What is open-ended play?
What is open-ended play?
Open-ended play is unstructured play that has no boundaries. The best results of open-ended play seem to be when children have the time and opportunity to develop their skills through this play-based learning.
Children simply follow their imagination to allow the play to go in any direction their creativity takes them. As there are no set outcomes, there is no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ with open-ended play.
What does open ended play look like? Open-ended play has no set outcome, so could be a tray of loose parts left for your little ones to explore, a selection of playdough, cutters and stamps, or maybe it is a trolley full of art and craft materials to delve into. Or it could simply be a set of building blocks and little peg dolls to build a home or small world. The possibilities are endless, and this is the key to open-ended activities.
Open-ended resources are multi-use and encourage a child to use their imagination and creativity.
Examples of open-ended toys and resources are?
- Building blocks
- Stacking toys
- Play dough
- Loose parts
- Fabrics
- Mark making items
- Wooden figures
- Balls
What are the benefits of open-ended play for your child?
- It develops creativity
- Builds Independence and self-confidence in children
- Develops social skills
- Explores critical thinking
- Works on fine motor skills
Go ahead and try it with your little one and see them flourish as they explore.