Outside with a box

There are so many ways to play with a box..

This summer why not allow your kids to experiment with what they can build and create in your garden or local park? This type of play with ‘loose parts’ like boxes, materials or natural found objects is fantastic for supporting your child’s development as it offers opportunities for children to interpret their environment, investigate and experiment. Play will inevitably involve some problem solving, imagination and creativity.

The concept of loose parts originates from architect Simon Nicholson who wrote about the benefits of a loose parts environment to child development. In his 1970s article 'The Theory of Loose Parts: How NOT to Cheat Children' he describes loose parts as “all the things that satisfy ones curiosity and give us the pleasure that results from discovery and invention.”

Play Scotland highlight that environments rich in loose parts can blur the lines between learning and playing "allowing children to experiment, enjoy and find things out for themselves."