Loose Parts Play

Have you ever noticed that your children find play value in items you would have recycled, thrown away or stashed in a junk drawer?  For example, a collection of plastic shower rings.  To us, these have one purpose.  To a child, these same items provoke many possibilities. 

They can be decorations on an outdoor tree or they can be arranged to make patterns or pictures.  They can also be used as print-makers when painting or imprint makers when playing with playdough.  They also become bracelets for small hands.  The possibilities are endless!  This is the story of loose parts.  They are items that are open-ended, and they inspire play and investigation that enhances development in all areas.  Often these items are in our homes, but many times we are unaware of their value.   

Here are some suggestions of loose parts that may be in your home.  Look around and collect some of these items and offer them to your child to enhance their play.   

• Buttons

• Straws

• Popsicle sticks

• Stones

• Gems

• Toothpicks

• Shells

• Sticks

• Paper towel tubes

• String

• Muffin cups

• Muffin trays

• Wrapping paper

• Pinecones

• Pom poms

• Corks

• Elastics

• Pipe cleaners

• spools

Written by Marg Shannon, RECE, Parent Support Coach