On Easter my 15 month old daughter toddled into the kitchen to find an Easter basket waiting for her. Nestled inside the small wicker basket were the usual suspects: a few plastic eggs filled with small toys, a board book, and a cuddly brown bunny. I had chosen each item especially for her and knew she’d be thrilled to see each new trinket. And she was… for the first five minutes. My daughter spent the majority of Easter morning methodically exploring the paper grass that lined the basket. She began by taking it out of the basket by the fistful and making a pile next to her feet. Then, she picked up each strand individually, examined it, and placed it back in the basket. She proceeded to rip, clump, scatter, and sprinkle these paper grass blades all over the room, blissfully entertaining herself with her new discoveries.
In retrospect, I shouldn’t have been surprised. I’d seen preschoolers thrilled by the novelty of an egg carton, kindergarteners using a paper towel roll as a telescope, and kids of all ages enthralled with natural treasures like leaves and rocks that they found on the playground. In all of these situations, the children were free to explore the material on their own and slowly discovered its capabilities through trial and error. This is the beauty of open ended materials for children.
By definition, open ended materials are items that do not have one designated purpose and thus, they are incredible tools for learning in early childhood (and beyond!). Plain wooden blocks are a perfect example. One child may build a city, another may use them to “feed” their baby doll, and yet another may use them as an instrument by tapping them together and singing. The blocks are a blank canvas because of their deliberately plain design. They are an open invitation for imagination.
Open-ended materials and toys are not just engaging and fun. They also support children’s cognitive, social, and language development. Children practice flexible problem solving and critical thinking as they experiment with open-ended materials. They talk, reason, and cooperate with other children as they each find novel uses for objects and are able to play together. Open-ended materials also encourage creative play which has been linked to increased focus and planning skills. Although there are plenty of excellent open-ended toys on the market, the very best types of these materials are free! Think about how much kids love empty boxes, toilet paper rolls, strings, and empty bottles. A gold mine of engaging toys is currently sitting in my recycling bin!
Hundreds of toys on the market for toddlers and young children are marketed as “learning toys”. Many boast that they teach children colors and numbers, as well as reading, math, and spelling. They do this with screens and buttons that talk, move, light up, and sometimes even respond to verbal commands! The only thing children have left to do with these toys is sit back and passively watch them perform. Although these toys are certainly eye-catching and appealing, they rarely hold children’s attention for long periods of time because there are few things that children can do to play with them. These toys are limited to their one or two designated functions and leave little room for imagination or thinking outside the box.
As parents and teachers, we’re always asking ourselves, “How can we help?” Interestingly, the most important way to facilitate this type of play is to provide a variety of open-ended materials and let the child explore them on his or her own. This may be the hardest thing for me to do as a parent! I’m always ready to jump into my daughter’s play, chatting with her about what she’s doing and showing her new ways to play with her toys. In this case, I have to tell myself to take a step back and let her discover what she can do on her own. When children have explored the materials for some time, parents and teachers can begin asking questions and making verbal observations about what the child is doing with the materials. We can enrich the play with new vocabulary or added challenges. But most importantly, we can continue to provide new materials and give them space to explore them.
Kristen Cronheim is a contributing writer for the Little Bee Learning Studio blog. She holds a BS from Cornell University in Human Development and a Masters in Early Childhood Education from Hofstra University. Kristen taught both PreK and Kindergarten for 5 years and created curricula devoted to play-based learning. She lives in Hoboken with her husband and daughter.
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FAQs
Open-ended materials are things that children can use in a variety of different ways. Open-ended materials are about the process of exploration and can inspire creativity.
What are open ended materials in Reggio Emilia? ›
Reggio-inspired classrooms offer a wide range of open-ended materials. Loose parts, blocks, art supplies, and natural elements are must-haves. These materials spark creativity and develop higher order thinking skills.
What is an open-ended question in childcare? ›
Open-ended questions often start with “why”, “how”, or phrases like “I would like to know more about”, “Tell me about”, or “I am interested in hearing more about.”
What is the power of open ended play answers? ›
Open-ended play allows children to follow their interests and to make mistakes. With parents playing a more passive role, children are responsible for these mistakes. This allows for more chances to solve problems and creates opportunities for children to be successful, building confidence in their ability to reason.
Why are materials open ended? ›
Children love open-ended materials because of the possibilities they afford them. Using open-ended materials encourages imagination, creativity and problem-solving skills so play can be richer and more complex.
What is an open ended process? ›
Open-ended tasks have more than one right answer, solution or outcome and can be completed in more than one way. They can take the form of statements, questions, tasks, projects or teaching methods. Different learners may use different types of thinking; and there are no predetermined correct outcomes.
What are examples of open-ended learning materials? ›
Some of the most valuable learning materials are open-ended items that you probably have at home or can find at little to no cost. Blocks, paint, sand, water, playdough, and natural materials like twigs, flowers, and herbs lend themselves to playful learning and exploration.
What are the best materials for Reggio? ›
When creating a small world imaginative play scene, rather than adding all the elements from plastic play toys, try using reusables like cardboard tubes, popsicle sticks, cotton wool or natural materials like rocks, sticks, pinecones, bark and leaves. Leave scope for your child to arrange and engage with the materials.
What is an example of an open-ended material that supports all areas of development? ›
Provide Open-Ended Materials
Basic toys and materials such as wooden blocks, art supplies, and loose parts (such as shells, rocks, and sticks) can inspire children's creativity and imagination. These manipulatives allow children to use their creativity to develop ideas and explore their environment.
How to teach kids to answer open-ended questions? ›
Use Open and Inviting Language: Frame your questions using open-ended language that encourages children to think deeply and share their own ideas. Remember, open-ended questions start with words like why, how, or what if. Avoid closed-ended questions that can be answered with a simple yes or no.
Closed-ended questions are answered in one or two words, and often prompt a yes/no response or a right/wrong answer. “Do you like apples?” or “What color crayon are you using?” for example. Open-ended questions encourage a child to think deeper and more broadly, and communicate more.
Why is it important to ask open-ended questions in early childhood education? ›
Asking open ended questions is an interactive method that helps children discover more meaning from their experiences and opens their minds to various possibilities. It helps stimulates their thought process, language skills and even help them with solving problems.
Why do teachers use open-ended questions instead of yes/no questions? ›
Open-ended questions probe and elicit expanded thinking and processing of information. By discussing the questions in groups, students have the opportunity to learn from a variety of perspectives.
What are open-ended and closed ended materials? ›
Puzzles, books, and any games with a goal are all close ended toys. Open ended toys can be played in different ways with no definite end. They help with pretend play and language development. Books, mirrors, and dolls are all open ended toys.
What is the difference between open-ended and closed ended materials? ›
While close-ended toys have clear outcomes and events that indicate an end or winner, open-ended toys change with every child, setting, and play session. They are a positive addition to any home because open-ended play activities engage all types of play — from art to engineering to storytelling and beyond.
What is the difference between open-ended materials and loose parts? ›
Loose parts are materials that can be moved, carried, combined, redesigned, lined up, and taken apart and put back together in multiple ways. There is no set of specific directions for materials that are considered loose parts, so loose parts are also open-ended materials.
What is an example of closed ended materials? ›
Close-ended include materials such as knobbed cylinders, a puzzle, tracing, object to picture matching, or one-to-one correspondence. Often a lesson is given before the child interacts with the material. Purpose - Young children love nothing more than having a purpose, and close-ended materials provide just that.
