Loose Parts

Our toddlers are doing so many interesting things with loose parts. They have been given groups of found materials to use in any way that they would like. They have been stacking, filling, lacing, dumping, opening, closing...the list could go on. All of these things done on their own with very little guidance from Sarah and I.  We do this for the open ended play opportunities that it gives. Children using their imaginations and problem solving skills can do some amazing things. 

Ohio Early Learning and Development Standards

Social and Emotional Development

          Strand: Relationships

                       Topic: Peer Interactions and Relationships

                                  Engage in associative play with peers

Approaches Toward Learning

          Strand: Initiative

                       Topic: Initiative and Curiosity

                                  Experiment in the environment with purpose

                       Topic: Planning, Action, and Reflection

                                  Make choices to achieve a desired result

          Strand: Engagement and Persistance

                      Topic: Persistance

                                 Engage in self-initiated activities for sustained periods of time

          Strand: Creativity

                       Topic: Innovation and Invention
                                  Use materials in new and unconventional ways
 

Cognition and General Knowledge
         Strand: Cognitive Skills
                     Topic: Reasoning and Problem Solving
                                In familiar situations, solve problems with out having to try every
                                possibility
    Sub-Domain: Mathematics
         Strand: Geometry
                      Topic: Spatial Relationshps
                                  Demonstrate how things fit together and move in space with
                                  increasing accuracy
    Sub-Domain: Science
        Strand: Science Inquiry and Application
                     Topic: Inquiry
                                 Engage in sustained and complex manipulation of objects
                                 Engage in focused observations of objects and events in the environment
                                 Ask questions about objects and events in the environment
                     Topic: Cause and Effect
                                 Purposefully combine actions to make things happen