Loose Parts Play
Hello everyone, we hope you all had a wonderful Mothers Day weekend! It's been a bit since the last post but we're back now.
Jumping into today's topic, loose part play is a simple yet effective way to support children's divergent thinking, problem solving and sense of wonder. As materials with no specific set of directions they can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways.
First all you need to do is gather some materials. We have listed just some items and where you may find them.
Recycling bin
bottle caps
straws
empty containers/bottles
cardboard boxes or scraps
corks
paper scraps
soda tabs
cans (make sure there are no sharp edges)
Kitchen
cupcake liner
bowls, containers, and baking tins
spoons, forks, potato mashers, hand mixers, scoops
funnels
Outside
rocks/lake glass in various sizes, shapes and textures
sticks, bark
leaves
fresh and dried flowers
pine cones
pods, acorns, chestnuts
dirt
sand
Inside your bathroom or bedroom
hair elastics
jewelry
scarfs
lego
marbles
toy blocks and ramps
mirror
picture frames
Inside your tool kits, garage, or local hardware store
washers
nuts and bolts
wire
PVC piping
paint samples
wood scraps
ceramic tiles
dowels
Inside your craft box or at the local dollar store
beads
buttons
feathers
string, yarn, embroidery thread,twine, rope
glass stones
felt
fabric remnants
When gathering your materials you can include your child in the process. During that time you can ask them what they want to do with the materials and follow their lead. Loose parts are easy to incorporate into imaginative play, artistic play, constriction play, sensory play, or outdoors play.
Here are just a couple set up ideas just in case you need some inspiration.
http://littleworldsbigadventures.com/loose-parts-play-at-home/