education field. But at Bright Beginnings we have been encouraging loose parts play for years. You’re probably wondering what is loose parts play and how will it benefits my child? Read on to find out!

Loose parts play is a type of play that supports problem solving, invention, creative thinking, imaginative play and divergent thinking. And it’s exactly what you think loose parts play might be- loose parts! They are materials in which you can move, build, redesign, line up and invent what you want with them! The main principle is this: loose parts are materials that have no specific set of instructions and no right or wrong way of using them. A loose parts learning environment helps children build a knowledge of how things are before they are complete. For example: how does my house stand up? How is it possible that a bridge can expand as far as over an entire river or bay? Or, how are patterns made? These are all questions that promote problem solving, prompting children to think outside the box!

Loose parts play can be used with pretty much ANY loose parts. Here are some ideas to give you with how broad loose party play can be!

Examples of loose parts play materials in a few different environments:

Natural Environment:

• Water
• Sand, dirt
• Sticks, branches
• Logs, driftwood
• Grasses, moss
• Leaves, flowers
• Pinecones, pine needles
• Seeds
• Shells
• Bark
• Feathers
• Boulders
• Rocks, pebbles, stones
  

Playground Environment:

• Balls, hoops, jump ropes, tires
• Sand, water, dirt, straw
• Boulders • rocks • stones • pebbles
• Buckets, cups, containers
• Digging tools
• Chalk
• Ribbons, fabric

Indoor Environment:

• Blocks, building materials
• Manipulatives
• Measuring, Pouring devices (cups, spoons, buckets, funnels)
• Dramatic play props
• Play cars, animals, and people
• Blankets, materials, floor samples
• Water, sand
• Sensory materials
• Recycled materials (paper tubes, papers, ribbons, caps, lids, wood, foam, cardboard)
• Plastic gutters
• Art materials (buttons, spools, popsicle sticks, beads, straws, paints, brushes)

Benefits of loose parts play can include:

• Children develop skills to learn individually and within a group setting
• Promotes abstract thinking
• Encourages problem solving abilities
• Creates environment for social interaction with other children
• Provides a safe space for experimentation and environment for wonder
• Creates space for new experiences- over and over again!