Free Play with Loose Parts 1 – Inspiring Play for Children

A: Loose parts as interesting objects and resources which children can move, manipulate, control and change as they play. The term ‘loose parts’ was created by British architect, Simon Nicolson in 1971.

A：They allow children to use the different materials in any combination of ways.   Bottle tops, small rocks, wooden pegs, corks, old keys, pine cones can allow children to lay out and coordinate the items to create something new, allowing children to imagine a new character, or a different ingredient for a recipe. 

A：When selecting loose parts for children, they should be interesting and draw children towards them as something they want to play with.   Loose parts are things which can be ordered, sorted or reordered at a child’s will, how ever a child imagines the items should be used in their play.

A：Variable items, such as gravity, sound, chemical reactions, concepts, words and people, all of which can also be considered as loose parts.  When a setting is rich in various loose parts, children have numerous ways to make changes, allowing them to think differently, process information for themselves and play with materials in an open ended manner.

A：The value of loose parts lies in the richness of possibilities provided, allowing children infinite combinations for play.  Children are self motivated to play and learn, and have the choice over what they play with and how they play with them.

A：Loose parts allow children to develop their critical thinking as they investigate materials on offer, formatate their own theories on the items and ask questions as they challenge their own assumptions on the resources on offer.  They also support children’s divergent and creative thinking with the open endedness provided – there are opportunities for problem solving using interesting things.

A: Gross motor skills are developed as children step or jump from one rock to another, or fine motor skills are enhanced as they pick up shells or sticks.

A: At home you can collect empty egg or tissue boxes, plastic bottles, or even fruit or vegetable containers can provide for children with the addition of a little water or leaves – allow the children to do the work, and see what they will do!