As part of our continued improvement work in the nursery, we are planning to develop our outdoor provision to enhance the play experiences we can offer our children. One aspect of this work will be to incorporate more ‘loose parts’ in our outdoor area, which research suggests can help our children to be more imaginative and creative.
What is ‘Loose Parts Play?’
In play, loose parts in a nursery environment can be materials such as stones, pebbles, wooden stumps, gravel, fabric, twigs, wood, plastic pipes, wooden pallets, plastic crates, buckets, boxes, pots/pans, tyres, balls, shells…the list is endless!
These materials can be moved, carried, combined, lined up, taken apart and put back together again in lots of different ways. There are no instructions for the play (apart from how to use the materials safely), leaving the children to lead their own learning.
What are the Benefits of ‘Loose Parts Play?’
Using loose parts in play offers the children a much wider range of learning opportunities rather than only adult lead activities, encouraging them to be imaginative. It can also help develop communication and co-operation skills, as children work together to solve problems and create and design objects.
Can you Help?
Any donations of loose parts (examples above) would be hugely appreciated. If you know of anyone who might have pipes, wooden planks, baskets, fabric, pebbles etc. that they no longer require, we would love to hear from you!
