As the myriad of objects flowed into our LOOSE PARTS collection, we watched to observe how children interacted with the items. They were offered no additional tools, just the items themselves and their imaginations.
What can we do with all this beautiful stuff?
Alex – Build
Jonah – I think we should glue them.
Julia – Play with them.
Parker – Draw with them.
Case – Let’s play with them.
Initially, the intrigue was around the actual items. We heard many “What is this?” and “What does this do?” but gradually this questioning lessened and the creations began.
As the children interacted more with their treasures the play became longer and more sustained.
Charlotte – Let’s make a spider’s web. Let’s make it bigger.
Avery – We need black right? I love black.
Charlotte – I do too. This is part of the spider’s home.
(It falls down.)
Charlotte – It’s OK we can build it up again Avery.
Avery is fascinated by placing a cap in the tube then lifting the tube for it to fall out, even though Charlotte is trying to build on top of the tube.
Charlotte – It’s OK Avery you can keep taking the cap out.
