--- title: Loose Parts description: Loose parts offer endless play and development opportunities. They offer children infinite possibilities for learning, as there is no direct set of instruction and direction that come with them, no one outcome is inevitable. Unlike uniform pieces such as a puzzle, where pieces are like to fit perfectly together in one way, loose parts can be joined in multiple ways. Loose parts also offer many more possibilities for open-ended learning in terms of; Math, language, and movement. --- ![Mobile Trigger](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/x5I8L67bQQKjlQqnXTsO3g.png) [The Power of Play by Scholar's Choice](https://www.scholarschoice.ca/) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/dot.png) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/colse-icon.png) ![Search Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/search-icon-1.png) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/colse-icon.png) ![Close Btn](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/colse-icon.png) - [Scholar's Choice](https://www.scholarschoice.ca/) - [Home](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog) ### Category - [At Home (51)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/at-home) - [Classroom (36)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/classroom) - [Childcare (34)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/childcare) ![Mobile Trigger](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/x5I8L67bQQKjlQqnXTsO3g.png) ![Close Btn](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/colse-icon.png) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/dot.png) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/colse-icon.png) ![Search Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/search-icon-1.png) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/colse-icon.png) ![Dot Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/dot.png) Nov 06 # Loose Parts [Active World Tray](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/active-world-tray), [Scholar's Choice](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/scholars-choice), [Magic of Childhood](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/magic-of-childhood)   **How does learning happen?** Children are capable, competent, curious and have tremendous potential **What are loose parts?** - Anything you can put in a container - Parts children can carry with them - Objects that can be separated into lots of pieces - Items that can be mixed together ![MicrosoftTeams-image (5)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(5).png?width=3024&name=MicrosoftTeams-image%20(5).png)The intention of using loose parts is to give a child the experience of play that is; creative, innovative, free-flowing. We know the importance of loose parts from the Ontario Elect curriculum. This can be observed when we are setting up dynamic learning opportunities for free play in a classroom. Within the classroom loose parts can be used in guided play, setting up a provocation, or a learning opportunity for children and stepping back and allowing exploration and discovery to happen. Remember it is important not to hijack play. Loose parts are a part of free play, children can play with the parts freely by themselves and discover learning on their own terms. What you may notice is that when you read with children, they will incorporate the stories in their play. During play, the stories allow children to take loose parts and make sense of the story and cement the learning that is happening through discovery based learning. It is important to be open-minded when working with young children, make sure you are not closed off about how the child plays as you yourself would do it differently. Instead, think about how loose parts can be introduced in different ways in the classroom and how they can help children scaffold to the next level of learning. **Loose Parts and Child Development** Working with loose parts allows children to explore and be unsuccessful. Give them materials that are different sizes, different shapes, so things fall and don't fit together. Loose parts give children the opportunity to try new and exciting things, explore with their imagination, create, discover and fail. Loose parts play offers us the opportunity to develop language. Discuss size, shape,colour, have the children share their stories with you and tell you what they are creating. Through your observation and documentation, you will discover that loose parts offer children the opportunity for free thought, creativity, and cognitive growth.![MicrosoftTeams-image (4)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(4).png?width=3024&name=MicrosoftTeams-image%20(4).png) Loose parts are vitally important for play and development, it is also important to remember that children need to be researchers to make vital connections. Therefore we need to be purposeful and understanding of what it is we are exploring with children in order to extend their learning. ### [Scholars Choice](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/author/scholars-choice) [Active World Tray](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/active-world-tray), [Scholar's Choice](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/scholars-choice), [Magic of Childhood](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/tag/magic-of-childhood) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ### Follow Us ### Instagram [@scholarschoice](https://www.instagram.com/scholarschoice/) ## [![Next Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/arrow-pre.png) ![The Magic of Childhood Catalogue](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(41).jpg) The Magic of Childhood Catalogue](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/the-magic-of-childhood-catalog) ## [![Prev Icon](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Scholars_Choice_January2018/images/arrow-next.png) ![Magic of Childhood: Early Math!](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Untitled%20design%20(41).jpg) Magic of Childhood: Early Math!](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/the-magic-of-childhood-catalog-1-0-0) ### Related Posts [![Storytime](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/Summer%20Reading_600x200-01.png)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/storytime-reading) Jul 21 ## [Storytime](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/storytime-reading) [![Create Your Own Cardboard Tangram Puzzle](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/MicrosoftTeams-image%20(67).png)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/create-your-own-puzzle) Jul 15 ## [Create Your Own Cardboard Tangram Puzzle](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/create-your-own-puzzle) [![5 Reasons to do Arts & Crafts](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/hubfs/5%20Reasons%20Why%20Your%20Should%20Encourage%20Children%20to%20do%20Arts%20%26%20Crafts%20(4)-png.png)](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/5-reasons-to-do-arts-and-crafts) Mar 11 ## [5 Reasons to do Arts & Crafts](https://info.scholarschoice.ca/blog/5-reasons-to-do-arts-and-crafts) ### Follow Us ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "VideoObject", "contentUrl" : "https://3528292.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/3528292/IMG_8253.mov", "dateModified" : "2022-05-26T06:31:08.332Z", "duration" : "PT13M6S", "height" : 1080, "name" : "IMG_8253", "thumbnailUrl" : "https://api-na1.hubapi.com/filemanager/api/v3/files/thumbnail-redirect/19557444938?portalId=3528292&size=medium", "uploadDate" : "2019-10-29T19:08:07.004Z", "width" : 1920 } ```