Children still need a childhood with dirt, mud, puddles, trees, sticks and tadpoles.
In our School, 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.
The theory of loose parts has begun to influence child-play experts and playscape designers in a big way. It was first proposed back in the 1970s by architect Simon Nicholson, who believed that it is the loose parts in our environment that empower our creativity.
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, tarps, sheets, shells and seedpods.
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 combination with other materials to support imagination
Loose parts encourage open ended learning.
Children choose loose parts over fancy toys.
It has been delightful watching our students being so engrossed in their imaginative play at recess and lunch time. The enjoyment and creativity on display is priceless.