It’s NOT Just a Box… Play, loose parts, and imagination at FPNS

Written by Teacher Stacy

“In any environment, both the degree of inventiveness and creativity, and the possibility of discovery, are directly proportional to the number and kind of variables in it.” (Nicholson, 1972, pg. 6)

Some people call them “loose parts,” others call them “unstructured,” yet others “intelligent materials,” but in the end, they’re the same idea - materials for creation and play that do not have one specific purpose. A fire truck is always a fire truck, but a box can be anything you can imagine!

While there is not a lot of formal research about loose parts play, there are suggestions that loose parts play encourages a different type of thinking and play that encourages development differently than more purpose-designed toys.  Dale and Beglovsky say “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”.

In loose parts play, children are required to negotiate, cooperate, understand that others have different ideas about the play, and create their own ideas.  They can also be free to create their own worlds and play.

In loose parts play, we invite children to create their own world, their own play, and use their own imagination.  In supporting this play, they learn that their ideas are important to their peers and to the adults in their lives.

When we play with children in their world, we show them that we see them as capable and intelligent human beings.  We show them that their ideas are important and valuable to us, and help them develop a self-concept that sees themselves as important, capable, creative humans.

References
Daly, L., Beloglovsky, M., & Daly, J. (2015). Loose Parts: Inspiring play in young children. Red Leaf Press.
Nicholson, S. (1972). The Theory of Loose Parts, An important principle for design methodology. Studies in Design Education Craft & Technology, 4(2)