‘Loose Parts’ - What’s the big deal?

‘Loose Parts’ is a fairly open-ended term when it comes to children’s activities. Basically, it refers to a set of items that is fairly random, and don’t necessarily have a specific purpose. Think of it as the contents of a higher-end junk drawer. They can pretty much include anything - rubber bands, pieces of leftover lumber, figurines, stones, marbles - you name it. Many classrooms now incorporate loose parts into story workshops or centres. Kids don’t need an established kit to play with all of the time, but that’s how most kids toys are being sold. While following instructions to meet an end goal is an essential skill, so is throwing the plan to the wind and building what you dream up. One of the best examples of this I’ve ever encountered is The Lego Movie. Ditch that Kragle!

There is a small local store called Urban Source, and I have absolutely loved shopping there over the years. Not only have I made my own greeting cards and my own Christmas wreath from things I’ve found there, I’ve also taken a number of children I’ve provided childcare to to the store to explore the potential it holds. You can get a paper bag and fill it with whatever catches their eye, and they LOVE it. Inspired by open-ended, child-led experiences like this, I started formulating my plan for Playsticity, which is essentially an indoor playground version of an adventure playground, as explained here by Haidt, of The Anxious Generation:

“Europeans have led the world in designing what are known as adventure playgrounds, which are designed for imaginative play. One type is called a junk playground because it is filled with miscellaneous things - building materials, ropes, and other ‘loose parts’, often along with tools, which attract children like magnets.” (pg. 258)

Vancouver does have quite a few playgrounds, and a good mix of older and newer ones. Each kind brings their own flavour, but will often share the same features. If you’ve ever spent any time at a playground with kids, you’ll have noticed that they take these fixed structures with one job, and often expand the purpose. For example, monkey bars are meant to be hung from, but they’ll climb on top and perch there. Or a slide is meant for children to experience the speed risk factor by sliding down it, but they’ll find a way to climb up it instead. The reason why Playsticity is offering an indoor playground that is completely loose is because then the opportunities for play are endless. Haidt explains that “[t]he key thing to understand about ‘loose parts’ playgrounds is that kids have control over their environment. They have agency. Playgrounds with fixed structures can hold kids’ attention only so long. But loose parts keep kids’ attention for hours, allowing them to build not only forts and castles but also focus, compromise, teamwork, and creativity.” (pg. 259/260)

At our playspace, we will have plenty of loose parts available. Some examples include materials from SuperSpace, Imagination Playground, Everblock, Crazy Forts, and Barumba. We’ll also have fine motor materials available from companies like Himiku, Tegu, and Grimms. One of the main goals of Playsticity is allowing children the freedom to experiment with a variety of the same materials again and again, proving that each item has unlimited potential, just like each child in our care.