Here are some simple activities to try with your toddler that are low cost, low prep and highly engaging. The best part is, you probably have many of these items in your home already but haven’t considered using them as toys before. Loose parts, or open-ended materials, are easy to collect, can be used in so many ways and are very exciting to play with. I have set up all of these play invitations many times before, for my own daughter and in classes I teach, and they are always so well received!

Muffin Tins and Balls

Does your baby or toddler enjoy putting objects into containers? If so, this is the perfect activity to try. Grab a muffin tin from your kitchen and you’ve got yourself a great play invitation for your baby or toddler! For babies between the ages of 8-11 months, fill the muffin tin with balls and place the tin in front of your baby. Encourage your baby to take the balls out. Putting the balls back in the tin is a little tricker and may take longer to master that task. I have done this activity with 20-month-olds as well and they enjoy it just as much! With toddlers, you can also introduce some math concepts and literacy by counting the balls and naming the different coloured balls.

Pipe Cleaners and Colanders

Here’s a no prep activity to try with your little ones! All you need is a colander and some pipe cleaners. Encourage your little one to stick the pipe cleaners in the holes of the colander. It’s harder than it looks and requires patience, hand eye coordination and fine motor skills. For younger toddlers, place the pipe cleaners in the colander for them and encourage them to pull the pipe cleaners out. As they get older, and their fine motor skills increase, they will find it much easier to place the pipe cleaners in and out of the holes of the colander independently.
Tip: give your child time to explore the materials. They may end up doing something completely different with the pipe cleaners. That’s the beauty of open-ended materials!

Stacking with a Paper Towel Holder

Stacking toys are very popular but can be on the pricier side. Did you know you can make your own using a paper towel holder? Yes, it’s that simple! All you need is a paper towel holder and items that are ‘circular’ that will fit over the holder. I love using hair scrunchies, mason jar rings, wooden rings and shower curtain rings. With babies, you may wish to start with the items already stacked on the paper towel holder and encourage them to take the items off. For toddlers, I like to present the items for stacking in a basket so they have the freedom to put them on and pull them off the holder.

Children have a natural urge to explore materials and objects in certain ways to make sense of the world around them. They like to dump, pour, scoop, connect and disconnect, transform and transport things which is why sensory bins are so appealing and engaging for children. Sensory play caters to this kind of play and repetitive behaviour. Below you will find 10 simple sensory bins to try with your children that will only take minutes to set up and clean up. If you live in Toronto and FINALLY got your hands on the Flisat, all activities can be done with your new sensory bin table!

Kinetic Sand

Kinetic sand is a great filler as the base for your sensory bin. It’s easy to clean up, won’t dry out and provides hours of fun for your little ones and big kids too! Add some fun and interesting sensory tools like scoops, buckets, shovels and cookie cutters. Throw in some loose parts and small toys, like diggers or dinos and you’ve got yourself one of the most engaging sensory bins!

Dino Bubble Bath

Dinosaurs, soapy water & sponges! That’s all you need for this quick and easy sensory bin that I guarantee your kids with love. You can swap out dinosaurs for any toys you have at home like cars, babies, toy dishes or anything else that can be submerged in water.

No Mess Pompom Play

Here’s a great dry sensory bin idea where children can practice so many different play schemas and strengthen those little finger muscles. Add pompoms, lint rollers, whisks, scoops and different size containers to your bin. The pompoms will stick to the lint rollers and your little ones will love trying to pull them off. Put pompoms in the whisk and have your child try and pull them out. They will also enjoy scooping the pompoms and dumping them into the different containers. This is a great option if you don’t want any mess!

Pouring Stations

This is one of my favourite sensory activities. Not only does it take two minutes to set up, but you have all of the materials you need in your kitchen. Grab a bin and anything that resembles a pitcher or cup. Put your materials inside your bin and add water. For some extra fun, you can add a little bit of food colouring and try some colour mixing. In this simple activity, your children are learning problem solving skills, science and math concepts, cause and effect, critical thinking skills and independence as they carefully pour and transfer the water from one cup to another.

Pompom Squeeze

Add water and pompoms to your sensory bin. Include a lemon press (you can find them at Dollarama!) for squeezing and some scoops and beakers (cups or bowls are great too) for dumping, pouring and transferring.

Playdough and Loose Parts

If you find playdough messy, try having your children play with it in a sensory bin. It will contain the mess and make the clean up much faster. Put the playdough in a ziplock bag once your children are done playing and leave it in your sensory bin so it’s ready to play with again. Try adding some fun loose parts like gems, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and corks. I promise it will take the play to a whole new level and give your children the freedom to create. Have tons of Mr.Potato Head pieces lying around? Ditch the plastic potato and use the pieces with your playdough. Your children will have so much fun creating their own playdough people with the different body parts from the set! For some examples, click here!

Bubble Foam

Add 1/2 cup of water, 2 tbsp of dish soap and some food colouring to a blender. Blend on high for about a minute. Add foam to your sensory bin with some kitchen utensils for dumping, scooping and pouring. The texture is amazing. I highly recommend picking up a set of dollar store measuring cups. I use them in almost every sensory bin AND they are the perfect bath toy since they will not collect any mold.

Laundry Hamper Sensory Bin

Have lots of tissue and wrapping paper laying around from a birthday party? Once your baby can sit comfortably alone, fill a laundry hamper with tissue, wrapping paper, ribbon and bows and tie play scarves or fabric to the outside. Let your baby pull the scarves and tear and crinkle the tissue! Babies love the different sounds, colours and textures so it makes for a really exciting sensorial experience. You can also set this activity up for toddlers using a tuff tray or large sensory bin.

Scooping for Blocks

Add water, plastic blocks, some big spoons for scooping and bowls to your sensory bin. Such a simple and easy sensory bin to set up. Add a few drops of food colouring or some bubbles for some extra fun!

Flower Soup

This is your reminder to keep those wilted flowers you received in your last bouquet and use them for some water play! Add your flowers to a sensory bin with water, spoons, bowls, scoops and funnels. I love using natural materials in sensory play, especially flowers because of their colour, texture and of course scent. Toddlers love it too because so many of their senses are engaged during this activity.

Here are some of my favourite sensory bins and tools:

The tuff tray from Scholar’s Choice
Strainers, measuring cups, whisks and sponges from Dollarama
Beaker set from Scholar’s Choice
Translucent funnels from Scholar’s Choice
Handmade sensory table from Little Bean Sensory

** Be sure to use my code ERICA15 to receive 15% off your order at Scholar’s Choice!

I recently began making I SPY sensory bottles and I have to say, I have become obsessed! My daughter plays with her bottle every day. She loves finding and naming the different objects she sees. It never gets old! We always have our bottles handy especially during transitions, before meal times, when we need a nice and calm moment or during diaper changes. It’s the perfect activity for road trips in the car, waiting at the doctor’s office, on the plane or at a restaurant. Just pop it into your diaper bag or your purse the next time you head out to keep your child engaged and busy!

How to Use Your I SPY Sensory Bottle

There are a number of ways to use your I SPY sensory bottle. It can be used as a calm bottle when your child needs a mindful minute to decompress and regulate. It makes for an excellent tummy time tool! Lay it on the ground and have your baby reach for it. It may even be the perfect incentive for your little one to reach, grab and crawl towards since the colours and the sounds are so appealing. Your I SPY bottle is a great way to develop language skills and inspire a love for literacy. Here are some questions you can ask your child while exploring the bottle: What do you see? Can you find the red ladybug? Can you find 3 things that are green? How many ducks do you see? What colour is the dinosaur? What letter is this? Can you find the letter A? Your sensory bottle encourages your child to pay attention to detail and allows children to work on skills like letter recognition, number recognition and colour recognition in a playful and fun way.

In all my years working with young children, I don’t think I have a met a child who didn’t love the play dough table! Why? Children get to use their imagination and creativity to mold and sculpt their play dough into anything they can dream of. They can roll it, squish it, smell it (scented play dough is the best!) and form it in so many ways. Not only is the experience fun, but children are experimenting, learning to share, building language, math skills, science skills, testing out different theories, all while developing the small muscles in their hands and fingers. Children can use play dough to form letters, numbers, shapes, animals, birthday cakes and so on. There are so many options! 

I found a simple play dough recipe from MotherCould and it’s great! Here is the recipe below:  

Add the following to a bowl:
1 cup flour
1/2 cup table salt
2 tbsp cream of tartar 

Mix it all together.

Then add to the bowl:
1 tbsp oil
1 cup of boiling water 

** Add your food coloring to the boiling water before putting into bowl

Mix and knead well with your hands. My playdough was quite sticky at first, so I kept adding flour until it was the perfect consistency. 

Ready to elevate your play dough table and keep your kids excited & engaged?

The secret is to add… LOOSE PARTS. Loose parts allow children to show their creativity! Traditional play dough tools and cutters can be expensive. Guess what? You don’t need them! Loose parts keep the activity exciting for children and are the more affordable option since you probably have a bunch of loose parts in your home already. Some of my favourite loose parts to use at a play dough table include corks, buttons, popsicle sticks, shells, gems, rocks, pinecones, Lego, peg dolls, wooden letters and feathers. 

Play Dough Invitations

Below you will find 3 play dough invitations to try. I recommend starting with a dip tray. Place your play dough in the middle and fill the sections with different loose parts. Put down placemats to create on. These are also great activities to try in the classroom as well.

1. Stamping Using Natural Materials

2. Creating Creepy Creatures

3. Forming Words and Names

Here are some of our favourite sensory activities at the moment that we have been doing on repeat at home. All activities have been given the seal of approval by my amazing 18-month-old daughter. She showed so much excitement, joy and wonder.

All you need is water, paint brushes and a box. I filled a bowl with water and gave my daughter a paint brush. It was like magic! We loved watching the water dry and our artwork completely evaporate and disappear. What I love most about this activity – it takes seconds to set up and clean up. AND so much learning is taking place during this simple activity. Children are learning the basics of painting (without the mess!) like how to hold the brush, dip the brush into water and make different strokes. Using a box also gives your child the choice to either paint sitting down or standing up. They are strengthening their core muscles as they bend and reach to paint different parts of the box. Vertical painting also naturally puts the wrist in an extended position which encourages better pencil grasp. This activity is great to teach children pre-writing skills as they paint curvy and straight lines and gain better control of writing utensils. Once your baby can comfortable sit on their own, I highly recommend this activity. I promise your kids, babies, toddlers or students will love it!

2. Taste Safe Sand Sensory Bins

About to throw out the stale cereal you found at the back of your pantry? Simply add it to a blender and pulse until it’s nice and smooth. Then add it to a sensory bin and VOILA… you’ve got taste safe sand! The texture is incredible and my daughter loved the feeling of it in-between her hands and toes. 

For my daughter, I put the cereal in a tinfoil tray and made a “beach.” I added some seashells I found at the dollar store, some blue wooden loose parts, a “shovel” and “pail” to scoop up the “sand” and a few foamy fish. Next to the bin, I put an ice cube tray so my daughter had the opportunity to transfer the shells and loose parts from the bin to the tray. She absolutely loved it.

Since then, I have also made a construction zone sensory bin. I added our blended up cheerios to a tray and included some loose parts like rocks and wooden pieces. Then I threw in some tools like shovels, scoops and hammers so my daughter could move around the sand in different ways. For some added fun, I also included a digger! For easy clean up, try putting down a shower curtain liner or plastic tablecloth underneath the bin to trap all of the extra sand.

3. Pouring Stations

This is one of my favourite sensory activities. Not only does it take TWO MINUTES to set up, but you have all of the materials in your kitchen. All you need is a bin and anything that resembles a pitcher or cup. Put your materials inside your bin and add water. For some extra fun, you can add a little bit of food colouring and try some colour mixing.

Your child is learning:

✔️ LIFE SKILLS
✔️ INDEPENDENCE
✔️PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS
✔️ MOTOR SKILLS
✔️ HAND EYE COORDINATION
✔️ SCIENCE
✔️ MATH
✔️ CRITICAL THINKING SKILLS
✔️ CAUSE & EFFECT 

Pretty neat, huh? Teachers, I think this would be such a neat idea to try in your classrooms.

For many years I was the supervisor of a child care centre. One of my responsibilities was giving prospective parents tours of the facility. A very important part of the tour, besides showcasing the actual space, was taking the time to explain about the program and answer any questions. I wanted potential clients to feel relaxed, feel informed and at the end of the day, I wanted them to feel ‘at home.’ Choosing a child care centre, a place where you are putting full trust in someone else’s hands to care for your child is hard. It’s scary, emotional and a big decision. I have compiled a list of questions you may wish to consider when touring potential centres for your child.  

This list is not meant to overwhelm you but simply act as a reference. Depending on what is important to you and what works for your family, will determine the kinds of questions you choose to ask. Supervisors and directors giving your tour, want you to feel at ease so ask as many questions as you need to! This is your time to really get a feel of the environment, the energy, the program and the staff. It is my hope that when you head on your next tour, you feel confident and prepared!  

Potential Questions To Ask on a Tour:

What is your approach to early childhood education?

Is your program play based? theme based?

Do you use the How Does Learning Happen document when program planning? (I highly recommend all families read this document!)

What is your preferred method of communication with parents?

Do your teachers have email addresses so we can communicate with them about our child?

Do you have a literacy program?

What do you do if a child isn’t interested in circle time? 

Do you have centres set up around the classroom?

What about outdoor programming and outdoor play? How often do the children go outside?

Do you believe in risky play?

Under what conditions will you not use the outdoor space?

How do you keep parents informed about what’s happening in the classroom? Newsletters? Social media?

What do the children eat for snack and lunch?

What happens if my child isn’t eating?

How do you put children to sleep? Do you rock them? Do you do what we do at home?

What’s your screen-time policy?

How do you feel about receiving feedback?

What is your sick policy? Do you have a COVID screening policy?

What is your approach to classroom management? What happens if my child is “misbehaving”?

Today, I watched my daughter play independently in her playroom. She looked happy, determined and comfortable. Today was the first time she really moved freely through the space, touching different toys and materials, picking things up, putting them down, opening things and closing things. She was determining her likes and dislikes, testing out her abilities and trying to make sense of the world around her. I watched her in awe. My capable, confident and curious daughter wondering, exploring and problem solving at 13 months. I wanted to intervene so many times like we all do and help her when, for example, she couldn’t free the book she wanted from the shelf or when she couldn’t open one of her treasure boxes. Instead, I took a back seat. I watched her struggle at first but then this look of satisfaction lit up her entire face when she got that book she wanted and when she finally opened that treasure box. Today, I truly witnessed the value of independent play. 

Below you will find ways you can encourage independent play at home even with your smallest child. 

Remove the screens – Screens provide too much of a distraction. Also resist that urge to capture the play on your phone. Put it away. Your child will lose concentration as soon as they see you trying to take a photo or video. 

Give them space – I sat at the far end of my daughter’s playroom so I could give her the space she needed to move around and explore. I wanted her to feel the independence. It is important to always have eyes on your child, but also allow for enough distance so your child isn’t going to rely on you to guide the play. You want to create a space that is safe for your child to roam freely. My daughter would look over at me sitting in the corner of her playroom every so often, making sure I was still there. I could tell it provided her with a sense of comfort and security.

Age appropriate toys – Make sure toys are age appropriate and open-ended! If toys are too easy to master or too hard, your child will quickly move on. You want to consider adding loose parts to your play space. Loose parts refer to open-ended materials that can be manipulated in different ways. Loose parts are interesting, unexpected, real objects that provide children with unlimited play possibilities. There is no specific way to use them which is why they are so appealing. You will notice that children tend to engage in play for longer periods of time when they are given open-ended toys to play with because so much can be done with them! To read more about loose parts, click here.

Accessible and clear storage – It is important that children can actually see their toys and access them on their own. Using shallow baskets or clear bins, allows children to navigate their space on their own and easily grab what they wish to play with, without needing any assistance from an adult.

No interruptions – This is one of the most important ways to encourage independent play and the hardest for adults to do! The last thing you want to do is break the concentration. Let your child stay in that creative flow of mind. Save the praise and conversation for later. So many times when I see my daughter accomplish something new, I want to show my excitement and clap and tell her what an amazing job she is doing. As hard as it is, you want to refrain from engaging with your child in the moment and instead have a conversation about it at a later time. 

Why is independent play so important for children? Playing independently allows children to be creative and imaginative. It teaches them how to entertain themselves, to feel happy and confident on their own. Children are learning to self-regulate, they are practicing self-help skills and problem solving skills. Giving children the time and space to play independently builds a sense of security, which is important before heading off to school or daycare for the first time. Children need to understand that they will not always have an adult by their sides to guide them and help them through everything. Independent play allows children to begin to trust in themselves. 

Sometimes less is more, simple is the most effective and handmade is the way to go. Below I have put together some of my favourite activities for kids. They can be modified, made easier or harder and can be done with kids of all ages, even babies! Educators, these activities are excellent in a classroom setting as well. All activities provide open-ended and engaging learning experiences for children of all abilities and can be used to accomplish many curriculum goals. Science, math, literacy, art, drama – I’ve got you covered!

1. Box Play

Can we all agree that a box is never just a box to a child? Box Play. It’s simple, it’s affordable, the play is imaginative and for all ages. No batteries, no flashing lights. It’s back to basics. Children, especially the little ones, love enclosed spaces which is one of the reasons why a box is so appealing. A box is also open-ended and can be used for absolutely anything from space ships to fire trucks. How neat would it be if your children came down to the living room on a Saturday morning or if your students walked into their classroom and saw a pile of boxes. You can challenge them to build something tall, something sturdy, something magical, something that moves, etc. The sky is the limit!

Need some inspiration? Not a Box is a great book to read before engaging in any box play. I can almost guarantee something in that book will spark some creativity!

2. DIY Light Table

Traditional light tables can be very expensive. I remember when I was a supervisor, a teacher approached me wanting to purchase a light table for her classroom but we just didn’t have the budget for it. So, what did she do? She made her own! Her students absolutely loved it. I thought it was brilliant so when my daughter recently started showing an interest in light and shadow play, I made her one. I used a bin I found in my basement, tin foil, white tissue paper and twinkle lights which can be purchased at the dollar store. The entire light table costs about $30.00. Below is everything you to need to know to make your own DIY light table!

Materials:
Clear bin with a lid
Tin foil
White tissue paper
Tape
Twinkle lights (can be found at the dollar store)
Any items that are translucent

Follow these simple steps:
1. Grab your clear bin
2. Fill the inside with tinfoil and tape it all in place
3. Add your twinkle lights to the bin and turn them on
4. Tape white tissue paper to the inside of the lid
5. Flip the lid over, close the bin and VOILA. Hours of fun and discovery!

3. Open-Ended Art

Yes, crafts are sweet and some children do love creating something with a set of instructions. A butterfly, a snowman, a ladybug. But, there are many children who will sit at a table, glue on a piece of tissue paper and they are off to the next thing. Ever wonder why when you buy a craft kit from the dollar store, your children spend only a few minutes creating the craft and they move on? Traditional craft boxes can be closed-ended and do not leave room for creativity and imagination. My suggestion is to invite children to create with open-ended materials, with no boundaries and with no set of instructions. I remember growing up, my mom had a craft bin. A giant Tupperware filled with different craft materials and I remember sitting for hours using the different materials to simply create whatever I wanted. It was meaningful to me and I was able to be creative. Grab a muffin tin, a cutlery organizer or a dip tray and fill it with different art supplies. Offer different art utensils as well, like markers, crayons, scissors, glue. Let your children direct the art activity and create whatever comes to mind! You can also take the activity outdoors. Back a bag will a sketch book, some crayons or pencil crayons, markers, paint, etc. Find a nice shady area and allow your children to sketch whatever inspires them in nature.

Puddle Jumping – Yes, it’s messy BUT kids absolutely love it and guess what? The muddier, the better! A child sees a puddle and almost immediately gravitate towards it. Puddles are meant to be splashed in and that is exactly what children are enticed to do — jump right in with two feet! Puddle jumping not only teaches children how to move their bodies but also teaches children about the natural world. Remember, there’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. I highly recommend purchasing a Muddy Buddy which are waterproof coveralls for toddlers that offer full-body coverage and protection from the rain.

Nature Sticks – While on a walk or a hike outdoors, have your children collect natural items like leaves, feathers, twigs and flowers to create a nature stick. The nature stick acts as a keepsake of their time in nature, something to take home with them. Have your children attach their items to a stick using string or twine. A new nature stick can be made during each walk or your children can keep adding to one they have already created. Be sure to remind children not to disrupt nature and to find items that have already fallen to the ground. Have children retell the story of their walk and why they decided to choose the items on their sticks.

Bird Feeders – There are so many variations to making your own bird feeders. My nephew and I made bird feeders out of toilet paper rolls, peanut butter and seed mixture (sunflower seeds, chia seeds, pumpkin seeds). I found a similar one here with step-by-step instructions. I also came across these bird feeders made from cookie cutters that I am definitely going to try!

Fly a Kite – It can get quite windy in the spring which makes for perfect kite-flying weather. You can either purchase a kite or make one of your own. Here’s a video with instructions on how to make one of your own. 

Nature Mandalas – I wrote about mandalas in my previous post about loose parts. I talk about them often because they are so beautiful to create. Take your children on a nature walk and collect different natural materials and objects like flowers, sticks, leaves, stones, shells, etc. Find a flat surface outside. Pick one object and place it in the middle and work outwards, creating a circular design. Your children can keep adding to the mandala until they feel it is complete. Try this tranquil activity as a way to really connect and be present with nature. 

Sketching – Bring those sketch pads and drawing tools outdoors, ignite the senses, breathe in the fresh air and feel inspired by nature. Have your children pack a special bag with different art materials and choose a special place outdoors to sit and draw, sketch or paint what they see. It may be flowers, trees, the sky, or whatever else they feel a desire to capture on paper.   

DIY Sidewalk Chalk – All you need is 1/2 cup cornstarch, 1/2 cup water and food colouring. Add cornstarch and water to a bowl and mix it well. Pour the mixture evenly into a muffin tin. Add desired drops of food colouring to each cup. Take your paint outside with some paint brushes and have fun! For the paint to really pop on your sidewalk, purchase food colouring that is very bright and vibrant. 

Tree Faces – What can you do when you combine mud pies and loose parts? Tree faces! Simply make a mud pie and put it onto the bark of a tree. Then collect loose parts like flowers, rocks, twigs, grass and other natural objects to make facial features. They can be self-portraits, animals or faces of special people. Click here and take a look at these amazing examples! If you do not have mud, you can also use clay.

Gardening – Now is the perfect time to get outside and plant some fruits, veggies, herbs and flowers! Take a trip to the nursery and decide with your children what they would like to plant. Gardening allows children to learn to care for the environment. Children learn what plants need to grow and the responsibility that comes with caring for them. If you don’t have access to a garden, there are many other ways to gain a similar experience indoors. The dollar store has all of the materials you need to plant at home – planting containers, pots, seeds, soil. Put your plants by a sunny window and watch them grow. Growing grass is a simple way to enjoy some gardening in your home. Click here for steps on how to make Grass Heads! 

Spring Scavenger Hunt – The first signs of spring spark so much curiosity and wonder in children. A scavenger hunt is a perfect way to encourage children to get outside and admire the change of season. Here is a list of things to include in your spring scavenger hunt:

Fresh sprouting grass
Egg
Dandelions
Tree buds
Dragonfly
Worm
Snail
Ladybug
Bird nest
Mushroom
Puddle
Feather
Blooming flower
Caterpillar
Chirping birds

You can make a list of your items on a piece of paper in writing or with pictures (depending on the age and reading levels of your children) and attach it to a clipboard for your children to hold while they complete the activity.

HAPPY SPRING and enjoy the outdoors!

So, I have collected all my loose parts. Now what? What can my child do with loose parts and how do I set them up? Here is a list of 10 engaging and creative ways to use loose parts with your children. I have tried all of these activities either at home with my daughter or in classrooms so this post is for my fellow teachers as well!

1. Transient Art

Transient art is the creative experience of placing open-ended pieces together on a surface. Transient art allows children to create in a very soothing and calming way. There are no rules and nothing is set in stone. No glue is used so pieces can be used over and over again. Transient art allows children to explore shape, pattern, colour and texture. Simply provide a clean working space and a variety of loose parts.

2. Mandalas

A mandala is a circular structure that is symmetrical in nature and radiates outwards from the centre. You can find mandalas in flowers, tree rings, seashells, fruit and more. Creating mandalas is a very calming and tranquil art activity that allows children the freedom to design and express themselves. It reduces stress and anxiety, allows children to think spatially and gain knowledge about geometric forms. You can create mandalas outside using natural elements or in-doors using loose parts like buttons, pompoms, gems, q-tips and wooden pieces. To introduce this activity, find something round to create on like a placemat, coaster or wood cookie. Using a black surface really makes the colours pop. Put out your loose parts in a shallow tray and let your child create starting from the middle of the surface and working outwards.

3. Building

Loose Parts are great for building! Need something fun to do on a Saturday morning? Before you go to bed, put the contents of your recycling bin on the floor in your playroom or living room. When your children wake up the next morning and see all of the materials lying out for them, challenge them to build something like a sturdy structure or the tallest tower.

4. Self-Portraits

Let your children make self-portraits using loose parts. Make sure you have a mirror and a clean, flat surface to work on. Give your children a variety of loose parts that could be used for hair, eyes, a nose, ears, etc. For younger children, I like to put out a round coaster or placemat to represent a face and invite them to add their features. 

5. Counting, Sorting & Patterning 

Loose Parts make excellent math manipulatives and are very cost effective (often free). Use leaves, pinecones and stones for counting, representing the value of numbers, practicing one-to-one correspondence and making different patterns. Depending on the level of the child, the activities can be made simpler or more complex. For example, one activity may include counting 10 buttons or tracing the number 10 using buttons. To add another layer to this activity, your child may represent the number 10 in different ways using loose parts. Children also love grouping things together and creating different patterns. Using interesting loose parts makes the activity more exciting and engaging.  

6. Sensory Bins

There are many loose parts that can be used as great fillers for sensory bins like buttons, gems, stones and pompoms. Objects like measuring cups, bowls and spoons are excellent tools for dumping, scooping and pouring. Loose parts add texture, sound and smell to sensory bins. To read more about creating sensory bins, click here.  

7. Treasure Baskets

Add your loose parts to a shallow basket and let your child play. A treasure basket is a shallow basket with a variety of different natural, household items that can be taken in and out. It is an opportunity to explore everyday items while feeding that urge to grasp things, move things and figure them out. You may wish to add items like wooden spoons, shells, shakers, bangles, blocks, ribbons and pinecones to your basket. To read more about treasure baskets, click here.

8. Role playing

The opportunities for role playing and dramatic play are endless with loose parts because they are so open-ended, versatile and appealing. Giving children boxes, scarves, fabrics, blocks and containers sparks creativity and allows for rich and meaningful storytelling. Boxes may be used as caves or rocket ships. Scarves and fabrics may be used to make costumes. Wood cookies may be telephones or telescopes. What I always find so fascinating is that children will use loose parts for dramatic play in ways you would never think of!    

9. Stacking

Babies love to stack! You probably have loose parts in your home that would make a great stacking game for your baby. Try using large loose parts and smaller loose parts making the experience more challenging. Babies will use their problem solving skills, hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills to stack those loose parts without them toppling over. Example of fun loose parts to stack are things like tin cans, boxes, tree cookies or wooden spools.

10. Pre-Writing and Letter Formation

Loose parts can be used for many literacy activities and are excellent for letter recognition, pre-writing skills and letter formation. For example, before children can learn how to write, they need to understand the concept of straight and curvy lines. With painters tape or a marker, draw different straight and curvy lines or shapes. Have your child use loose parts to trace the lines. This allows them to recognize the difference between straight lines and curvy lines. Next, you can use painters tape on your floor and make different letters. Once again, your child can use the loose parts to trace the letters. This is a simple and great activity that practices letter formation and letter recognition.

Displaying Loose Parts for Play

Setting loose parts out in a tray or shallow dish entices children to get started. I like using dip trays, cutlery organizers or anything shallow with different sections. You want to create a defined space to use the materials that is free of clutter. To start, put out a small blanket or clear off a table and introduce your child to a limited collection of loose parts so the experience isn’t too overwhelming or over-stimulating. You can also set up loose parts in a way that may help spark creativity. For example, you may wish to build a structure out of some blocks or magnetic tiles in the centre of the room or start a design on a flat surface and encourage your child to complete it.