After having a break from Loose Parts for a while, we returned for a fun filled afternoon on Tuesday. The children were very eager to get their creative juices flowing, with an abundance of open-ended resources to be used. Children of all ages worked collaboratively together to create their own cubbies, build sleds to go down the banks and swing their friends on the tyre swing!
The benefits that our children get from loose parts is incredible, as they get to arrange and manipulate objects as they please, creating their own innovative designs and inventions. We see our children take a great sense of ownership over their loose parts creations, developing their own rules and expectations for other’s who wish to join in their play. Children’s thinking and problem-solving abilities are challenged, which also assists in the development of their own dynamic risk assessment skills. As their dynamic risk assessment skills develop, we see children start to identify hazards and take action to reduce the risks. We saw their critical thinking in action, as a group of children tried to figure out the safest way to slide down the banks. After some ideas were shared amongst the group, it was decided that they would trial cardboard “sleds” to slide on, and after a few attempts, found that this was successful. We look forward to seeing what other wonderful creations come from the loose parts playground in the future!