Oftentimes, the most engaging toys... aren't toys.

Sticks and boxes come to mind as quintessential loose parts, and they have remained as popular as ever for children playing and exploring.

While a plastic tea set will always be a plastic tea set, loose parts can be transformed into whatever one's imagination can dream up.

So while product companies continue to create toys with all the bells and whistles, simplicity wins.
 
Loose parts are rich in potential, aka "affordances." How will loose parts play enhance your early learning environments?
 
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