"LOOSE PARTS"

Why Loose Parts?

There are so many games and toys out there that claim to be developmentally appropriate and designed to help children learn xyz so why bother with a box full of found objects? Because each loose part in that box:

*Promotes active learning as the child grabs, builds with, and moves it

*Deepens critical thinking as they problem solve, make connections, and form relationships between items and what they can make them do

*Supports developmental domains including physical, social-emotional, and cognitive

*Is developmentally inclusive as each child uses the item in ways that fits their needs and interests

*Promotes a wide range of play limited only by each child’s imagination and inquisitiveness

*Supports the curriculum including math, science, language, art, music, and so much more

“...teaching is the urgency of exploring the untapped potential for expression and learning that all healthy children bring with them to school. Clearly our knowledge of childrenʼs capabilities is limited not by a lack of effort in studying them, but rather a limited vision of what we study, how we go about it, and in what terms it is discussed.””

Loose parts

is a wonderful term coined by architect Simon Nicholson, who carefully considered landscapes and environments that form connections. Nicholson believed that we are all creative and that “loose parts” in an environment will empower our creativity.

Loose parts celebrate all learning styles and can influence ALL areas of learning.  They inspire learning, creativity, wonder and curiosity, are gender neutral, and most often FREE!