Loose Parts help inspire children's play
Loose parts are natural or synthetic found, bought, or upcycled materials—acorns, hardware, stones, aluminum foil, fabric scraps, for example—that children can move, manipulate, control, and change within their play. Loose parts are alluring and beautiful. Loose Parts capture children's curiosity, give free reign to their imagination, and encourage creativity. With more than 550 color photographs of many kinds of loose parts in real early childhood settings, classroom stories, and a dynamic overview,
Loose Parts provides inspiration and information about the ways everyday materials can support open-ended learning, enhance play, and empower children. With loose parts, the possibilities are endless.
232 pages
Tillywig Award Winner 2015, Brain Child
"What this book does, in addition to demonstrating the immense educational and developmental benefits afforded by loose parts, is to provide a framework that guides and inspires parents and educators to make full use of what they have to offer. Its pages are rich in clear ideas and beautiful photographs. Above all, this is a book about the essential value of creativity, the many forms it takes, and the ease with which children can achieve remarkable heights of learning through play with simple objects that abound in our everyday lives."
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Awards
Authors Lisa Daly and Miriam Beloglovsky took time to talk to us about their journey, inspirations, and success in early childhood education. Click here to read their Author Spotlight interview.
REVIEWS
"Loose Parts is a vividly and artistically photographed book that demonstrates how using natural and recycled materials provide endless possibilities for children to develop creativity and deepen critical thinking and problem solving. This book provides beautiful examples on how materials can be displayed to develop creative environments. Loose Parts is a great resource for teachers, early childhood trainers, and parents to consider in providing environments that engage and inspire children to explore, analyze, and create!"—Margie Perez-Sesser, MA, Perez-Sesser Early Childhood Consulting
"This book is a well thougth insight to bring forth the best in children and to scaffold those who strive to support their journey for creativity and imagination. The vibrant illustrations and the diversity of materials presented provide a vision to create an environment that honors, supports, and values children. The possibilities of children engaging in play are endless and it is comforting to gain a deeper understanding of loose parts and how children think, therefore to be more purposeful as well as to be cognizant of how our actions and choices influence young children."—Hiroko Iyong, CRC ECE Pathway to Success Student Leader, Child Development
"Loose Parts provides an inspiring path to childhood creativity that eschews our current throwaway culture by celebrating the inspiration and fun that comes with using diverse, free, and found objects for multiple outcomes. This invaluable book will motivate experienced educators to push the reset button on long-held values that encourage children to manipulate their environment in order to learn, while introducing those new to the field to the enthusiam, engagement, self-confidence, and joy that accompany open-ended play."—Timothy J. Craig, Owner/Director, Children's Circle Nursery School