You’ve probably seen youngsters who, when a present arrives, are more enthralled with the box than the toy it contains. Their imaginations are becoming unleashed, taking the children to places only they can imagine. Loose parts play environments follow the same principle. There are no instructions to follow and no predetermined outcome like one finds in a puzzle where the pieces only fit one way. Loose parts are simple materials that can be moved around, combined, redesigned, assembled and taken apart in a variety of ways in unstructured play environments. Early childhood educators began to promote these learning settings that stimulate creativity and imagination in the 1970’s in reaction to a growing parental obsession with structured play. Parents were bowing to pressure to expose children to a wide variety of endeavours through organized activities, resulting in a lack of free time where children could just hang out and play. Supporters of loose parts play argue that when adults back off and leave young children to explore in their own ways, creativity, independent thought and problem solving skills begin to develop. Children become more inventive in their play. In fact, the more flexible the environment, the greater the level of creativity and inventiveness that comes through.
Photo Karen Graham.
Of course it can get messy. Pinecone bits stuck in playdough are difficult to remove, but there’s a lesson learned.
As Administrative Director Nancy Hurley explains, “As part of our ongoing commitment to offering families high quality early learning opportunities, The Old Millbrook School EarlyON Child and Family Centre has begun introducing ‘loose parts’ into our learning environment. Loose parts are items and materials that children can use to enhance their play and exploration. They provide a high level of creativity and choice and the possibilities are endless for how they can be used. Research shows that children like to play with loose parts because they can use their imagination and have greater control in their play.”
As part of their mandate to support parent education, the family centre is scheduling a parental workshop on the topic led by Compass Early Learning staff member Angela Hoar who is passionate about this approach to early learning. Entitled “Children Doing More with Less: How Open-Ended Materials Support Learning in the Early Years”, the event is scheduled for January 20th from 10:30 to 12:30. To learn more about this event or to register, contact omfsc@nexicom.net .
If creativity is the highest form of intelligence, then we should seek opportunities for children to explore and develop this skill. Unstructured play environments with loose parts can set the stage where magic can happen and creativity can flourish. That may be worth a little extra clean-up, even when small helping hands make the task more laborious. KG
