Play based childcare environments understand that the Early Childhood Classroom is more than a place where children engage in meaningless play. Instead these environments are planned, developed and ever-changing spaces where children lead play in an inquiry based setting. Children learn and master foundational skills which will be used throughout their life.
Through play and interaction, Emergent Curriculum (or the ideas and experiences planned by educators, which have come out of observing children in play) allows educators to observe children, identify strengths or challenges in their skill development using the ELECT (Early Learning for Every Child Today) Continuum of Development created by the Ministry of Education. This document is a framework for Early Childhood Educators to identify developmental skills and their indicators in children from Birth to 12 years old.
"The larger range of opportunities we offer children, the more intense will be their motivations and the richer their experiences." – Loris Malaguzzi, Founder of the Reggio Emilia Approach
Loose Parts provide children with endless possibilities of creativity, imagination, manipulation and play. Loose parts are found objects and materials which come with no set instructions or ways to play; the possibilities and combinations are up to the child's imagination. Some examples of loose parts are buttons, sea shells, rocks, branches or twigs, recycled materials such as cardboard, pinecones, almost anything you can imagine!
The inherent nature of found objects and materials engage children in physical skills, social emotional development, sensory exploration, movement and music. Loose parts support Developmental Domains found in the continuum of development. Using loose parts in play supports physical development through refinement of gross and fine motor skills and hand eye coordination. Social Emotional Development is supported through loose parts by supporting children's risk taking, interest and passions for creativity. Loose parts stimulate cognitive development through manipulation, patterning, language, and problem solving.
Because of the range of possibilities for materials, Loose parts are a developmentally inclusive material and can be found in our toddler room through to our school age classrooms.
