Loose parts play at Apanui

The environment is an important resource in supporting children’s learning.  At Central Kids Apanui, we provide many different provocations so children have numerous opportunities to be actively involved in the programme.  Children learn through play; by doing, asking questions, interacting with others, devising theories about how things work and then trying them out by making purposeful use of resources.

Loose parts are a fantastic part of play resources for children.  Loose parts can be so many different kinds of resources – depending on what you have available and limited only to the imagination of the adults who provide the parts or even the children who find them!

There is never a set way children can use them – the sky’s the limit.  Loose parts can take children into a world of fantasy, developing on their creative minds, coordination, problem solving skills, negotiating, language skills, risk taking, curiosity, as well as providing a way for children to express themselves such as we see in these photos.  Loose parts cater for children’s interests and strengths in an open ended way.  We keep our loose parts accessible for the children in orgainsed containers, which makes it easier for them and more desirable for them to use how and when they want.