Loose parts play in the garden

Loose parts are any object, either natural or man made, that don't have a pre-defined purpose for play. Open-ended materials such as these invite curiosity and encourage imaginative play, as children are totally free in how they use them.

We love playing with loose parts, and when the weather is nice we like to take our play into the garden. If you fancy giving loose parts play a go, the garden is a great place to start.

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You may have come across loose parts play without realising it - perhaps pictures of a beautiful classroom setup with baskets full of bits and pieces - and thought it looks a little overwhelming and messy. Don't let this put you off! You can introduce loose parts play in any scale to suit you.

As a mum of three boys I understand the sheer amount of tidying you have to do on a daily basis. Some days I feel it's about 50% of the job, with the rest being chef, launderette, secretary, personal shopper, hostage negotiator... 😂

The benefit of loose parts play outdoors is that you don't have to tidy constantly to avoid being surrounded by mess, you can leave their play undisturbed and close the back door! I struggle to ignore a pile of Duplo in the living room but can look the other way when there are a few stones strewn across the lawn

So if you don't want to have bits and pieces everywhere, try loose parts in your garden!

Here are our favourite loose parts for playing in the garden:

Sticks

Sticks are the original loose part and hold an age-old fascination for children as they are such a versatile toy. Avoid the urge to ban them on the grounds that they are dangerous, you just need to lay down some ground rules (no hitting, no running with them etc) and your children can have so much fun.

We keep a stash of small sticks that are ideal for stacking, posting, counting etc in a pot and then a handful of large 'walking' sized sticks are propped up by the back door - these are often made into impromptu dens when the weather is better.

Stones

Stones are probably our favourite of all the loose parts we play with in the garden - they can be carried around and dumped in trucks, made into stone soup, used to build miniature walls for houses, for maths invitations etc - they are just so versatile! We also like to decorate them with paint pens or marker pens for a nice bit of creative fun.

Some of our stones are from a garden centre but most are where we've collected the odd pebble at the seaside or come across an interesting stone on a walk. We're always careful just to take one or two so there are plenty for others to enjoy.

Pine cones

I'm slightly obsessed with pine cones! If I spot a pine tree on a family walk I have to run off and scour the floor underneath. I just love how many sizes and shapes you can find. As a result our tub of nature finds is now overflowing with pine cones, so I add some to their loose parts play outdoors. They're a great tactile addition and when used with smaller things such as pebbles can make lovely sounds.

Stainless steel pots and pans

Pots and pans are a fantastic addition to the loose parts in your garden, and can be picked up for pennies from car boot sales and charity shops. Just look out for stainless steel so that it doesn't rust. Things like balti dishes, milk pans and pudding bowls are perfect as they are small so easier for little hands to pick up and move.

Pegs

You've probably already got some pegs at home, if not in the garden then likely kicking about in a drawer. Pegs are really handy tools for developing fine motor skills and they're so fun for children experiment with - seeing what they can be pegged onto. They are also great for pinning material such as sheets or scarves to make dens in the summer.

Soil

Scooping, pouring, brushing - soil is a wonderful sensory element to add to your loose parts play. If you're worried about the mess, or you don't have a big garden, just use fresh compost and pop it into a tub. If you have the space to create a mud patch, top soil works really well and mixes with water to create some fabulous mud pies!

Photo courtesy of Lincolnshire Early Years Alliance

Pipe and guttering offcuts

Small pieces of hose pipe, guttering and PVC piping are great for water play. But they can be played with in so many more ways. Pipes can be stood on end, used for marble runs, for telescopes, talked through... Guttering can help your child observe gravity when objects such as stones slide slower or faster depending on what angle they tilt them at. 

Cable reels

Small cable reels ones are ideal for stacking and adding a bit of height to play. You can usually pick some up for free from builder's merchants.

We have one painted in chalkboard paint (which can be drawn on), one with a free sample of astro-turf on top (perfect for small world play) and one left plain (rust and all). If you have room to add some wooden planks, your child can have fun combining them to climb up or create ramps.

Plant pots

Small plant pots are great for stacking, building and transporting. There's no need to buy them, just recycle and pots you get from garden centre or supermarket purchases by washing well. If you don't buy plants, then large yoghurt pots make a great substitute.

Want to give loose parts play a go? Check out my ultimate loose parts checklists for a little inspiration:

My loose parts checklists help you organise your supplies by category

Have you tried loose parts in the garden? Let me know!

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