These are objects that have many uses and endless possibilities. There are no exceptions, no specific problems to solve, no rules to follow, and no pressure to produce a finished project. It's about FREE PLAY!
Why are open-ended materials important to include in children's play?
- allows children to use their imagination and creativity
- helps develop trial and error and problem solving skills
- children have no fear of doing it wrong since there is no right method or outcome.
- open-ended play gives children a sense of freedom and self confidence
- they must make their own choices and learn to be responsible and self-directed.
"IMAGINATION IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN KNOWLEDGE" - Albert Einstein
The following activities are NOT open-ended:
- ready made cut outs,shapes, or craft kits
- traced drawings for children to color
- coloring books
- stencils
- dot-to-dot drawings
- puzzles and board games
- toys with batteries- 90% toy, 10% child
- television and videos
- toys with only one purpose or use
- costumes with one specific use only- Halloween costumes
List of Open-Ended materials to use often in your program planning: (use with direct supervision)
Cardboard tubes
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Shoelaces
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Styrofoam packing
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Wood scraps
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Yarn
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Metal juice can lids
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Paint-watercolor, tempera, acrylic
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Jewels from old lamps and chandeliers
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Clay
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Old costume jewelry
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Sand
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Wine corks
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Mud
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Empty spools of thread
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Water
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Lace
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Blocks
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Textured paper
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Lego
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Hemp
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Plastic caps from milk jugs, bottle caps
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Ribbon
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Fabric pieces – felt squares
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Pipe cleaners
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Cardboard boxes of various sizes
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All kinds of tape
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Play dough
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Toothpicks
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Crayons
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Googly eyes
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Markers
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String
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Paper
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Chopsticks
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Buttons
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Recycled water bottles/cans
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Pom poms
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Old metal keys
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Empty cereal boxes
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Parts from machines, clocks, engines
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Paper bags – grocery and lunch bags
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Hats, shoes, belts, bags, shirts, gloves
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Newspaper and flyers
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Scarves and bandanas
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Shoe boxes
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Colored, clean aquarium rocks
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Bread tags
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Artificial flowers and petals
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Q-tips
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Laundry soap lids
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Straws of different colors and sizes
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Leaves
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Aluminum foil
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Branches
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Golf T’s
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Seeds
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Plastic food containers with lids
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Sea shells
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Empty ice cream buckets
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Dirt
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Dice of all sizes
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Sand
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Poker chips
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Gravel
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Magnets
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Rocks
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Paper clips
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Mud
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Marbles
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Water
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Glass gems
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Snow
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Sequins
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Tree cookies – stumps cut up into discs
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Clothespins
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Pine cones
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PVC pipe
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Moss
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Sponges
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Pussy Willows
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Nuts and bolts from a hardware store
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Bulrushes – Cattails
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Beads of various sizes
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Twigs
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THE POSSIBILITIES ARE ENDLESS!
