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It is well known that there is a significant connection between open-ended exploration and hands-on experiences in early learning settings. Loose parts offer one way for early childhood educators to facilitate young children using their imagination and creating their own play within intentionally designed learning spaces.
This week, spend a minute on loose parts. |
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1. Understanding loose parts
Loose parts are equipment that can be moved around, combined in different ways or taken apart and put back together again by children through their own initiative. They are materials drawn from the real world, including natural materials. They can include boxes, sheets, buckets, rocks, hay bales, wooden planks, bamboo poles, tyre tubes, pallets—almost anything at all. Loose parts can be used for children of all ages and depending on the age group, smaller or larger materials (including recycled and natural materials) can be added to your collections. They help foster a child’s sense of empowerment and independence and also help develop problem-solving skills, creativity and resilience. Learn more about loose parts play from our new Learning Hub course, Engineering creativity: Celebrating loose parts play for all ages.
For a list of ideas to get you started with your own loose parts curriculum development, see Loose parts in the learning environment by Penny Groen on the Modern Teaching blog. Play Scotland has also developed a toolkit with loose parts ideas and practical guidance for getting started.
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2. Why are loose parts important
They help foster a child’s sense of empowerment and independence as they can be moved and manipulated by the children themselves. As loose parts are open-ended they can be used to encourage problem-solving in both solitary and group play. They allow children to use their imagination and be creative in expressing themselves. Loose parts create opportunities for developing complex communication and conflict-resolution skills too. The benefits of loose parts play are endless. Read more in The power of loose parts play, from the South Australian Department of Education and Nature Play SA.
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3. Loose parts and risky play
Loose parts allow children to take adult-supported risks in their play and teach them problem-solving skills and build resilience in safe, supported ways. Children can develop and extend their knowledge and communication skills by being part of reflective conversations in the verbal risk assessment process as part of their play. They learn to assess their own level of risk and learn to communicate their needs with others. Risky play with loose parts has many benefits but educators need to ensure they have assessed the risks of specific parts before introducing them to children.
For more on this, read Risk in loose parts play (and how to assess it) by Martin Williams on the Early Impact Learning blog. For a more in-depth resource, see ECA’s Everyday Learning Series title, Risky play and the outdoors.
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4. Loose parts and heuristic play for our youngest children
Heuristic play describes the activity of babies and children as they play with and explore the properties of objects. Loose parts can be used by children of all ages, even babies. We’ve all seen even very young children who are fascinated by items they can grasp or that have texture. Loose parts play includes sensory items and allows very young children to explore their world through their five senses.
Moveable parts give freedom of movement and offer deeper exploration of indoor and outdoor environments, opportunities for repetitive play and the development of schema play. Using loose parts allows educators to view babies as competent and capable young learners—people who are inquisitive and able to take ownership of the learning which supports their early brain development. The Early Years Learning Framework highlights the importance of play for all children, and notes that babies can use age-appropriate loose parts to stimulate their senses.
More information on heuristic play for babies and young toddlers, from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, is available here.
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5. Loose parts bring children together
Many children of different ages and stages of development enjoy using loose parts to create imaginary worlds or spaces to retreat to, with the opportunity to draw others into the creative process. Children can create their own settings for dramatic play and learn how to work together to move materials, which invites inquiry, design, ordering and patterning. Loose parts provide opportunities for children to appreciate beauty, participate in dramatic and representational play and gain an appreciation for sustainability and repurposing, recycling and upcycling.
Loose parts: Inspiring play in young children by Daly and Beloglovsky is a great resource for those wanting to explore loose parts in depth. |
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