Engineers, Builders, Architects, Designers all in the making!
We have a whole section of our playground dedicated to Loose Parts – this is where the magic happens!
Using Loose Parts to plan, design, create and construct gives our children the opportunity to…
- Problem Solve
- Make a design idea become a reality
- Plan
- Perseverance
- Team-Work
- Lateral Thinking
‘When children interact with loose parts, they enter a world of, “What if?” that promotes the type of thinking that leads to problem solving and theoretical reasoning. Loose parts enhance children’s ability to think imaginatively and see solutions, and they bring a sense of adventure and excitement to children’s play.’
(Daly and Beloglovsky, 2015)
Loose Parts play is a type of play that supports invention, divergent thinking and problem solving and also offers a sense of wonder to children. The materials can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. The materials have no accompanying specific set of directions and can be used alone or combined with other materials.
Loose Parts create richer environments for children to play, giving them the resources they need to extend and enrich their play. Loose Parts aren’t prescriptive and offer limitless possibilities. A stick, for example, may become a guitar near an imaginary stage or a stage that has been constructed from loose parts. An old bucket can be turned into a seat or used as a cooking appliance in our camp kitchen or a pipe might be used to create an underground tunnel to another country. All our loose parts are treasure to us and they create endless possibilities.