It’s a wall! It’s a castle! It’s a giant tower! It’s loose parts in full swing in our Tykes class. These yogurt containers are probably the most popular object in our classrooms. Children can stack them, use them to scoop and pour, bowl with them or use them to collect other objects.
Having loose parts and open ended materials that can be used in multiple ways helps children grow their critical thinking skills. They can investigate properties of the materials and use the information when playing with other materials. Educators can help co-construct their knowledge by having a variety or loose parts available in the classroom.
Children thrive in an environment where unstructured play is valued. It helps with their creativity, imagination and social skills. Children move these objects all around the classroom and use them in endless ways. We’re always in awe watching children’s curiosity and wonder in the classroom when exploring loose parts. We can’t wait to see what they come up with next!
