Building with bits and bobs!
The idea of ‘loose parts’ has influenced child play experts and has allowed us to explore different ways children learn. Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, lined up, taken apart and put back together in multiple ways!
Loose parts in the environment will empower the creativity and imagination of your child and extend their vocabulary. Opportunities to explore with loose parts encourage conversation, and help with communication and negotiation skills.
It also influences open ended-learning where your child can invent, construct, evaluate and modify their own ideas through play.
Ideas for items:
- Stones/pebbles
- Sand
- Soil
- Shells
- Leaves
- Sticks/twigs
- Pine cones
- Corks
- Velcro hair rollers
- Dried cereal/pasta/rice/beans
- Tyres
Top tips:
- Have loose parts available in your child’s play space: this allows your child to use the materials as and when they choose to
- Explore the loose parts with your child: join them on their learning, follow their lead and comment on what they are doing – this will not only build your child’s confidence to explore, but you will also be developing their language and communication skills
- Encourage engagement of loose parts when out and about: this supports your child to reflect on the world around them and sparks conversation based on their interests
- Smaller loose parts: you can gather these together in small baskets for your child to explore
- Bigger loose parts: these can be explored outside and when visiting places such as the beach, park, or woods
- Please note: it is important to make sure that you child is playing with loose parts that are appropriate for their age and behaviour – young children tend to put things in their mouth to explore, so some loose parts might be a choking hazard
