Collections: Loose Parts Play

Sometimes the simplest things create the biggest ideas. Loose parts are open-ended play pieces children can collect, sort, stack, count, arrange, combine and transform into whatever their imagination decides they should be.

Think wooden tokens, gems, crystals, play coins, felt pieces and colourful balls, alongside everyday treasures like stones, shells and leaves. A handful of pieces might become pretend food one day, treasure the next, part of a small world or simply something wonderfully satisfying to sort and arrange.

With no instructions and no right way to play, loose parts encourage creativity, curiosity and independent thinking while naturally developing fine motor skills, early maths concepts, colour and shape recognition, concentration and problem-solving.

Add them to small world play, sensory setups and building activities, or simply tip them out and see where little imaginations take them.