Loose parts are objects that can be used as open-ended learning materials. They are also sometimes called manipulatives or tabletop toys.
These could include natural objects, recycled materials from home or school, or items bought for this purpose.
Let’s explore what this type of play involves, some examples to get you started, and its benefits for children.
What is Loose Parts Play in Early Childhood?
Loose parts play examples include sorting, categorizing, sequencing, counting, stacking, matching, designing and building with any materials or loose parts.
Children move, adapt, rearrange, assemble, and dismantle the materials. The use of loose parts can take place indoors on various surfaces, such as table tops and floors.
Loose parts play outdoors could happen on the ground or at a picnic table. Many of the materials lend themselves nicely to working with sand, water and mud, as well.
Although loose parts play is open-ended, it can still lead to tangible creations, such as sculptures made from a variety of materials.
Natural outdoor materials can be combined with indoor supplies, such as using crayons and paper for leaf rubbings or pressing pinecones into playdough.
48 Loose Parts Play Ideas
While you can buy inexpensive loose parts, keep an eye out for free recyclable objects at school, home, and outdoors.
Keep in mind, of course, that very small pieces are not suitable for toddlers.
Provide materials neatly organised in buckets, boxes, and baskets. Children can be responsible for helping to keep their supplies organized.
Some commonly used loose parts that can be provided alongside other materials include plastic cups, buckets, strainers, and various kitchen utensils.
Additionally, provide a variety of art supplies, including tape, pipe cleaners, and clips for connecting objects.
Loose parts play ideas include the following kinds of objects:
- acorns
- animal figurines
- balls
- beads
- blocks
- bottle caps
- boxes of all sizes
- bubble wrap
- buttons
- canning lids and rings
- cardboard
- clothespins
- corks
- cotton balls
- dominoes
- driftwood, large and small
- egg cartons
- empty plastic containers of all sizes
- fabric swatches
- feathers
- flowers
- foam shapes
- ice cubes (or water frozen in small bags)
- leaves
- Legos
- logs
- marbles
- newspaper
- nuts and bolts
- packing “peanuts”
- pastas
- pegs
- pinecones
- pom poms
- ribbons
- rice
- rings
- rocks/stones
- ropes
- screws
- seeds
- shells (watch for sharp edges)
- spools
- sticks (watch for sharp ends)
- straws
- tiles
- tubes of cardboard
- wrapping papers
What are the Benefits of Loose Parts Play?
Playing with loose parts is a wonderful, educational activity. The main challenge of loose parts play is finding, organising, and storing the materials.
Although this type of play is open-ended, with no particular product goals, explaining rules or guidelines for using the objects safely is very important.
While some children jump straight into play and design, others may hesitate and benefit from watching an adult model different possibilities.
During play, adults have the opportunity not only to observe the kids but also to ask open-ended questions:
- What happened there?
- Why do you think it looks like that?
- What could you try to get a different result?
Here are a few of the developmental advantages of loose parts play:
1. Motivate Kids to Take Risks
As children gain experience with loose parts play, their sense of success can extend to other activities.
They are more apt to take risks during active outdoor play and are also less concerned with doing things “the right way” in other aspects of the day.
2. Offer Practice with Cause & Effect
After toddlerhood, most children understand that pushing a block tower makes it fall—but what about other materials?
Engaging with a variety of objects in loose parts play helps them discover new cause-and-effect relationships.
For example, which pom-pom is easier to throw through the air, one that is dry or another that is wet? Why is that?
3. Increase Confidence & Independence
Too often, children have adults making choices for them, telling them what to do and instructing them how to do it.
With the options that come along with playing with loose parts, they become more independent in that setting, which can then lead to more independence in other areas of their development.
That feeling of independence often leads to increased confidence in their capabilities.
4. Instill Exploration, Imagination, & Creativity
Many kids’ toys come in sets and have a prescribed way in which they are meant to be used. That does not leave much up to the imagination.
Because loose parts play materials are open-ended, children can explore “how things work,” feel free to use their active imaginations, and strive to be as creative as possible.
5. Encourage Theoretical Reasoning & Problem Solving
While exploring with real-world objects, kids can work on concepts for which they are developmentally ready.
They make predictions, experiment, analyse and try again.
They do not need to understand the term ‘gravity’ to realise that some objects move faster down a slide or when thrown.
Where does ice melt more quickly…in the sunshine or under the shade of a tree? Why?
6. Develop Leaders & Cooperation
During loose parts play, kids observe what others are discovering in their own play. They often “assist” each other, and natural leaders sometimes emerge.
Children can become “specialists” in different areas of accomplishment, leaving space for each of them to be “the best” at something.
7. Aid Brain Development & Cognitive Skills
Having the freedom to explore a wide variety of materials offers countless opportunities for higher-level thinking skills.
They can use small loose parts for sorting, counting, categorizing, comparing, sequencing and making patterns.
8. Provide a Calming Influence & Improve Behaviour
These materials often connect children with nature, which can offer a calming effect.
In addition, the act of working with their hands and otherwise using their bodies can help to expend pent-up energy in a positive way.
9. Lead to More Complex Play
Building on the previous play, kids can find out what happens if they tweak this or that. They feel successful from their earlier experiences and confident to try something even more complicated.
There is no “right” or “wrong” result in loose parts play, so they continue to move toward activities that are fun and challenging.
10. Offer Motor Skill Development
By using the small muscles of their hands and the larger muscles in the rest of their bodies, kids gain control over movements and build their strength.
11. Build Communication Skills
Children do not play in isolation. They express themselves verbally and through body language. They ask questions of nearby adults and make up stories about what they observe.
12. Add Adventure & Excitement to Play
Who wants to play with the same things every day? Through loose parts play, children have dozens of new “toys” and experiences at their fingertips. Each day is a new experience.
A material used in one way today can be used for an entirely different purpose the next. Boxes used for a pirate ship today could become a robot tomorrow.
Avoid overwhelming children with too many options at once. Gradually expand your loose parts collection, introducing new materials over time.
At home, children can help identify recyclable materials, while in schools, students and parents can be encouraged to contribute.
