Loose Parts
What are Loose Parts?
In a Kindergarten , 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 materials with no specific set of directions that can be used alone or combined with other materials.
Loose parts can be natural or synthetic. In a preschool outdoor environment we can provide an array of loose parts for use in play:
Why Loose Parts?
There are many reasons why play spaces should include a multitude of loose parts, including:
In a Kindergarten , 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 materials with no specific set of directions that can be used alone or combined with other materials.
Loose parts can be natural or synthetic. In a preschool outdoor environment we can provide an array of loose parts for use in play:
- stones,
- stumps,
- sand,
- gravel,
- fabric,
- twigs,
- wood,
- pallets,
- balls,
- buckets,
- baskets,
- crates,
- boxes,
- logs,
- rope,
- tyres,
- shells and
- seedpods.
Why Loose Parts?
There are many reasons why play spaces should include a multitude of loose parts, including:
- Loose parts can be used anyway children choose.
- Loose parts can be adapted and manipulated in many ways.
- Loose parts encourage creativity and imagination.
- Loose parts develop more skill and competence than most modern plastic toys
- Loose parts can be used in many different ways
- Loose parts can be used in combination with other materials to support imagination
- Loose parts encourage open ended learning