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Loose Parts: Inspiring Play in Young Children
Winner of the 2015 Brain Child Award from Tillywig & Toy Media Awards
Use loose parts to spark children's creativity and innovation
Loose parts are natural or synthetic found, bought, or upcycled materials that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play. Alluring and captivating, they capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and motivate learning.
The hundreds of inspiring photographs showcase an array of loose parts in real early childhood settings. And the overviews of concepts children can learn when using loose parts provide the foundation for incorporating loose parts into your teaching to enhance play and empower children. The possibilities are truly endless.
Use loose parts to spark children's creativity and innovation
Loose parts are natural or synthetic found, bought, or upcycled materials that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play. Alluring and captivating, they capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and motivate learning.
The hundreds of inspiring photographs showcase an array of loose parts in real early childhood settings. And the overviews of concepts children can learn when using loose parts provide the foundation for incorporating loose parts into your teaching to enhance play and empower children. The possibilities are truly endless.
232 pages, Paperback
First published October 6, 2014
55 people are currently reading
353 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews
September 29, 2020
I agree with the reviewer who stated that this book is more about the "why" than about the "how" of inspiring children's creativity with loose parts -- and I think most parents of young children already know "why" and many need more help with creating the "how" -- so your mileage may vary in terms of how helpful this book is to your family. Personally, I think that a book like The Artful Parent: Simple Ways to Fill Your Family's Life with Art and Creativity--Includes over 60 Art Projects for Children Ages 1 to 8 will be more helpful to most families with young children and it is about half the cost of "Loose Parts" -- I would really recommend "Loose Parts" more as a resource for early childhood educators (or curious parents who can pick it up from the library for free).
The photographs are beautiful and could inspire creativity. The accompanying text may or may not be what you're looking for. For example, in a section showing photographs of building blocks and cardboard tube roads with wooden cars: "Stage one of symbolic play is imitation. Children begin symbolic play by imitating actions and words they have previously seen or heard, such as eating or sleeping (Johnson, Christie, and Wardie 2005). Teddy and Joey use cardboard carpet tubes and wooden blocks to re-create roads and bridges. They make engine noises of cars racing down the roadways and siren sounds of an ambulance crossing the bridge."
Fun fact: I didn't even pay attention to the names of the authors when I borrowed this from the library... but I realized that this Lisa Daly is the same Lisa Daly I took an ECE course from in college many years ago. Small world! :-)
The photographs are beautiful and could inspire creativity. The accompanying text may or may not be what you're looking for. For example, in a section showing photographs of building blocks and cardboard tube roads with wooden cars: "Stage one of symbolic play is imitation. Children begin symbolic play by imitating actions and words they have previously seen or heard, such as eating or sleeping (Johnson, Christie, and Wardie 2005). Teddy and Joey use cardboard carpet tubes and wooden blocks to re-create roads and bridges. They make engine noises of cars racing down the roadways and siren sounds of an ambulance crossing the bridge."
Fun fact: I didn't even pay attention to the names of the authors when I borrowed this from the library... but I realized that this Lisa Daly is the same Lisa Daly I took an ECE course from in college many years ago. Small world! :-)
July 6, 2018
This is all about using found things and plain pieces with young children instead of fancy toys with a single purpose. So, balls, blocks, scarves/fabric, buckets, and baskets are key. No fancy electronics. Mirrors, frames, and placemats are used to frame or organize small pieces.
Lots of photos that are very inspirational.
The beginning includes scientific justification for loose parts.
Love the short paragraphs showing how the pieces work with a particular student.
The focus in this book is on preschool age children (~3-5 years old).
Could have used some practical helps
* How to store all these pieces when they're not available to the students (some of which are large)
* How to determine which pieces to put out and when to put them away
* How long the arrangements children make are left as the children create them and when they're "cleaned up" or straightened up
* When to extend a particular set of loose parts by adding something and when to put that set up and put out something new
Lots of photos that are very inspirational.
The beginning includes scientific justification for loose parts.
Love the short paragraphs showing how the pieces work with a particular student.
The focus in this book is on preschool age children (~3-5 years old).
Could have used some practical helps
* How to store all these pieces when they're not available to the students (some of which are large)
* How to determine which pieces to put out and when to put them away
* How long the arrangements children make are left as the children create them and when they're "cleaned up" or straightened up
* When to extend a particular set of loose parts by adding something and when to put that set up and put out something new
May 5, 2019
I guess I was hoping for more of a how-to book than a why book. I get why. But my students are such concrete thinkers and have such delays, I can’t imagine them doing ANY of the examples in the book...yet. I need to find out how to get them there.
July 11, 2017
Just doing a little self-imposed homework. I have loved the idea of loose parts in the classroom and this book was such a great source of support of that concept. Not only were there beautiful photos and so many ideas for materials, but the author went through and explained how playing with loose parts is a teaching tool in so many areas. All the ways in which it can help children learn from their own experiences with manipulating the objects and relating them to one another was covered. It is a great tool to use when trying to explain to parents about how play matters and that so much more is going on than meets the eye.
July 17, 2017
Book gives a perfect photo presentation of how to get young minds and hands involved in seeing the world around them in a fun, creative way. Resources for learning can come from nature or from around the house. The authors cover ways to make environments creative and full of possibility in the minds of children. I foresee much more play time discovering art with found things. You will be inspired by the photography alone! 5* for a terrific educational resource for parents, teachers, and caregivers. (Special thanks for local libraries and their staff which find such awesome books!)
December 1, 2023
I appreciate both the « why » and « how »presented in this book. It is simple, visually appealing and authentically based in child development research and practice, which is important for understanding why we present loose parts and open ended materials to young children. Others stated it isn’t a step by step/how to book (ie like the Artful Parent), but that is because children’s self-directed play is not a formulaic step by step « activity » or « project ».
January 29, 2021
I read this in effort to understand th huhe educational philosophy in my daughters' school, and how I can support it. The book makes a convincing case for open ended play. There are so many pictures which are colorful and effective at inspiration. I wish there was a comprehensive list of the loose parts pictured at the end of the book.
September 25, 2020
A great resource book for child care workers. I have a lot of ideas that I want to try. I loved the colorful pictures and I think I will buy a copy of this for myself. It was also well organized and explained the concepts thoroughly.
February 26, 2021
I have a 2.5 year old so I should have read the 2nd one first, but I found the visual elements more inspiring than I thought. The book is mostly geared towards educators and group settings I think but there's plenty for a single family or homeschooling group to get ideas.
July 17, 2022
I have wanted to learn more about a loose parts classroom, and this book was a great resource. The many photographs gave great examples of possible ways to incorporate this concept in my classroom. I would highly recommend this book for anyone wanting to learn more.
October 25, 2017
Tons of great ideas!
December 23, 2017
Great ideas!
August 26, 2018
Gives lots of wonderful ideas. Would like more info but I guess I’ll read the next two in the series. I look forward to implementing a lot of the ideas adapted for my students with special needs.
November 8, 2018
Really well-done volume with GORGEOUSLY shot photographs of loose part play 'in action.'
December 2, 2018
So many inspiring ideas to encourage imaginative play in children!
February 27, 2019
Changed my perspective on play and toys. And now I'm going to have more fun with my children.
May 24, 2019
Love. Huge fan of Reggio Emilio's philosophy.
October 12, 2020
What an inspirational book! My kids are loving this!
Want to read
March 29, 2021Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.
October 20, 2021
Beautiful book with stunning photos of various play set ups. This book served as an excellent reminder that unstructured play is worthwhile.
March 6, 2022
Love the photos and concept in this book.
August 4, 2022
The pictures were beautiful and helped inspire many ideas for our school library learning commons. However, I do wish there was a bit more practical advice around creating and storing loose parts.
March 10, 2023
Inspiring pictures, but I found the text too high level and not practical.
May 11, 2025
Tactile leaf and stick interactions on nature walks!
June 29, 2020
Would absolutely recommend to parents & educators. Loose parts promote deeper & more creative play. Using recyclable & natural materials shows children that you don’t have to spend money to create beautiful things.
August 4, 2023
I have seen the benefit of loose parts play with my own littles. The photographs and ideas were my main motivation in checking out this series and they did not disappoint.
Read
August 31, 2015I came across this book through a couple of Australian blogs that I follow. I had recently read Beautiful Stuff and wanted to learn more about how to employ the loose parts theory. I was surprised to find, once I got a copy of the book, that it was written by two professors here in Sacramento. They used the child care center out at the community college in Fairfield. Small world.
The book was incredibly inspiring and had tons and tons of high quality pictures. The text is short, but deals with the theory of loose parts and then discusses different areas that are developed by using them, i.e. sound, creativity, and action. It’s easy to read and understand and doesn’t have a lot of jargon or overly academic language. I know right now I appreciate that in a book. I just don’t have the mental capacity to read something dry and technical at the end of the day.
I did keep going back and forth wishing there was a bit more writing and discussing of the theory of loose parts and simply appreciating that there wasn’t much direction. I think I was hoping the pictures would be more like a documentation panel. I struggle getting Cam to engage with the materials. They can sit out for months and she won’t touch them. Then one day she’ll pick them up and find something to do with them or I’ll need to direct her. And I don’t want to direct her, I want it to come from her. On the other hand, having too rigid a set of documentation might not have helped me find good materials and set ups. Part of the point of loose parts is that they can be used in open ended ways and should be tailored to the interests of the child and to the environment. And often the pictures spoke for themselves.
All in all, this is a worthwhile book both for the information on loose parts and why you should use them and for the pictures that will give you unlimited inspiration for materials to try out and how to set them up in provocative ways. My copy is riddled with sticky notes directing me to provocations and to loose parts I want to set out. I think a second reading of the book is in order to review the theory behind the materials.
The book was incredibly inspiring and had tons and tons of high quality pictures. The text is short, but deals with the theory of loose parts and then discusses different areas that are developed by using them, i.e. sound, creativity, and action. It’s easy to read and understand and doesn’t have a lot of jargon or overly academic language. I know right now I appreciate that in a book. I just don’t have the mental capacity to read something dry and technical at the end of the day.
I did keep going back and forth wishing there was a bit more writing and discussing of the theory of loose parts and simply appreciating that there wasn’t much direction. I think I was hoping the pictures would be more like a documentation panel. I struggle getting Cam to engage with the materials. They can sit out for months and she won’t touch them. Then one day she’ll pick them up and find something to do with them or I’ll need to direct her. And I don’t want to direct her, I want it to come from her. On the other hand, having too rigid a set of documentation might not have helped me find good materials and set ups. Part of the point of loose parts is that they can be used in open ended ways and should be tailored to the interests of the child and to the environment. And often the pictures spoke for themselves.
All in all, this is a worthwhile book both for the information on loose parts and why you should use them and for the pictures that will give you unlimited inspiration for materials to try out and how to set them up in provocative ways. My copy is riddled with sticky notes directing me to provocations and to loose parts I want to set out. I think a second reading of the book is in order to review the theory behind the materials.
May 2, 2016
Loose Parts is similar to a Reggio based learning approach and is not only a collection of useful materials, but the setting up of provocations or setting the stage for the classroom to be a third teacher. The environment and loose parts help teach as they draw the children in who will want to know what is going on. The children are presented with some loose parts, a story or staging, and work to construct solutions to the presented problem. They engage in higher level thinking, creativity, and the discovery of multiple possible solutions. The actual materials or loose parts may be reconfigured for use in new provocations, sorted, save, and reorganized for other problem solving activities. It is STEAM learning!
December 15, 2015
Excellent book focused on providing creative, unstructured play opportunities for young children. This was written by two local early childhood education professors and is filled with specific information about what the play does to support children's development. Its a beautiful book to look through with multiple photographs and lots of color. The only thing I felt it missed was a good list ideas of where to resource some of the things in they pictures.
February 4, 2016
Plenty of pictures to inspire ideas about how to create a loose-parts environment. Although I had to question the safety of some of the materials they used with their kids such as metal pipes, CDs, and glass stones. I guess you just need to know who your kids are and apportion the types of available materials appropriately.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 37 reviews