Little Engineers, Builders, Architects and Designers in the making
We have a whole section of our playground in Tingalpa dedicated to loose parts – this is where the magic happens!
Using loose parts to plan, design, create and construct gives our children the opportunity to:
- solve problems
- turn a design idea into reality
- plan
- persevere
- work as a team
- think laterally
What Is Loose Parts Play?
Loose parts play is a type of play that supports invention, divergent thinking, problem-solving, and offers a sense of wonder to children. They 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 create richer environments for children to play, giving them the resources they need to extend their play. Loose parts aren’t prescriptive and offer limitless possibilities. A stick, for example, may become a guitar near an imaginary stage or a stage that has been constructed from loose parts, an old bucket can be turned into a seat or used as a cooking appliance in our camp kitchen, a pipe might be used to create an underground tunnel to another country. All our loose parts are treasure to us and they create endless possibilities. ‘When children interact with loose parts, they enter a world of, “What if?” that promotes the type of thinking that leads to problem solving and theoretical reasoning. Loose parts enhance children’s ability to think imaginatively and see solutions, and they bring a sense of adventure and excitement to children’s play.’ (Daly and Beloglovsky, 2015)