Loose Parts and Unstructured Play in 1st Grade
Unstructured play is open ended with no predetermined outcome. It often involves loose
parts, which are materials that can be connected, combined, carried, moved, stacked up,
lined up, and used in endless ways. They are, by nature, challenging forms of play, that
provide opportunities for exploration and creation, and that allow children to engage with
their own interests and needs. Adults may mediate and facilitate, but not prescribe it.
Unstructured play
promotes the
development of
cognitive skills, such as
attention, concentration,
stamina, persistence.
Unstructured play has an important role in children’s
mental and emotional health, as it helps them see
themselves as empowered, competent beings.
It also helps children
●develop social competence
●learn how to be principled, respectful, empathetic,
responsible and open minded
●understand the importance of collaboration and
compromising.
●
Unstructured
play
allows
children to improve working
memory, flexible thinking and
impulsivity
control, which
enable the ability to plan,
organize
and
manage
thoughts,
actions
and
emotions.
Unstructured play is
challenging.
It
promotes
emotional
reactions,
requires
specific
physical
abilities
and
the
capacity to manage
adversity, developing
resilience
.