The Power of “Loose Parts Play”

Did you know there is a theory about “loose parts play”?

First proposed by architect Simon Nicholson in the 1970’s, the theory of loose parts play has begun to influence early childhood educators and the people who design play spaces for children quite significantly.

Nicholson believed that it is the ‘loose parts’ in our environment that will empower our creativity.

So, what are “loose parts”?

In an early childhood environment, loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways.

They are open ended materials with no specific set of directions that can be used alone or combined with other materials and they can be both natural or synthetic.

Examples (must be developmentally appropriate) may be material, tubes, pebbles, leaves, empty containers and boxes, seed pods, pine cones, cylinders, buttons, glass beads, sticks, sand/ dirt, PVC pipes, plastic animals/ people, flowers, tree cookies, planks, rope, ribbon/ string, CDs, bottle tops, bark, pegs, nuts & bolts,  cotton wool buds, paddle pop sticks, plastic bottles, tyres, crates, plastic plant pots, plastic cups, tiles, old pots/pans/wooden bowls…. the list is never ending!

Shops to visit: Bunnings, Spotlight, Reject Shop and of course your recycling and  back yard!

Reasons we should explore loose parts;

It supports creativity

By allowing children to design and re-create, change and evolve their work supports individual creativity in both 2D and 3D formations. It allows their play to change and adapt to new materials and ideas.

It supports engagement

We only ever truly engage in an experience that supports our learning style, our needs as well as challenges our current thinking and abilities. Loose parts play supports all learning styles, it allows children to work at their own pace and with materials they find intriguing as well as challenging.

It supports perspective

Loose parts play enables children to think and create from their perspective. Resources are open ended and flexible in their use and purpose hence children can freely explore their ideas, thinking and mental imagery in their own way

It supports collaboration

This play enables children to work together collaboratively, building, designing, planning, RE-designing and of course negotiating! Due to the nature of this play children will be observed articulating their ideas, problem-solving new ways to design as well as test each others suggestions.

For more ideas take  a look at my developing Pinterest Board: https://au.pinterest.com/kirstyfantini/loose-parts-play/

For information on any of my Courses: CHC30113 Certificate III in ECEC and CHC50113 Diploma of ECEC, my Professional Development and Consultancy Services please email  http://kirsty@earlyyearstraining.com.au